Frequently Asked Questions

Fabiola is an authentically Catholic film about a pagan Roman noblewoman who inadvertently surrounds herself with Christians of all classes—slaves, beggars, praetorians, and even school boys who all uphold their faith in the face of torture and death challenging her to choose between her blissfully ignorant pampered existence and the austere life of the Christians she admires.

Fabiola is a religious drama which blends the timely inspiration of the martyrs during the Great Persecution with the emotional depth of a Jane Austen film and the suspenseful plot twists found in Chesterton's Mysteries of Fr. Brown. 

Set in ancient Rome and driven by religious conflict, it tells the story of a philosopher who is left with unanswered questions about the meaning and purpose of life.

Budget: $1.25 million, encompassing production

This Offering: $1.18 million

Revenue Projections: Anticipated box office revenue of $4 million with additional revenue from streaming, digital sales, and ancillary streams estimated to exceed an additional $2 million.

Target Audience: People who hold traditional Christian values, whether they be teenagers, families, mothers and fathers, or senior couples.

Marketing Strategy: Partnering with influencers, utilizing IndustriousFamily.com's newsletter, website and social media accounts. Targeted and strategic PR.

Distribution Plan: A blend of pre-screenings in 30 cities, limited theatrical release, selling licenses for private screenings, digital streaming platforms and physical DVDs.

We have been in contact with EDreamsFactory and SDG for a theatrical release. As far as streaming goes, we will release it on Catholic and Christian streaming platforms, especially Industrious Family Theater, as well as more mainstream platforms like Amazon.

Fabiola is a religious drama about a pagan Roman noblewoman who after realizing that all she thought to be true is false, struggles to undo all wrongs and outrages committed by Rome by first acting on a physical level to right wrongs before all those she loves are arrested, tortured and executed for the faith. This becomes increasingly difficult because she thought the Christians were evil and if she converts she too may lose everything material that she holds dear. 

Fabiola is vain and prideful. She is cultured and she enjoys thinking of herself as a philosopher. Further, she has many suitors as she is pretty, smart and from a noble family. She is quick to anger especially when her vanity is wounded. 

When her father dies unexpectedly she is flung into a state of despair and confusion as she tries to make sense of the meaning of life and explore questions about the after life. The one thing that pulls her out of her indulgence in self pity is recalling all the conversations that she has had with her Christian slave, Syra. Fabiola begins to think that the Christian religious philosophy is quite comforting and answers all the questions she never allowed herself to think about.

Fabiola then begins a conversion as she discovers that her dear and favorite younger cousin St. Agnes is a Christian. Agnes is martyred. Then the one man Fabiola truly found to be the perfect specimen of manliness and virtue, St. Sebastian, is martyred not only once but twice. In a desperate last attempt to save him, she begs the emperor for Sebastian’s life but it is too late as he is cudgled to death just before she is able to put her request to the emperor. 

All throughout this conversion process, she is pestered by the presence of Fulvius, a grasping social climber who above all wants to pursue wealth and pleasure. Fulvius is everything Sebastian is not. Fulvius is selfish, effeminate in the way that he lacks manly virtues, and is a constant thorn in Fabiola’s side. 

When Fulvius is exposed as behind Agnes’ arrest and execution Fabiola is instrumental in his having to flee from Rome. Fabiola exposes Fulvius for all the crimes that he committed while his evil sidekick, Corvinus, steals the livelihood that Fulvius would have gotten from turning Agnes in to the authorities. Fulvius has no choice but to flee or be tried for treason. This is a pivotal moment in Fabiola’s life as she is finally free from his evil intentions.

All through this however there is a real inner struggle that must be overcome in the souls of both Fabiola and Fulvius. Through his exile Fulvius meets St. Hilarion and has the opportunity to learn more about the Christian faith while Fabiola is free from the outward goal of exposing Fulvius to begin tending to her true conversion and cultivating a devout interior life.

The boy martyrs St. Pancratius and St. Tarcisius, the virgin martyrs St. Agnes and St. Emerentiana, and of course the well-known soldier martyr St. Sebastian are portrayed in a new light as they interact with those who surround them in pagan Rome. 

These are not characters who cower to the leaders of their day, but men and women who are not afraid to stand up and defend their Faith against the power of kings even in the face of martyrdom.

