(RNS) A new movie confronts a controversial topic by highlighting two words that don’t typically go together: “abortion” and “survivor.”

“We didn’t know there was such a thing,” said Jon Erwin, who wrote and co-directed “October Baby” with his brother, Andrew.

The film, the latest in a recent string of Christian-themed movies, opens Friday (March 23) and has broken into Hollywood despite rejection at first by many studios.

The movie tells the story of Hannah, a 19-year-old college student who finds out that she not only is adopted, but she is a survivor of a

failed abortion attempt, which explains why she has been suffering from health problems all her life.

Hannah, played by newcomer Rachel Hendrix, journeys to find her birth mother and explore her own identity as she learns the power of forgiveness and love.

The inspiration for the movie came when the Christian filmmakers heard an abortion survivor named Gianna Jessen speak at an event. “We were just moved and inspired by her story. We knew we needed to do something,” Erwin said.

The film, shot in four weeks on a tight budget in the producer’s home state of Alabama, includes lessons of honor, sacrifice, love — and some humor, too, said Erwin.

“People respond to these virtues no matter what,” he added. “They ultimately come from Jesus, but we display them for what they are, which we hope is appealing to people.”

Erwin, who was raised in the anti-abortion movement, hopes the faith virtues built into the film do not “alienate anybody.”

Since most Hollywood studios rejected the film, anti-abortion and Christian organizations stepped in to fund it — something the director hopes “makes a loud statement and makes others notice.”

Focus on the Family, the Colorado-based Christian ministry, is one of the film’s supporters.

“The movie does a beautiful job of revealing two things: The dignity and value of every human life and the beauty of adoption,” said Kelly Rosati, the group’s vice president of community outreach. “We think it will be worthwhile to viewers.”

The Erwin brothers started out their careers as cameramen for ESPN and the NFL and then switched to directing music videos and working with Christian artists such as Amy Grant, Switchfoot and Casting Crowns. They credit their motivation to produce “October Baby” to the Kendrick brothers, the pioneers of church-based filmmaking with “Fireproof” and “Facing the Giants.”

The brothers’ movie was made “out of respect” and as a way to “honor” what the Kendricks have done in the industry, said the director.

“There’s a way we can make movies representing what we believe that also have a mass appeal,” Erwin added.

The movie, rated PG-13, also stars John Schneider (“Dukes of Hazzard”), Jasmine Guy (“A Different World”) and Shari Rigby (“The Young and the Restless”).

“God’s really on the move in Christian filmmaking,” said Erwin.

The following is going to make me sound like an old man, but I think the questions I have are still valid. Why did Warner Bros., the same studio who entertains our children with The Cartoon Network, think that green-lighting the new teen film “Project X” was a good idea?

In the press release for the new movie, it is described this way: “Project X” follows three seemingly anonymous high school seniors as they attempt to finally make a name for themselves. Their idea is innocent enough: let’s throw a party that no one will forget, and have a camera there, to document history in the making… but nothing could prepare them for this party.Word spreads quickly as dreams are ruined, records are blemished and legends are born. “Project X” is a warning to parents and police everywhere.”

Doesn’t sound so bad.

Anyone remember “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off?” The press release also states, “The film has been rated R by the MPAA for crude and sexual content throughout, nudity, drugs, drinking, pervasive language, reckless behavior and mayhem—all involving teens.”

“Project X” is Director Nima Nourizadeh’s feature film debut, follows the long-tired “lost footage” format and doesn’t boast any star power. Early reviews of the film have been dismal.

While making raunchy teen comedies is nothing new and the world will go on as we know it, I still wonder why a studio as big as Warner Bros. wouldn’t try to be a little more responsible in its programming.

Due to increased knowledge of how harmful cigarette smoking is, smoking is rarely seen in movies today. So, why would a studio produce a movie aimed at teens and encourage underage drinking and drugs?

How is it that Warner Bros., who put out the squeaky clean “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island” just a few weeks ago, be so dumb?

Personally, I thought the film was “so-so” but my teenage sons loved it. As of last weekend, it was still in third place in the top ten movies sales, proving that a movie doesn’t have to be anti-family values to be profitable. Would Disney ever make that same mistake?