Christian Films or Films Made by Christians?
Last week at the Gideon Conference, a roundtable discussion focused on this question. Do you make Christian films? Or are you a Christian making films? Are you a “Christian” filmmaker? How do you define yourself and the work you do?
Maybe you think it doesn’t make a difference, but it guides everything you do as a filmmaker, and how you do it.
Some filmmakers know they have a specific calling to make movies for the church (Sherwood Pictures, makers of Fireproof). Sherwood Pictures and the Kendrick brothers are determined to only make movies with volunteers from their church as cast and crew. They brought in Kirk Cameron for Fireproof, and hired some professionals for key crew positions, but other than that, anyone involved in the film is from the church.
Rich Christiano (Unidentified) believes Hollywood is corrupting America with its films, and he describes himself (in a recent ABC interview) as a “filmmaker with a message for the Lord.” He believes the devil has used Hollywood to break down the church, and wants to go “on the offense.” His new film The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry comes out in theaters this fall, and depends on support from churches to get into local theaters. His brother Dave, in a question and answer session at the Gideon Conference, reinforced the Christiano brothers’ determination to make only movies with a strong Gospel message. They have defined their goal and their method.
What have you defined? You cannot sit on the fence. Who are you trying to reach, and how are you reaching them? Will your movie send us away feeling like we’ve had an altar call, or will it cause us to go home and think about God in new ways? Will you create a stirring in someone’s heart to know the kind of sacrificial love they see on screen? Or will you present them with a no-holds-barred message about Jesus Christ?
There is no right or wrong answer. Both types have their place. But if you’re going to succeed, you need to know what type of film you’re making and who you’re making it for.
As a filmmaker, I don’t see myself as a Christian filmmaker, but a filmmaker that happens to be a Christian. Would I make a “Christian” film, absolutely. Would I make a “Secular” film, sure. Films can be many things to many people and there are people who feel called to only do “Christian” movies. I’m not one of them, God desires that everyone comes to know his son. Secular film crews need Jesus too, I as a believer I am the message of God’s Love and Grace through his son Jesus Christ. I feel if I only did “Christian” films that I would be missing the boat in what was import. The crew is important, they are of the upmost valve. They are more valuable than any movie I could ever make.
June 11th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
I am a christian who is a screenplay writer. I understand Adam.We have to witness in our personal environment.I just finished a script about an eighteen year old porn star alcholic because I think I can sell it.It is not R rated and could attrack a christian audience.It bubbles with latent and patent Christianity.It’s who I am as a writer.It’s a great movie even by secular terms.I’m praying for a buyer who won’t ruin it.GEORGIA RULES was a Christian script about family values.Hollywood sleased it.Rich is also right.
June 12th, 2009 at 6:56 am
What is a Christian film…what is a Christian artist? That seems to be a constant question and concern for many. What kind of artists am I? Human, I hope. We divid our creative village into two. One being secular and the other being Christian. There is only one creative village and we, as people of faith, are part of it. We have our own burdens and dark corners to deal with just like every artist on the planet. Hollywood is simply broken people (just like us) expressing their pains, struggles and questions through their art. I think the big question in this discussion is how do we as artist express our compassion, unconditional love and grace to other artists in the village. Reacting out of the framework of grace and relationship God designed for us. Perhaps when we truly get a hold of “love your neighbor” (or fellow artists) is when we as filmmakers can truly stumble towards Christ and in that place of standing up right and falling on our faces is where God helps us and the world understands us. What is Christian filmmaking? It is the art or artists that God speaks through….sometimes that isn’t always what we think it will or should be. God’s funny that way. God’s art is us.
June 17th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Hi Marnie -
Great thoughts and you’re absolutely right – time to see the wall between artists dissolved.
At the same time, the reality of what’s commercially viable is something that needs to be studied/understood. If you’re making the film and its commercial success isn’t an issue, then this discussion is moot.
If, however, you want to make film #2 and #3 and #4, then the marketplace has to be considered. And the marketplace right now, like it or not, is divided.
In some places it merges, but for now it’s pretty divided. So how do we as filmmakers address that?
June 17th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Hi Angela,
Film is a product and there are genres….we have to understand those genres and understand the market for those genres. That is true of every film or book. Does that mean we’re divided into family vs military film. The great divide? Nope. They are two different genres. There are films that are Christian genre films made for the church…they speak the language of the church. Great. There are films that speak the language of popular culture. Great. Sometimes we may share audiences. Are we truly divided? We are functioning in two different genre types in a diverse marketplace. Same marketplace….different audiences within that marketplace.
