Learning from what others have done is a valuable trait in any producer. When you see what others have accomplished and how they did it, you can then take those ideas and modify them into something of your own. That's one of the reasons why a project profiled on Apple's Pro/Video Web site is so interesting. It offers a myriad of "Wow, that's a great idea! How can I use that?" moments.
In this case, the profile is of a film titled "Able Edwards," which has been described as "an amalgamation of Citizen Kane, Walt Disney and Howard Hughes against the backdrop of 'Things to Come.'"
What make this retro-themed story about a cloned outer-space CEO make one sit up and take notice is not so much the film itself, but the method in which it was produced. It was shot on miniDV in front of a greenscreen and there were no sets. All of the action takes place in front of backgrounds composed of photos scanned from architectural books borrowed from the public library and then Photoshopped into unique environments. While this method isn't much different from the extensive computer-created environments used in "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow," it is an ambitious effort that shows what a little persistence and creativity can accomplish on a low budget.
The $30,000 budget resulted in a 90-minute feature film that was produced entirely with prosumer-level equipment. This ambitious offering demonstrates that the days in which independent and low-budget filmmakers had to settle for small locations and small production value are past. Technology, hard work and a commitment to excellence makes a big-budget look possible for even the low-budget producer.
That said, even with the tools of greatness at our fingertips, "Able Edwards" still drives home the point that it isn't the tools that make for a successful independent film - it's the story and the performances in front of the camera that will go the distance when the day is done.
Apple - Pro/Video - Low-Budget Sci-Fi Epic
Able Edwards Project Website
Monday, January 30, 2006
OpinionLink - Are We Failing to Communicate God's Word?
Youth Specialties is best known for their youth group curriculum, and as part of this work they're asking some good questions about bringing God's Word to a generation of post-modern youth who struggle to relate to propositional teaching.
"Martin Luther published his New Testament with 22 woodcut illustrations, so could we publish visual tools that communicate to this generation in the language and media with which they're already familiar? Since storytellers and movie producers are so effective at influencing students through movies, how can we harness and use that medium in our ministry? What if some of our innovative, creative teachers gave their best efforts to find ways to communicate to this emerging generation? What if we tried to communicate God's story creatively and effectively using the medium of film—a language understood by teenagers and young adults? With 90% of the decisions to follow Christ made before the age of 19, are the stakes high enough for us to gather and invest the resources it will take to create a relevant, compelling medium that connects with this emerging generation?"
Youth Specialties - Are We Failing to Communicate God's Word?
"Martin Luther published his New Testament with 22 woodcut illustrations, so could we publish visual tools that communicate to this generation in the language and media with which they're already familiar? Since storytellers and movie producers are so effective at influencing students through movies, how can we harness and use that medium in our ministry? What if some of our innovative, creative teachers gave their best efforts to find ways to communicate to this emerging generation? What if we tried to communicate God's story creatively and effectively using the medium of film—a language understood by teenagers and young adults? With 90% of the decisions to follow Christ made before the age of 19, are the stakes high enough for us to gather and invest the resources it will take to create a relevant, compelling medium that connects with this emerging generation?"
Youth Specialties - Are We Failing to Communicate God's Word?
Friday, January 27, 2006
Do It Yourself - Inexpensive Lighting Solutions
I've got a pretty strong "do-it-yourself" streak in me and I appreciate the ability to devise creative solutions to practical problems. I also don't like spending money for something expensive unless there's a good reason to. Sometimes the right tool for the job is the tool that works, regardless of whether or not it was designed for the task.
That said, there are a lot of people out there who have turned to inexpensive homebuilt lighting kits for shooting their film projects and I have a soft spot for their ingenuity. These homebuilt kits are usually patched together from components purchased at the local home improvement center and designed for lighting construction sites or home workshops. There are a number of good articles from creative individuals who have gone this route and you have the opportunity to learn from their successes and failures.
Take a look at the following roundup of articles for help in outfitting your own home studio or location package. I'm particularly intrigued by the fluorescent solution.
