Ultra Right-Wing Christian Films!
- Thread starter Burnt Scroll
- Start date
Ahhhhhh! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
Thanks man, that would go great in American Pervert.
HAHAHAHAH, jeez I haven't seen something that funny in quite some time.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
Thanks man, that would go great in American Pervert.
HAHAHAHAH, jeez I haven't seen something that funny in quite some time.
I guess Left Behind qualifies. And I believe they've claimed ownership of The Passion of the Christ.
reelfiction said:
I thought I was alone in my appreciation of "A Thief in the Night." I loved the use of sound in that movie. I was made to watch it by my Art Teacher in High School. I just remember the scene where the main charachter walks into the house and the sound of the phone off the hook kept growing louder and louder as she searched the house.
Low budget 70s films are always fun to watch..."Manos" anyone?
Poke
When I began reading this thread, I was afraid we were in for more "Christian bashing", and in a way, we were. Unfortunately it was Christian's bashing Christians. You know like the Sunnis vs. the Shiites.
I, as a Christian, try to allow my principles to be refelcted in my films. I probably don't have an "R" film in me with scenes of sex, overt violence or vulgarity. I don't plant the "F" word in the dialog just for the shock factor. I have a script that was read by my script analyst and she said "at this point it is limited to a Christian audience only" and if you do some work you will open the script up to a larger audience. It then becomes more of a "spiritual" film script, not unlike "Touched by an Angel". That decision was a difficult one, but one I attempted and we'll see which script actually gets made, if either of them are so lucky.
It stresses me to see Christians bashing other Christian, whether here or elsewhere. I'm sure several of my fundamentalist Christian "brothers" will complain that I did not hit my points hard enough. In my last short film, I had one guy on the internet whom told me he could not allow me to make my film: It was "Biblically wrong." Funny. I had two Baptist ministers who tried out for the lead part who not only approved the script, but wanted the message to get out there and be seen. Yet, the one Christian producer out there in the internet land was going to try and prevent me from getting it made. I succeeded and he failed.
As a Christian and a Conservative (I doubt if you can call me "right wing") I try to do my job as a writer and filmmaker to the principles I have learned from my life's experiences and my time in search of God and my study of the Bible and other works of spiritual authors. I treasure the time I spend in my church (after looking for the right one for some time) and I sincerely hope that many others, not just Christians, agree that my work can touch them or make them think harder about life and their role in it.
It concerns me that Christians have to bash other Christians for believing fervently about one particular aspect of religion and maybe not others. I'd hope that the tolerant factor might kick in, but if we are anything like our Muslim brothers, the Shiites and the Sunnis, et.al., we might be on our way to the same end. Kinda scary.
To get back to the film aspect of this thread...
Films made by Christians for a Christian audience are a right protected by the Constitution, just like the R rated and even the porn industry. Criticising them is pretty lame. Allow them to do the films they fell compelled to make and perhaps they will do the same. The fundamental watchdogs they have that condemn other films rated R or X is also protected by the Constitution in free speech.
While I personally condemn the new approach to editing films made by Hollywood to remove violence or sex in a film made by a studio, I understand their concern that Hollywood studios ignore their concerns and make films that these Christian families do not want their children to see and be influenced by. To me the only good solution is for filmmakers, like myself, to make PG and PG-13 films that the entire family can watch and not be concerned by the amount of gratuitous sex and violence and vulgar language. I do not have the need to "add" that to my script in order to tell a good story. My intent is to reach out to the audinece that Hollywood does not cater to, nor cares to.
Just my $ 0.02, with a little salt and pepper to taste.
WC
I, as a Christian, try to allow my principles to be refelcted in my films. I probably don't have an "R" film in me with scenes of sex, overt violence or vulgarity. I don't plant the "F" word in the dialog just for the shock factor. I have a script that was read by my script analyst and she said "at this point it is limited to a Christian audience only" and if you do some work you will open the script up to a larger audience. It then becomes more of a "spiritual" film script, not unlike "Touched by an Angel". That decision was a difficult one, but one I attempted and we'll see which script actually gets made, if either of them are so lucky.
It stresses me to see Christians bashing other Christian, whether here or elsewhere. I'm sure several of my fundamentalist Christian "brothers" will complain that I did not hit my points hard enough. In my last short film, I had one guy on the internet whom told me he could not allow me to make my film: It was "Biblically wrong." Funny. I had two Baptist ministers who tried out for the lead part who not only approved the script, but wanted the message to get out there and be seen. Yet, the one Christian producer out there in the internet land was going to try and prevent me from getting it made. I succeeded and he failed.
As a Christian and a Conservative (I doubt if you can call me "right wing") I try to do my job as a writer and filmmaker to the principles I have learned from my life's experiences and my time in search of God and my study of the Bible and other works of spiritual authors. I treasure the time I spend in my church (after looking for the right one for some time) and I sincerely hope that many others, not just Christians, agree that my work can touch them or make them think harder about life and their role in it.
