Angel Studios, the independent producer and distributor behind the kid intercourse trafficking drama “Sound of Freedom,” has formally responded to reviews of one of many movie’s backers who in July was arrested and charged with felony little one kidnapping.
The distributor’s CEO Neal Harmon on Friday in an announcement to IndieWire defended the authorized course of by which individuals are allowed to publicly spend money on their movies however additional stated it hopes all perpetrators “will be brought to justice no matter who they are,” with out naming the particular incident.
“Angel Studios adhered to the requirements of federal and state laws and regulations in allowing 6,678 people to invest an average of $501 each into the launch of ‘Sound of Freedom.’ Just as anyone can invest in the stock market, everyone who meets the legal criteria can invest in Angel Studios projects. One of the perks of investing was the ability to be listed in the credits,” Harmon stated in an announcement.
“We’re grateful to brave law enforcement officials who have already arrested dozens of traffickers in the weeks following ‘Sound of Freedom’s’ release. Our film speaks to this globally-pervasive problem, and it is our hope that perpetrators everywhere will be brought to justice no matter who they are, and that even more people will see the film to raise awareness.”
Newsweek first reported on Friday that Fabian Marta, 51, from Chesterfield, Missouri, was in July charged and arrested for felony little one kidnapping. Marta was among the many over 6,600 people who collectively invested $5 million on behalf of Angel Studio’s P&A advertising and marketing marketing campaign for “Sound of Freedom,” and his title seems within the movie’s prolonged credit together with the opposite over 6,600 people.
The distributor stated that on common the collective backers gave $501 every. Angel Studios didn’t reply to IndieWire’s inquiry as to how a lot Marta particularly invested within the venture.
Angel Studios is what’s referred to as an fairness crowdfunding firm, which permits particular person backers to assist increase cash for the needs of manufacturing or distribution. Backers who spend money on the venture are entitled to a 120 p.c return on funding however are additionally inclined to shedding their funding if the movie fails to carry out. It’s a separate coverage from Angel Studios’ “Pay it Forward” mannequin, which permits individuals who see the movie to overpay for a ticket and fund the acquisition of a ticket for an additional particular person, a mannequin that has contributed to the film’s box office success.
Angel Studios co-founder Jeffrey Harmon originally called the revelation of one of many movie’s over 6,600 backers being arrested a “nothingburger,” however he later condemned Marta’s alleged actions.
“Sound of Freedom” since opening on July 4 has made $155 million on the home field workplace, largely on the backs of a grassroots advertising and marketing marketing campaign and bolstered by the Pay it Forward mannequin. The movie, which stars “The Passion of the Christ” actor Jim Caviezel relies on the true story of a U.S. authorities agent who devoted his life to pursuing perpetrators of kid intercourse trafficking.
The movie has outperformed some main studio summer time blockbusters in its home launch alone, but it surely has additionally been a lightning rod for conspiracy theories, similar to one which AMC Theatres was making an attempt to suppress audiences from seeing the movie, one thing Angel Studios specifically refuted.
