Hilton Head Island Pure Talk 7 13 2017
In this inaugural Pure Talk Facebook Live episode, host Kirsten Haglund welcomes panelists Greg Gudorf (CEO of PureFlix), Billy Halliwell (Senior Editor at Faithwire), and Lauren Green McAfee (Hobby Lobby corporate ambassador). After a brief opening prayer, the conversation centers on two major Christian‑focused initiatives. Gudorf announces PureFlix’s first Christian soap opera, “Hilton Head Isle,” describing its fall‑time launch, notable cast members, and how modern, cost‑effective technology enables high‑quality production without the massive budgets of mainstream streaming services. Halliwell raises concerns about the traditional soap‑opera reputation for risqué content and probes how the show will balance drama with Christian values. The panel then shifts to the Museum of the Bible, with McAfee detailing its upcoming Washington, D.C. opening on November 17, the use of innovative tech such as a digital docent that personalizes tours, and the museum’s aim to engage the next generation with biblical stories, including those of Native peoples. Throughout, the guests emphasize the need for clean, uplifting media, the diverse audience on PureFlix (including Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist viewers), and the broader mission of reaching people outside traditional church circles. The episode closes with release timelines—soap opera episodes to roll out this fall and the museum opening in four months— and an invitation for viewers to follow PureFlix and the museum for updates.
Chapters
Hi everyone!
Not yet.
Welcome to Pure Talk. Are we live? I think we are live.
I think we are.
Never mind, we are not live. Hey guys, I'm Kirsten Haglund and I want to welcome you to Pure Talk. Thanks so much for joining us on Facebook Live. This is the first time that we're doing this new talk show format online with you on Facebook Live. So we hope you enjoy it, and we're going to have a really, really great conversation. In case this is the first time that you're joining us, Pure Talk is kind of a new innovative talk show where we get to address culture and faith and lots of different topics, entertainment obviously, all from a Christian lens. This is brought to you by Pureflix and Faithwire News. We are so glad to have you. So why don't I introduce our panel today? We've got the CEO of Pureflix, Greg Gudorf. We also have Billy Halliwell. He is the senior editor at Faithwire. And Lauren Green McAfee, she is the Hobby Lobby corporate ambassador. And before we dive into our topic today, I'm going to throw it over to Greg, who's going to pray for us before we start. Greg.
Thank you, Kirsten. Lord God, we thank you for bringing us together in this opportunity via technology, giving us a chance to discuss matters weighing on our hearts and in our minds. Please send your Spirit to guide our conversation and move us all towards action and fulfillment of your will. We ask this and more in the name of your Son Jesus.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen. Thanks, Greg. All right, Greg, so let's start with you. You've got, um, a neat topic to kick us off here for discussion today. So why don't we dive in with you first?
Sure. It's, you know, we're always looking for ways to bring the message and the inspiring and uplifting streaming video to the PureFlix.com platform, and we've got something different we're trying. We're trying a Christian soap opera coming up this fall. We think it's the first time ever in a soap opera format. We've gotten some pretty good stars to join us in this effort, and we look forward to launching it to the PureFlix.com members. We've got stars like Donna Mills, Antonio Sabato Jr., Michael Swan, lots more, Anna Zielinski, uh, Carrie Scott, Wink Martindale, all coming together, uh, to help us test this concept. One of the things that I'm excited about with it though, just like what we're doing here using technology to bring PureTalk together in this format, We're all located in different spots around the country or around the globe, in your case, Kirsten. We're using technology in a very unusual way to bring this kind of content together and do it in a way that makes it something we can afford from PureFlix.com perspective to bring to our customers. You know, it's a little different in PureFlix.com streaming because we're not a Netflix or an Amazon where there's billions, and I mean billions with a B, worth of money to produce content content, we're working on a different perspective. And so we have to find ways to use our technology to bring those cost-effective pieces to the element, to the customers. And of course, it all comes in around a great story. So you still have to tell great stories.
Can I ask a content question? Because I was actually talking to a friend about this show and they're Christian and they were like, but wait, you know, what talks or what soap operas are known for isn't it hard? Because a lot of what soap operas are known for is sort of the racier content, right? So, you know, how is that going to work? And I don't want you to spoil it, but it is interesting because I think it can totally work. I mean, look, 7th Heaven— and I would bring this up— obviously 7th Heaven was not necessarily a soap opera, although I think it was a drama that went there at moments, not totally. It was the highest-rated show in WB history, and nobody ever wanted to talk about that. And for some reason, WB apparently never wanted to replicate that at the time. But there is a market for this. But how do you guys— how do you envision that playing out in terms of storylines and how that traditionally works with a soap opera? Not to put you on the spot.