In Fabiola, you will experience baptisms in the catacombs and martyrdoms in the amphitheater.

You’ll witness the brave and manly St. Sebastian be martyred not once but twice; first struck by many arrows then surviving only to be cudgeled to death before the emperor.

In contrast, you’ll meet Fulvius and his villainous companion Corvinus as they hunt down and turn in Christians for profit. One victim of theirs is the drunkard and the gambler, Torquatus who during a state of despair and cowardice promises to spy on his fellow Christians.

Fabiola shares the power and influence of the martyrs, depicts parallels between good and evil places, characters and situations and encourages us in a time becoming more and more like the times that the early Christians faced in Ancient Rome. 

Fabiola is a masterful fusion of religious drama, historical fiction and adventure, where relatable characters experience joy and sorrow, defeat and victory, glory and humiliation.

The film will have a serious tone, exploring the deep questions of salvation with sprinklings of humor and comic relief.

The audience will get a good dose of scenes taking place in re-creations of many beloved Catholic locations unique to the Eternal City such as the catacombs as well as the Basilica of Saint Agnes Outside the Walls.

In this genre similar scale films make between $3-$5M in the box-office. With a $1.25M budget the return on investment is good if Fabiola sees a $3-$5M box-office run.

Christianity today may be something we take for granted as a basic right. But it wasn’t always this way. Before the Christians could preach freely, they had to convert the empire that nearly covered the known world: Rome.

Fabiola's journey shows the stark contrasts between the good and evil characters that influence her life, causing her to question whether Christianity is right or wrong. This film delves into the trials faced by the early Christians highlighting their willing sacrifice which watered the faith that soon spread through the largest empire in the world.

This story also explores how Christianity embraces all people despite their race or placement in history. In this movie you will see Europeans, Asians, Africans and Greeks be welcomed into the open arms of Holy Mother Church.

May the Church, in her days of peace and of victories, never forget what she owes to the age of her martyrs! Or maybe during our own time we can say: May the Church, in her agony, draw hope from her days of peace and of victories and unite her current sufferings with that of her early martyrs.

Fabiola speaks to the Children of Light who are on the brink of persecution. In addition, it shows early Church characters who react to persecution as we hope to and tells a relatable religious story with inspiring, humorous, suspenseful, and stirring, elements.

Each investment unit is priced at $500, so investors can only invest in increments of $500. Our minimum investment is 3 units, at a total of $1,500. No loan investments will be considered.

Equity investors will receive a pro rata share of the film's net profits based on their investment. Potentially, this could include recoupment of the initial investment plus 20% of the investment.

The creative talent behind Fabiola are all practicing Catholics. You can rest assured then, that this film will uphold moral standards and tell a truly Catholic story. Character depth, setting, and authentic Catholicism make this film unique for audiences.

Viewers can be assured that Fabiola does not rely on cheap romantic relationships to drive the story forward. Friendship, enmity, and spiritual growth are all demonstrated through dynamic characters.

Equity investments qualify for a share in the film's profits.

There are also additional financing options which include opportunities for brand integration through sponsorship and small non-investment contributions (crowdfunding).

Investors will enjoy several benefits, depending on their level of investment:

Invitations to Premieres: Investors will receive exclusive invitations to the film's premieres, including red carpet events and after-parties.

Profit Participation: Investors will have the opportunity to share in the financial success of the film, with the potential for modest returns.

Behind-the-Scenes Access: Investors will gain behind-the-scenes access to the filmmaking process, including set visits and interactions with the cast and crew.

VIP Film Merchandise: Investors will receive VIP film merchandise, including limited-edition posters, DVDs, and other memorabilia.

Co-Executive Producer Credit: Investors who invest over $75,000 will be credited as Co-Executive Producers of the film.

Executive Producer Credit: Investors who invest over $125,000 will be credited as Executive Producers of the film.

Investing in Fabiola is an investment in authentically Catholic entertainment. It builds up our culture and supports the arts.

The Children of Light must resist the Children of Darkness and strive to create good and beautiful art including the art of cinema. When you invest in Fabiola you invest in Catholic art.

Most of the Fabiola cost will be covered by investments, with the remaining funds coming from crowdfunding and other financing avenues.

