Russell Wolfe, CEO & Managing Partner Pure Flix Entertainment, Inc.; Owner/President Premier Event Management. He resides in Scottsdale, Arizona with wife, Alysoun and their 2 young children. Click to watch Russell Wolfe on Vimeo
Russell Wolfe found Pinnacle Forum in 2008, just 3 years after the inception of Pure Flix, the largest producing Christian Film Studio in the world. His films reach millions for Christ, but it’s a battle. He’s taunted by critics as they mock Christianity on social media. (Check out the comments on his latest project, godsnotdeadthemovie.com.) He compared Pinnacle Forum to a scene from the movie,” Gladiator,” where they chant “as one” in unison; a rally cry.
“You don’t feel like you’re alone in the battle. It’s encouraging knowing there’s this whole group of people that are in the trenches, we’re getting dirty, we’re on the front line. It’s a lot of work and there’s a lot of pain, but at the same time I feel like we are making a difference.”
“It’s not as glamorous as the movies going on in Hollywood,” says Wolfe. But he wouldn’t have it any other way.
His other business, a large scale event management company, handles national and international corporate projects and commercial work for companies like, BMW, Volvo and Mercedes. Wolfe was at the top of his game when a missionary trip to the middle of the jungle changed everything. He made a documentary of that journey called, “Travel the Road” which advanced into a Christian TV Adventure series, hitting number one on networks like TBN, INSB and Daystar. Affected by the fulfillment of sharing the gospel ‘to the ends of the earth,’ he was sold out to work for Christ and wanted to use the power of the movies to reach hearts, to help people heal and grow.
“When people sit back in theaters or at home and they’re watching a movie in a dark room, you have that screen up there and literally, you’ll let that film take you places that you would never let your closest friend take you- good or bad. Places you’d never go, either emotionally or for ideas you hadn’t been exposed to before.”
The ‘oneness’ of Pinnacle Forum moves Wolfe.
“At the conventions you have a large group of people that have the same heart and desire to share the gospel, to change your culture, to make a difference for Christ. The friendships, the heart of the people- I could think of many examples – Ralph Palmen, his heart; Kent and Shelley Bunger, we’re close to them. It’s just great to surround yourself with people of integrity like that. Iron sharpens iron, and hopefully I’m an example of that to someone else.”
“Thank you for being in the trenches. We’re gaining ground in this battle to turn the tide on our culture globally. And if we didn’t do it, I mean who would? And that’s the peace.”