Lighting on the Cheap
Home Depot Lighting Kit
Assemble Your Own Low-Budget Light Kit
Creating a Low Cost Fluorescent Lighting System
That said, there are a lot of people out there who have turned to inexpensive homebuilt lighting kits for shooting their film projects and I have a soft spot for their ingenuity. These homebuilt kits are usually patched together from components purchased at the local home improvement center and designed for lighting construction sites or home workshops. There are a number of good articles from creative individuals who have gone this route and you have the opportunity to learn from their successes and failures.
Take a look at the following roundup of articles for help in outfitting your own home studio or location package. I'm particularly intrigued by the fluorescent solution.
Lighting on the Cheap
Home Depot Lighting Kit
Assemble Your Own Low-Budget Light Kit
Creating a Low Cost Fluorescent Lighting System
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
InfoLink - Developing Your Directorial Vision
From Discmakers Indie Filmmaker Edge comes a helpful article on how to use your script, shot list, storyboards and pre-visualization as a means to develop a "vision" for your film that will enhance the finished project, save money and free you from many pressures during production. The general idea is that proper planning in advance will provide the ability to see the "big picture" of your film and help you keep from getting bogged down in the details. It's good advice for just about anything, but the filmmaking-specific hints and tips make for very worthwhile reading.
Developing Your Directorial Vision
Developing Your Directorial Vision
ToolLink - Free Mac Video Editing
On the PC side of the computing world, there are many choices of video editing software on both the high and low end. On the Mac side, there isn't as wide a selection and since Adobe stopped making Premiere for the Mac, the choice for most people comes down to Final Cut Pro, Final Cut Express, iMovie or Avid Xpress DV. There are a few other higher-end packages, but they're usually out of the reach of independent producers.
If you're on a really tight budget, there are a few free Mac video editing choices you can explore.
* iMovie - Although the current version of iMovie is available as part of Apple's iLife software suite for a $79 charge, Apple has included a copy of iMovie with every Mac sold for a number of years. If your Mac is of recent vintage, you've likely already a copy of an earlier version of iMovie installed or on the software disks that came with the computer. Although previous versions may not have all the bells and whistles of the latest and greatest (such as support for HD editing), iMovie in any incarnation is very functional and has been used for cutting everything from documentaries to feature-length projects.
* HyperEngine AV - Although not quite as easy to use as iMovie, Arboretum Software's HyperEngine AV makes up for the slightly larger learning curve by being far more flexible. HyperEngine AV gives you more video and audio tracks than there are in iMovie as well as allowing you to add text and photos as well. It's available for free, so the price is right.
* Jahshaka - The open-source movement has contributed numerous specialty applications that are available for the asking. The Jahshaka project combines video editing with additional special effects tools that delivers a great deal of power and flexibility. It's these "extra" abilities that make the Jahshaka package attractive to someone who wants an integrated tool for production. It also includes workgroup features so a small studio can use it to collaborate. Again, it's a free solution and isn't just for Mac users either. Windows and various Unix versions available as well.
* Avid FreeDV - Avid is known for their high-end editing products but has tried to compete on the low-end as well. Avid FreeDV is a feature-limited edition of their Xpress family of products. With support for only two video and audio tracks, it's almost like iMovie with the Avid interface. Avid has released this free version in the hope that it will serve as a stepping stone to their $495 Xpress DV or $1695 Xpress Pro products. Comparing the feature list between the three makes one think perhapsraps they limited too many features to make this really useful, but it is an option. Also available for Windows.
If you're on a really tight budget, there are a few free Mac video editing choices you can explore.
* iMovie - Although the current version of iMovie is available as part of Apple's iLife software suite for a $79 charge, Apple has included a copy of iMovie with every Mac sold for a number of years. If your Mac is of recent vintage, you've likely already a copy of an earlier version of iMovie installed or on the software disks that came with the computer. Although previous versions may not have all the bells and whistles of the latest and greatest (such as support for HD editing), iMovie in any incarnation is very functional and has been used for cutting everything from documentaries to feature-length projects.
* HyperEngine AV - Although not quite as easy to use as iMovie, Arboretum Software's HyperEngine AV makes up for the slightly larger learning curve by being far more flexible. HyperEngine AV gives you more video and audio tracks than there are in iMovie as well as allowing you to add text and photos as well. It's available for free, so the price is right.
