A Few Highlights of the Gateway Films/ Vision Video Story

Ken Curtis, our company founder and president, then a young minister and TV producer in Boston, helped Hollywood producer, Dick Ross form a small film company to communicate the gospel in secular cinemas.

First Film: The Cross and the Switchblade, the life-changing story of gang member, Nicky Cruz and preacher, David Wilkerson.

Did you know?

The Cross and the Switchblade has since been translated into more than 30 languages and continues to be a much requested Vision Video title.

Factoid:

The Cross and Switchblade did quite well in theatres, but unfortunately, the upstart film company that produced and marketed it ran out of capital and filed Chapter 11 receivership proceedings. The Limited Partners assumed responsibility, and the federal receiver appointed Ken Curtis to lead a new company to continue distribution.

Thus, Gateway Films was established, not out of any strategic plan, but in response to a crisis. The first office was in the old Gulf and Western building in Columbus Circle in New York where the last of the previous Ross offices was located. Gateway was soon moved to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

1972

Gateway Films extends its outreach into the “non-theatrical“ world of 16mm providing films for churches, schools, civic organizations, prisons, military, and other organizations.

1976

Ken Curtis receives PhD from the Institute of Advanced Studies in Education of Walden University. His doctoral thesis examines mass media and culture through the lens of the incremental influence of television advertising.

1979

Released John Hus, the first in our church history series; a film on the 15th-century pre-reformation trailblazer, Jan Hus, in cooperation with Faith for Today in California.

1981

Vision Video started as a separate entity from Gateway Films to assess and test the viability of the newly emerging video industry.

1982

Produced and released the historical Drama, First Fruits, a 250^th anniversary true story about the extraordinary devotion of young people and their role in the emergence of the amazing Moravian missionary movement.

Factoid:

First Fruits was chosen as the Winner of “Best Film of the Year” Award by the Christian Film Distribution Association.

Did you know?

The first two young men who went as missionaries to the slaves on St. Thomas were willing to become slaves themselves, if they had to, in order to proclaim the Gospel.

1982

Christian History Institute was started as a sister company to Gateway Films and produced its first issue of Christian History Magazine.

Christian History Magazine developed a strong following and won several awards. This quarterly publication was published by Christianity Today International under the title Christian History and Biography for many years. In 2010 Christian History Institute resumed responsibility for publishing the magazine and return to the original name Christian History Magazine.

1982

Corporate office moved to current location-2030 Wentz Church Rd, Worcester, PA

Did you know?

Vision Video is located down a long country road and is headquartered in a converted, cedar plank, red barn with lofty ceilings and an old wood-burning pipe stove.

1986

Co-produced Shadowlands with the BBC, dramatizing C. S. Lewis’ crisis of faith after his wife died of cancer.

Factoid:

This original Shadowlands was called “best film of the year” by the New York Times and won the International Emmy Award for “Best Drama.”

Did you know?

This original TV drama inspired the popular theatrical film of the same name starring Debra Winger and Anthony Hopkins as well as the stage play that had successful runs in several countries.

1990

Produced and released the The Trial and Testimony of the Early Church, the story of the persecution of the early church, from the time of Christ to Constantine.

Winner of Golden Eagle Award at CINE Film Festival, Chris Award at Columbus International Film Festival, Gold Award at Houston International Film Festival and Silver Angel Award.

1992

Co-produced Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory with Oxford University Press, WTTW-Chicago, and the Pew Foundation - hosted by Dr. Randall Balmer, an intimate look at who the Evangelicals are, what they believe and what difference their faith makes in their lives.

1995

Produced and released Reformation Overview - Six half-hour programs featuring key reformers and major turning points: John Wycliffe, John Hus, Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, John Calvin, The Anabaptists, and William Tyndale. These were based on longer dramas in our film collection with new materials supplied. This series quickly became a standard curriculum resource for many high schools, colleges, universities, and seminaries in Reformation studies.

1996

Obtained the exclusive rights from Universal Studios to distribute Peter and Paul an outstanding series based on the New Testament book of Acts. Stars Anthony Hopkins and Robert Foxworth. 

Did you know?

Peter and Paul won two Emmy Awards.

1998

Christian History Institute release: Candle in the Dark, the story of the life of the Father of Modern Missions, William Carey, completed.

Winner of Gold Awards at Worldfest Houston, Christian Broadcasting Commission of the UK and Aurora Awards. Also won Best Drama at Christian European Vision Media Association and the Gold Eagle CINE Award.

Factoid:

It took 12 years to develop and finish this film on the life of William Carey because of various start-up delays. The film starred Richard Attlee in the role of Carey. He is the grandson of Clement Attlee the British Prime Minister who presided over the transfer of independence to the Indian nation.

Did you know?

The practice of "sati" - the burning alive of widows when their husbands died - troubled Carey so much that he would not rest until this practice was stopped.   

1998

Produced and released Jesus: the New Way with noted British scholar, Dr. Tom Wright, which uncovers fascinating backgrounds from the first-century world in which Jesus lived and shows how he was indeed a “new way” then and continues to be for us today.

Winner of Gold Award at Worldfest-Flagstaff and Chris Statuette at the Columbus International Film & Video Festival.

2000

Co-produced with the BBC and 1A Productions and released Tales from the Madhouse.  Contemporary versions of old and familiar characters in the Gospels linked by one unifying and crucial event: each has had an encounter with Jesus of Nazareth, an experience that has left an indelible mark.

