A new feature film in development is set to bring The Gutter Gospel—a story rooted in veteran homelessness, survival, and spiritual awakening—to a wider audience.

Announced March 5 via PRNewswire, the project will document the life of a former homeless veteran whose “Gutter Gospel” message has grown from the streets of North Dakota into what the release describes as a global ministry with reach in more than 200 countries. The film is framed as a response to what the announcement calls an “unprecedented mental health epidemic,” with a focus on depression, PTSD, and isolation—issues that continue to affect veterans and civilians alike.

From rock bottom to a “divine setup”

The narrative centers on a biographical turning point: after “hitting rock bottom in the streets of North Dakota,” the film’s subject describes discovering that his lowest point became a catalyst for a broader mission—feeding “the hungry and the hopeless” while sharing a faith-based message aimed at people who feel overlooked.

The release positions the story as both local and universal: Fargo is the backdrop, but the core struggle—searching for purpose in the middle of pain—is presented as a global experience.

Theology as the film’s engine: John 3:16 vs. Luke 16

According to the announcement, the film is built around what it calls a “Gospel of Contrast,” drawing a line between John 3:16 and Luke 16 (the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus). The project’s messaging emphasizes the tension between hope and warning—an invitation to grace alongside a sobering depiction of spiritual consequence.

“Most people see the gutter as a dead end, but I found it was a sanctuary where God finally got my attention,” the film’s subject says in the release. “We are living in a Luke 16 world where people are chasing comfort while their souls are starving.”

“Forever Damned” chapter described as emotional core

A key segment of the film, titled “Forever Damned,” is described as the project’s emotional and spiritual center. The release says the chapter is designed to depict “the terrifying reality of spiritual isolation,” focusing on the moment when the “great gulf” referenced in Luke 16 becomes personal rather than symbolic.

The intent, according to the announcement, is to create a “power-punch” moment for viewers—pushing them to consider the weight of choices and the idea of urgency before opportunities for change pass.

A film designed to reach beyond traditional audiences

The project is positioned as an outreach effort aimed at meeting “the un-churched” outside of traditional religious settings. The release says the film seeks to:

• Address the mental health crisis by mirroring the experience of people living with “invisible wounds”
• Highlight efforts to feed the hungry through the ministry’s work
• Deliver a “final warning” message tied to the film’s “Forever Damned” segment

More information is available at https://theguttergospel.com/, with donations directed to https://theguttergospel.com/donate.

“The Gutter Gospel” Movie

SOURCE The Gutter Gospel

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/from-the-gutters-to-the-masses-former-homeless-veterans-gospel-of-the-streets-movie-targets-global-mental-health-crisis-302081651.html

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Black History Month is often a time for big names and headline moments—but some of the most powerful chapters in American history were written by people whose stories never made it into the spotlight. This February, a new documentary aims to change that.

Vision Films has announced the North American transactional VOD release of Invisible Warriors: African American Women in World War II, arriving February 3, 2026 across major streaming and cable platforms in the U.S. and Canada. The film is directed, written, and executive produced by Gregory S. Cooke, with executive producers Ethel “Becky” Cooke and Basil Spalding Jones, and associate producer Joyce Licorish.

At the center of the documentary: the 600,000 African American women who served on the home front—many as “Rosie the Riveters”—while fighting a second battle against racism and sexism at home.

A WWII story we rarely hear—told by the women who lived it

Invisible Warriors is built around first-person accounts and rare archival footage, giving audiences a direct line to the voices of women who stepped into factories, shipyards, and government offices at a time when opportunity was heavily gated by both race and gender.

These were not symbolic roles. These women helped power the war effort, kept industries moving, and proved—daily, publicly, and under pressure—that they belonged in spaces America had never intended to share with them.

The documentary frames their contributions as more than wartime necessity. It positions them as trailblazers whose work helped reshape what was possible for generations of Black women in industry, civil service, and beyond—opening doors that had been locked for decades.

Why this release hits differently in 2026

Vision Films Managing Director/CEO Lise Romanoff calls the documentary “an important” tribute that keeps alive the legacy of women who joined the war effort “despite racial, gender and societal obstacles,” adding that it celebrates heroines who paved the way for working women—and for those still fighting for racial and gender equality today.

Cooke, an educator and historian, puts it even more plainly—and personally. He describes these women as “arguably… the most significant group of Black women in the 20th Century,” noting that his own mother was also a Rosie. In his view, their story isn’t optional history—it’s foundational.