You know, I think you still have to— and I won't give away anything, so I want people to see it fresh when it comes out this fall. But you know, you have to realize that all of our stories have drama in them. Traditionally, soap operas have overemphasized certain parts to be able to play to an audience. The underlying drama and the underlying story, though, can be told without that overemphasis. And maybe there's even an entry for the more typical prayer life or Christian aspect flowing in as part of that drama, right, being in that mix. That's our challenge. But it's going to be pretty interesting to see how it comes together this fall.
Well, it's also sad, too, to a degree that that's what we expect, right? On one end of this, we're expecting— people expect that there would be something racist are bad in, in this content because that's what they're used to. But there's no reason it has to be that way. So I think it'll be interesting to see. I think people crave real themes, they crave real stories. They— that we really want that. We're not always offered that, and we take what we're offered sometimes because there might be a good storyline with all the other garbage around it. But if we can get a good storyline with themes that resonate with us, I think people will latch on to that because again, we want that, I think, internally.
Yeah, you know, it used to be it would— it It always takes a good story, number one, but it used to take a lot of technology, expensive technology to bring these stories to life. And then of course, mega marketing dollars, theatrical, TV, et cetera. Today though, the technology that allows us to do things like this also allows us to create content in a very different way. We can do a lot of work with computers now behind the scenes, the same kind of computers that get used in all the fancy big blockbusters. Can be used to produce effects in something like what we're creating here in this upcoming soap opera on PureFlix.com. So you got to have the story, to your point, Billy, but the technology allows us to do some pretty amazing things, and not just in the content world. I know, Lauren, you guys have really been using some interesting technology in some of the things you're working on as well right now.
Yeah, you're exactly right that technology is important and wanting to especially continue to engage people in the Bible, especially the next generation. So Museum of the Bible has wanted to be leading the edge on using innovative technology to invite all people to engage in the Bible. So Museum of the Bible, which is the museum opening in Washington, DC in just 4 months from now on November 17th, is not just the museum in DC, but we also have a number of educational programs that we are creating and content, but you'll find all of that in the museum as well. Really wanting to highlight— you guys were talking about the importance of story and needing to have good story. What better stories do we have than the stories of Native people? I mean, you've got everything. Drama, you've got conflict, it's all there. And so to get to highlight those stories and bring them to life in a new way, ways that have never been done before because of new technology that we have is going to be really exciting to watch people walk through, and people that have maybe engaged in the Bible for their whole lives, or people that have never had any interaction, coming in and engaging with these stories in a meaningful way and getting to be drawn in. So one of the technology components that I'm most excited about is our digital docent. So we want to make make each tour special for every person so that it relates to their particular interests. So people will be able to put in some information about what their interests are and how much time they have, and then they'll walk through a curated tour specific for them so that every person walks away really gaining and the level of information that they're looking for. So I love the use of new technology for engagement of the next generation.
Yeah, Lauren, it's so great because I think that a lot of times young people are so used to Christian things being not necessarily with the times or cheesy or a lot of these things. But Greg, what you're doing with PureFlex and Lauren, what you're talking about with the advanced technology that the museum is using and just really being on the cutting edge is showing that the faith world can do things that are relevant and excellent, which is so, so important. You mentioned that the museum opens in November, which is going to be here so quickly, as crazy as that sounds, even though we're in the middle of summer, it's just a few months away. Opening in Washington, D.C. So can you tell us a little bit about why the museum is opening in D.C. and what benefits you think that is going to bring the museum?
Yeah, it's a good question, why DC. It's— we did an economic impact study actually to see where the Museum of the Bible— first off, if there's any interest in seeing a Museum of the Bible in our country, and we saw the results were very high. A large percentage of Americans were interested. The group that did the study was actually surprised that the numbers were so high, but the, the question also was where would this be most attended? And the answer was Washington, D.C. This makes sense because that's where people go to go to museums, and it's a place that a lot of people will travel to at some point in their life, to Washington, D.C., and visit because there are so many incredible historical monuments there and museums to see. And now Museum of the Bible will be one of those where we can invite all people to engage in the Bible through the museum that's only 2 blocks south of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. So it's really right there in the heart of DC, easily accessible.
