Welcome to our community

Be a part of something great, join today!

Log in
  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Christian Filmmakers?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Shawn Nelson said:
I dont give a shit about those guys, so whats your point?
Click to expand...

The larger point, FWIW, is that citing Jesus to support one policy position or another is either ludicrous or meaningless, whether that policy is socialism or the legislative goals of the Christian Coalition. But since no evangelical Christian will or can accept that assertion, I'm arguing that among believers there's a great deal of picking and choosing going on. The inconvenient scriptures, including the socialistic ones, are simply ignored or denied.

Shawn Nelson said:
I specifically highlighted one aspect of the early church.
Click to expand...

Exactly, one aspect: we discard what we don't like, and embrace what we do. See above.

But I think that's about enough. You know what they say about politics and religion....
 
Exactly, one aspect: we discard what we don't like, and embrace what we do. See above.

But I think that's about enough. You know what they say about politics and religion....
Click to expand...

Sorry, I mean to put my emphasis on the church part. The Bible is part spiritual authority and part history book (i.e. it references incest but clearly also condemns it). As such, the book of Acts is nothing more than a history of the early church, even the Bible itself does not say their Acts are spiritual authority.

Its not a matter of picking and choosing, I'm simply pointing out that the early church is not an authority, simple a historical curiosity. Its not a matter of picking and choosing which of Jesus's words I like or dont.
 
Luis Otero said:
Shawn,

I have always admired your footage very much, but now I think I will like it even more...:innocent: I do not care if I will be biased, but I will look it from a different perspective, if you know what I mean. BTW, I like very much your new avatar.
Click to expand...

Thank you!
 
karapetkov said:
If you have to summarize all Christianity into one fundamental idea and express it into one single sentence, what would that be?
Click to expand...

Well, even Jesus made it two sentences :) . . . Love God. Love your neighbor as yourself.
 
Shawn Nelson said:
I stand by what I typed, I was just going to refrain from jumping in.
Click to expand...


I liked what you typed. :)

And agree with it.

Actually, in Christian terms, not freezing and not dying of hunger is just about all a human needs :). Apart from peace and love, of course.

But 3K cameras are a strong temptation...

...worth bathing one's self a little in the sea of vanity which the world is.

Lol. :holloween:
 
Jason Rodriguez said:
. . . Love God. Love your neighbor as yourself.
Click to expand...


I like those... but I retain the right to interpret them in my own way. :watsup:

Regarding all the "churches" and interpreters and "prophets", I'd regard those with the highest of skepticism.

Remember Donnie Darko and that "anti-fear" hidden pedophile guy?

Anyone who says "I'll tell you now what Jesus meant" or "I know better than you and if you don't listen to me you'll burn in hell", is a fockin` anti-christ.

I think we all should do our own thinking and feeling.
 
Either Jesus was who He said He was, or He was a lunatic...not, "just a good prophet, or a good teacher."

John 14:6 I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Nobody comes to the Father except through me.
 
Shawn Nelson said:
I won't say that Jesus was a capitalist, but to say He is against it is ludicrous.
Click to expand...

I don't think that's what I intended to say but I probably worded it poorly. My inner Finner gets the best of me sometimes.

My point is I think it's a really bad idea for any religious movement in America to toss in with one political party or economic model. It puts the Church in a very precarious position of being beholden to a set of values that may not truly represent the actual teachings they espouse. Ultimately there's a negative backlash when the political party is shown to be corrupt or inept. Now the Church is dealing with that.

There are people walking around that really think Jesus was an American or a Republican and Democrats are evil. That's perverse. Jesus taught about love and forgiveness overwhelmingly. To the extent either political party chooses policies that represent those ideas then fine... there may be some minor correlation.

“When facism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.” Sinclair Lewis

back to the topic - if I make a Christian movie it'll probably be targeted at Christians to help them understand how they are being duped by the Neocons. I think that's a Christian movie that's overdue. Rove has been quoted as calling the religious right a bunch of idiots (paraphrase).
 
Just curious, on the topic of actually making films *for* Christians vs. films that are for general audiences but "redemptive", "moral", etc. (which I feel there is a need for as well), what do you see as the market potential for the former?