What if you made a thriller….everything promises the genre of thriller. But suddenly in the middle your audience was unexpectedly dropped into a Christian genre film. Wait a minute that’s not what you implied. That’s not what you promised me. I don’t want to be in this genre. The filmmaker broke genre rules…and not very wisely. Then they wonder why some of their audience feels a little cheated and bugged. You played games with them. You broke with story logic.
Just like a family film that suddenly turned into a horror slasher film. Or the other way around. That doesn’t work either. Does it? Where’s the market for that creation?
We create this huge divide for many reasons both positive and negative. But probably as filmmakers we didn’t get the world first and they are just reacting to us. We may not have been honest about our agendas. But that never happens does it?
Write a good story….understand the rules and conventions of your genre. Understand the audience for your genre. That’s wise filmmaking. That’s marketable filmmaking. And be realistic about it. Be a straight forward artist….don’t play games with your audience. We are one diverse marketplace. Understand that very basic principle. The divide we create is not understanding the beautiful and wonderful logic of storytelling.
I story consult for publishing houses and film…and the thing I say most often to even the most experienced Christian artists. Tell me what your story wants to say…not what you want it to say. That seems so basic but it often is missed. But then this is just my take….I may be wrong.
June 17th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Can’t push anyone into a discussion. Oh well.
June 19th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
Great points, Marnie. You’re identifying what most often happens. The message is placed before the art. And it all gets mixed up.
My experience is from knowing the audience and knowing a lot of filmmakers. There is a solid core audience that has certain expectations of “Christian films” and films made by Christians. So it does create its own genre. And back to my original point – you have to decide on your audience.
Deciding on story is just as critical, but rare is the artist who can just let their story dictate. Those that do are gems, and are wonderful works of art.
June 19th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
Thanks Angela,
The cart before the horse. I agree with what you say. The core audience. In my city we had one Christian radio station….but nobody could agree what Christian music was….Could it be this or that. In the end the station shut down because they couldn’t get support from this very fragmented core audience. In the end we discussed and protested our way into silence. Hmmm. I often think about that.
For the lack of knowing what to say…many artists fall silent. And we all are the lesser for it.
June 19th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
Angela and Marnie,
I am an old Christian and a young screenplay writer.If a secular director objects to the passion that bleeds around the edges of my words he can stop the bleeding with just a few changes.I don’t think so.The Hollywood model of “Set-up”,”Conflict”,”All is lost”,and then “Resolution” is “The Christianity Model” down to the beat.They hate to admit it but we’re where the best stuff comes from.New script-Begging for imput-filmpencil@yahoo.com
Captain
June 27th, 2009 at 8:43 am
Hi, I want to say that I am an absolute fan of Christian based filming. Fireproof was so powerful and I believe so true that I have been purchasing several copies of these DVD’s to give to friends, family and church friends whose marriages are in deep trouble! Does anyone know when The Kendrix brothers are making another film? I can hardly wait! Thank you.
June 27th, 2009 at 10:04 am
Captain,
I’m not really sure of your point? Story is universal and is the means by which we learn about each other. It is a gift. I don’t see other artists as secular or “Hollywood”. I see them as people….and I hope as friends. And I respect their talents and am grateful when an artist shares with me and discusses story with me. I have not yet met an artist I didn’t learn something valuable from. Either about faith, art or each other…or about myself. Certainly about myself. The “best stuff” comes from a place of humility and grace.
Peace,
June 28th, 2009 at 12:38 am
Marnie,
As soon as your work gets from your hands to a reader, your art is lost and you have to achieve the expectations of the market place.I don’t like what I see in some films I audit.”Titanic” put crosses on all the selfish people and even sent them to church so the audience could be very sure how unhuman Christians are.Thats what I call a Hollywood lie against my faith.It’s not true.I have responded to disasters for forty years and you’re there and it’s tough and you’re trying to help the young,the injured, the weak and the stupid,and guess what? Somebody shows up to help.They’re the real deal, embody God’s love, and are always backed by a church somewhere.Marnie if you’re a reader or a writer please read my latest script so you can criticize me in volume constructively! filmpencil@yahoo.com
June 28th, 2009 at 7:37 am
Captain,
You seem like a very nice fellow. Let’s look at it from another place. Perhaps some Christians haven’t been as compassionate and loving as they could have been….and there are some deep hurts and wounds out there in the industry.
Some artists have never encountered a person of faith they trust or even like. Or who just adores them….as they are with grace.
Hence the villianizing is not a lie it is an expression of pain. But perhaps we have been quick to do a little villianizing of people ourselves.
