MOVIES CAN BE POWERFUL THINGS

 

 

 

 

 

 Phillip Telfer of Media Talk 101 was a real blessing and encouragement those at the CWVFF.
We still can't believe we got to be a part of this!

   

 

 

How powerful are the films we watch?

 

In 1979 my family and I watched a Christian film called A Thief in the Night at my grandparent's little Baptist church in Santa Clara, CA. 

 

I was nine years old and the film had such an impact on me, that I walked the isle, got down on my knees and asked Jesus to come into my heart.  

 

Movies can be powerful things. 

 

 

 

Thanks to godly leadership, the focus remained on the Word.

 

 

 

As I was studying 2 Timothy recently, the following verse made me stop and think about the influence of the movies we watch:

 

"No one engaged in warfare entangles

himself with the affairs of this life,

that he may please him who

enlisted him as a soldier."

~2 Timothy 2:4   

 

 

As I considered what it would mean to be a soldier, I had to ask myself if I was in battle (which I am as a matter of fact) would I make it a habit to watch the propaganda films made by my enemy?

 

I think if we ask ourselves that question, the answer is obvious.  There is no way a soldier would watch the films made by their enemy. 

 

It would be foolish!  Right away they would become less sure of their objectives.  Less effective in battle.  They would probably even begin to question the orders and motives of their Commander. 

 

Does that apply to me as well?

 

 



Rich Christiano (maker of Time Changer and Jonathan Sperry) is one of our heroes.

 

 

I guess we are pretty conservative when it comes to media already, but if we were to make the standard not to watch films that were made by God's enemies, what would be left in the area of entertainment?

"For they speak against You wickedly,

And Your enemies take Your name in vain." 

~Psalm 139:20

 

 

It's something we have been thinking about.

 

 

Talking through ideas with Rich was an absolute high point of our time at the festival. 

 

 

 

 Recently, the kids asked about watching a film that has been well marketed in our area.  And while we as a family don't have any desire to start a boycott or villainize any specific films or film viewers, we have just decided to wait on watching it while we think this through. 

 

I am sure there is some good along with some bad in the film.  There always is.  But as Dr. John R. Rice once said, there is also "good food in garbage cans... but I do not believe in sending our children to the garbage cans of modern moving picture shows to get what they can along with the filth."   

 

Hmmm... movies can be powerful things. 

 

  

 

 

 George Escobar breaking down the nitty-gritty details of production in breakouts covering budgeting, scheduling, storyboarding and more.

 

They become our meditation.  They provide the songs on our lips.  And boy, isn't it tough enough to meditate on God's law day and night (Psalm 1) without a bunch of nonsense dancing through our heads?  Honestly, it is for us. 

 

It's because I desire to help myself and our kiddos to meditate on God's Word (Prov. 4:23), that finding the films from  Christian Movies.com could not have come at a better time for us. 

 

Some of these we have already known and loved, but many are new treasures that have brought the fruit of serious and godly discussions into our home. 

 

It's where we are right now.  I hope you will enjoy them too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These include some older films by Rich and his brother, Dave Christiano:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And this film by Pure Flix:

 

 

 

 

 As well as these DVD's by Living Waters that could even qualify as curriculum!  They are so well done.

 

 

 

 

 

I guess there is plenty to watch while we think this through.  May you be richly blessed.

 

Your friend in Christ,

 

 

 

 

______________________

 

 

As always, we never receive any payment for our recommendations.  Please preview movies for your family standards before showing children.

 

And if you really have a heart for Christian filmmakers, consider supporting these in theaters soon:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WE MADE IT INTO THE FILM FESTIVAL!!!

 

 

 

 

 

THE FACTS IN BRIEF 

 

 

 

Each film was judged independently by at least 5 judges.

 

Scoring was based on a numbering scale covering up to 32 factors divided between worldview and technical merits.

 

There were over 100 film submissions.

 

The above pictured girl smiled for a solid day when she got the news that her film was an Official Selection.   :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So happy for this kiddo!

 

 

 

 

 

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You can like The Underground Railroad on Facebook here to keep up on the activity.  Or, you can go check out the film festival here.   Her film is listed under the Young Filmmaker category.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



THAT'S A WRAP!

Do you ever see a glimmer in one of your children when a certain skill is being demonstrated and wonder if God will develop that into something someday?

In my case, I had no clue about this one, but looking back I can see it.

Our family has always tried to supply our children with tools, rather than only toys in the hopes that they would learn to contribute rather than simply consume.

So I saw her excited giggle to get a camera that could do video at five.  I watched the hours upon hours she would spend making stop motion video shorts with her sisters at seven. I was there in the audience to watch the Thanksgiving plays she had written and watched her direct her sisters and cousins as they made movies about cowboys bringing the gospel and knights fighting off evil. As she got older and my husband bought the girls editing software, I watched her offer to video friends and church events, then work to gain speed and accuracy in her video editing skills.  And last year, I saw her write, costume and cast her friends. Her requested birthday present at 15? To make a film patterned after one of her Lamplighter books. 

Remember this?  Making Zuma and the Secret of Peru

Ya, I think this glimmer is here to stay.

Faith at work, directing a scene on the riverboat

 



This summer, under the authority of her father and our pastor*, she wrote and directed an adventurous short film called The Underground Railroad that she plans to submit to the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival.

Although set in 1857, just after the outrageous Dred Scott decision by the Supreme Court, it is really a message that transcends time. 

Fantastic props by the Rafferty family

We are to do the good work set before us and trust God for the results.

The movie follows a family who is faced with a very difficult decision- to continue in ease and safety or to risk everything to assist a desperate boy who needs their help. Their family is fictional, but they bring life to the unknown stories of families and individuals who worked together at the risk of punishment and even death to help men to freedom. The Underground Railroad was made up of everyday people. And although it did not have a central organizing force, they assisted over 100,000 slaves to freedom.

　

Working on location at the historical Delta King Paddleboat

God has been so gracious in letting us play in this arena of cinematography. And although we had a budget that could just about be rounded down to zero, He provided everything we needed. Costuming; filming locations; equipment and an amazing group of people to work with. We have begun to share some of the behind the scenes stories and photos on Facebook here. 
 

Tom leading us in prayer.  Our first day of filming with over 40 extras!

Want to join us?

• Please go and "like" The Underground Railroad Movie Facebook page to keep up on this project 

• Please pray on October 24.  That is when we plan to mail in our project into the film festival.  It will be entered in the "Short" category (15 minute time limit) and Faith will compete as a young film maker 

• Please go ahead and watch the trailer here

Thanks so much for joining us in this journey. And an extra special thanks if you were one of the ladies that dropped me a note to let me know you were thankful for this blog and were looking forward to hearing from me again soon. You are a blessing. 
 

And that's a wrap!

 

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*  Skills under authority are important to us as we bring up girls.  We desire to raise young ladies who are subject to the authorities over them, while still allowing them to gain skills that may someday be a blessing to their future husband and family.  Want a book to inspire you in this area?  You may enjoy Preparing to be a Helpmeet.  While our family personally disagrees with sending our girls alone into foreign mission fields (which this book recommends) we don't feel there is any reason to throw the baby out with the bath water.  This resource is fantastic if you want to encourage teen girls to grow skills and contribute in their communities, rather than sit around and wait for Prince Charming.   ;)