REVEREND CECIL “CHIP” MURRAY INVOLVED WITH  “COLOR OF THE CROSS

REVEREND CECIL “CHIP” MURRAY INVOLVED WITH THE FIRST BLACK JESUS MOVIE, “COLOR OF THE CROSS”!! The most controversial religious approach to the life of Jesus Christ

LOS ANGELES- February 20, 2006- Rev. Cecil “Chip” Murray, for over twenty-seven years served as the senior pastor of Los Angeles’ First African Methodist Episcopal Church (FAME). He has been a prominent influential leader to over eighteen thousand members in the community and around the globe. Rev. Murray and his church’s efforts to end community violence during the 1992 Rodney King riot are continuously recognized in our city’s religious and civil landscapes.

Rev. Cecil “Chip” Murray is a distinguished civic leader who brought forth a wealth of knowledge and support to his involvement in the writing and production of the film, “Color of the Cross.” He believes this version of Jesus Christ has been long overdue. “I think that people will welcome this as a fresh perspective, especially as well-researched as this story is,” said Rev. Murray.

“Color of the Cross,” an independent, biblically charged religious biopic, based on the last 48 hours of Christ’s life, stands to be the most controversial depiction of Jesus to date. The film is unique in two distinct ways: The first dramatic film in Hollywood history ever to depict Christ as a black man. Secondly, it is the first Christian based film to inject race as a possible factor in the Crucifixion of Christ. This racial perspective to the conventional biblical story is sure to challenge Conservative Christian beliefs. The film places racial issues front and center in this growing religious discourse that is sure to become an additional topic for debate. According to Producer, Kenneth Halsband, “When you see the black man on the cross, you are immediately reminiscent of the 1960’s… Our film hopes to heal those wounds”. The film, independently financed is currently in production and scheduled for theatrical release in fall 2006.

“Color of the Cross,” was written and directed by lead actor Jean Claude LaMarre and stars Debbi Morgan (“Coach Carter,” “Woman Thou Art Loosed”) as Mary, the mother of Jesus, and TV Personality/ Host Correspondent Ananda Lewis (MTV, BET, Entertainment Tonight).

The film is a Nu-Lite Entertainment production, and producers are Rev. Cecil “Chip” Murray, Jessie Levostre, Kenneth Halsband, Executive Producers Lila Aviv, Paul Noe, Marc Porterfield, Michele Gonda and Co-producer Marcello Thedford. (For more information on “Color of the Cross” visit:)