The recently-televised Oscars Awards eclipsed all previous viewing records. Needless to say, I didn’t tune in and don’t view a lot of films. My daughter on the other hand, has an interest in theatre, the film industry and acting. She is a prolific writer of poems and short stories and is working on “the great American novel” (I think it is approaching 100 pages at present).
One of her interests is to develop a story line and script, recruit friends to act in or help film her project. She then edits it using her Mac computer with the help of iMovie, provides the music and other necessary accompanying features to develop a 10-15 minute DVD containing the finished product. Her most recent effort, “Timeless” is a film about two friends meeting early in life and sharing 60-70 years over long distances and separate family households of husbands, children and the ultimate loss of spouses. The story ends in a nursing home as the two roommates continue their friendship that spans time and space until one dies. The final scene shows the remaining friend placing dolls on her friend’s grave along with a note and picture the two had compiled during their early childhood days; very touching with a worldview message of how Jesus intends for us to reach out to one another in relationships.
Many of her friends and kids around the country are doing the same; some with a similar focus on Biblical worldview, others focused on another worldview; however, they all are expressing themselves through film and share it with one another as well as watch it on the big screen.
Much of the film industry today doesn’t focus on a Biblical worldview, although there is certainly a discernable worldview in most films – mostly one we wouldn’t as believers subscribe. Like my daughter, there are many young teens and adults who want to use the film industry to make a difference for the Kingdom and have God establish the work of their hands (Psalm 90:17). What would a film production company look like if the produced movies focused upon a Biblical worldview? How would it potentially develop with Christian filmmakers educating a new generation of filmmakers, actors, writers by focusing them on Biblical worldview themes? What might be God’s intent in reclaiming this important media for His Kingdom if Christians with talents, abilities and responsibility we took seriously His claim of ownership over all realms?
The Wilberforce Forum on Monday, March 15 will welcome to the program David Kirkpatrick, former President of Paramount Pictures, Touchtone and Walt Disney Studios where he oversaw some 200 movies including Forrest Gump, Top Gun, The Firm, Ghost, Witness, Ordinary People, Hunt For Red October, Terms of Endearment, Dead Poet’s Society, Elephant Man, An Officer And A Gentleman, Reds and Little Mermaid. He also was responsible for such successful franchises as the Indiana Jones, and Star Trek series. David is currently the President of Plymouth Rock Studios in Massachusetts building a firm focusing on producing films with a Christian Worldview heart. In addition, Nancy Fitzgerald, President and CEO of Anchors Away Ministries will join us in the discussion of how film impacts today’s teen and could be used to develop and reinforce a Biblical Worldview in teens through the use of film.
Join the discussion on Monday, March 15 beginning at 8 p.m. EST by navigating to the Colson Center for Christian Worldview (www.colsoncenter.org) and opening the Wilberforce Forum Program icon on the front page of the site.