* Jahshaka - The open-source movement has contributed numerous specialty applications that are available for the asking. The Jahshaka project combines video editing with additional special effects tools that delivers a great deal of power and flexibility. It's these "extra" abilities that make the Jahshaka package attractive to someone who wants an integrated tool for production. It also includes workgroup features so a small studio can use it to collaborate. Again, it's a free solution and isn't just for Mac users either. Windows and various Unix versions available as well.
* Avid FreeDV - Avid is known for their high-end editing products but has tried to compete on the low-end as well. Avid FreeDV is a feature-limited edition of their Xpress family of products. With support for only two video and audio tracks, it's almost like iMovie with the Avid interface. Avid has released this free version in the hope that it will serve as a stepping stone to their $495 Xpress DV or $1695 Xpress Pro products. Comparing the feature list between the three makes one think perhapsraps they limited too many features to make this really useful, but it is an option. Also available for Windows.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
InfoLink - Boom Basics
This is the only article I've ever seen outlining the proper method for capturing sound with a boom microphone. It explains why a boom is the best choice for capturing live sound, what equipment and extras work best, proper holding technique and more.
Well worth a read for the producer or director who doesn't have the luxury of a pro boom operator on the set.
The article is on DV.com, which requires registration (it's free) and has enough valuable information to be worth it.
DV - Newswire
Well worth a read for the producer or director who doesn't have the luxury of a pro boom operator on the set.
The article is on DV.com, which requires registration (it's free) and has enough valuable information to be worth it.
DV - Newswire
ToolLink - Free Storyboarding Software
One mistake that many newer directors make is in failing to properly plan their productions. One important pre-production step is storyboarding. While some short films may not require a storyboard, almost every longer project benefits from the pre-visualization help of storyboards.
Directors Boards by Directors NoteBook Software is a free application for managing storyboards. Create your storyboards and import them into Director's Boards: they can then be listed, searched and organized however you like. Want to see every shot with a dolly move? Which shots require visual effects? Once the storyboards are entered, you can manage them however you like. It turns your storyboards into a searchable database of shots.
Key Features in Directors Boards (from the Read Me):
- Very simple push-button interface allows you to get to work from the start without being a techhead.
- Search and sort all shot specific details any way you want.
- Built in Spell Checker
- Directors Boards has 1 print out in a standard 4Up AV Storyboard
- Import digital storyboard images with one mouse click
- Data entry short cuts such as: Using text already entered in another shot, pull-down menus and pop-up lists
- Present your "boards" in a digital slideshow with one click.
The company that makes this software offers several other storyboarding software programs with more features and greater capabilities. So if you find yourself saying, "This is great! I just wish it could do...", then they probably have another product to fit your needs.
Available from DirectorsNotebook.com
Directors Boards by Directors NoteBook Software is a free application for managing storyboards. Create your storyboards and import them into Director's Boards: they can then be listed, searched and organized however you like. Want to see every shot with a dolly move? Which shots require visual effects? Once the storyboards are entered, you can manage them however you like. It turns your storyboards into a searchable database of shots.
Key Features in Directors Boards (from the Read Me):
- Very simple push-button interface allows you to get to work from the start without being a techhead.
- Search and sort all shot specific details any way you want.
- Built in Spell Checker
- Directors Boards has 1 print out in a standard 4Up AV Storyboard
- Import digital storyboard images with one mouse click
- Data entry short cuts such as: Using text already entered in another shot, pull-down menus and pop-up lists
- Present your "boards" in a digital slideshow with one click.
The company that makes this software offers several other storyboarding software programs with more features and greater capabilities. So if you find yourself saying, "This is great! I just wish it could do...", then they probably have another product to fit your needs.
Available from DirectorsNotebook.com
Sunday, January 22, 2006
InfoLink - A History of Christian Films
Christians have been making films almost from the beginning of filmmaking. There's a retrospective on Christian involvement in the cinema at christianheadlines.com which contains a good deal of information that I hadn't seen before.
"At the end of the 1930s two Christians set out to make movies that would honor Christ and ended up using radically different methods.
"Illinois businessman Charles Octavia Baptista produced his first film in 1939, (and)... in 1942 Baptista formed the Scriptures Visualized Institute, later renamed the Baptista Film Mission. Baptista refused to hire non-Christians to work on his productions and may have based this business practice on II Cor. 6:14."
