Isaac Botkin
I produced this three-part series based series for Prime Time America this week on Isaac Botkin’s book: Outside Hollywood: A Young Christian’s Guide to Vocational Filmmaking.
There are many voices today that call for Christians to enter Hollywood in order to positively influence it…unfortunately, the track record is pretty poor. Some who have tried, have been frustrated at best and contaminated at worst.
Isaac is clear on why independent film-making is a better answer. Vision Forum has a couple great lecture series on Christian Filmmaking that I highly recommend.
I’m also grateful for my friend Chris Staron for his participation in the features, sharing his experiences with me.
Part I
Part II
Part III
Click here for more information about the film festival sponsored by Vision Forum Ministries.
Interview Extras
There are always interview clips that just don’t fit into the features…here are three of them that ended up on the editing floor.
Geoffrey Botkin: more on the Frankfurt School and his own testimony
Isaac Botkin: on the importance of strong heroes in our films
Chris Staron: on the question “can Hollywood be redeemed?”
paul…this is very cool…i can’t wait to hear these. we have two aspiring directors in our home, so we look forward to giving your interview a listen.
fletch
[...] them that the testimony of their absence was not lost. He thanked me for my recent pieces with Isaac Botkin, the features on Passionate Housewives and the Jamestown special from last summer. I am so [...]
are moral movies enough?
I’m not sure exactly what you mean by “moral movies,” but I assume that you are talking about movies that teach a moral or principle that is in harmony with the scriptures, though not necessarily “Christian.” While I think these types of stories can be used as discussion starters in the broader culture, but if it is an ideal/value that is equally harmonious with Buddhism or Rastafarian theology then it not only falls short, it can get in the way or even lead astray.
For example, I have often heard people say that SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION is a great picture for its message of redemption. While I have never seen the film, I have had this discussion with a number of people who have. When they begin to describe the plot of the film, it becomes clear that the redemption in the film is something that the main character earns for himself, while the concept of redemption from scriptures is that we can not do anything to redeem ourselves–it requires something outside ourselves, completely outside ourselves, to redeem us from ourselves. While some may think I am being picky about the message, I think it illustrates the fact that if we were to use this film to illustrate redemption we communicate something other than solid doctrine.