Comments on: Is Hollywood Out of Touch with Middle America? http://philcooke.com/is-hollywood-out-of-touch-with-middle-america/ Change Revolution Tue, 22 May 2012 02:39:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Tony Figueroa http://philcooke.com/is-hollywood-out-of-touch-with-middle-america/#comment-14612 Tony Figueroa Wed, 07 Mar 2012 04:26:00 +0000 http://philcooke.com/?p=7006#comment-14612 Tyler Perry's movies are also done on the cheap. He left Hollywood so not to pay Union scale. The LEFT BEHIND movies were done in Canada for economic reasons (K.C. will say diferent) Tyler Perry’s movies are also done on the cheap. He left Hollywood so not to pay Union scale. The LEFT BEHIND movies were done in Canada for economic reasons (K.C. will say diferent)

]]> By: Sean Cannell http://philcooke.com/is-hollywood-out-of-touch-with-middle-america/#comment-13870 Sean Cannell Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:47:00 +0000 http://philcooke.com/?p=7006#comment-13870 Love the practical ACTION STEP!  BUY Tickets!  Great Interview!  Love the practical ACTION STEP!  BUY Tickets!  Great Interview! 

]]> By: Major Mack http://philcooke.com/is-hollywood-out-of-touch-with-middle-america/#comment-13860 Major Mack Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:03:00 +0000 http://philcooke.com/?p=7006#comment-13860 Most of the movies coming out of Hollywood these days are decidedly gnostic and anti-Christian. So to see more believers working that mission field is a definite plus. On a side note: I'm afraid evangelicals will never be able to tip the scales in Jesus' favor, because too much of the leadership is in bed with the enemy, and too much of the follwership is out of touch with the world outside of the church.  If change is to come,  it'll to come the way it always has: from the grassroots level. The Holy Spirit working within average folks, virulently infecting society until it changes into God's ideal. Maybe we could use a few more Tyler Perrys going the anti-Hollywood route, still making commercially viable movies that have strong redemptive Christian themes. Most of the movies coming out of Hollywood these days are decidedly gnostic and anti-Christian. So to see more believers working that mission field is a definite plus.

On a side note: I’m afraid evangelicals will never be able to tip the scales in Jesus’ favor, because too much of the leadership is in bed with the enemy, and too much of the follwership is out of touch with the world outside of the church. 

If change is to come,  it’ll to come the way it always has: from the grassroots level. The Holy Spirit working within average folks, virulently infecting society until it changes into God’s ideal.

Maybe we could use a few more Tyler Perrys going the anti-Hollywood route, still making commercially viable movies that have strong redemptive Christian themes.

]]> By: MaryJo http://philcooke.com/is-hollywood-out-of-touch-with-middle-america/#comment-13847 MaryJo Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:45:00 +0000 http://philcooke.com/?p=7006#comment-13847 Checked out info on Uncle Flynn... sounds like quite the adventure! Even liked your link on Facebook... though we have a few differances of opinions, I think we're more united in thought than not. Been great chatting with you on this subject Simon. Checked out info on Uncle Flynn… sounds like quite the adventure! Even liked your link on Facebook… though we have a few differances of opinions, I think we’re more united in thought than not. Been great chatting with you on this subject Simon.

]]> By: Simon Dillon http://philcooke.com/is-hollywood-out-of-touch-with-middle-america/#comment-13843 Simon Dillon Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:01:00 +0000 http://philcooke.com/?p=7006#comment-13843 That is indeed where I feel called, though I enjoy all genres - not just horror! I have penned a couple of horror screenplays and a horror novel (which I will unveil when the Lord leads me to), but most of my books so far have been for children. Check out Uncle Flynn, which is available for download online (for free), or as a print copy from Lulu, if like me you prefer proper books. That is indeed where I feel called, though I enjoy all genres – not just horror! I have penned a couple of horror screenplays and a horror novel (which I will unveil when the Lord leads me to), but most of my books so far have been for children.

Check out Uncle Flynn, which is available for download online (for free), or as a print copy from Lulu, if like me you prefer proper books.

