Faith FEED Dec 2014

Inside the Christian Film Industry

Faith FE

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Why God wants you in entertainment

How to make a Christian movie that doesn’t suck

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46

Exodus Film Review

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3, 2,1 . Why God wants you in film

Mary-Mary, Sunday Best and more of your favorite Christian shows reviewed.

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Faith FE

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Chief Editor Assistance Editor Editorial Staff

Linda Pintus Rebecca Hines Stephen Crawley Tim Robinson

Contributors

Jason Hunt Bobbi Ann Cole

Production

Jamiel Cotman Will Doniker Lance Cummins

Connect

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FaithFEEDMag@gmail.com 804-833-7628

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Preachers of LA still going hard

What we think of Exodus: Of God and Kings

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Develop a Christian film of your own

Editors

Feed

God wants to take Hollywood, by force if necessary?

P

icture going to the

movies with nothing but positive Christian films to choose from. That day can come you know. And no, it

So relax. Scroll through the pages and think about how your community would change if it had better, more anointed, cinema than ever before.

We sure did.

doesn’t have to be a bunch of “bible” stories either [though those definitely would be included]. In this edition that’s just the seed we’re planting!

We’re looking at some of the best Christian entertainers and entertainment, and just how everyday believers like you and I can get involved.

-Linda

Managers

T

he biggest reason we delved

Feed So enjoy, and we included some Christmas stuff too for all you traditionalist out there.

into this topic, right around Christmas, while everyone is simply talking about the season, is because, well, we’re Faith FEED! We’re different on purpose and cinema and TV award season is coming up soon. Being that there’s no Christian movie award ceremony, we took the initiative. And hey, what do you know, our editors liked the idea!

-Jamiel

Christians in

Q

uick confession. I

watch secular TV; a lot of it! Everything from Atlanta Housewives to Fresh Prince of Bel-air, I really need to get help with my fetish. But what’s more of a surprise, I don’t feel a need to! May God work on me, but I’m convinced its our fault, that I don’t have enough quality TV options that are still Christian. I repeat, there isn’t enough Christian TV options of quality. So I ask, - When will believers REALLY take Hollywood?

Entertainers must choose between Christian pennies or secular dollars.

So even though artist like Nicki Minaj or Miley Cyrus were raised Christian, they grow to make none Christian music, simply because, it’s more rewarding and identified with by the masses.

Let’s face it though, if you

The Resistance

could guess, which one brings in more revenue, fame and

As if poor incentives

influence, - Secular or Christian

weren’t enough, Christian

entertainment? The answer

actors face controversy once

would be secular entertainment

deciding to make films. “I

by a long shot, simply because, it

encounter more resistance

doesn’t demand faith to identify

than any secular artists, or, x

with wanting to have sex, desiring

rated movie” says rapper

to murder, or just express how

Lacrae, referring to how tough

you feel on an album. All of these

it is for godly entertainers.

are the tenets of secular entertainment.

Continued on page 23

S

o we searched hi and

low to see if there was faithfulness found in Hollywood, and while you might think we didn’t find anything much, to our [and probably your] surprise, we actually found a small group of Christians, trying to do films for Christ.

T

yler Perry, seems to have a

new movie or TV show coming out daily. Though well known for years among urban African Americans, Perry burst onto the Hollywood scene in 2005 with ’ of a Mad Black Woman,’ which took in more than $50 million after being made on a $5.5 million budget.

welcome, I’m not welcome.

“

“

Where Jesus isn’t

Y

ou know Deborah, Ray’s

wife from Everybody Loves Raymond?. Well her name is Patricia Heaton and boy is she Christian. Born a Catholic, she embraced evangelical Protestantism as an adult, and now attends a Presbyterian church and advocates on behalf of an anti-abortion group called Feminists for Life.

get back to reading and studying

“

“

Now retired, I have an opportunity to

and praying more, which I didn't have much time for

“

“

My faith helps me understand that my circumstances don’t dictate my inner happiness.

T

he son of a Pentecostal

minister, Denzel Washington has donated $2.5 million to his church, the West Angeles Church of God in Christ. It was in the parking lot of that church that Washington landed the "Bible Experience" gig. Casting director Robi Reed told the L.A. Times that when she saw her fellow churchgoer and started describing the project, he interrupted her to say, "I have to do it."