Fabiola's target audience is people ages 9-99. The film will:

• Inspire hope in Catholic and Christian youth
• Satisfy the middle aged viewers' desire for clean drama
• Give hope of better times to come to the older generation
• Appeal to mature audiences as it delves into themes that will make them think

Budget Breakdown:

1. Payroll: $307,810 - Producer, Crew, Cast, Prop Makers
2. Production $301,360 - Costumes, Props, Transportation, Catering, Post Production (editing, coloring, score, special effects, sound design)
3. Sets: $324,000 - Exterior Sets x16 (streets of Rome, gardens, Forum, baths, Colosseum). Interior Sets x10 (catacombs, prison, rooms)
4. Marketing: $101,800 - Ad placement, Sponsored Content, Public Relation Campaigns, Merchandise Design and Inventory
5. Lease and Fees: $98,795 - Professional Fees, Equipment Lease, Property and Building Lease
6. Contingencies: $113,077

Total: $1,247,142

We are expecting to raise $70,142 in crowdfunding and $1,177,000 to be sourced from investors.

Directors Mary Bowen and Faustina Bowen, known for their project commitment and well rounded understanding of film production, are sure to present you with an impassioned and authentically Catholic rendition of Fabiola.

Fabiola marks Industrious Family’s 22nd production since they began making films in 2017.

Matt Bowen heads set construction and is the chief technician on set. Becket, Patrick, and Declan Bowen make up the production crew, with Becket and Patrick as Head Grips, and the younger Bowens assist on set, continuing the family tradition of learning every aspect of filmmaking.

Talented Christian actors and actresses will bring a dynamic side to the main characters, each of whom experience all of the emotions throughout the film: sorrow, joy, despair, and peace.

These actors will be supported by a cast which includes people who have no desire to experience a Hollywood career and would instead like to use their talent for works that glorify God such as Fabiola.

Director Mary Bowen has been passionate about filmmaking for over a decade, premiering her first full-length film, Outlaws of Ravenhurst, in 2018.

Inspired by The War of the Vendée by Navis Pictures, Mary knew early on that she wanted to make movies. Following Outlaws and many films in between, she premiered the first installment of End of the Santa Fe Trail in early 2026. Now, she looks forward to directing Fabiola, her first full-budget film.

Faustina Bowen has been writing scripts for over eight years, but her love of acting is what drives her passion for filmmaking. She has starred in many of Industrious Family's previous films and will play Afra in Fabiola.

Faustina oversees merchandising, funding, and our streaming service, Industrious Family Theater. She is also currently managing investments for Fabiola. 

Kathleen Bowen, along with Mary and Faustina, helped build Industrious Family, LLC. As the chief financial advisor and producer, Kathleen oversees casting and production budgets alongside her husband, Matt.

She also serves as the company’s website director and lead content writer. Kathleen picks up the slack in the production by doing hair and make-up, catering, overseeing lighting, and ruling as queen of The Gofers.

Industrious Family Films is committed to casting Christian actors who are passionate, talented, and motivated, drawing from Catholic and Protestant performers across the United States.

With this talented lineup, backed by over a decade of experience, Fabiola promises to be a standout film. Two scenes have already been produced, and you can be confident that the same high quality will carry through to the full film.

The Fabiola cast features talented young actor Kaleb McConner as Fulvius. With six years of professional experience in film and theater, Kaleb’s dedication and enthusiasm for the role stood out during auditions, making him the perfect choice to bring Fulvius to life.

Emily Hawk joins the cast as Fabiola. With her background in theater, Emily brings both strength and complexity to her characters. Her portrayal of Fabiola, a woman torn between pride and inner conflict, captivated the team during auditions.

Production is already underway with two scenes being completed.

Optimistically speaking, filming may take between 80-120 shoot days but will not begin in earnest until funds have been secured.

This will allow for intense filming during a handful of weeks before breaking for a few weeks to let our cast and crew recuperate. 

In post-production, the editor will begin working his magic with the raw footage, turning it into a compelling narrative.

The goal is to have Fabiola ready for distribution channels within 6 months after the completion of principal photography, ensuring the film is timely introduced to the market.

Locations are being scouted and reliance will be strongly placed on sets mostly created and designed by the production team, but locations in Idaho's versatile landscapes will also be employed as sets to be more budget friendly. 

We seek to maximize revenue and minimize risk to ensure that our investors get the best return on investment possible.

We will maximize revenue with strategic marketing to target audiences and secure distribution deals with both theatrical and streaming platforms.