That's amazing.
And I wanted to make a point about all this because I think it's, you know, we've talked a lot in past episodes about how, you know, I think Christians, a lot of us, because of feeling however we felt about various venues in this country, we've kind of pulled away and pulled back. And I think these are 2 examples on the entertainment front and on the museum front of Christians going into these areas and doing something with excellence and making it good and testing things out and seeing how it's going to work to try to reach people instead of pulling back into our own little communities. You know, we are bringing the message out and we're not doing it again in a way that feels corny. We're doing it in a way that everyone will look at and say, that is excellent. That was a— this is great. That's the kind of stuff we need to be doing. So I love that here we're talking about this again, two totally different things. Entertainment and a museum, but two things that I think will enrich people's lives and that so many people will benefit from. So, you know, kudos to you and your team, Greg, and to you and your family and your team, Lauren, because I think it's great.
You know, Billy, that was one of the drivers behind this new soap opera, which by the way is called Hilton Head Isle. We wanted to make sure that— you like that?
Yeah.
We wanted to make sure that obviously it told our story, from the Christian perspective, but we wanted to do it in a way that would appeal to a much broader audience, so that we could serve that attract function in pulling people together and giving them an alternative to the types of media that's out there today that, that may be what they consume instead. You know, we have a growing subscriber base at PureFlix.com. We've been blessed with fast growth there. One of the things that's been very interesting to see is that we have a good mix of folks on the platform. We've got Protestant and Catholic, and you'd expect that, but we've also got a fair number of viewers who are Jewish, who are Muslim, who are Buddhist. We're getting quite the collection of different people there, and I think the neat thing about that is whether they're coming to check out some of the programming we have, like, you know, the Encounter series, or whether they're coming because they just are tired of the sex, language, and gratuitous violence they see everywhere else and they want good, clean, uplifting content. The point is they're here, and now there's a chance that they may discover something else that speaks to their heart and touches them in a way that standard media may not.
It fills a void. I mean, it fills a void that we know is there and that we've repeatedly seen. We've all felt frustrations. I felt them at And so here, both the museum and this project fill a void, and I think that's important.
Yeah, amazing. So Greg and Lauren, just to wrap up, can you just let us know, Greg, when is the show coming out? When can we expect to be able to watch this incredible soap opera?
Well, we've seen the first episodes are in the can, as they say. We're still shooting more because we're not going to release this in a one episode and then make you wait months. We've got over 20 episodes that we'll release, so binge viewers are gonna love this. They'll be able to get their fill. We'll have to keep— stay tuned, keep watching at PureFlix.com, and we'll let folks know when it's ready, but it'll definitely be something we release this fall.
Okay, so this fall. And Lauren, our museum opening date is?
November 17th. So this fall is going to be happening between the release of the show and the opening of the museum. There will be enough to keep you busy. So Washington, D.C., November 17th, so 4 months away.
Amazing. Oh, lots happening on the entertainment and the culture front. So great. We're so honored to hear about these really cool projects. So everyone who's tuning into Facebook Live, make sure you keep an eye out on PureFlix.com and updates from Museum of the Bible for that opening in D.C. Just a real focus on doing things excellently, doing things well. And I think providing forums for people to ask deeper questions and ask the questions that are most meaningful in life, because a visit to this museum or even just stumbling across a Christian soap opera on the internet might provoke people to ask questions and go to their local church.
And it's all about starting the conversation, isn't it?
Conversation that we want to provoke. Absolutely. Alright guys, thank you so much for tuning in. If you've been joining us on Facebook Live, we're so excited to have you here. Again, this is kind of a new thing that we're trying out, doing this on Facebook Live, this Pure Talk talk show that we've got going. So if you liked it, let us know, let us know in the comments. We'd love to hear from you. Thank you guys, the panel, for joining us. Greg Gudorf, CEO of Pure Flix, Lauren Green McAfee, the Corporate Ambassador for Hobby Lobby, and and Billy Halliwell, senior editor at faithwire.com, and me, Kirsten. Hey everyone. All right. Thank you guys so much for joining us. We'll see you back next time on Pure Talk. Have a great night.