Do you guys see a market potential for films aimed directly toward the Christian community, especially films, that through either satire, physical example, or subject-matter are often simply deemed offensive from the pulpit rather than viewed as self-reflective criticism? In other words, it has appeared to me that the Hollywood execs, in their quest to tap the Christian market, are appealing favorably to the pulpit, not the congregation, and thereby getting their message across to the masses. Another way to put it is if you make a film that might seem offsensive to those in charge, deal with an uncomfortable "grey-area", or put the leadership on the defensive, will there be any market penetration for that film in the Christian community?

Now of course is every pastor/leader/teacher like that? Of course not, and I've had the privilege of working with some surprisingly very open-minded individuals who aren't afraid to tackle difficult subjects. At the same token I can't count how many times it's been so many, that I've heard that *any* "R"-rated films, or watching "sacrilegious" film XYZ will send you down the pathway to hell from those in various leadership positions.

Sometimes I see "critically-natured" projects gain the monetary backing of larger areligious/agnostic/atheistic organizations, but then typically in those instances, the criticism for the subject doesn't receive the respect it does deserve as it picks up on the somewhat hostile prejudices of the monetary backers, and therefore comes across as offensive rather than constructive. Also they tend to appeal directly towards a more general audience and frame those whom they are criticising as a fringe-group out of the norm of society. The first step in constructive criticism is respect and self-identification, not finger pointing, marginalization, or jeering which I often see is the result of areligious-type backing.

So just curious what you all think about this subject, and the market potential for films directed towards the Christian community that challenge the status quo, not simply propagate it. Since film-making in the end is a business, is there money and profit in such ventures?
 
Jason Rodriguez said:
So just curious what you all think about this subject, and the market potential for films directed towards the Christian community that challenge the status quo, not simply propagate it. Since film-making in the end is a business, is there money and profit in such ventures?
Click to expand...

The key to selling anything is identifying the distribution to the target as well as understanding what the target market wants.

There are many types of Christians but I don't think you're going to get any of them to outright watch something that on the face of it challenges their views. Even non-Christians for that matter. That's not why people buy/rent movies. They buy or rent movies to feel certain emotions. Now, if you can give them the emotions they want and sneak in new messages then you're a savvy filmmaker with a subtle message for those who want to find it.

But the niches of family, Christian, spiritual, New Age etc. are all probably much better bets than Horror due to the glut of horror films. I'm talking low budget here. Hollywood movies are a different animal (and most of them actually have positive themes)

I'm curious how you guys respond to this:
http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/
 
Hey, guys. Great to hear and see this discussion going on in the RED community.

Something to keep in mind... one of my mentors, a prof. at Fuller seminary named Craig Detweiler (who also has a MFA in film from USC... check him out here on amazon.com,) once said that "There is no such thing as a "christian filmmaker". The word "Christian" is a noun, not an adjective." Of course, our culture has turned it into an adjective, but do we really want to be complicit in that- defining ourselves and our careers by if x y and z is in our movies? I think that its much a much more nuanced situation if we try to follow Christ, and then make movies on the side.
 
Ryan Patch said:
I think that its much a much more nuanced situation if we try to follow Christ, and then make movies on the side.
Click to expand...

I personally don't want to make movies, AND follow Christ on the side. I want to follow Christ, and others to see His light in the movies I will produce, direct, etc. in the future.

If Christ isn't a part of everything, what is Christ?
 
I'm a director and a Christian. Just wrapped up Casting Crowns music video "Slow Fade" on RED. Also shot Salvador "What would it be like" on RED. Currently shooting a Bible film series on RED. Love the camera.

www.erwinbrothers.com
 
As for the debate. There is money to be made in Christian Films. Stephen and Alex are doing it in GA. They have a development deal with Sony BMG. Their first film, Facing the Giants, did financially well, so Sony is funding their work.

I think the key is to know who you are. I've decided to be a a Christian filmmaker and not make "Christian films". I like doing both Christian and secular work. It's a good balance.
 
jon erwin said:
As for the debate. There is money to be made in Christian Films. Stephen and Alex are doing it in GA. They have a development deal with Sony BMG. Their first film, Facing the Giants, did financially well, so Sony is funding their work.

I think the key is to know who you are. I've decided to be a a Christian filmmaker and not make "Christian films". I like doing both Christian and secular work. It's a good balance.
Click to expand...

As long as the secular work does not contradict the Bible.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top