It concerns me that Christians have to bash other Christians for believing fervently about one particular aspect of religion and maybe not others. I'd hope that the tolerant factor might kick in, but if we are anything like our Muslim brothers, the Shiites and the Sunnis, et.al., we might be on our way to the same end. Kinda scary.
To get back to the film aspect of this thread...
Films made by Christians for a Christian audience are a right protected by the Constitution, just like the R rated and even the porn industry. Criticising them is pretty lame. Allow them to do the films they fell compelled to make and perhaps they will do the same. The fundamental watchdogs they have that condemn other films rated R or X is also protected by the Constitution in free speech.
While I personally condemn the new approach to editing films made by Hollywood to remove violence or sex in a film made by a studio, I understand their concern that Hollywood studios ignore their concerns and make films that these Christian families do not want their children to see and be influenced by. To me the only good solution is for filmmakers, like myself, to make PG and PG-13 films that the entire family can watch and not be concerned by the amount of gratuitous sex and violence and vulgar language. I do not have the need to "add" that to my script in order to tell a good story. My intent is to reach out to the audinece that Hollywood does not cater to, nor cares to.
Just my $ 0.02, with a little salt and pepper to taste.
WC
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I think it's entirely possible to incorporate your deeply held beliefs in a non-threatening manner. Heck when we get right down to it nearly every religion espouses the same basic principles of right and wrong. They differ most in doctrine and worshipped diety.
Take Lord of the Rings for instance... Tolkien was a devout Catholic and yet he managed to nail some basic truths so accurately on the head that his book has become classic world wide. Why? Because of the basic truths you can find in the characters and situations. When I read his works I don't get the feeling I'm reading a "Catholic Book" but rather a book by a guy who was in touch with the reality of human life.
It's entirely possible to make a movie or write a story which holds your view on life without slamming people with doctrine. The best stories have a deep foundation in the authors main beliefs. Without this the story is just a hollow shell.
Take Lord of the Rings for instance... Tolkien was a devout Catholic and yet he managed to nail some basic truths so accurately on the head that his book has become classic world wide. Why? Because of the basic truths you can find in the characters and situations. When I read his works I don't get the feeling I'm reading a "Catholic Book" but rather a book by a guy who was in touch with the reality of human life.
It's entirely possible to make a movie or write a story which holds your view on life without slamming people with doctrine. The best stories have a deep foundation in the authors main beliefs. Without this the story is just a hollow shell.
WriteumCowboy said:
Can we be a little more righteous and condescending?
Come on now...I believe Writeum was simply referring to the art of finesse. As he said, 'gratuitous sex' , anything gratuitous is without sufficient 'reason' and probably not pertinent to the whole. IMO, a great work of art needs nothing added to it to enhance it, nor can anything be taken from it without diminishing it. I believe Writeum was talking about any gratuity, but i'm assuming again *must...not...make..ass of...u...and....me*
Sorry, Bird...I just didn't read it that way.
But I do have an alternate response: "Funny, I don't need to add a character who believes that Jesus is his lord and savior to tell a good story."
But my feelings on this subject are a little too heated for this forum. So I bow out from this thread as well.
Unless it goes back to the Replacements.
But I do have an alternate response: "Funny, I don't need to add a character who believes that Jesus is his lord and savior to tell a good story."
But my feelings on this subject are a little too heated for this forum. So I bow out from this thread as well.
Unless it goes back to the Replacements.
WriteumCowboy said:
I'm trying to figure out when and how this modern aversion to sex and violence became a "Christian principle." Not only is it not exclusive to Christians, it's not particularly Christian at all. There's more sex and violence in the Bible than probably any book ever written (although admittedly, the "F"-word is nowhere to be found
). God wipes out entire villages of women, children, and animals. Women get raped. Men get raped by other men. Jesus is betrayed and tortured, then executed. The Bible is a bloodbath. If you were to film it as written it would be an NC-17.As for Christians bashing other Christians, I don't think that's anything new or unusual. There are going to be differences in practice of faith and even over the faith itself. I personally do not care for the ways in which conservative Christians have tried to impose their faith on others through politics or abused the faith to attack those who disagree on non-religious issues. Putting up with theocracy isn't about "tolerance" of other people's beliefs, it's about indoctrination and making those beliefs the law of the land, and I don't tolerate that.
Beeblebrox said:
This is the ideal I have the most problem with. I am a Christian and I consider myself more conservative than liberal, but I have never tried to impose my faith on anyone. True some people do, but this is a generalization that bothers me. And so you don't feel like I am attacking you personally Beeble, many others have said pretty much this same thing in this thread an on this forum. The thing is, I don't brand everybody that doesn't believe as I do with the same branding iron. I don't know why all Christians have to be branded with the same one. Most of my friends have vastly different political and ideological philosophies than I, but I am comfortable in the fact that we are each allowed to view things through our own eyes in our own way...it's the beauty of my belief in the genius of God's creation we call free will. All I ask is that we come to a fundamental understanding that generalizing a group of people big or small only leads to fallacies in your argument.
