Art provides a place for us to deal with our own fears and search for meaning. Entertainment lets us do this together. When we’re trying to figure out one another while also sorting out our own beliefs about right, wrong, belief, doubt, and the transcendent, it looks, from 2016, like we’ve decided the screen is a decent place to start.
I’m a Christian and I Hate Christian Movies, by Alissa Wilkinson
Some of the most popular faith-based movies today aren’t just sub-par entertainment — they’re anti-Christian.
David Oyelowo on Why Christians Can’t Abandon Hollywood, by Tyler Huckabee in Relevant
The blockbuster actor with unflinching faith has a fresh vision for Christianity in film
Why Evangelical Films Fail, by Peter J. Leithart
Evangelicalism is a word religion. I’m a big fan of words, but even talking pictures aren’t fundamentally about words. Evangelical films over-explain, over-talk. They don’t trust the images to do the work.
Why Liberal Arts Education is Best Preparation for Filmmakers, by XMen and The Giver Producer Ralph Winter
Ralph Winter, who has helped to produce blockbuster movies such as the X-Men, and Star Trek series, advises aspiring Christian filmmakers against attending film school.
3 Reasons Why a Christian Film Industry is a Really, Really Bad Idea, by Nate Flemming
A small voice crying in the wilderness, making the argument that creating a Christian film industry is absolutely the last thing that we Christians should be trying to do.
Vikings vs. The Bible: Why History Channel Won’t/Can’t Market Faith? by Craig Detweiler, PhD
I can’t understand why the History Channel would promote The Vikings while ignoring the equally epic ten-hour mini series that precedes it on The Bible.
The Future of Faith in Film? Youth and Evangelicals Outstrip All Other Movie-going Audiences, by David Kinnaman
No one is surprised that 18-28 year-olds watch twice as many movies as any other age group. What is surprising is that the average number of movies self-identified ‘evangelicals’ saw in 2012 is larger than followers of any other religion. If Hollywood is listening then the future of movies could be greatly shaped by tastes of young Christ-followers.
Oh Crap! The Theater’s Full! by McKenna Elise
Many of my same industry friends who won’t watch or rent a movie that describes itself as “Christian” are more than willing to sit down and watch a cheesy Hallmark special of similar quality. Why?