Some have been very quick to judge and very slow to give grace.
We have to stop looking at our own hurts and start looking at how or if we’ve hurt others.
June 28th, 2009 at 9:36 am
I think there is room for all kinds of Christian Filmmakers and Christian Movies. God is big enough to work in many different areas. There are 52 weeks in a year and every week movies are released in theaters, only a few movies a year are Christian movies. So we probably need to work a little harder to change this. To me there are two kinds of Christian Movies. One that preaches to the unsaved and one that is for us who are already believers. I think both should be made. Sometimes you can blend them both into one movie. But it can get old seeing the same movie done over and over again starring “Kirk Cameron”
. The focus of my latest two films “Garage Dwellers” and “Great Gain” both are meant to inspire and entertain us. Movies like this would be good for the other 48 weeks at the theaters. Just getting some good morals in our films would be a good thing. If you don’t believe me look at the films in theaters right now. All kinds of anti-Christian morals in them.
June 28th, 2009 at 11:03 am
Jeffery,
You have some really good points. This is my question perhaps somebody can answer it for me. I may not be the sharpest tac in the box. Are people anti (against) Christians or are they mostly indifferent and do their own thing? And are people really against Christ’s teachings or are they having problems with Western Church Culture? And is that something we need to explore/understand as communicators in western society?
June 29th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Hi Marnie,
I don’t know what everyone is thinking. So I can’t speak for them. When I say Anti-Christian. I mean when we (Christians) are watching secular films. There are things in these films that we probably shouldn’t be watching or that might be offending to us, maybe even corrupting us in a way. So anti-Christian in that way. I don’t think they are trying to offend us or are against us. They just that have different morals. But wouldn’t it be nice to have an alternative to these films? Made by Christians for Christians and everyone else that wants to watch. There are people out there that aren’t Christians that I think would rather watch some good films made by us. I’m a big fan of movies and don’t want to stop watching movies. Also, I’m not saying all secular films are bad. But for example, look at the comedy films coming out lately. They are not funny to me. They are raunchy and that’s what is funny to people now.
June 29th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
Dear fellows,
My favorite film is “The Professional”. It’s a love story about a hit man and a child prostitute,so I’m no purist. I have just taken the time and effort to audit record and document a bias that exist towards Christians in main line films. Don’t take my word for it. Audit some films yourselves with the idea in mind.”Georgia Rules” or “Titanic” are good ones to start with.
Captain
June 29th, 2009 at 8:14 pm
Thank you for your responses. It gives me things to think about. Captain, I have a question for you. Why do you document this bias? And in doing this…what are your feelings towards secular media?
June 30th, 2009 at 10:54 am
In film all we’ve got are scenes,music,and what a character says. There are no provisions for how people feel and the subtle truth like in Novels. So the next best screenwriter has to learn from the great films how things are said without saying a word. The crosses on the villians in Titanic made everybody squirm and few to this day know why.I have to know why and I have to be just as good in my hidden agenda,which is truth about Christians.
Captain
June 30th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Hi Jeffery,
Congrats on your films. I’ll keep my eyes open for what’s coming up for you. Thank you for your kind response to my questions. I am currently having fun with my first film project as one of the producers and the screenwriter. My partners are experienced and award winning mainstream filmmakers. As the new kid I listen and learn. I am enjoying the process. The film is secular…the producing team is a mix. I like that.
June 30th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Hi Captain,
July 1st, 2009 at 10:30 am
Hi Captain,
Been thinking about your answer. Thank you for your honesty. Hidden Agenda. Message and story…okay. Agenda and story…not so okay. Whether we like it or not. Truth about Christians. Hollywood also has a truth about Christians perhaps based on a writer’s unfortunate experience with someone of faith. So for them…that negative experience playing out on the screen is truth. They experienced it. Their perception may be a reality we don’t want to admit is out there. I actually have no doubt that it is true. What you do as a writer is create a flawed character who tells a story with honesty. A character who stumbles towards faith. : ).
July 1st, 2009 at 10:49 am
Marnie,
You’re refusing to do your homework so you don’t know what you are talking about in reference to what I am saying.Heres another example.Paris Hiltons little sister Nicky is the shy one.But she just came out with a picture of herself in a painted on bathing suit.Of course she’s comepletely naked.She wears nothing but paint and Christian earings. Why? (A CROSS) I’m sorry I know.I almost wish I did not. Captain
July 1st, 2009 at 11:15 am
Okay, I never was very good about homework. Peace in all that you do. Blessings.
July 1st, 2009 at 11:30 am