Comments on: The 10 Biggest Mistakes Made by Christians in Entertainment

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Phil -

I think these are good insights not just for Media, but are applicable to Christians in any number of business/industries. Christians have to remember that they can’t change the world if they stay huddled in their small group of Christian friends – they have to get out into the world to change it!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Phil, this is so good! One more gem from you for the Body of Christ. Hope someone is listening to you!

George
http://www.kftv.org

By: jsindorf

jsindorf — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Wonderful wisdom keys, Phil! (smiling) Hey, it just proves you can learn something from almost anyone! I just edited a program on point number 10.

By: Fred Appplegate

Fred Appplegate — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

An enormous problem with Christian media is that it wears it's agenda on it's sleeve. Show me stories the challenge my faith... let me see a real, dynamic Christian life in crisis. I suppose the paradigm for media should be not that Christian Faith solves your problems, but that it gives you the tools to solve them.

Oddly, Ned Flanders in The Simpsons may be the best Christian character of the last 20 years: honest, human, flawed, but filled with hope and a faith that triumphs over ridicule.

And Amen to the comment about "Jargon". Didn't C S Lewis say that if you can't say something simply, you either don't understand it, or don't believe it? Everyone wants to feel special, like they're on the "inside", and jargon does that. Jesus didn't use it. Just saying...

Thanks again Phil for making us think.

By: Ron Jones

Ron Jones — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Great stuff Phil! Very insightful. Thanks!

By: Alisa Folkes

Alisa Folkes — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I totally agree with this!

By: Stuart H. Cone

Stuart H. Cone — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Phil, thanks so much. For Chrisitans who want to write screenplays, I recommend finding any of the pro writer blogs that are out there. They are not only a great resource for learning about the industry and how hard it can be, but they are also full of great teaching on the art of storytelling. It’s surprising how many big name professional writers are willing to pass on their experience in this way.

By: Rick Wilson

Rick Wilson — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Great stuff as usual Phil. I would put "Poor Writing" at the TOP of the list. Story drives the train and many big budget projects fall down because the time it takes to really develop story and the characters within are ignored to rush product to the marketplace. Pixar is a prime example of a company that will take the time necessary to get story done.

Our (Christians) greatest failure is our inability(?) or unwillingness to craft universal messages into compelling naratives that really touch the culture. Jesus did that – Paul did that – Peter did that. We have to do that!!! By the way – must read resources in this context: "Story" by Robert McGee and "Good Scripts – Bad Scripts" by Thomas Pope. Great reads!!

By: CF

CF — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

"Story" is written by Robert McKee with a "K". Available on Amazon.com. Great reviews.

By: Cliff

Cliff — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Phil, this is great stuff! I think many times as Christians we don't properly prepare and educate ourselves when we embark on variety of ventures whether they be in business, media or education. Instead, we expect God to just bail us out and give us success without proper preparation on out part. God wants to bless us, but we must hold up our end of the bargain.

Once again, thank you!