Spiritual experience at the dentist

I went to the dentist today - John Wright, a former advertising client of mine and a great dentist - and had a spiritual experience.

Either that, or there was something in the local anaesthetic - I needed a lot of it, sensitive fellow that I am!

I was there for an hour and a half, my mouth gradually getting more and more numb. The headphones were playing an album by Selah, beautiful music including that song "You Raise Me Up" which nearly always makes me cry. Thankfully not this time.

But it was an amazing time for me to reconnect with God - and in a way, with myself.

Here I was, completely helpless in the hands of this dentist and hygienist. They could've really done anything to me, I couldn't see what was going on, and couldn't particularly feel anything. They might have removed my teeth for all I knew at the time. (They didn't; don't worry!)

Not only did I not know what they were doing, I wasn't fully aware of what I was doing as the anaesthetic set in. I may have been a slobbering wretch for all I know, but, bless them, they didn't tell me.

This state of helplessness is how we are with God - 100% of the time! Whether we are very aware of it, AND when we feel in control of our destiny.

That's why I feel closer to God in times of uncertainty, illness or misfortune. It goes against the things I used to briefly believe - that "abundant life" essentially meant being in control. It was a struggle for me to believe that, but I find I've travelled 360 degrees. Not that I seek uncertainty, illness or misfortune - but they're guaranteed to come into every life. The answer I've discovered is not to freak out when that sort of stuff happens, but to roll with it. Go with it.

As if to confirm, the "morning huddle" email I get from my cousin-in-law Nalani - all the way in Arizona, USA - said this today:

The peace that God gives is a way-down-in-your-gut confidence that everything that happens to you, good or bad, is something He will use to bring you closer to Him and make you more like Him. As your friendship with Jesus grows, this peace will take root in your heart. He promises it will!"

Sure 'nuff!

Roger Mitchell on London Bombings

This from my email inbox, from Storm-Harvest's email list. Interesting perspective, and a good mix of the practical and spiritual:

Subject: Roger Mitchell on London bombings


Roger Mitchell has sent out the following. Roger has been involved with the
apostolic/prophetic & strategic prayer for many years. He recognises that
many in the Church will not completely agree with him on this.

A view in response to the London bombings:

Bombing, killing and wounding people is bad - we all agree. But we must
recognise the context in which this has taken place. When the attack on the
twin towers took place some of us did our level best to make the following
position known. The subsequent events and now the bombings in London have
underlined it even more.

1. The Western world is vulnerable to terrorist attacks because of things
wrong in its own foundations. These things create a fault line, or expose a
soft underbelly. These foundational faults are:

Ongoing economic injustice. Manifested in gross selfishness and
protectionism, aimed at maintaining the economic power base and affluence of
the West. This is expressed in terms of our current trade and economic aid,
including the terms of the current debt clearances (eg: the conditions of
the IMF and World Bank imposed on African nations even by the G8 summit
leaders).

The abuse of Military power. Manifested in the dominance of the West, based
on our superior nuclear weapons and our manipulation of the arms trade. This
is expressed in our double standards of justifying war in Iraq (who we
originally armed) on the grounds of their supposedly having weapons of mass
destruction like we do and of pressurising Iran and North Korea over the
same thing.

A Christendom-based church. Manifested in those church denominations,
networks, congregations and ministries which align more or less uncritically
with the foundational political, economic and military power bases of
society outlined in (1) and (2) above. This is frequently expressed in the
way that church government, theology, prayer and the prophetic is framed,
interpreted and enacted.

These foundational sins are clearly denounced by the prophet Amos in Israel
and in the other nations around them (See Amos Chs1-2). Amos makes it clear
that societies where these foundational sins exist will be judged (i.e.
given the consequences of what they are choosing) if there is no repentance.

2. Terrorist attacks such as those on the twin towers, the Madrid trains and
the London transport system are the consequence of exposing ourselves to the
jealousy, desperation and sin of those who are the victims of our injustice
and abuse of power. Where misguided, false or violent political, racial or
religious motives and movements already exist to exacerbate such reactions
to our Western nations' sin, the mix provides the current extremely
dangerous and destructive context for terrorism.

3. Western societies are the home of, and in many ways the product of,
Christendom. It is imperative that the church repents for its uncritical
alignment with these foundational sins of the western nations, brings a
biblical response to terrorism, and demonstrates the way of peace.

Biblically, the answer to this terrorism is to come in the opposite spirit.
That means repentance for our foundational sins and love and forgiveness
towards our enemies. This must be expressed in empathy towards them as
people despite the evil they perpetrate. It needs the willingness to
recognise the context in which they are operating described above, radical
and urgent efforts to change the injustices and abuses involved and the use
of dialogue and blessing not violence and cursing in our attitudes towards
them.