A film with a classroom mission baked in

This isn’t just a documentary release—it’s part of a larger educational push. Cooke’s nonprofit, The Basil and Becky Educational Foundation (BBEEF), has developed companion Social Studies and STEAM curricula tied to the film, targeting grades 8–12. The goal: move African American experiences from the margins to “the main pages” of history, and make that history relevant to students now.

That educational angle feels especially aligned with the film’s purpose: not simply to honor the past, but to make sure it’s taught accurately, widely, and with the context it deserves.

International recognition—and a long list of supporters

The film was originally co-sponsored by the Dutch government, which sought to honor African American women for their role in the WWII liberation of the Netherlands. Additional support came from organizations and foundations including Drexel Alumni, Better Angels/Lavine Fellowship, Gift of Life Donor Program, Always Best Care Senior Services, Darryl & Leslye Fraser Foundation, and CARIE: Center for Advocacy for the Rights and Interests of the Elderly.

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That range of backing signals something important: this story resonates far beyond a single community or a single country. It’s a missing piece of WWII history—period.

Where to watch (and where to start)

Pre-orders are already live on:

• iTunes/Apple TV: https://bit.ly/4pJ6fXN
• Fandango at Home: https://bit.ly/4qUj0zU

For updates and more info, visit: https://invisiblewarriorsfilm.com
About BBEEF: https://bbeef.org
About Vision Films: https://www.visionfilms.net

The takeaway

Invisible Warriors isn’t positioned as a niche WWII documentary—it’s positioned as a correction. A long-overdue recognition of women who helped win a global war while being denied full equality at home, and who still showed up anyway.

If Black History Month is about remembering, this film is about restoring.

If you tell me where you’re publishing this (STM Daily News vs. Sleeves vs. TNC Network) and your preferred word count, I’ll tailor the headline, subheads, and meta description to match that outlet’s style.

Sources: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vision-films-brings-invisible-warriors-african-american-women-in-world-war-ii-documentary-to-audiences-for-black-history-month-302666270.html

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LOS ANGELES — EBONY Media Group has launched EBONY Voices, a new multimedia series focused on human-interest stories aimed at connecting and uplifting communities. The debut release is a short film, “Standing in the Ashes: One Year After the Altadena Fires,” marking one year since the Eaton wildfire devastated parts of Los Angeles County in January 2024.

Film details

“Standing in the Ashes” is directed by Lyric Perez and produced by EBONY Media Owner and CEO Eden Bridgeman Sklenar and EVP of Editorial Content Cori Murray.

The film follows three long-time Altadena families as they navigate loss, rebuilding, and whether to remain in a historically Black community disproportionately impacted by the disaster:

• Staci and Thomas Andrews
• Ronda Carson and her mother, Barbara Carson
• Antoinette “Toni” Bailey-Raines, a community leader recognized as a 2025 EBONY Power 100 Community Crusader

Bailey-Raines co-hosts Altadena Talks, a grassroots radio show and podcast launched in response to the fires.

What EBONY is saying

“Standing in the Ashes reflects what EBONY Voices was created to do—center humanity, honor legacy, and ensure our communities are not reduced to statistics in moments of crisis,” Bridgeman Sklenar said in the release. “These families remind us that rebuilding is not just about homes, but about protecting history, culture, and the right to remain rooted where generations before them built a future.”

Impact of the Eaton wildfire

According to the release, the Eaton wildfire:

• Claimed 19 lives
• Destroyed or damaged 9,418 homes and buildings

The release also cites a UCLA Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies data study indicating disproportionate impacts in Altadena:

• At least 60% of affected homes were Black households
• 61% of Black households were within the fire perimeter (vs. 50% of non-Black households)
• Nearly half of Black households experienced destruction or major damage
• A majority of Black homeowners in the area are over age 65

Where to watch

“Standing in the Ashes: One Year After the Altadena Fires” is available now as part of EBONY Voices:

• https://www.ebony.com/ebony-voices-remembering-altadena/

About EBONY

For 80 years, EBONY has chronicled the Black American experience and has expanded into a multimedia brand spanning EBONY, EBONY Studios, and JET, with a stated mission to Move Black Forward.

Sources: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ebony-media-debuts-ebony-voices-with-short-film-standing-in-the-ashes-marking-one-year-since-altadena-fires-302656624.html , https://www.ebony.com/ebony-voices-remembering-altadena/

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