M

el Gibson still tops the

list of most powerful Hollywood Christians. His ‘Passion of the Christ’ changed everything for Hollywood when it comes to matters of faith, waking up the powers-that-be to the box office potential of the Christian audience.

“

“

The Holy Ghost was working through me on this film, and I was just directing traffic.

country. People love redemption stories.

“

“

This is a forgiving

M

ark Burnette is currently

the executive producer of 11 network television series.

Amongst them is his famous, ‘The Bible Series’ with more than a million views and upwards of a million followers online.

So there you have it. As much as we complain about Hollywood doing more Christian stuff, maturity will say, “Let’s look at the good in what Hollywood is doing now, before we try to rebrand it.” for Jesus. Yes, there’s some good there.

Continued from page 10

Having a strong Christian message in Hollywood is sort of like having cocaine at the police station. Yea, you can have it, but it better be for

So how do we break through the stigma of being, ‘Boring Christian entertainers’? Yea, you’ve guessed it. Don’t be boring! Here’s how.

First, don’t make Christian films, make great

should be having fun doing

films, that so happen to be

anything for God.

Christian.

In Hollywood’s eyes, no one should be having fun doing anything for God.

evidence during a trail. No one

The moment we focus our energy on making it a “Christian” message, we let go of the very thing that makes it receivable.

The quality, the drama, the fun, all of those items makes the film easy to catch, which is critical for a film that reaches others for Christ.

Take for instance the film, ‘The Book of Eli’ starring Denzel Washington, which is about a chaotic world order in which the bible is forgotten. No mention of Jesus. No churches viewed, yet, it had a deeply impactful message on the importance of the scriptures

and the place biblical values have in an orderly society.

Secondly, fight for quality.

And noticed I said “fight”. In film,

You’re going to run into producers and artists who don’t think it has to be quality if it’s Christian.

Finally, have fun with it. It’s your sense of what’s interesting that’s going to connect with the viewer the most. If it’s boring to make, its boing to view. Too often, we think being ‘all about the mission’ is for the better.

But it never works out that way.

you’re going to run into producers

All too often, it ends up being

and artists who don’t think it has

dry and unhuman. Anytime

to be quality if it’s Christian. And

seriousness gets excessive,

you’re really going to have to

the entertaining element goes

push and get tough! Tough

down in quality. It should be fun

doesn’t mean rude, you still need

[in a challenging way] to make

to be a witness for Christ [while

while also being fun to view.

making a movie for Christ]. But all

Let your sense of what’s

in all, it’s an uphill battle

entertaining, intriguing and cool

convincing Hollywood producers,

to watch be the guiding factor,

or any for that matter, that a

not how many bible verses

Christ centered movie has to be a high quality one.

you can squeeze into the script.

Ladies and gentleman its time. God wants his heart and mind communicated through film and music. However we have to be that generation that

Let your sense of what’s entertaining, intriguing and cool to watch be the guiding factor.

understands just how to do it.

God wants His influence shown through the film industry.

Am I supporting the Christian film industry?

Do I have entertainment gifts and talents?

Ministers of Entertainment

A

ctors Models and Talent for

Christ [AMTC] is a renowned organization, training entertainers for the kingdom. Their motto: No

life goes untouched by media.

Consequently, their vision it to take the media battlefield for God! And just how are they doing that? First, AMTC offers its curriculum, the first of which is

According to AMTC, media and entertainment is the mission field of the 21st century called The Bridge Training Program. In it, aspiring and seasoned actors get to hone their skills.

First, they employ both spiritual and talent preparation models.

Actors Models and Talent for Christ is taking the entertainment industry by storm and their looking for you to be a part of it.

This means connecting its students with prayer warriors, who are also great entertainers.

They interact with strong believers who know what it means to follow Christ while aspiring to live out their dream.

What a blessing!

Secondly, they give opportunities for in person interaction in New York, L.A., Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, Denver and Seattle.

Actors train and bond with

We live a day and time

like-minded performers,

where Christian entertainers

“Your support team is vital to

aren’t triumphing within the

long-term success” says

culture. But they can if you join

AMTC.

the fight.

