Paulist Productions’ new film Hollywood Priest: The Story of Father Bud Kieser will be premiering on PBS World on Christmas Day at 5 am EST, 2 am PST, 11 am EST and 8 am PST. This charming, nostalgic holiday film tells the story of Fr. Ellwood “Bud” Kieser. Watch the trailer here.
During his tenure in Los Angeles, Fr. Bud hosted a nationally broadcast television show called Insight during which he interviewed many of the biggest stars of that time. The show even won him six Emmys!
Martin Sheen and Fr. Bud on the set of Insight
Hollywood Priest goes behind the scenes to tell Fr. Bud’s story in its entirety and includes interviews with some of the stars whose lives his work touched, including: Bob Newhart (Elf, Newhart), Martin Sheen (The West Wing, Apocalypse Now), Marion Ross (Happy Days), John Amos (Roots, Good Times), and Tim Matheson (Fletch, Animal House). Watch a clip of the late Bob Newhart in Hollywood Priest sharing about his time on Insight here.
Bob Newhart and Fr. Bud on the set of Insight
While Fr. Bud’s work clearly inspired decades of Hollywood stars, we’ve compiled a list of five ways that his legacy can inspire a new Hollywood, today.
5 Ways “Hollywood Priest” Can Inspire A New Hollywood
- Fr. Bud managed to do one of the hardest things that a person of faith can attempt to do: to be in the world, but not of it. By positioning himself not just in Hollywood but on television screens in homes across America, he was able to not just join but lead cultural conversations across the country. Modern day Catholics can learn from Fr. Bud’s example by participating in the larger culture, instead of fearing it. When believers carry the light of Christ on such a large reaching platform as television, they can provide illumination for hundreds of thousands of people in a single day!
- Instead of just using Insight as a chance to deliver moralistic lectures, Fr. Bud instead packaged his program as anthology storytelling, which illustrated his lessons through entertainment, instead of beratement. Believers seeking to create film and television today can learn from the way that he evangelized with nuance, heart and creativity.
- Fr. Bud didn’t wait for the perfect conditions before he began creating. He created Insight on a shoestring budget and his cast and crew, inspired by his message, often worked for free. Today, men and women in entertainment and the arts can learn from his faith. He always made the most with what he already had and believed that God would provide the rest.
- Despite his devotion to evangelizing within entertainment, Fr. Bud refused to make his work an idol. In the 80’s, Catholic Relief Services brought him to Africa, to witness the hunger crisis first hand. The trip permanently changed him and when he returned to the States, he brought his experience back with him and allowed it to color his work for the rest of his life. Similarly, Catholics in Hollywood today should allow their hearts to remain soft to the suffering around them and allow that suffering to influence their work for good.
- After his time in Africa, Fr. Bud was inspired to executive produce the film Romero (1989) starring Raul Julia. The story of Archbishop Oscar Romero is gritty, intense and compelling. By choosing to confront the hard facts of life, faith and warfare, he did more good than he ever could have by just focusing on the easy and uncomplicated things in life. Catholics in the media can borrow some of Fr. Bud’s courage and choose to tell stories that challenge not only themselves but their audiences too.