"After trying to film a movie in Ohio in 1938, Episcopal priest James Frederick left for California hoping to use Hollywood technicians and actors to make Christian films. In 1941 Frederick's company Cathedral Pictures produced and 20th Century Fox distributed The Great Commandment to movie theaters across the United States. Frederick believed in using the best acting talent available and hired non-Christians to work in numerous roles."
Isn't it interesting that the same arguments, controversies and disagreements about methodologies have been with us since the beginning? So, both the attempts to form an independent Christian film industry and the attempts to work within the Hollywood system have been at work starting in the 1930s. Anyday now one of them should show itself the "best" way...
A History of Christian Films
"At the end of the 1930s two Christians set out to make movies that would honor Christ and ended up using radically different methods.
"Illinois businessman Charles Octavia Baptista produced his first film in 1939, (and)... in 1942 Baptista formed the Scriptures Visualized Institute, later renamed the Baptista Film Mission. Baptista refused to hire non-Christians to work on his productions and may have based this business practice on II Cor. 6:14."
"After trying to film a movie in Ohio in 1938, Episcopal priest James Frederick left for California hoping to use Hollywood technicians and actors to make Christian films. In 1941 Frederick's company Cathedral Pictures produced and 20th Century Fox distributed The Great Commandment to movie theaters across the United States. Frederick believed in using the best acting talent available and hired non-Christians to work in numerous roles."
Isn't it interesting that the same arguments, controversies and disagreements about methodologies have been with us since the beginning? So, both the attempts to form an independent Christian film industry and the attempts to work within the Hollywood system have been at work starting in the 1930s. Anyday now one of them should show itself the "best" way...
A History of Christian Films
Saturday, January 21, 2006
OpinionLink - Entertainment and the Church
I have always enjoyed the writings of A.W. Tozer, a godly man who I admire in many ways. I've provided a link to an article he wrote back in 1955 titled, "The Great God Entertainment." It's interesting to look back and wonder what he would have thought about the current focus on "seeker services" in many churches where there is a large entertainment component.
It's easy to dismiss such writings as "out of touch" or "old fashioned," as if they spring from an earlier time when just going to a movie was considered sinful by many church goers. Yet, such a condemnation from a man I have come to see as a mature and wise follower of Jesus is not easily shrugged away.
Tozer writes: "For centuries the Church stood solidly against every form of worldly entertainment, recognizing it for what it was- a device for wasting time, a refuge from the disturbing voice of conscience...For this she got herself abused roundly by the sons of this world...She appears to have decided that if she cannot conquer the great god Entertainment she may as well join forces with him."
I stumbled across references to Tozer's article in a piece by John MacArthur that looks at the same issue from a more modern perspective.
"Some will maintain that if biblical principles are presented, the medium doesn't matter. That is nonsense. If an entertaining medium is the key to winning people, why not go all out? Why not have a real carnival? A tattooed acrobat on a high wire could juggle chain saws and shout Bible verses while a trained dog balanced on his head. That would draw a crowd. And the content of the message would be thoroughly biblical. It's a bizarre scenario, but one that illustrates how the medium can cheapen and corrupt the message."
Interesting reading, if nothing else. The depth and variety of opinions I have found regarding Christian filmmaking and Christian entertainment is fascinating. Just answering the question, "what is Christian film?" is proving to be a challenge.
The Great God Entertainment - A.W. Tozer
But Does It Work? - John MacArthur
It's easy to dismiss such writings as "out of touch" or "old fashioned," as if they spring from an earlier time when just going to a movie was considered sinful by many church goers. Yet, such a condemnation from a man I have come to see as a mature and wise follower of Jesus is not easily shrugged away.
Tozer writes: "For centuries the Church stood solidly against every form of worldly entertainment, recognizing it for what it was- a device for wasting time, a refuge from the disturbing voice of conscience...For this she got herself abused roundly by the sons of this world...She appears to have decided that if she cannot conquer the great god Entertainment she may as well join forces with him."
I stumbled across references to Tozer's article in a piece by John MacArthur that looks at the same issue from a more modern perspective.
"Some will maintain that if biblical principles are presented, the medium doesn't matter. That is nonsense. If an entertaining medium is the key to winning people, why not go all out? Why not have a real carnival? A tattooed acrobat on a high wire could juggle chain saws and shout Bible verses while a trained dog balanced on his head. That would draw a crowd. And the content of the message would be thoroughly biblical. It's a bizarre scenario, but one that illustrates how the medium can cheapen and corrupt the message."
