It was a company called 'Pure Flix'.
You can imagine my interest at a Christian company that seeks to make family-friendly movies. Still though, I remained a bit at a distance. (I don't really like engaging people at these booths right away until I know what I want to ask them specifically.) Nevertheless, our Sr. Pastor was with me and he began to ask questions.
The conversation was intriguing.
The guy was nice enough. He demonstrated a heart for the Lord and a desire to create safe, family-friendly movies that anyone could enjoy.
Then he said something that I won't soon forget.
He said that their hope was to 'eliminate the need for Hollywood'.
Now, there are several observations that a statement like this demands. First, let me say that I'm sure I understood what he meant. His intent was to say that their hope was that Christian families would find an alternative to the Hollywood influx for their homes. For most conservative Christians, this seems like a logical and heartfelt statement, designed to encourage healthy viewing habits.
It's hard to fault a guy for that, really.
Still, his statement also makes several assumptions. For example, it assumes that the content determines whether or not a film is of spiritual value. In previous posts, I've indicated my position on this. Personally, I believe that there is incredible value in the thematic impact of film that can transcend content at times. Of course, we are accountable for what we intake, be it sex, language, violence, etc. We must take responsibility for our viewing and understand that it can shape us if we remain disengaged. Nevertheless, to suggest that Hollywood has no value is to negate the fact that God is already at work in the world. Although I think that it is fair to say that Hollywood's primary interest is in making money and selling a product, there is no doubt to me that there is evidence of God's Kingdom breaking through the darkness. Movies like X2: X-men United, Of Gods and Men (a French movie -- it's on iTunes. See it. See it now.), The King's Speech, or even pretty much any Pixar movie, offer insights into our world and its questions (and answers). Hollywood films can offer hope or report cultural hopelessness... but they always share something. This realization also acknowledges that God is moving. Using people that have yet to open their hearts to Him personally often means that the manner in which it is expressed may be a way that makes the Church uncomfortable. Nevertheless, as Christians, we understand our culture through a certain lens or worldview as well. Is it not our responsibility to proclaim the truths of Christ wherever we see them... even if it comes through the mantras of Forrest Gump or the devastation inherent within the duality of Black Swan? What better way to point people to Christ than to look for Him within their own expressions of life and point out the reality of God's hope for humanity?
Another assumption is that they are offering a valid alternative to Hollywood. Listen, I'm a strong supporter of Christians in the media. Still, the reality is that the vast majority of "Christian movies" simply aren't good. I wish they were... but they're not. I have found that, in their effort to get their point across or maintain standards of content, most Christian-focused films come off as overly simplistic, preachy or unrealistic. A great example of this comes through my experience of Fireproof, starring Kirk Cameron, a mega-hit by Christian production standards to be sure (if measured by box-office). I saw Fireproof well before its release (ironically, at the same conference) and felt it was a pretty good portrayal of current Christian issues related to marriage. Moreover, it was actually funny when it was supposed to be and had legitimately tense scenes. Still though, I felt it lacked the complexity and realism of other mainstream films that try to deal with the same issue. In one particular scene, as Cameron's character berates his wife over nothing, I found myself thinking that it needed something.
It needed swearing.
This was a strange moment for me, especially given that I have never argued for less 'purity' in a film. Still, it emphasized a point to me. I felt that, in their effort to stay clean, the writers actually sacrificed some realism and softened the blow. One could even argue that it would have worked story-wise due to the fact that their family were not yet Christians. Still, nothing. Personally, on this level, I found a film like The Freebie, a little indie film about the perils of infidelity to be a better exploration of the virtues of marriage, despite the language. (Seriously. It's not the silly film that they tried to sell it as.) In many ways, 'Christian films' create for themselves their own rules and, as a result, end up walking away from the very truths of healing and transformation of which Christ speaks. I admire what the people at Sherwood Pictures are doing (after all, they are a church making major films) but I feel like they're off the mark in this area. Clean cut is... nice... but it doesn't always connect with the reality that we live in.
