Faith on Film - Take 1
20th Century Fox released an annoucement yesterday that it was starting up a new division called FoxFaith. I'm sure some will disagree with me on this, and I would definitely like to read those comments, but for some reason this doesn't sit well with me. This article claims that the new company will be headed up by Jeff Yordy, a Christian within the film industry and former director of Marketing for 20th Century Fox.
While all that is good and well, I don't really care for the apparent fragmenting that is taking place. Why can't Christian directors, actors, screenwriters, etc. do something within an established name? Why does something new need to be created just to get credibility? To me, it doesn't seem like we are making any headway, but rather becoming further segregated in an already tough market. While we have, to some extent, a distinction between secular and religious movies - isn't this move going to make the chasm between the two camps even more wide? It just seems that more distance can be created now, particularly by Fox (the parent company) if it chooses to not do an overtly religious film, by sending it to the youngster FoxFaith down the hall. And if it fails under the FoxFaith banner, well, at least it doesn't taint our reputation. Will it become that people will avoid the movie just because it has the FoxFaith trademark on the packaging? If so, what ground have we gained?
I think there is still a need for good, quality directors, actors, screenwriters and the like to put out compelling movies that have a latent Christian feel to them without beating the viewer over the head. Movies like The Shawshank Redemption that speak about the ideas of Justice vs. Injustice and how even in the face of gross Injustice, Hope still has a place to grow and flourish. I'm not saying that overtly Christian movies are bad, but they only target a specific audience - one that already has both feet firmly planted in the Christian camp. But movies that deal with real-life issues and have as main themes to the plot great Christian virtues can be just as effective to those outside the Christian camp without being preachy. It's not about hiding behind the celluloid or a cleverly crafted line - it's about reaching out sensitively to an audience and surreptitiously advancing the Christian message in the tone and feel of the movie.
Shawn
While all that is good and well, I don't really care for the apparent fragmenting that is taking place. Why can't Christian directors, actors, screenwriters, etc. do something within an established name? Why does something new need to be created just to get credibility? To me, it doesn't seem like we are making any headway, but rather becoming further segregated in an already tough market. While we have, to some extent, a distinction between secular and religious movies - isn't this move going to make the chasm between the two camps even more wide? It just seems that more distance can be created now, particularly by Fox (the parent company) if it chooses to not do an overtly religious film, by sending it to the youngster FoxFaith down the hall. And if it fails under the FoxFaith banner, well, at least it doesn't taint our reputation. Will it become that people will avoid the movie just because it has the FoxFaith trademark on the packaging? If so, what ground have we gained?
I think there is still a need for good, quality directors, actors, screenwriters and the like to put out compelling movies that have a latent Christian feel to them without beating the viewer over the head. Movies like The Shawshank Redemption that speak about the ideas of Justice vs. Injustice and how even in the face of gross Injustice, Hope still has a place to grow and flourish. I'm not saying that overtly Christian movies are bad, but they only target a specific audience - one that already has both feet firmly planted in the Christian camp. But movies that deal with real-life issues and have as main themes to the plot great Christian virtues can be just as effective to those outside the Christian camp without being preachy. It's not about hiding behind the celluloid or a cleverly crafted line - it's about reaching out sensitively to an audience and surreptitiously advancing the Christian message in the tone and feel of the movie.
Shawn
posted by Shawn White | 9/20/2006 07:03:00 AM
5 Comments:
Preaching to the choir, dude. In other words, I feel the same way you do. No real progress being made...maybe even a step in the wrong direction. Hopefully it doesn't become another 'faith at home network' where we can get Binny Hinn and friends every half hour.
Don't take the last statement as a Benny Hinn bash...that's not what I was doing. I simply agree that we should be reaching out to the 'non-churched' audience rather than creating an entire network for believers.
Hey - if they ever decide to air "Tele-Evangelist Wrestling" I would tune in to watch.
Benny Hinn vs. Jerry Fallwell...
Shawn
You just had to use that word, didn't you?
"surreptitiously"
You know it made me laugh! :P
(inside joke)
You also know I completely agree with you on this subject and your post. Doesn't seem like we're infiltrating the industry, but rather further isolating ourselves.
I agree that this is a lame atempt for a corporation to "cash in" on the successes of things like The Pasison of the Christ, The Chronicles of Narnia, I Can Only Imagine, etc. They want to market to Christians, but they don't want to seem like they are supporting Christianity themselves. I dislike the taste of it all. Weak and Lame.
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