Winner of Gold International CINDY Award at the Spring 2002 Edition of the International Cinema in Individual Competition, Won Most Creative Story Line at the 2001 WYSWYG Film Festival, Silver Crown Award for Best Drama under 250K at the International Christian Visual Media.

2000

First DVD release - The Fourth Wise Man - the story of the other wise man. A fictional story set in biblical times about a magi who sees a sign in the heavens that he hopes will lead him and his faithful servant to the Messiah. A deeply moving experience examining what true faith really means. Stars Martin Sheen and Alan Arkin.

2001

Co-Produced with BBC Education The Test of Time a four half-hour series which asks how the teachings of Jesus fare in a post-modern society. Series wins the British Academy Award for Best Youth Television Program and Gold Crown Award for Best Documentary, Best Series and Best Curriculum at the 2002 International Christian Visual Media. Also won the Gold Special Jury Award in the Family Matters category at the 2002 International Christian Visual Media.

2001

Vision Video helps launch Faith TV, a new full-time digital satellite television channel. It is carried by the Sky Angel satellite subscription service on the DISH network and is now available to over 12 million cable homes.

2002

Dr. Ken Curtis, first American to be given the CEVMA (Christian European Visual Media Association) Lifetime Achievement Award in September Conference on the Channel Island of Guernsey.

Company president Ken Curtis diagnosed with advanced cancer. Through an aggressive program combining traditional medicine with alternative and complementary therapies he has been blessed with wonderful results and continues with the company. However, his son, Bill Curtis, has taken over most of the day-to-day oversight of the company.

2003

Ken Curtis given Christian Films and Television Commission’s “Faith and Values Award” for “his impact on Redeeming the Values of the Entertainment Media” at the MovieGuide Hollywood Awards Ceremony.

2005

Released first title in Torchlighters series, on the life of missionary martyr Jim Elliot. Stunning, half-hour, action-packed program, geared for ages 8-12, uses top quality animation to bring to life the stories of those who lived extraordinary lives or died to share the gospel.

Won the Gold Remi Award at the 2006 Worldfest Houston and the Gold Crown Award for Best Children’s Film at the 2006 International Christian Visual Media Association.

Released second episode in the Torchlighters series in November, on the life of Bible translator William Tyndale. Winner of the Gold Remi Award from Worldfest Houston and several Crown Awards, including Silver for Best Curriculum and Bronze for Best Picture.

2006

Completion and release of Robber of the Cruel Streets: The Prayerful Life of George Muller. Co-produced with CTA and UCB in England and ERF in Germany.

Filming in Israel by Bill and Ken Curtis in co-production with Nazareth Village of series: “You Don’t Have to be Afraid Anymore—Reflections on 23rd Psalm for People with Cancer.” This series explores a holistic view of dealing with cancer based on Ken’s personal experience.

Released third episode in the Torchlighters series, on the life of John Bunyan, author of The Pilgrim’s Progress. Winner of two Gold Crown Awards from International Christian Visual Media.

2007

Completion and release of Reflections on Psalm 23 for People with Cancer. Winner of multiple awards including Gold Crown Award for Best Series, Silver Crown Award for Best Documentary, The Freddie Award from International Health and Medical Media and more.

Released fourth episode in the Torchlighters series, on the life of Eric Liddell, Olympic champion and missionary to China. Winner of three Silver Crown Awards from International Christian Visual Media.

2008

Discontinued VHS and sell only DVDs.

Released fifth episode in the Torchlighters series, on the life Gladys Aylward, missionary who helped 100 orphaned children reach safety in war-torn China. Winner of the Gold Remi Award from Worldfest Houston and the Silver Crown Award for Best Series.

Completion and release of “You don’t have to feel alone anymore-“Reflections on The Lord’s Prayer for People with Cancer,” the second in the series with Ken Curtis. Winner of Remi Gold Award from Worldfest Houston and Bronze Crown Award for Best Series from International Christian Visual Media.

Released sixth episode in the Torchlighters series in December, on the life of Richard Wurmbrand, founder of The Voice of the Martyrs.

2009

Released seventh episode in the Torchlighters series, on the life of early church martyr, Perpetua.

Torchlighter series celebrates milestone. Over 100,000 Torchlighter DVDs now in homes, churches and schools throughout the United States, with untold thousands in other parts of the world!

2010

Release of first episode of History of Christian Worship: The Word, produced by Ensign Media

Completion and release of Wesley: A Heart Transformed Can Change the World, a full-length drama on the life of John Wesley, the spiritual father of Methodism. Directed by John Jackman and produced by Foundery Pictures with Gillder Frontier in cooperation with Christian History Institute and Comenius Foundation. Winner of two Crown Awards: Silver for Best Drama over $250,000 and Bronze for Best Picture.

Completion and release of “You Don’t Have to Feel Angry Anymore—Reflections on The Beatitudes for People with Cancer,” the third in the series with Ken Curtis.

Release of KJV:The Making of King James Bible, produced by Christian History Institute and Cartesian Coordinates.

Released eighth episode in the Torchlighters series, on the life of Amy Carmichael, missionary to India and founder of the Dohnavur Fellowship.

Completion and release of C.H. Spurgeon: The People’s Preacher, a docu-drama on the life of one of the greatest preachers in the history of the church. An international coproduction with CTA Productions in association with Christian History Institute, CWR (UK), ERF Germany. Winner of Bronze Crown Award.