Finally they undergo photo

For starters, don’t take the

shoots and styling sessions,

gift of entertainment for granted;

assisting entertainer’s in

if you see it in yourself or your

developing professional

loved ones. Encourage them to

photography that markets

move forward with it and

them throughout their career.

showcase to them its importance to the kingdom of God. Though that day isn’t today,

there will be a time when everywhere we look, we’ll see entertainment projecting the values of Jesus our LORD and savior. And that will be a glorious

day in anyone’s book.

Bobbie Ann Cole

Jesus and the Miracle of Chanukah

J

We read this in John 10. esus was walking in

Solomon’s Colonnade in the Temple during the Feast of

Chanukah, the Jewish Festival of Light, and it was winter.

The Chanukah season, which usually falls around Christmas, can be amazingly cold in Jerusalem, which is a city perched at the very top of Mount Zion.

J

The word means ‘Dedication’ and its story centers on a miracle.

During my two years living in Israel, I would fill a heavy bag with coat, hat and gloves when traveling into Jerusalem during winter from Tel Aviv or Haifa, along the Mediterranean coast. There we would be wearing t-shirts.

I have a clear picture of Jesus, pulling up that valuable cloak, the one made of a single piece of cloth that the soldiers cast lots for at His crucifixion, to cover his head and ears as He shivered.

The ‘Jews’ — possibly priests, Levites and any other hard-core, all-weather

“It’s not for the miracles,”

practitioners of the faith —

they say, “but for calling yourself

gathered around Him and

a god.”

asked if He was the Messiah.

This is a real touchy subject

His reply is all about the

for the Jews. They didn’t hold with

miracles He has performed in

the veneration of Roman Caesars

the Father’s name.

as gods.

They pick up stones to stone Him. “For which miracle are

you stoning me?” Jesus asks.

Jesus’ response to their accusation now is that we are all gods.

And, a few years down the road, in Acts, one of their

He invites them

own, Herod Antipas, would be

again to at least

struck dead by God for accepting to be hailed as a god by some of his Gentile subjects.

believe in the miracles.

This was no more than his just desserts, in the eyes of the Jews.

Jesus’ response to their accusation now is that we are all gods. Doesn’t Psalm 82:6 tell us so? He reminds them of its words: You are gods; you

are all sons of the Most High.

He invites them again to at least believe in the miracles.

He is being topical, linking Himself to Chanukah. The word means ‘Dedication’ and its story centers on a miracle.

The Maccabees, victorious in their uprising against the oppressive Syrian Greeks occupying Israel during the 2nd century BC, marched into Jerusalem, only to find the Temple ransacked. The ner tamid, eternal flame, had gone out and there was barely enough holy oil to relight it — enough, maybe, for the flame to burn for a single day.

It would take eight days to prepare more holy oil.

They lit the flame anyway and went ahead with rededicating the Temple.

It is because of this miracle that Jews light the special, ninebranch menorah candlestick, known as a chanukiyah. One candle, the servant, stands apart from the others. The servant

And a miracle happened.

candle is used every night to light

Those few drops of oil burned for

an increasing number of other

eight days straight, enough time

candles, starting with one until, on

for gallons more holy oil to be

the eighth and last night, the lights

prepared...

from all eight candles, plus the servant, dance merrily.

The Jews thought the

They lit the flame anyway and went ahead with rededicating the Temple. .

Messiah would be more like the Maccabean leader, Judas Maccabee, than the Gentle Man standing before them at the Temple, with His cloak wrapped around Him that winter’s day.

The word Maccabee means ‘hammer’.

They were expecting a warrior.

They still are.

Bobbie Ann Cole is author of her acclaimed faith memoir She Does Not Fear the Snow, an Amazon #1 Bestseller. Get her FREE Story Structure

Success Sheet at http://testimonytrain.com/#2. .

w

e decided that talking

about Christian entertainments’ future isn’t enough, we actually have to give you a few good

options to watch and explore for yourself.

Gods Not Dead

A Christian student’s challenge from his atheist college professor.

Heaven is for Real

Colton Burpo, the son of a Pastor experienced Heaven during emergency surgery.

The Persecuted

Reformed drug addict and evangelist opposes a Senator.

