Catholic Digest Interviews Hollywood Producer Stephen McEveety

New London, CT, June 13, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Stephen McEveety, producer of “The Passion of the Christ,” and executive producer of “Bella” and “Braveheart,” knows a good story when he sees one. A lot of scripts pass by his desk; a lot don’t get any farther. But recently, he says, one script blew him away.

Based on a book telling the true story of an innocent woman accused of adultery and stoned to death in an Iranian village, that script became the film “The Stoning of Soraya M.,” which opens June 26 and features a host of talented actors, including Shohreh Aghdashloo (“The Nativity Story”) and Jim Caviezel of “The Passion of the Christ” (see Catholic Digest’s July/August 2009 issue for an interview with Caviezel about his life and this film).

Catholic Digest editor Julie Rattey recently spoke with McEveety about his involvement with the project, how being a dad has changed his life, and how he handles being a Catholic in Hollywood.

One topic McEveety addresses in the interview is the violence depicted in some of his films, including "The Passion of the Christ".

"Though I’ve made movies that have a lot of violence in them, none of them, in my opinion, were gratuitous; they all had a point for violence and it was an important point in the storytelling. And the stories that have violence in them have very strong moral messages. And that message wouldn’t be as clear without the violence," said McEveety. "I would not be interested in making a horror movie that had a lot of violence in it so that I can entertain and get people into the theaters. I probably would be a far wealthier man than I am now if I was to do that, but that would be a violation to my own moral values, so I can’t do that."

McEveety also credits his children and wife for their role in shaping his faith.

"When we first started having kids I started going to Mass once a week because of the kids more than anything," McEveety said. "So God got a hold of me after many years and so I’ve been converted, so my kids certainly had a lot to do with where I am in my faith right now."

Successfully combining faith, family, and his career makes life rewarding for McEveety. His family accompanies him on set when possible. "I get a real variety of life and I get to bring my kids," he says, "and I get to do what I like to do the most, and that’s just tell stories. I’m blessed. Hopefully it continues."

To read the complete interview with producer Stephen McEveety, visit catholicdigest.com.

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