Interesting reading, if nothing else. The depth and variety of opinions I have found regarding Christian filmmaking and Christian entertainment is fascinating. Just answering the question, "what is Christian film?" is proving to be a challenge.
The Great God Entertainment - A.W. Tozer
But Does It Work? - John MacArthur
Thursday, January 19, 2006
ToolLink - Free Pre-Production Tool: celtx
Interestingly, I've never seen this mentioned on a film site, only on a tech site. It is a fascinating tool for pre-production, incorporating scriptwriting, story development, production scheduling, production reporting and more in a single application. It's still young and it's not going to challenge high-end script writing software for awhile, but it's free, easy to use and shows promise. I've decided to use it on my latest project to see if it's robust enough for me and I invite you to give it a try as well and post your comments.
Available in Mac OS X, Windows XP and Linux versions.
celtx - Comprehensive Pre-Production Software
Available in Mac OS X, Windows XP and Linux versions.
celtx - Comprehensive Pre-Production Software
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
InfoLink - Slow Motion Video
One of the drawbacks to using video instead of film is that with video you don't have control over the speed at which images are captured. With film, you can undercrank or overcrank to get great slow- and fast-motion segments. Using video, you're stuck at 25 frames per second (PAL) or 30 frames per second (NTSC), unless you spend big bucks for a special high-speed video camera.
I have long been interested in how to get improved slow-motion segments inexpensively, since I enjoy working with miniatures and they usually require some slow-motion modification to help hide the scale. Up until now, I've been faced with using the built-in speed adjustments in Final Cut Pro or an expensive plug-in such as Twixtor.
I'm really glad that I stumbled across an article that deals specifically with getting better slow-motion in 24p, but should be workable on any video camera, since it relies on the standard 60i mode used by standard NTSC cameras. Just take a little care in using a high shutter speed when acquiring the source footage, then split the footage into individual fields in post. The article covers After Effects specifically, but is easily adapter to any NLE with a deinterlacing ability.
Digging deeper, I found a second Web site that goes into detail on how to do the same sort of thing in Final Cut Pro, along with a good bit of detail on the how and why of slow motion video in general. But what would you expect from a Web site called "SSSSLLLLOOOWWWW MMMMOOOOTTTIIIOOOONN VVVVIIIIIDDDEEEOOOO?"
rarevision - Slow Motion in 24p Filmmaking
Slow Motion Video - How To
I have long been interested in how to get improved slow-motion segments inexpensively, since I enjoy working with miniatures and they usually require some slow-motion modification to help hide the scale. Up until now, I've been faced with using the built-in speed adjustments in Final Cut Pro or an expensive plug-in such as Twixtor.
I'm really glad that I stumbled across an article that deals specifically with getting better slow-motion in 24p, but should be workable on any video camera, since it relies on the standard 60i mode used by standard NTSC cameras. Just take a little care in using a high shutter speed when acquiring the source footage, then split the footage into individual fields in post. The article covers After Effects specifically, but is easily adapter to any NLE with a deinterlacing ability.
Digging deeper, I found a second Web site that goes into detail on how to do the same sort of thing in Final Cut Pro, along with a good bit of detail on the how and why of slow motion video in general. But what would you expect from a Web site called "SSSSLLLLOOOWWWW MMMMOOOOTTTIIIOOOONN VVVVIIIIIDDDEEEOOOO?"
rarevision - Slow Motion in 24p Filmmaking
Slow Motion Video - How To
Monday, January 16, 2006
DVD Film School - Radius
In this edition of the DVD Film School, we're taking a look at a DVD that a first-time independent filmmaker can turn to for valuable insight into the production process. This time out, we're looking at RADIUS (which is not a Christian film and contains some coarse language but still has lots of good background production info).
Back in the late 90s, there was this great thing called the Internet that got lots of people excited. They started thinking of new ways to deliver goods and services and a lot of money was lost when many of these ideas turned out to be pretty stupid or unworkable. A few, however, weren't bad, just ahead of their time.
