Comments on: Pirates in Sheep’s Clothing http://christianmovienews.com/pirates-in-sheeps-clothing/ An ongoing dialogue about faith and film. Tue, 6 Jan 2009 19:15:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: Tom Swift http://christianmovienews.com/pirates-in-sheeps-clothing/#comment-4351 Tom Swift Thu, 14 Feb 2008 16:52:58 +0000 http://christianmovienews.com/pirates-in-sheeps-clothing/#comment-4351 Storm, you bring up a good point about this. It's something that would probably be a good topic for another blog -- many wonder where does the line get drawn for us. I remember some talk show host arguing that if Mel Gibson was going to make millions on his Passion Movie then he better use that money for a church... even though he used his own money to finance the movie. And since he made a movie about Jesus then there was a question of using Christianity for a get rich scheme. What choice does a filmmaker who is a believer have, though? We sometimes walk around with this stigma and this guilt that if we mention Jesus or God in our films we are not allowed to make a profit on our films. So then what's the alternative -- justify making something ungodly or something without mentioning God and then it's okay to keep the money? It takes prayer and wisdom to know what to do sometimes. I believe the answer is having prayerful balance and continue to ask God to check our hearts and motives. Storm, you bring up a good point about this. It’s something that would probably be a good topic for another blog — many wonder where does the line get drawn for us. I remember some talk show host arguing that if Mel Gibson was going to make millions on his Passion Movie then he better use that money for a church… even though he used his own money to finance the movie. And since he made a movie about Jesus then there was a question of using Christianity for a get rich scheme.

What choice does a filmmaker who is a believer have, though? We sometimes walk around with this stigma and this guilt that if we mention Jesus or God in our films we are not allowed to make a profit on our films. So then what’s the alternative — justify making something ungodly or something without mentioning God and then it’s okay to keep the money? It takes prayer and wisdom to know what to do sometimes. I believe the answer is having prayerful balance and continue to ask God to check our hearts and motives.

]]> By: storm http://christianmovienews.com/pirates-in-sheeps-clothing/#comment-4338 storm Thu, 14 Feb 2008 03:02:54 +0000 http://christianmovienews.com/pirates-in-sheeps-clothing/#comment-4338 I was just talking tonight with some believes and how concerned they are about the commercialization of the church. Should a church have to pay to use a hymn? Should churches become marketplaces for either music or films? Just questions, I think both can belong in the church-but we have to be careful how we approach this. Remember, the Gospel is free. What obligation do filmmakers who target the church as a delivery system? Ministry vs money again and if we go to the new testament we see Paul's example...not exactly what is happening with our ministries today... I was just talking tonight with some believes and how concerned they are about the commercialization of the church. Should a church have to pay to use a hymn? Should churches become marketplaces for either music or films? Just questions, I think both can belong in the church-but we have to be careful how we approach this. Remember, the Gospel is free. What obligation do filmmakers who target the church as a delivery system? Ministry vs money again and if we go to the new testament we see Paul’s example…not exactly what is happening with our ministries today…

]]> By: Tom Swift http://christianmovienews.com/pirates-in-sheeps-clothing/#comment-4331 Tom Swift Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:02:19 +0000 http://christianmovienews.com/pirates-in-sheeps-clothing/#comment-4331 The distribution to churches seems to be a good idea for certain types of films made by Christians especially if the message of the film is targeted to believers in general with a message to impact them or if its evangelistic in nature. This is actually a modern use of 16mm film distribution in churches of years ago (as I believe Rich Christiano's company used to be involved in). But that is just one form of distribution for films of Christian nature. Some films are designed to impact churches and reach the masses and thus will have the potential to go through other distribution methods. It also depends on the audience the filmmaker is targeting their message with. The distribution to churches seems to be a good idea for certain types of films made by Christians especially if the message of the film is targeted to believers in general with a message to impact them or if its evangelistic in nature. This is actually a modern use of 16mm film distribution in churches of years ago (as I believe Rich Christiano’s company used to be involved in). But that is just one form of distribution for films of Christian nature. Some films are designed to impact churches and reach the masses and thus will have the potential to go through other distribution methods. It also depends on the audience the filmmaker is targeting their message with.

]]> By: storm http://christianmovienews.com/pirates-in-sheeps-clothing/#comment-4325 storm Wed, 13 Feb 2008 13:00:56 +0000 http://christianmovienews.com/pirates-in-sheeps-clothing/#comment-4325 Christiancinema.com should have their own cable channel or have all their content available to download on ppv so anyone with cable or sat tv can order the movies PPV..that's the direction its headed.. Christiancinema.com should have their own cable channel or have all their content available to download on ppv so anyone with cable or sat tv can order the movies PPV..that’s the direction its headed..

