Updated Mission Statement - 7/3/2013

                              MISSION STATEMENT

The primary mission of Higher Ground Films is to reach the un-churched and lost through high-quality motion pictures, television programs and other creative digital media using the biblical message of hope and love through Jesus Christ.

Our secondary purpose is to guide Christians through the trials and tribulations which all peoples on this earth will face in the times ahead regardless of their faith—according to Bible scripture and what we are seeing in current events.

Until now, Christians and others have viewed the persecuted church at a distance. Our mission is to bring the suffering up close and personal while exposing the tactics that are being used against the people of God. Our goal is to produce high quality fiction films inspired by true events. Our desire is to glorify God with these films and other media while dispersing the romantic assumption that we are the heroes and they are the ones persecuted.

Unlike traditional Christian films, Higher Ground Films tells stories that appeal to both Christians  and non-Christians alike, using a wholesome and entertaining storytelling style. In accomplishing this goal, we employ the best practices that follow God’s instructions for the staff and employees at Higher Ground Films to be good stewards of our talents, and the resources He gives us.

We hope to draw our audiences closer, giving them a glimpse into the real lives of those forced to hide their faith in order to avoid persecution, and clarify the false assumptions that this could never happen to us. This persecution could, and is beginning to happen to us in some parts of the United States, England, Australia and other countries as it infiltrates, impacts, and distorts our society, our politics, our laws and our faith.

Higher Ground Films will employ the best time-proven Hollywood storytelling and production techniques; use talented actors, directors and crew; create productions that entertain and inform audiences; and be good stewards of the resources that are given to us as we spread Christ’s message to the world.

In everything we do, Higher Ground Films will be led by prayer, devotion to God, strong Christian principles, and by demonstrating love and patience to those who disagree with us. We will be a positive example and witness for Christians and unbelievers alike. Our vision is for movies, TV shows, documentaries, educational videos, books, other creative digital content, mentoring and training programs produced by Higher Ground Films to be a legacy reflecting Christ’s love that outlives all of us.

Our inspirational scripture comes from: Mark 16:15,

Then he told them, "As you go into all the world, proclaim the gospel to everyone.” *

* International Standard Version (©2012)

The Birds are Flying--The Buzz is On

If you think you're seeing a lot of birds flying around your head tweeting about Higher Ground Films and our first movie, Abducted to Kill, you're in focus. We just opened a twitter account for Higher Ground Films - Check us out at http://twitter.com/HigherGroundFlm

Abducted to Kill Synopsis

Story by PolaMuzyka

Script by LenaNelson Dooley

Joseph was born in the United States to an Iranian father and Jewish Christian mother, He knew little about his father’s home land until, as a young teen, his father decides to move the family back to Iran. The night before they are to leave, Joseph rebels and refuses to go. His father beats him badly and insists he has no choice.

Once inside the borders of Iran, Joseph eventually makes new friends, and meets Azita, a young woman with whom he falls madly in love. He adjusts to his new life in this strangle land, although he must now live in an environment that is curiously hostile toward women, Americans, Christians, Jews, and others. He learns quickly to keep his citizenship, and his faith, to himself in order to avoid imprisonment, torture, or death.

Azita teaches him to speak Farsi, the language of his new homeland, and is surprised that he has no accent. This gift later proves to be both a blessing and a curse for him. He graduates, and his father arranges an apprenticeship as manager of a restaurant. But Joseph isn’t working long before new developments steer the course of his entire life in an area he never expected. The tide changes—the government is changing, too.

After the new regime takes power, friends begin to disappear. There are reports of female friends being tortured and murdered, and the young men being abducted. But, why? Joseph later discovers they are being abducted into a militia. One afternoon Joseph and a friend are thrown into the back of a car and forced to become “volunteers” in this new militia—the early formation of the Hezbollah.

Joseph endures mental and physical torture a he participates in, and witnesses horrific acts against those considered the enemy, as well as against obviously innocent civilians. Men, woman, and young children are chosen to be martyrs. The only thing that keeps Joseph motivated is his secret faith in God, and his love for Azita, who came to Christ because of him. As a Muslim turned Christian she is now doomed to die. Joseph is determined to protect her and his family and decides to escape the abduction at all costs. Those costs proved to be more than he could bear. While he is in hiding at an underground camp for fugitives a message he receives tells him that Azita has been killed.

Hearing of his love’s death, Joseph refuses to leave. But those who are helping him, insist. He reluctantly moves forward because of a promise he has made to Azita. Finally, he is able to obtain passage home through a smelly old fishing boat off the coast of Bushehr. Enemies of Iran continuously bomb a nuclear facility being built there, and the bombing is his perfect cover.

Once outside Iran he encounters a new barrier to his objectives—in Italy the U.S. CIA takes him captive and questions him before delivering him to the U.S. Embassy. After more questioning at the Embassy, Joseph is freed and given a passport back to the country of his birth. That’s when he discovers that Azita is still alive. His new life begins with the joy of knowing they are both safe but the stigma of being a former abductee of the Hezbollah army still remains.

Searching for Joseph

#searchingforjoseph

Higher Ground Films presents "Abducted to Kill", based on a novel by author/producer Pola Muzyka, screenplay by Lena Nelson Dooley. 

Searching with us are: Line-Producer and First AD, Porter Versfelt (Versfelt Communications), Editor, Mike Gorga (MEGCOMM Productions), Production Coordinator, Del Baron, (Living Water Films), Head of Marketing, Social Media, & Design, Joshua Muzyka, (MuzSolutions), Marketing & Social Media, Taylor Owenby, Art Consultant, Peter Muzyka, Special Effects Artist, Emmy Lau, and the list goes on. Are you with us?
 
We found Azita (Nena Hashemizadeh). But where is Joseph? We will not rest until we find him.

We urge you to be on the lookout for Joseph. God knows where he is.

Joseph (Yousef) – Our main hero. Attractive young man in his early 20s – someone who can go younger or older for certain scenes. Looks Iranian, speaks Farsi without an accent, dark hair, brown hazel eyes. Character is strong and able to look hardened, but is sympathetic on the inside with moments of remorse. He is the romantic suitor of Azita, moved to Iran when he was a teen, slightly jealous of his brother's relationship with his father, admires and protects his mother but does not have a mamma's boy look.