Lastly, to create an alternative to Hollywood may seem like a noble goal to some. After all, the thinking is clear: "If we could just control the content, we could reach the world..." The problem is that this simply doesn't work. First of all, Christian movies rarely reach anyone outside of Christian circles so, as an evangelism tool, they just aren't effective. Second, and most importantly, is that really how we want the world to know us? (I think there's a song about that. "They will know that we are Christians from our poorly made films..." Something like that.) The truth is that God calls us to engage culture; to be a light in the dark. If we truly seek to impact the world, it's far more effective to be a Christian working in the film industry than to create a separate industry that simply tries to compete--and poorly, I might add. Hollywood Christians (yes, there are others that don't have the last name Cameron) like Denzel Washington, Tyler Perry, Kristin Chenowith, Philip Anschlutz, Zachary Levi and Ralph Winter are making a difference by creating engaging films or taking roles that emphasize the values of Christ, albeit in non-traditional ways. The list goes on and on. People such as these need prayer and encouragement as they continue to impact an industry that is a major influence on the world. After all, Christ truly calls us as believers into the world to allow the Holy Spirit to shine through us. We can't do that if we separate ourselves and shine our light from across the street.
It needed swearing.
This was a strange moment for me, especially given that I have never argued for less 'purity' in a film. Still, it emphasized a point to me. I felt that, in their effort to stay clean, the writers actually sacrificed some realism and softened the blow. One could even argue that it would have worked story-wise due to the fact that their family were not yet Christians. Still, nothing. Personally, on this level, I found a film like The Freebie, a little indie film about the perils of infidelity to be a better exploration of the virtues of marriage, despite the language. (Seriously. It's not the silly film that they tried to sell it as.) In many ways, 'Christian films' create for themselves their own rules and, as a result, end up walking away from the very truths of healing and transformation of which Christ speaks. I admire what the people at Sherwood Pictures are doing (after all, they are a church making major films) but I feel like they're off the mark in this area. Clean cut is... nice... but it doesn't always connect with the reality that we live in.
Lastly, to create an alternative to Hollywood may seem like a noble goal to some. After all, the thinking is clear: "If we could just control the content, we could reach the world..." The problem is that this simply doesn't work. First of all, Christian movies rarely reach anyone outside of Christian circles so, as an evangelism tool, they just aren't effective. Second, and most importantly, is that really how we want the world to know us? (I think there's a song about that. "They will know that we are Christians from our poorly made films..." Something like that.) The truth is that God calls us to engage culture; to be a light in the dark. If we truly seek to impact the world, it's far more effective to be a Christian working in the film industry than to create a separate industry that simply tries to compete--and poorly, I might add. Hollywood Christians (yes, there are others that don't have the last name Cameron) like Denzel Washington, Tyler Perry, Kristin Chenowith, Philip Anschlutz, Zachary Levi and Ralph Winter are making a difference by creating engaging films or taking roles that emphasize the values of Christ, albeit in non-traditional ways. The list goes on and on. People such as these need prayer and encouragement as they continue to impact an industry that is a major influence on the world. After all, Christ truly calls us as believers into the world to allow the Holy Spirit to shine through us. We can't do that if we separate ourselves and shine our light from across the street.
So, in closing, I truly don't mean to judge the people at Pure Flix (or other ministries like it). I believe that they really do have good intentions and hearts that love the Lord. However, in all honesty, I just feel that the realm of 'Christian films' is in itself problematic. By limiting their view of God's work in the world and sacrificing the quality of their storytelling, 'Christian films' usually ends up missing the very mark that they set out to achieve. (Even the fact that we call them 'Christian movies' seems to set them apart from mainstream films in a way that carries a negative stigma.) We know that Christ calls us to engage our culture from within it so that we can exhibit His character in an active and real manner.
So, let's tell stories that do that.
Please?
