@AngelaCinema – welcome to the site! And, yes, we are definitely equal opportunity advertisers, you cheeky monkey. We’d even throw on a banner ad for ChristianCinema.com! (No, srsly, call us

We have to be careful of general statements applied to a wide range of people. There are hundreds of Christian filmmakers out there – perhaps a better way to describe them is as filmmakers who are Christians. Yes, there are many who’ve gotten on the bandwagon and think they need to be the next Sherwood Pictures, but maybe their calling is to that paradigm.

If we applied the line of reasoning to some other profession – like say, pastors – then would we say we shouldn’t have pastors because they only preach to the church? Are evangelists then elevated because they go outside of the church? Or are missionaries at the top of the hierarchy because they go to unchurched places?

Everyone has their calling, and sometimes it’s specifically to minister to the church. Others are called to go outside to the world. To put a stamp on everyone and say they must all do something & be something is to negate the amazing creativity of God who made us all unique.

Do those who call themselves “Christian filmmakers” need to produce high-quality professional work? Yes! Should those who feel called to use only volunteers from their church strive for greater excellence in their work? Yes. But to say that what they do isn’t valid? Or shouldn’t be done? I don’t think we can do that.

Phil & BMC are for those who can work within the industry – not everyone can do that. I’ve interviewed countless people who are working in Hollywood that say it’s not for everyone, so we shouldn’t try to force anyone into that mold.

Which would you rather go to:

A mechanic who had a fish in the phonebook ad, but he treated you just like any other mechanic – even slightly unethically perhaps, because “that’s how everyone works”

or

A mechanic who does excellent, far above average work for a fair price and makes sure that everything his customer needs is taken care of, and when asked why he does such quality work, has a door opened to share the Gospel of Jesus as the source of his committment to excellence.

Charlie’s right and there’s no reason for there to even be a Christian film industry – there really isn’t much of one anyways, the notables really just Cloud 10, Namesake and the Kendrick’s (Fireproof, Facing the Giants).

Besides, look at Phil Cooke and Ralph Winter and the Biola Media folks – there are plenty of folks entrenched in positions of influence in the “real” industry – we don’t need to populate yet another ghetto.

Is this program going to “make disciples” or “entertain disciples” becomes an interesting dilemma. What if during the process of making the program we “made disciples” by bringing the unsaved or recently saved or searching for the production journey. Surely then whether the programs entertains, challenges, disciples we can say we have “made disciples” during the production process thus honouring Christs command to us and making media that changes a generation.

I once said to a producer who I was working with on a production that I didnt care if his show was unsccessful or even aired, shocked he asked why. I pointed out that during the production process the non-christian students that I worked on the shoot were challenged about matters of faith and as such the production was already a success, we had begun “making disciples” in the production phase.