EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Kate Logan on Religion, the Making of 'Kidnapped For Christ,' and Her Love For Documentaries

Kidnapped For Christ director and
producer Kate Logan.

Tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT, Showtime will premiere Kidnapped For Christ, a powerful, award-winning documentary that chronicles the shocking truth behind Escuela Caribe, a controversial Christian behavior modification program in the Dominican Republic for "troubled" U.S. teenagers. Evangelical filmmaker Kate Logan hoped to document how a boarding school of this nature could help struggling youth. She soon discovered the school was subjecting teens to brutal punishment, humiliation, and abuse. One of the students she encounters is David, a 17-year-old sent to the camp after coming out to his parents as gay. With her faith tested at every turn, Logan struggles to help at least one teen escape from his horrific surroundings and reveal the truth about Escuela Caribe.

Serial Scoop spoke with Logan about the horror of Escuela Caribe, what it was like to question God and religion for the first time, what's next for her, and the power of having Lance Bass on her team. As Logan put it, "It's really meaningful to a lot of survivors of these types of programs to have celebrities speak up for them - it gives visibility and credibility to their suffering and hope that things will change." Read our exclusive interview with the brutally honest and fascinating Kate Logan below:

New 'Kidnapped For Christ' Trailer Released, Award-Winning Documentary Premieres on Showtime July 10

On Thursday, July 10th at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT, Showtime will premiere Kidnapped For Christ, a powerful, award-winning documentary that includes Mike C. Manning and Lance Bass as executive producers. Kidnapped for Christ chronicles the shocking truth behind Escuela Caribe, a controversial Christian behavior modification program in the Dominican Republic for "troubled" U.S. teenagers.

Initially hoping to document the positive effects a boarding school like this could have on struggling youth, evangelical filmmaker Kate Logan is granted unprecedented access and allowed to live on campus for the summer.

Once there, Logan’s eyes are opened to the truth beneath the sunny facade of this remote reform school—kids being taken by force in the middle of the night, rumors of physical abuse, and staff imposing arbitrary and degrading punishments on the young students—and encounters students who change her life.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Mike C. Manning on His 'Youthful Daze' Character and Producing 'Kidnapped for Christ'

Photo Credit: Brian To/WENN

"People fall in love all the time and sometimes those people happen to be two girls or two guys. That’s it. Deal with it."

Mike C.Manning doesn’t mince words. He is passionate in his beliefs and that’s one of the reasons why he is making a difference in the world. He also has a great sense of humor as you will find out. In a new interview with Serial Scoop, Manning talks about playing the role of Colin on teen soap Youthful Daze, his personal reasons for becoming involved with the award-winning documentary Kidnapped for Christ, and his motivation for staying in such great shape.

SERIAL SCOOP: Hi Mike, I am a big fan of your work. In a short time, you have done so many different projects. How did you become involved with Youthful Daze?
MIKE C.MANNING: First off, thank you. One of the producers, Paul Vandervort, who also plays Brad, is a good friend of mine. One day we were surfing and he said, “I might start working on a web series that I think you’d be interested in. Want me to send it your way?” I watched the first season and saw potential for expansion in Season 2.

Award-Winning Documentary 'Kidnapped For Christ' Coming to Showtime July 10th

On Thursday, July 10th at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT, Showtime will premiere Kidnapped For Christ, a powerful, award-winning documentary that chronicles the shocking truth behind Escuela Caribe, a controversial Christian behavior modification program in the Dominican Republic for "troubled" U.S. teenagers.

Initially hoping to document the positive effects a boarding school like this could have on struggling youth, evangelical filmmaker Kate Logan is granted unprecedented access and allowed to live on campus for the summer.

Once there, Logan’s eyes are opened to the truth beneath the sunny facade of this remote reform school—kids being taken by force in the middle of the night, rumors of physical abuse, and staff imposing arbitrary and degrading punishments on the young students—and encounters students who change her life.