Faith-based distributor to take ‘Walking With Herb’ worldwide

Faith-based film studio Pure Flix/Quality Flix is in the final stages of acquiring the international distribution rights to “Walking With Herb,” the movie made in Las Cruces in 2018 with a cast including Edward James Olmos, George Lopez, Kathleen Quinlan, Christopher McDonald and Billy Boyd.

The movie is expected to be released to theatres in the United States next March, Pure Flix said in a news release.

The film is based on the book of the same name by Las Cruces banker Joe Bullock. The screenplay was written by Tony winner Mark Medoff, and the movie was directed by Ross Marks, a professor in New Mexico State University’s Creative Media Program and an award-winning film director. It was produced by Optimism Entertainment’s Brian Espinosa, Marks (Rio Road Entertainment) and Medoff.

“The opportunity to work with a company like Pure Flix is a great pleasure,” Marks and Espinosa said in the news release. “When it comes to inspirational content, Pure Flix is synonymous with many great successes.  We worked diligently to create a film that we are extremely proud of and are excited about this collaboration with them. They are the perfect partner to help us share it with a world audience.” 

The movie “follows Joe’s (Olmos) incredible journey from relative obscurity to competing in ‘The World Championship Golf Tournament’  under the direction of Herb (Lopez), his ever present ‘angel’ and motorcyclist, proving that anything is possible as long as you have faith,” the news release said.

“This film has the rare combination of great writing, great directing, a great cast and a feel-good story,” Pure Flix/Quality Flix Vice President of international sales and distribution Ron Gell, quoted in the Screen Daily story. “It has tremendous international potential for everyone looking for a charming and heartwarming story, something everyone worldwide needs right now.”

With advice from Medoff and others, Bullock wrote “Walking with Herb: A Spiritual Journey to the Masters,” which he self-published in 2016. It was Marks’ vision to turn the book into a movie. Las Cruces businessman John Hummer was a driving force in raising $3 million to finance the film.

“Walking With Herb” was shot in about a month in Las Cruces and Artesia, which is Bullock’s home town. His father, Bill, won many city golf championships there and figures prominently in the book.

More than 40 Las Crucens, including CMI students, were employed as crew on the film, and more than 80 local actors were used in featured and background parts.

Pure Flix was founded in 2005. It is the leading independent faith and family studio in the world, the news release said. With offices in Los Angeles and Scottsdale, Pure Flix has produced, acquired, marketed and distributed more than 100 faith and family-friendly properties.

Visit www.PureFlix.com