Risk will be minimized by prioritizing a stress free experience for cast and crew, and consistently seeking cost effective and budget friendly ways to keep production costs low. 

The talent behind Fabiola is dedicated to bringing this story to life within the parameters of budget and according to the timeline.

There are many factors that make this film's success very likely including:

• Faith films are gaining traction.
• PureFlix and Angel audiences have proven that families want family friendly movies.
• Catholics want movies that are authentically Catholic, not just about characters who are incidentally Catholic.
• Fabiola is based on a beloved novel in both English and Spanish speaking countries.
• High production value will impact future investment opportunities.
• Fabiola will be available on streaming services as well as physical DVDs, allowing a broader reach beyond theatrical release.
• Fabiola has a worldwide appeal.

A skilled team is working on post-production including our lead editor, an award winning colorist, music composer and a sound engineer who will collaborate closely to craft a film that is both visually pleasing and emotionally compelling.

Music Forge, a composer known for his work on Clamavi De Profundis, will compose the soundtrack for Fabiola. This will continue his multi-film collaboration with Industrious Family Films.

His versatility spans multiple genres, from cinematic and epic to folk and pop, and his original compositions will add depth and emotion to the film.

Word will be spread through Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn in addition to Industrious Family Films' blog and RSS to targeted audiences, building organic engagement.

Another place consistently targeting audience members is through Industrious Family's newsletter. This audience is anxiously anticipating Fabiola.

The Fabiola public relations campaign will include sending press releases to major Catholic media outlets and securing interview opportunities for the cast and directors on established sources for Catholics such as Station of the Cross, National Catholic Register, LifeSiteNews, EWTN, Mother Miriam Live, Radio Maria, and Relevant Radio.

Interviews of this nature will play a role in raising awareness about the Fabiola project, attracting the attention of both future audience members and investors.

Collaborations and partnerships have been established in the Catholic independent film industry and will be used to promote Fabiola.

These partnerships will include Catholic companies promoting the film to relevant audiences and spreading the word far and wide through Catholic advertising sources.

We will also make an appearance at events such as The Blessed Karl Symposium, Catholic Identity Conference, Littleton Women's Conference, and Napa Institute Arts Festival.

The largest demographic of audience members for Industrious Family are Catholics and so CleanMedia ads will be used to advertise on Catholic websites.

This film will be promoted through radio ads and website ads. This project will be so well advertised that a Catholic would have to be living under a rock or in his basement not to hear about it.

Those involved in the project will also be relied upon to promote this as much as possible to their family and friends!

Limited edition memorabilia such as signed scripts, signed clappers, t-shirts, journals, and posters will boost fan engagement. 

A tentative distribution plan for Fabiola is in place. The film will be promoted and distributed over the course of five years. 

The first year's distribution plan will include pre-screening Fabiola virtually and in theaters in 30+ cities with large Catholic populations, a limited theatrical release, and attending events which will help promote the film. We have been in contact with SDG in the United States and EDreamsFactory in Europe and will foster that relationship for potential theatrical distribution.

In the next two through five years, the film will be distributed by hosting and attending screenings in 30 Catholic parishes, distributing on streaming services that may include PureFlix, Formed, Amazon, and Industrious Family Theater, distributing physical DVDs through a publisher such as Ignatius Press and selling DVDs through online and brick and mortar bookstores.

Based on recent successes of faith based films and faith literate films, an estimated box office revenue is projected to be around $4 million, with an additional $2 million from streaming services, DVD sales and screening licenses over a five year post-release.

To provide a clear and fair return on investment, the following pro rata return scheme will be applied:

1. Revenue Sharing: Investors will receive a pro rata share of 50% of the net profits.
2. Recoupment Priority: Investors will be given priority in recoupment. Before any profits are distributed to other stakeholders, including producers and cast members, investors will first recoup their initial investment.
3. Profit Distribution: Once the initial investments are fully recouped, profits will be distributed among investors and other stakeholders according to the agreed-upon percentages.
4. Reporting: Regular financial reporting will be provided to all investors, detailing revenue generated and distributions made.

This pro rata return scheme is designed to ensure that investors are fairly compensated for their contributions, reflecting their stake in the success of Fabiola. The scheme is structured to prioritize investor recoupment, while also providing the potential for modest profit based on the film's performance.