A Republican congressman will conduct an inquiry why a billboard advertising the DVD release of "God's Not Dead 2" was rejected for display at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio.
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher will find out why the filmmakers behind the movie were given the runaround, eventually leading to the cancellation of the planned billboard display, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
He wants to know why the sign advertising the August 16 DVD release of the film was interpreted as too "incendiary" for the Republication National Convention which started Monday.
"I think it's up to the Republicans to explain why something so significant to a vital part of its constituency was treated this way. There's no excuse to be taking the Christian vote for granted," said Rohrabacher.
The sign will feature actress Melissa Joan Hart, who stars in the movie, with the words "I'd rather stand with God and be judged by the world, than stand with the world and be judged by God," which come from the film.
The Hollywood Reporter reported that several emails were exchanged between Orange Barrel Media, the sign company, and the filmmakers that the display had to be cancelled.
In one email, Orange Barrel said the sign would never be approved as it is "too political" and "way too incendiary."
Cleveland said it had a problem with the size of the sign, which was 32 x 60 feet, and the location, but not the content.
The filmmakers said the RNC would have approved the sign since it was co-sponsoring a screening of the movie in Cleveland.
"I don't know who is to blame, but I will be asking. I will be tracking this down. This didn't play out well, and it could cost the Republicans," said Rohrabacher.
Orange Barrel denied that there was bias involved.
But Steve Fedyski, the COO of Pure Flix, the distributor of the film, said the sign company "picked the building and the size, and advertised that it was available."
Fedyski agreed to pay $64,100 for the sign two months ago.
"They dragged us along for weeks. Now, right up against the convention date, they say we aren't approved. My speculation is that someone, somewhere didn't want our message out," he said.