The Identical

Boys separated at birth during the Great Depression.

Son of God

John, the last surviving disciple of Christ, is living in exile as he tells his story.

Christian Movie Maker

T

ired of waiting for a good

In essence, it would be a story with narratives of what the screen should be playing along

Christian film to come out? Why

with it. For instance, “Johnny

not make one? All you need to

starts a church [Picture of

do is follow these three simple

Johnny shaking hands with

steps.

realty broker, implying the

First, develop your story.

This will be the combination of both a story and a screen play.

purchase of a church].� For each part of your story

simply dictate what the screen should be showing in sync with it.

You will want to hone your screen play, assuring that it’s actually doable. Saying “Johnny starts a church” with a screen play of him going into a mega church building, may have to take into consideration the cost of renting such a building to film. Be sure that your screen play takes into account the people, places and things within your budget and is realistic while also being creative.

Secondly, get ready.

Acquire the resources, human and none human, for the completion of your screenplay.

This may mean getting a small

The less money you spend making the film, the higher your return on investment

information [film summary funds needed, use of funds] into a business plan no longer than 50 pages.

Finally, execute. Begin filming. Let your investors know about your progress and

business loan as most successful

maintain good

film makers [yes, even the ones

correspondence with them.

with their own money] tend to do.

You should give the film a

Sit down and figure out the costs

deadline as you don’t want to

of making the film and how much

run up expenses.

a film like yours is likely to

Remember, the less money

generate. Do some research

you spend making the film,

online and begin talking to film

the higher your return on

investors and finding out what

investment when selling it to

else you need to qualify for their

the masses.

funds. Don’t forget to include the cost of actor salaries, equipment and use of location when borrowing. Finally, compile the

There are many Christian

active daily. You can film a

movie idea concepts that you

Christian horror movie of sorts,

can execute upon. Concepts

focusing on the demonic and

that are likely to be widely

how Jesus casts them out. In

received. For instance, there

either case, remember, nobody

aren’t really any films about

wants to see what they’ve

reaching Christians online,

already have seen. Be sure you

where billion of them are

have something new, or, a

can make it a high quality one.

Its paramount that we serve the LORD in excellence. Film production is definitely no exception.

It’s paramount that we serve the LORD in more intriguing version of the old.

Finally, be sure to produce a high quality film as this is a trend in every Christian production that sells. If it’s not high quality, take a step back, think and come at it when you

excellence. Film production no exception.

Review

E

to who he is and that his own people are slaves serving him.

However, unlike most tellings of the story, its Ramsees, not Moses, who pushes Moses into

xodus: Of God and

the back sides of the dessert.

Kings is perhaps the best

And for a slight twist, instead of

Christian film release this year!

leading the slaves out, Moses

Let me explain. Instead of

returns to train the slaves to

having the “Christian Movie”

fight, executing small attacks

feel, it has the “Good Movie”

against Rameses until he is

feel that just so happens to be

coerced to let them go. But this

Christian. We can start with

is not before God partners with

Moses. Instead of hiring some

Moses in executing the ten

off brand new actor with no

plagues, of which I must say,

experience, Christian Bale, you know, ‘Batman’, stars. Even Sigourney Weaver from Aliens is there!

The plot? It begins with the Egyptian prince Moses being raised in ignorance as

It’s the best Christian film release this year!

are portrayed with amazing computer graphics [seen on right].

The film was produced by Peter Cherim [Rise of the Planet of Apes] and Ridley Scott [Kingdom of Heaven] so we expected the that much. However their film experience also brought a seasonality to the movie that more inexperienced producers don’t bring.

Unfortunately, the film didn’t do good on sales, grossing only 75 million of the 140 million invested. However, we believe this is do namely because it wasn’t marketed strongly enough to the Christian and evangelical community first as was more legendary Christian films like

‘The Passion of Christ.’

Exodus continues the film industry’s legacy of, periodically, making a superb Christian film that goes mainstream, while having other more underground Christian films remain the norm

The film, and particularly the plagues, were portrayed with amazing computer graphics

News A

Downey told reporters in an ctress Roma Downey,

email Thursday that the six-part

known for her role in the

series, which is expected to

popular TV show “Touched By

premiere in late 2015 on TLC,

an Angel” and for producing

will “tell the stories of faith and

faith-based entertainment, will

hope” — something she

be heading back to the small

believes is badly needed in

screen next year as host of a

today’s oft-times negative

new show about prayer and

media landscape.

miracles.

