CONTACT: Dennis Disney 615-287-9215 -- IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MERCY STREETS TO BE RELEASED AS HALLOWEEN ALTERNATIVE PROVIDENCE ENTERTAINMENT SETS NEW THEATER OPENING DATE OF OCTOBER 31

MERCY STREETS PLAYS "DAVID" TO BLAIR WITCH 2 "GOLIATH"

SHERMAN OAKS, CA- -- It's classic "David vs. Goliath." You could call it 'Us vs. Them," or more descriptively, "Good vs. Evil." However you describe it, this year, Halloween will see two different approaches to film marketing.

Providence Entertainment, the movie distributor and marketer responsible for bringing last year's sleeper hit, The Omega Code, to theaters and to national notoriety, has elected to open its newest film on Halloween, October 31. Mercy Streets, produced by Signal Hill Pictures, stars David White, Eric Roberts, Stacy Keach, Lawrence "L.T" Taylor, Shiek Mahmud-Bey, Cynthia Watros and Robert La Sardo. The film is directed by Jon Gunn. The soundtrack CD is being released by the LA-based N*Soul Records.

"Our first thought in moving the opening back to October 31, was that we could offer youth leaders of America an excellent alternative to other secular Halloween activities. Plus, It would be an opportunity for them to do something a little different with their kids this year," says Victor Vanden Oever. CEO of Providence Entertainment. "We realize that many youth leaders plan Halloween activities that portray positive Christian values; but, we also realize it's a challenge for most of them to capture the attention - and attendance - of more than just a fraction of their youth group. Going to a film on Halloween makes for a unique experience for most of these youth leaders while also appealing to the "sight and sound culture that is the younger demographic."

Although a "Halloween Night at the Movies" for youth groups and churches is a unique undertaking, this year, Providence will be battling more than just the challenge of rallying its Christian target audience to theaters. On October 27, Artisan Entertainment will release Blair Witch Project 2, the sequel to arguably the most talked about film of the past two years.

'We definitely understand the challenges of getting an audience out to see our film, but more importantly we understand what this fight is about," continues Vanden Oever. "It's more than a coincidence that "Blair Witch 2" is being released on Halloween weekend. Its a decided effort on the part of that film's marketers to leverage its occult themes with a day that has become known for its celebration of the netherworld. Our goal is to rally the Christian community to pack theaters on this particular night to see Mercy Streets, setting attendance figures that will simply overwhelm the decision makers at the major Hollywood studios and the mainstream media outlets."

As with The Omega Code, Mercy Streets matches Providence's mission statement which generally is to bring positive Christian-worldview films to mainstream theaters and then to home video. The Sherman Oaks, CA company is committed to exemplifying the principles of being 'light in the darkness" as presented in the book, Roaring Lambs, authored by the late Bob Briner. 'We're very committed to presenting quality films with a distinct Judeo-Christian flavor to general audiences," says Vanden Oever. "But it's definitely a very difficult goal to achieve. We're a young company, so competing for theater screens with the major studios is a challenge. It's only by motivating our core audiences to get behind this movement that we can affect the types of changes in American cinematic arts that we envision. With the machine and the money the Hollywood establishment can muster, our task is very much "David vs. Goliath.'

"However, if we can get the church to partner with us as it relates to supporting these films at theaters, then we'll continue to see more such projects which Christians can readily embrace. And this year, with our opening on the day it is, we can make 2 tremendous statements to the country that the church is active again in the arts. We need the church to take some Halloween action this year."

Mercy Streets is an urban drama, pitting brother against brother, one an ex-con, recently released from prison. running from his past, the other, a sincere yet uninspired young minister struggling with his faith. Brothers connected by blood, separated by hate, reunited by crime, and forever bonded by love.

The Mercy Streets soundtrack is being released by N*Soul Records and features recordings by Moby, Sixpence None The Richer, Jennifer Knapp, Delirious, FROS'T, Cloud2Ground, Deitiphobia, Paradigm Shift, Antidote and others. The soundtrack will be available in both Christian and Mainstream stores October 3.