]]> By: Leslie I T Assih http://christianmovienews.com/pirates-in-sheeps-clothing/#comment-4323 Leslie I T Assih Wed, 13 Feb 2008 08:36:51 +0000 http://christianmovienews.com/pirates-in-sheeps-clothing/#comment-4323 Great things start on a small scale or at least in a small way. The multiplexes came by way of growth from the large media studios of Hollywood. Hollywood did not start out this way so we can't expect the films in the Church to just overnight become huge. I think that outreachcinema is a very good idea as it is a start in the right direction. But that said distribution into countries like where I am based, the UK, is very little and if not almost non-existent especially where DVD purchases of Christian movies are concerned because of region formats. But we are working on something that will accelerate the movies that honour God to have nationwide distribution and effective international distribution. It will happen it just a matter of when and technology (coupled together with finance) will be a very effective tool to make that happen. Power and authority belongs to God and the entertainment world is no exception - For the kingdom is the Lord's, And He rules over the nations. Great things start on a small scale or at least in a small way. The multiplexes came by way of growth from the large media studios of Hollywood. Hollywood did not start out this way so we can’t expect the films in the Church to just overnight become huge. I think that outreachcinema is a very good idea as it is a start in the right direction. But that said distribution into countries like where I am based, the UK, is very little and if not almost non-existent especially where DVD purchases of Christian movies are concerned because of region formats. But we are working on something that will accelerate the movies that honour God to have nationwide distribution and effective international distribution. It will happen it just a matter of when and technology (coupled together with finance) will be a very effective tool to make that happen. Power and authority belongs to God and the entertainment world is no exception - For the kingdom is the Lord’s, And He rules over the nations.

]]> By: Angela Walker http://christianmovienews.com/pirates-in-sheeps-clothing/#comment-4316 Angela Walker Wed, 13 Feb 2008 03:52:12 +0000 http://christianmovienews.com/pirates-in-sheeps-clothing/#comment-4316 They are doing this on a very small scale. PureFlix has made a couple of films, and their idea for church outreach is good. But we've got to get to the masses. Should the churches become the theaters we bring friends to? Or should we get our films into theaters where parents are dropping off their kids while they go shopping or out to dinner, where the masses are gathering on the weekends? I see more people standing in line at my local theaters to buy tickets than standing in lines to get into the churches for any events. They are doing this on a very small scale. PureFlix has made a couple of films, and their idea for church outreach is good. But we’ve got to get to the masses. Should the churches become the theaters we bring friends to? Or should we get our films into theaters where parents are dropping off their kids while they go shopping or out to dinner, where the masses are gathering on the weekends?

I see more people standing in line at my local theaters to buy tickets than standing in lines to get into the churches for any events.

]]> By: Jeremy http://christianmovienews.com/pirates-in-sheeps-clothing/#comment-4312 Jeremy Wed, 13 Feb 2008 02:09:54 +0000 http://christianmovienews.com/pirates-in-sheeps-clothing/#comment-4312 There is currently a studio that is doing exactly what you guys are talking about. You should check out these websites: www.pureflix.com www.outreachcinema.com They are a Christian company dedicated to creating and distributing films to the churches. You can sign up your church as the outreach cinema church in your area or buy christian DVD's from their website. There is currently a studio that is doing exactly what you guys are talking about. You should check out these websites:

www.pureflix.com
www.outreachcinema.com

They are a Christian company dedicated to creating and distributing films to the churches. You can sign up your church as the outreach cinema church in your area or buy christian DVD’s from their website.

]]> By: storm http://christianmovienews.com/pirates-in-sheeps-clothing/#comment-4106 storm Fri, 01 Feb 2008 21:55:22 +0000 http://christianmovienews.com/pirates-in-sheeps-clothing/#comment-4106 I believe you can build "stars". There are hundreds of struggling artists who have better quality concerts, and music than the big names-yet they don't have the name power. So finding talent should be easy. It's easier to build a star than to buy a star-i think. Especially in an marketplace that is predominantly "indie"..with no known face or stars and it's consumer base would most likely shy away from secular or hollywood stars in suspicion. Skill (editors, directors, ect) is expensive and that's why it's obviously hard to get quality people to actually make the movies. With the funding obviously Christians or indies will be a bit behind. As far as the studio, I have a lot of "nice" thoughts (too long for this blog) about how that maybe could work, but I don't know if it would actually work. Even with free studio space and equipment the indies are so scattered I don't know if it's realistic. Hollywood doesn't rely on one film per year-it's a bulk business. I don't know how the Christian filmmakers can fix that, but maybe with somekind of "Studio" idea, which allows stars, branding, cross marketing, and leverage, and a more steady income. Distribution is easy for anyone and I don't believe it's the answer to revenue problems. In Music they have to tour all year to make it-sales aren't even close to sustaining life. Movies are almost all "sales" driven-so that's not good. With a movie typically taking over a year to get ready for market one filmmaker can't do very many movies-or quickly enough. I don't know what will help the revenue crises. I have ideas like a lot of people. I was minorly successful in a two new forms (another topic) of revenue on our last project and definitely think that with more products I could refine that-I like to market but never have anything to market (sadness, lol). Most of what I've done has been trial and error-mostly error. Squad 77 was our great experiment with the whole movie costing less than $7,000-I think the reality is that people have to start making cheap movies and grow as revenue allows-don't wait for that 10 million dollars that will probably never come in.. I believe you can build “stars”. There are hundreds of struggling artists who have better quality concerts, and music than the big names-yet they don’t have the name power. So finding talent should be easy. It’s easier to build a star than to buy a star-i think. Especially in an marketplace that is predominantly “indie”..with no known face or stars and it’s consumer base would most likely shy away from secular or hollywood stars in suspicion.

