Fireproof, an independently produced movie starring Kirk "Growing Pains" Cameron as a firefighter whose marriage is about to go up in flames, has now raked in over $13 million at the box office. Typically, a $13 million gross doesn't get your average Hollywood producer burning with envy. But when it only costs $500,000 to produce, well, yes it does! How has Fireproof achieved its success? In part, by keeping production costs down by using a cast and crew made up mainly of church volunteers. (Cameron worked for free too.) Fireproof has also benefited from churches offering free childcare to parents who'd like to see the film.
While we can totally envision a few Hollywood bigshots trying to co-opt the all-volunteer-crew technique, we're not so sure how many would be willing to offer complimentary babysitting services to potential customers. With the exception, of course, of Angelina Jolie, who may even go the Fireproof gang one better and offer to adopt your child if you go see her latest effort, the upcoming Changeling.