Christians in Cinema BLOG

Intervarsity Press Publishing’s blog recently posted an article that poses the question: Is Christian publishing a business, a ministry, or both? The answer? Yes. You could ask the same question about Christian filmmaking. And the answer would probably be YES, as well.
I know this: You don’t go into Christian filmmaking to get rich. The distribution […]

Remember the game about Kevin Bacon? Conceived by 3 students of Albright College and turned into a computer model by Brett Tjaden, called the Oracle of Bacon, it theorizes about the connectedness of people. On average, people working in Hollywood have a 2.9 Bacon number. In other words, take almost any 3 people in Hollywood, […]

In a recent article by Terry Mattingly of Scripps Howard News Service, producer Rick Eldridge bemoaned the decision by 20th Century Fox to release The Ultimate Gift under the Fox Faith label. His concern, a valid one, was that labeling the film as Fox Faith would submit it to vitriolic attacks by a media that […]

I get a lot of questions from people who want to get a start in filmmaking from a Christian perspective. Here are some great places to find filmmakers to connect with, as well as help for your career:

International Christian Visual Media: This network of independent filmmakers sponsors the annual Crown Awards and a Catalyst Conference. […]

Earlier this week, I watched the first installment of TNT’s new drama “Saving Grace,” starring Holly Hunter (who is also a producer for the show). It was pretty wild. There was enough sex that it could probably be rated “R,” and the language was raw.
All that aside, it’s an interesting premise. What if, in response […]

Saturday afternoon I went to see “Ratatouille” with my family that’s visiting from Texas. It was a great experience. Pixar created a fun film that I thought beautifully captured the city of Paris. It also made me laugh at the antics of rats. I never thought I’d do that, since I don’t usually think […]

To the ordinary onlooker, this picture might seem like a conversation between two men on a construction site. It is. But the site is Noah’s Ark, and the men are Congressman Evan Baxter (Steve Carell) and God (Morgan Freeman). I’m not sure what they’re talking about, maybe box office results.
That’s the big news right now […]

Twice this week I have been disappointed by events and/or people that didn’t deliver what they promised. Let’s talk about the most recent. Last night On the Lot contestant Jason told everyone that he is a Christian. Then he said that because of his faith, he wanted to make uplifting movies without sex or violence, […]

Everything that I’ve read about writing says a great headline is the way to attract readers. So, now that I’ve got your attention, I really do want to talk about sex. Please don’t close the browser, call our office, or call me any names until you read through this post.
It is rare in films to […]

We have some help for you! There are some great books and resources available for writers who have great ideas for films, but need some help getting started. Here are just a few:

Story: Substance, Structure, Style and the Principles of Screenwriting - by Robert McKee. This book is derived from his Story Structure seminar […]

I read a recent posting by author Miralee Ferrell, who writes Christian novels. Her agent recently received a call from a major motion picture studio rep who really liked the story in her book. Recently, several Christian novels have had good success in being adapted for the big screen. (One Night with the King, […]

In a recent conversation with Dean Batali, executive producer of “That 70’s Show,” he talked about his involvement with the Act One training and mentorship program for people wanting to break into mainstream film and television in Hollywood. They offer courses in screenwriting, directing, and executive development.
When Dean first came to Hollywood 15 years ago, […]

“Hypocrite” was first used in the English language sometime around 1350. Interestingly enough, it had its origins in theater. Its Latin and Greek origins referred to persons who assumed a part on the stage. In current usage, it’s used to describe someone whose professed beliefs don’t match up to their actions.
Who sets the standards for […]

I recently heard Erwin McManus talk about the differences between coffee in America and Central America. He declared that in comparison with coffee in Central America, coffee here in the U.S. is watered down, ugly and safe. He said we’ve trained our palates to love ugly and appreciate it over beauty. That came after a […]

I’m noticing an interesting phenomenon on websites, in blogs and in conversations around the water cooler.
People expect every “Christian” movie (let’s say that’s movies with a strong Christian message, a Christian as the main character, or a Christian cast & crew) to be a grand-slam home run, or at least to be really good. Wow […]