Skill (editors, directors, ect) is expensive and that’s why it’s obviously hard to get quality people to actually make the movies. With the funding obviously Christians or indies will be a bit behind.

As far as the studio, I have a lot of “nice” thoughts (too long for this blog) about how that maybe could work, but I don’t know if it would actually work. Even with free studio space and equipment the indies are so scattered I don’t know if it’s realistic.

Hollywood doesn’t rely on one film per year-it’s a bulk business. I don’t know how the Christian filmmakers can fix that, but maybe with somekind of “Studio” idea, which allows stars, branding, cross marketing, and leverage, and a more steady income. Distribution is easy for anyone and I don’t believe it’s the answer to revenue problems. In Music they have to tour all year to make it-sales aren’t even close to sustaining life. Movies are almost all “sales” driven-so that’s not good. With a movie typically taking over a year to get ready for market one filmmaker can’t do very many movies-or quickly enough.

I don’t know what will help the revenue crises. I have ideas like a lot of people. I was minorly successful in a two new forms (another topic) of revenue on our last project and definitely think that with more products I could refine that-I like to market but never have anything to market (sadness, lol). Most of what I’ve done has been trial and error-mostly error. Squad 77 was our great experiment with the whole movie costing less than $7,000-I think the reality is that people have to start making cheap movies and grow as revenue allows-don’t wait for that 10 million dollars that will probably never come in..

]]> By: Leslie I T Assih http://christianmovienews.com/pirates-in-sheeps-clothing/#comment-4100 Leslie I T Assih Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:24:08 +0000 http://christianmovienews.com/pirates-in-sheeps-clothing/#comment-4100 Storm where do you work? You have some great ideas! I agree with jonnyflash as well in terms of a creating an effective distribution system but it will still be great to have a combined synergy of companies making at least one major feature film a year and a series of small ones every year for week - week financial returns. The company I work for are creating something called CreativeCommerce which will bring together Christian film-makers to combine their creative talents once a year to make a big feature film. It was originally developed by one of my friends (we are based in the UK) in the late nineties. He called it AMALGAMATION and I think he is still developing it. Anyway, Storm you should be hired right now for such astounding ideas.:-) Storm where do you work? You have some great ideas! I agree with jonnyflash as well in terms of a creating an effective distribution system but it will still be great to have a combined synergy of companies making at least one major feature film a year and a series of small ones every year for week - week financial returns. The company I work for are creating something called CreativeCommerce which will bring together Christian film-makers to combine their creative talents once a year to make a big feature film. It was originally developed by one of my friends (we are based in the UK) in the late nineties. He called it AMALGAMATION and I think he is still developing it. Anyway, Storm you should be hired right now for such astounding ideas.:-)

]]> By: David Mackey http://christianmovienews.com/pirates-in-sheeps-clothing/#comment-4093 David Mackey Fri, 01 Feb 2008 04:41:46 +0000 http://christianmovienews.com/pirates-in-sheeps-clothing/#comment-4093 How about placing older movies online and streaming them? For example, Mercy Streets, Hangman's Curse, The Visitation, Thr3e? Make them available for a month and then pull them, add advertisements throughout, allow people to buy the film afterwards. I watch most of my TV now through the internet through sites like Netflix's Watch Now, Amazon's Unbox, Apple's iTunes, Hulu, and the channels own sites - e.g. NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX. How about placing older movies online and streaming them? For example, Mercy Streets, Hangman’s Curse, The Visitation, Thr3e? Make them available for a month and then pull them, add advertisements throughout, allow people to buy the film afterwards. I watch most of my TV now through the internet through sites like Netflix’s Watch Now, Amazon’s Unbox, Apple’s iTunes, Hulu, and the channels own sites - e.g. NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX.

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