“The news is full of horror and fear

The two are currently looking

and heartache and bad news,” she

for people to share their personal

told TheBlaze. “I want to tell the

stories about faith, miracles and

stories of faith and hope.”

prayer through their production

Downey, who produced History Channel’s “The Bible” TV series and the subsequent “Son of God” feature film alongside husband and famed

company LightworkersMedia.com, as USA Today reported earlier this week.

Nancy Daniels, general

reality TV producer Mark Burnett last

manager for TLC, said in a statement

year, said that she believes millions

this week that the project will “deliver

of Americans are ready for a more

a television experience that connects

positive entertainment experience.

with the hearts, minds, and faith of

“I believe we need to make more noise for God and pay attention to when miracles show up,” Downey said.

Burnett will be executive producing the unnamed project.

our viewers.” .

Top

Christia Shows I n. t would be foolish to ignore the plethora of amazing

Christian television and film out this year. Everything from the inquisitive American Bible Challenge to the ever dramatic and engaging Mary, Mary, we plotted out a few here for you to thumb through based on ratings and viewership. .

2014

an of

Erica Campbell, Mary Mary

Yep. They’re still number 1 in Christian Television.

W

hile its ratings are down

from its 9,200,000 viewer high back in 2013, Duck Dynasty is still number one in Christian television, if you want to call it that. But yea, who else is praying, preaching and overall representing Christian values

than ol uncle Phil and the faith filled sons and daughters he’s raised?

What’s in store for next season? They wouldn’t say, but we expect more country filled faith and fun from the Robertson

family.

O

ne name, “Tina Cambell “

Mary, Mary. And while many

and the drama surrounding her

Christian complaints about the

husbands past affairs has

show circulate, particularly

caused a huge surge of

regarding the supposed

attention and also prayerful

secularity of Erica and Tina,

support for the contemporary

they’re still the second most

Christian artists’ reality show

watched Christian T.V. show and for good reason. “I get to

See real Christians, with real flaws, make real mistakes and depend on Jesus in spite of all of that�, says Tanisha Brooks, longtime fan and follower.

They’re still the second most watched, in spite of complaints

D

on’t know about

As part of the show's inspirational theme, the contestants compete to win

TABC? Comedian Jeff

money for their favorite

Foxworthy hosts this game show

charitable organizations or

in which contestants compete

ministries rather than playing

based on their knowledge of the

for themselves. Veteran game

Bible. The contestants, split into

show producer Michael Davies

three teams of three, answer

("Who Wants to Be a

questions and compete in

Millionaire") is among the

challenges drawn from the

show's executive producers.

narrative found in the Bible as it relates to current pop culture.

God has blessed them to be a blessing.

O

h you know we were

going to go there, well, because we had to! Coming in at number

when asked by Detrick

three is the illustrious, flashy,

Hadden about his salary as

everything many hate preachers

a guest speaker.

to be, ‘Preachers of L.A.’ and they’re all glad to showcase that God has blessed them to be a blessing! According to season three actor, Bishop Clearance Mclendon, “It’s to support my entourage”

With many complaints, there still on our list.

A

And music genre focus. But nd if you’re looking for

a one of the kind, then look no futher than Sunday Best, the ever aggressive gospel music competition focused on launching only Americans most talented gospel singers into a lifelong career of success and notoriety. Controversy have centered around its predominately black audience

they just can’t change who’s watching now can they?

Explore the real issues keeping church folk behind

B

ut before you leave, we’d be

dilemmas and unite to make a

remiss to bring up the brand

harmonious sound each

new, but honorably mentioned,

Sunday, take the ride with them

Fix My Choir, with gospel artist,

as they explore the real issues

pastor and Preachers of L.A.

keeping church goes behind.

star, Detrick Haddon and Michelle Williams working to fix a choir near you. Working with various praise teams from across the country, overcome personal issues, group

Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father in Heaven.

Matt 5:16

Jesus said we’re to let our light shine before men. Via television, is the world or the church doing a better job?