Bishop T.D. Jakes may soon be saying some hosannas for Hollywood. A third movie associated with the Potter’s House pastor, a family-oriented comedy called Jumping the Broom, is set to open May 6 on 2,000 screens, up from 400 screens and 750 screens for Jakes’ previous flicks.
Another collaboration between Jakes and Sony Pictures Entertainment, Jumping boasted a $6.5 million budget and was shot on location in Nova Scotia. Thanks to incentives, says Jakes (shown in photo by Jeanne Prejean), the filmmakers got 30 percent more bang for their bucks there.
At a jam-packed pre-screening party Saturday at the Beverly Drive manse of Jeff Rich and Jan Miller–Jan’s Dupree Miller & Associates literary agency handles Jakes’ books–a crowd including Jody Grant, Royce West, Carol Reed and John Wiley Price toasted the Dallas-based Jakes and cast members such as Laz Alonso and Angela Basset. With his earlier, $3 million (budget) film titled Woman Thou Art Loosed having grossed $6.8 million so far, would the bishop be willing to disclose his revenue goal for Jumping? “No,” Jakes said, laughing good-naturedly. “I’m scared to do that!”
