Just posted a manifesto of sorts on my film site about Christian films. It seems to me there must be a reason why Christian films just feel different than secular. We've caught up (mostly) as far as talent in front of and behind the camera, and there's no technical advantage we lack. But Christian films still have that preachy edge that even I, as a life-long believer, find uncomfortable at best and just embarrassing at worst.
Maybe you'll agree, maybe you won't, but my thoughts are posted on the front page of the film site in a PDF file called "Stories Not Sermons." You can probably guess from the title what my feeling and solution are.
Producers, writers, and directors who approach film making as a chance to send a message will come across preachy. It's not just Christians. Hollywood does it from time to time in their liberally-slanted "message" films. Seth MacFarlane did it twice this year on Family Guy to promote atheism and legalizing pot. When you come to the table with an agenda, you will preach. When you come with a story, you end up making a movie.
I think there's room for both approaches to filmmaking, but I don't think we should spend the money and effort to put celluloid sermons in movie theaters. I truly believe we'll do more good telling stories on the big screen.
Check out the manifesto here or at www.righteousinsanity.tv and let me know your thoughts.
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