Actor has faith in movie genre

By Rick Bentley

The Fresno Bee (TNS)

Kevin Downes recalls talking 20 years ago to his “Faith of Our Fathers” co-star David A.R. White about how great it would be if Hollywood would finally embrace the kind of faith-based movies they wanted to make.

It took some time, but that has finally happened.

“Faith of Our Fathers” is the latest in a growing list of faith-based movies that not only are being released theatrically but hitting theaters during the very competitive summer movie season. It stars Downes and was co-written by him and Carey Scott. Downes and White also co-produced the movie.

The movie deals with two strangers (Downes and White) who come together to find out more about their fathers who died during the Vietnam War. That search takes the pair on a road trip to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.

“I came across the story eight years ago, and it meshes with the style of film we make,” Downes says. “It helped me understand what all veterans go through and is a great way to thank them for their service.

“Sometimes, we take their service for granted. The more I worked on this film, the more I learned that many veterans feel unloved and unappreciated. We want them to know they are not forgotten. Not them, nor their family.”

The film not only has a faith aspect and tribute to veterans but takes a long look at father-son relationships.

It’s a topic that’s becoming more important to Downes daily as he’s the father of three sons.

The older he gets, the more Downes appreciates his own father and growing up in Visalia, Calif.

“My dad encouraged me to pursue my passion. I had to have that, because without it I don’t think I would be making movies,” Downes says.

“My dad was speechless when he saw it.”

The movie-making bug came early to Downes. He went to College of the Sequoias in Visalia and California State University, Northridge, where he studied theater and geography. At the same time, he was landing acting jobs, appearing in numerous commercials, television shows and feature films. He was cast in his first Christian film, “The Crossing,” in 1994, and his passion for the genre was born.

Downes has been producing movies since the late ’90s, including the 1999 offering “Mercy Streets.”

“Faith of Our Fathers” shows how a shared faith becomes important to both the soldiers and their sons. Downes has seen Hollywood become more aware of such movies because the quality of production has continued to rise.

“We are working together to raise the bar when it comes to faith-based movies,” he said.

The real reason faith-based movies are succeeding, according to Downes, is that audiences are looking for these kinds of movies and embracing them when they open.

The original plan was to shoot “Faith of Our Fathers” in Fresno County, but Downes couldn’t find the locations he needed, especially for the flashback scenes that take place in Vietnam.

He eventually filmed in northern Los Angeles County, using some of the same locations as Mel Gibson’s “We Were Soldiers.”

Downes has played a lot of different roles over the years, but he calls his character in “Faith of Our Fathers” one of the best.

Generally, he gets cast as a bad cop or a goofy guy. He liked playing a guy who is flawed, because it gives him so much room to work.

He stars in “Faith of Our Fathers,” but Downes said he actually gets more pleasure out of producing movies.

The next faith-based movie he’s produced, “Woodlawn,” is scheduled to be released in October.

He calls having two movies open in the same year proof that dreams will happen.

“I love producing content and empowering filmmakers. That’s fun. The acting is fun, but you only worry about yourself. Directing and producing means worrying about the entire project,” Downes says.