]]> By: MaryJo http://philcooke.com/is-hollywood-out-of-touch-with-middle-america/#comment-13835 MaryJo Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:40:00 +0000 http://philcooke.com/?p=7006#comment-13835 Ahhh…  you Simon are the author of the article I read some time ago! You wrote a rather persuasive argument in the defense of horror films for the use of evangelism. I agree with much of what you said and I do agree that we are wired for all kinds of stories. I think you can use any and every story as a tool to explore God, man’s purpose, evil and everything in between. I’m not objectionable to the Bible’s stories of violence or the reenactment of them, or films like Saving Private Ryan, Braveheart, War Horse or any films dealing with violence because they have a strong moral theme, a PURPOSE (many of my favorite films have central themes of war, death, etc.).  My objection is strictly those horror films that are made for the sake of satisfying the appetites of mindless horror, gore, death and the glorification of those who possess dark minds… this is all I’ve seen on my limited viewing list of true “horror” films. I think we can agree on this idea - “….there is little of redeeming artistic or moral merit in many of the endless Saw sequels,…”. In regards to occult films, I have yet to hear of anyone say that they searched for God and found Him because they were inspired by an occult film(s). I think caution should be used when exposing yourself to these kinds of films as a believer… unless God has called you into this kind of evangelism (likely because that’s where you came from yourself) I don’t see the purpose of viewing them ….. just my opinion. But again, I don’t flatly dismiss using anything as a creative evangelist tool. You made another important point,” personal temperament” regarding our relationship with horror films; they aren’t for everyone. However, I strongly believe that a steady diet of viewing disturbing graphic images, demonic manifestations and so forth, does eventually accrue into a desensitized mind -which is a dark place to play and occupy.  I enjoyed reading your perceptive in your article… you made some good points, thanks for sharing! Ahhh…  you Simon are the author of the article I read some time ago! You wrote a rather persuasive argument in the defense of horror films for the use of evangelism. I agree with much of what you said and I do agree that we are wired for all kinds of stories. I think you can use any and every story as a tool to explore God, man’s purpose, evil and everything in between. I’m not objectionable to the Bible’s stories of violence or the reenactment of them, or films like Saving Private Ryan, Braveheart, War Horse or any films dealing with violence because they have a strong moral theme, a PURPOSE (many of my favorite films have central themes of war, death, etc.).  My objection is strictly those horror films that are made for the sake of satisfying the appetites of mindless horror, gore, death and the glorification of those who possess dark minds… this is all I’ve seen on my limited viewing list of true “horror” films. I think we can agree on this idea – “….there is little of redeeming artistic or moral merit in many of the endless Saw sequels,…”.
In regards to occult films, I have yet to hear of anyone say that they searched for God and found Him because they were inspired by an occult film(s). I think caution should be used when exposing yourself to these kinds of films as a believer… unless God has called you into this kind of evangelism (likely because that’s where you came from yourself) I don’t see the purpose of viewing them ….. just my opinion. But again, I don’t flatly dismiss using anything as a creative evangelist tool.
You made another important point,” personal temperament” regarding our relationship with horror films; they aren’t for everyone. However, I strongly believe that a steady diet of viewing disturbing graphic images, demonic manifestations and so forth, does eventually accrue into a desensitized mind -which is a dark place to play and occupy.
 I enjoyed reading your perceptive in your article… you made some good points, thanks for sharing!

]]> By: Simon Dillon http://philcooke.com/is-hollywood-out-of-touch-with-middle-america/#comment-13834 Simon Dillon Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:13:00 +0000 http://philcooke.com/?p=7006#comment-13834 Hi Mary Jo, Check out this article that I wrote on my film review blog - it explains my horror movie position much more clearly. Obviously, temperament has a huge part to play in 1) what kind of stories we like personally and 2) what kind of stories we would therefore like to tell. Not everyone should tell horror stories, but personally I have no theological problem whatsoever with adhering to the conventions of a genre such as horror to tell a story which has a good message (but critically, it mustn't feel like a preach, of course). As an aside, I'd be most curious to see what a director like Paul Verhoeven would make of Judges 19 - a story that begins with gang rape and dismemberment, and builds from there! As Phil points out, this stuff is in the Bible and it is there for a reason. Clearly God is a lot less squeamish than we sometimes are. http://thegreatesttrick.wordpress.com/2010/11/04/in-defence-of-horror-movies/ Hi Mary Jo,

Check out this article that I wrote on my film review blog – it explains my horror movie position much more clearly.

Obviously, temperament has a huge part to play in 1) what kind of stories we like personally and 2) what kind of stories we would therefore like to tell. Not everyone should tell horror stories, but personally I have no theological problem whatsoever with adhering to the conventions of a genre such as horror to tell a story which has a good message (but critically, it mustn’t feel like a preach, of course).