I hope that none of my previous comments were percieved as Christian bashing...they were not intended to be. If I was bashing anything, it was the storytelling ability of the filmmakers. There's a certain point where a film's moral or premise can become preachy, and in my opinion that makes for a lesser story. I tend to find stories that allow for the viewer to come to their own conclusions as achieving more towards it's purpose. That being said, it is not my place to say whether or not anyone should make a film that preaches. I am just saying I don't tend to find those films to be told well.
Poke
Of course it's a generalization, but that doesn't mean it's not a fair one. If I said, for example, that liberals are for abortion rights, that's a fair generalization, even though many liberals are anti-abortion. The fact is that conservative Christians have become an extremely powerful political movement, and part of that movement is the imposition of their religion on govt policy. I say that to address the contention that this is simply about "tolerating" each other's beliefs.
In terms of film, I think even an ultra-conservative audience doesn't like overt pandering by a filmmaker, whatever the message. I was sympathetic, for example, to the environmental message of The Day After Tomorrow, but I hated it in that movie because it was so overt and ham-handed. I think that overtly religious messages that FEEL like preaching inherently limit your audience. BUT, I think it can be done in such a way to appeal to an audience by carrying the same message but disguising it, like mixing aspirin inside pudding.
Hey folks, with all this talk about bad Christian Films, have any of you seen "FlyWheel" or "Road to Redemption" or "Time Changer" ? If the last Christian film you saw was "A Thief in the Night" or "Left Behind" you should take a look at any of these films. They are all quality films that can even make you laugh. Flywheel is especially a good study in how a good story can make a great film. It was completley independently produced and played for 6 weeks! in a multiplex cinema. They also sold over 10,000 DVD copies. Pretty sucessful for a $20,000 bidget. Checkem out, I think you will see that there are films being made that don't fit the stereotype "Christian Preachy" film.
regards,
Matthew
regards,
Matthew
I'll side-step the whole religious thing by making a blanket statement about ANY movie who's main agenda is to make a moral statement:
If the story is completely contrived around proving a point or persuading an audience, it becomes ponderous and just plain bad storytelling. That's true of films from right and left. I've seen plenty of earnest message films that just don't work. I think a story has a life of it's own and you sort of watch it unfold. When you control it to prove a point, you suck the life out of it.
A gripping story usually will make some sort of comment on things that matter, will reveal some sort of personal truth or at least raise a question or two. But story, character and motivation suffer time and again when storytellers stack the deck in favor of their viewpoint. Characters become one-dimensional, nuance is lost and I just can't be drawn in properly. Action and comedy can get away less shading, though even then the truly interesting ones work hardern at rounding out characters.
THAT'S why "Christian" films usually suck. So do "Anti-War" films or "Animal Rights" films or "Be Kind to Hampster" films (except for the sex scenes in those, they are really HOT!)
If the story is completely contrived around proving a point or persuading an audience, it becomes ponderous and just plain bad storytelling. That's true of films from right and left. I've seen plenty of earnest message films that just don't work. I think a story has a life of it's own and you sort of watch it unfold. When you control it to prove a point, you suck the life out of it.
A gripping story usually will make some sort of comment on things that matter, will reveal some sort of personal truth or at least raise a question or two. But story, character and motivation suffer time and again when storytellers stack the deck in favor of their viewpoint. Characters become one-dimensional, nuance is lost and I just can't be drawn in properly. Action and comedy can get away less shading, though even then the truly interesting ones work hardern at rounding out characters.
THAT'S why "Christian" films usually suck. So do "Anti-War" films or "Animal Rights" films or "Be Kind to Hampster" films (except for the sex scenes in those, they are really HOT!)
WriteumCowboy said:
Was I bashing other Christians? That wasn't my intention. I wrote that post in a lot of angst. I apologize for that. But many films that have been made (including Left Behind, Six, and Omega Code) were poorly made, and we need to keep our minds open for criticism. Too often Christian filmmakers get cocky that because they put a message in the film, it MUST be good.
BMAFilms said:
What might that be?
Poke said:
Isn't one of the main tenets of Evengelical Christianity to proselytize? Couldn't it also be said the majority of outspoken right wing Christians are Evengelical? I am not sure that this generalization is unfair. Granted I have met some very devout christians that I had no idea were intensely religous, unfortunatly I have met way more that were aggressive, imposing and at times downright rude. I have been harrassed at work, at home(I work nights 10 in the morning is a BAD time to knock on my door
), and on the street. As a declared non-christian I find the quite ones to be not just more agreeable but more persuasive. Unfortunatly the quite christian is not the figure we see in the media. On cable and in the news we only see the agressive proselytizer. So Pokemaestro while I am glad that you do not fit into this mold, this is a discussion about a large group of people and some generalizing is going to occur. I understand that there are exeptions, especially to the statements I made above, which is why I went to great lenghts to make sure I didn't speak in absolutes.(for the most part !HAH!)
As far as christianity in the movies. I like what I have heard here and I have little to add. What I don't understand is the idea that was brought up that christian movies don't sell. How much money did "Passion" make? It's clear to me that there is a huge untapped market just waiting for some quality films.