I ran into RADIUS on a Web site in those halcyon days- the production company, an outfit called K2 Films, was trying to make the first professional short film produced for the Web. Their Web site was designed to show each step of the production process to culminate in an online premiere of the finished film. But then the Internet bubble burst and it seemed like K2 was one of the casualties. Their Web site stagnated and then finally disappeared, with the film left never to see the light of day.
But then I saw a blurb on a news site announcing that the film was available at last, reborn as a DVD instead of a Web premiere. It was being offered as a 2-disk Director's Edition that includes a "Guerrilla Film School" on that second DVD. The film itself is only about a half hour long, but it is snappy, well-acted and engaging, featuring a sci-fi story about a crashed spaceship in a war zone with a big bomb on board and only 30 minutes to escape the coming blast.
The real jewel is the film school DVD which provides tons of material for those interested in each step of the production process. From casting (they received 1000 headshots from actors hoping for an unpaid part in the film) to set construction to shooting in Death Valley to editing and promotion. The goal of all this is "aimed at showing aspiring filmmakers how to put together a film of their own, using Radius as the example." It may not tell you everything you need to know, but it's one of the best structured looks at the steps you'd want to follow that I've seen.
The Web site for the film contains lots of info and a taste of what the DVD contains. Recommended viewing.
Radius Site
Back in the late 90s, there was this great thing called the Internet that got lots of people excited. They started thinking of new ways to deliver goods and services and a lot of money was lost when many of these ideas turned out to be pretty stupid or unworkable. A few, however, weren't bad, just ahead of their time.
I ran into RADIUS on a Web site in those halcyon days- the production company, an outfit called K2 Films, was trying to make the first professional short film produced for the Web. Their Web site was designed to show each step of the production process to culminate in an online premiere of the finished film. But then the Internet bubble burst and it seemed like K2 was one of the casualties. Their Web site stagnated and then finally disappeared, with the film left never to see the light of day.
But then I saw a blurb on a news site announcing that the film was available at last, reborn as a DVD instead of a Web premiere. It was being offered as a 2-disk Director's Edition that includes a "Guerrilla Film School" on that second DVD. The film itself is only about a half hour long, but it is snappy, well-acted and engaging, featuring a sci-fi story about a crashed spaceship in a war zone with a big bomb on board and only 30 minutes to escape the coming blast.
The real jewel is the film school DVD which provides tons of material for those interested in each step of the production process. From casting (they received 1000 headshots from actors hoping for an unpaid part in the film) to set construction to shooting in Death Valley to editing and promotion. The goal of all this is "aimed at showing aspiring filmmakers how to put together a film of their own, using Radius as the example." It may not tell you everything you need to know, but it's one of the best structured looks at the steps you'd want to follow that I've seen.
The Web site for the film contains lots of info and a taste of what the DVD contains. Recommended viewing.
Radius Site
InfoLink - Writing Low-Budget Film
No matter what the skills of director and crew, if a project starts with a bad script, it's going to go nowhere. Films made on a low budget are something else again - it's unlikely that they can fall back on big-name actors, flashy special effects or high production value to carry them if the story is weak. In fact, the story driving a low-budget production needs to be strong precisely because there is nothing else to fall back on.
If you're looking for tips on story structure and the Hero's Tale, this article isn't the place you'll find it. However, if you would like some practical tips on how to write a script specifically for a low budget production, this is a fine place to start.
The Online Communicator: Writing Low-Budget Film
If you're looking for tips on story structure and the Hero's Tale, this article isn't the place you'll find it. However, if you would like some practical tips on how to write a script specifically for a low budget production, this is a fine place to start.
The Online Communicator: Writing Low-Budget Film
Thursday, January 12, 2006
InfoLink - Billy Graham Goes to the Movies
While nearly everyone knows the name of Billy Graham, not everyone knows of his role as a Christian film pioneer. His World Wide Pictures production company released its first film in 1951 and has kept a regular stream of films in the pipeline. This article from Christianity Today gives a brief history of WWP with commentary from early participants. If you're in the mood to see what some of those early films are like, many can still be purchased from WWP and some can even be viewed online (see a semi-complete list here).
Billy Graham Goes to the Movies - Christianity Today Movies
Billy Graham Goes to the Movies - Christianity Today Movies
OpinionLink - Playing to Sell Out Crowds
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
"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
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