As an aside, I’d be most curious to see what a director like Paul Verhoeven would make of Judges 19 – a story that begins with gang rape and dismemberment, and builds from there! As Phil points out, this stuff is in the Bible and it is there for a reason. Clearly God is a lot less squeamish than we sometimes are.

http://thegreatesttrick.wordpress.com/2010/11/04/in-defence-of-horror-movies/

]]> By: Simon Dillon http://philcooke.com/is-hollywood-out-of-touch-with-middle-america/#comment-13833 Simon Dillon Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:12:00 +0000 http://philcooke.com/?p=7006#comment-13833 Hi Mary Jo, Check out this article that I wrote on my film review blog - it explains my horror movie position much more clearly. Obviously, temperament has a huge part to play in 1) what kind of stories we like personally and 2) what kind of stories we would therefore like to tell. Not everyone should tell horror stories, but personally I have no theological problem whatsoever with adhering to the conventions of a genre such as horror to tell a story which has a good message (but critically, it mustn't feel like a preach, of course). As an aside, I'd be most curious to see what a director like Paul Verhoeven would make of Judges 19 - a story that begins with gang rape and dismemberment, and builds from there! As Phil points out, this stuff is in the Bible and it is there for a reason. Clearly God is a lot less squeamish than we sometimes are. http://thegreatesttrick.wordpress.com/2010/11/04/in-defence-of-horror-movies/ Hi Mary Jo,

Check out this article that I wrote on my film review blog – it explains my horror movie position much more clearly.

Obviously, temperament has a huge part to play in 1) what kind of stories we like personally and 2) what kind of stories we would therefore like to tell. Not everyone should tell horror stories, but personally I have no theological problem whatsoever with adhering to the conventions of a genre such as horror to tell a story which has a good message (but critically, it mustn’t feel like a preach, of course).

As an aside, I’d be most curious to see what a director like Paul Verhoeven would make of Judges 19 – a story that begins with gang rape and dismemberment, and builds from there! As Phil points out, this stuff is in the Bible and it is there for a reason. Clearly God is a lot less squeamish than we sometimes are.

http://thegreatesttrick.wordpress.com/2010/11/04/in-defence-of-horror-movies/

]]> By: MaryJo http://philcooke.com/is-hollywood-out-of-touch-with-middle-america/#comment-13828 MaryJo Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:27:00 +0000 http://philcooke.com/?p=7006#comment-13828 Simon- just curious ... what is the potential that Christians are missing in the horror genre? If I'm missing reaching unbelievers because I personally dismiss horror flicks, then according to your statement, I need to violate my conscience and disturb my mind in order to become desensitized to senseless violent acts for the sake of evangelism. I have not read anywhere in the Bible where we are instructed to violate our conscience by exposing ourselves to acts of hate crimes (guts and all) and use it as a tool of evangelism. I believe there are more effective ways of telling a story that have greater potential to influence others for the sake of evangelism. Getting over squeamishness gets what results? Simon- just curious … what is the potential that Christians are missing in the horror genre? If I’m missing reaching unbelievers because I personally dismiss horror flicks, then according to your statement, I need to violate my conscience and disturb my mind in order to become desensitized to senseless violent acts for the sake of evangelism. I have not read anywhere in the Bible where we are instructed to violate our conscience by exposing ourselves to acts of hate crimes (guts and all) and use it as a tool of evangelism. I believe there are more effective ways of telling a story that have greater potential to influence others for the sake of evangelism. Getting over squeamishness gets what results?

]]> By: Simon Dillon http://philcooke.com/is-hollywood-out-of-touch-with-middle-america/#comment-13826 Simon Dillon Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:53:00 +0000 http://philcooke.com/?p=7006#comment-13826 I also get fed up of certain groups saying PG movies do so much better than R. It's simply not true, especially given the marketing and big budgets of, say, Pixar films. It's all about return on investment. As an example, R-rated horror movies continue to get made because in terms of return on investment they make far more. Hollywood execs are not stupid. They know the audience for horror is smaller than for Pixar movies, so they make these films for less money. On another note, I personally think the horror genre has huge potential for Christians to use, if they would just get over their squeamishness. I also get fed up of certain groups saying PG movies do so much better than R. It’s simply not true, especially given the marketing and big budgets of, say, Pixar films. It’s all about return on investment.

As an example, R-rated horror movies continue to get made because in terms of return on investment they make far more. Hollywood execs are not stupid. They know the audience for horror is smaller than for Pixar movies, so they make these films for less money.

On another note, I personally think the horror genre has huge potential for Christians to use, if they would just get over their squeamishness.

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