Wow. A lot to think about in this essay for both filmmakers and film viewers alike. Christopher Staron asks some hard questions about the types of projects produced, viewed and supported by Christians. Although I think Christopher rambles a bit in this piece, I agree with him in many areas and my disagreements are minor. I am struggling with some of the same issues and headed towards the same conclusions. Some quotes:
"I work in Hollywood at the moment. Most of the money I have earned in the last year comes from secular television channels like VH1, Fox and Spike TV. The question that has been ripping into me lately has been: what am I doing working on this show? For this network?... And millions and millions of people have seen this garbage and been affected by it. And I was one of the people who helped put this thing together...I am still asking myself a... question: “what is a Christian man doing producing such trash?”. You know what the answer is?
I doubt I ought to be doing these projects."
"Here is what a sell-out is. It is a person that has the gospel, but cheapens it with their laziness and grubby desire to hold on to whatever they feel they need. And you know what? I’m a sell-out."
"The point is: when we come to Christ, He makes us pure. When we engage in impure entertainment we lose our purity. Sometimes slowly, sometimes quickly. But nothing is as better than God’s best. And His best is purity."
Worth a read. Check it out.
Playing to Sell Out Crowds, by Christopher Staron