4. Since the attack on the twin towers, the Western World, and in particular
the political and military leadership given by the USA and the UK, has
exponentially increased our vulnerability to terrorism. Instead of coming in
the opposite spirit, we have declared war on terror and invaded Afghanistan
and Iraq. We have bombed, killed and wounded many civilians in the process,
adding the desire for personal vengeance to the already existing jealousy,
desperation and sin. It is crucial that the body of Christ humbly stands in
the gap for these sins of the Western nations, especially the USA and the UK
and agitates effectively for changed policies and behaviour in our nations.

5. Therefore, in summary, we want to make the following statements:

The random, indiscriminate and deliberate killing & maiming of the victims
of the London Transport bombings of 7th July 2005 is to be utterly deplored.

The Western nations must turn from their idolatrous worship of guaranteed
security, continuous economic growth and military strength, which takes
place against the sinful background of exacerbated global poverty, unjust
trade and an unrighteous arms trade.

The church in the West must repent as a matter of urgency from its
Christendom mindset, its vindication of selfish political actions and its
manifestation of a crusading rather than Christ-like response to terrorism.

We are trusting God for maximum grace as we pray for Europe at this time.

------------------------------
WEBSITE
Storm-Harvest Ministries
http://www.storm-harvest.asn.au

Shut up, James!

¹⁹My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, ²⁰for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.
James 1:19-20 NIV

It's not often a Bible verse is so perfectly appropriate. Damn!

My words got me in trouble with someone, because they misunderstood what I said. Being misunderstood makes me mad. Wham, wham, wham! I've done the opposite of what this verse says. Yarr.

Starting to feel a bit better after a very brief walk outside (to the letterbox and back - very brief!) but at the time I felt an overwhelming desire to justify myself, and show the other party how unreasonable they was bein'.

Makes me wonder how the monks of old used to keep their vows of silence without going crazy. Or maybe they did go crazy. But I think they took out their frustration by gardening and making wine. The grapes didn't complain.

But me, I live in a world of words. My job is words. Social interaction is words. Even when I look at a photography book, I end up reading the captions.

Thank God for music - the instrumental type - and also for His grace that keeps me on an even keel, even when I'm fit to keel over.

I love it when a Bible verse makes you want to tell it to shut up, because it means the Word hit its mark in me. It's meant to hurt - and bring about change.

Thanks God, for being so amazingly patient and also amazingly passionate about righteousness at the same time. Passionately patient. That's our Father.

This just in from the Friday Fax, which I get as an email. But at least I get it on Friday! :)

Breathtaking stuff here. I like how this is written - it's not just an "Oh, that's interesting" kind of cultural shift, it's more like a revolution. I've unconsciously been doing steps one and two at the end - getting out of the way of the old structure, and being prepared for the suspicion of other Christians (hasn't really been so bad for me yet).

But I've got a fairly long way to go on the last two - taking responsibility, bearing others' burdens, loving. Although I know that's what I have to do. :) God, please help me to make small steps forward each day.

Friday Fax 2005 Issue 28, 15 July

In this week's Friday Fax:
Megashift

Instructions for subscribing, unsubscribing and changing e-mail address are
included at the bottom of this Friday Fax.

Megashift
That's the title of American author Jim Rutz's recently-published book. It's
hotly debated on TV, and one of Amazon's top sellers. It has also caused
controversy in broad swathes of self-contented US Christianity. 'Megashift' is
a sharp-minded analysis of current Christianity around the world, and is partly
based on dozens of carefully-researched Friday Fax reports. Rutz is now one of
the popular columnists in the conservative Internet news site World Net Daily
(www.worldnetdaily.com). What are his main observations?
- The 1700-year nightmare is over: the Constantinian Shift is shifting back.
Under Emperor Constantine, the Church became an imperial audience, but is now
finally freeing itself from the corset of state control.
- An unprecedented transfer of divine power is underway, from clerics into the
hands of ordinary people. According to Rutz' research in 49 nations, hundreds
of people have been raised from the dead in the past 15 years.
- This is giving rise to an entirely new form of Christianity - with far
greater repercussions than the Protestant Reformation.
- Over 1 billion non-Christians could become active Christians in the next 10
years.

When millions of ordinarly people do extraordinary things
The Charismatic Evangelical movement, currently numbering 707 million people
around the world, is growing by 8 percent per year. That alone is exciting. The
centre of this movement, though, is a mostly unknown and little-understood
movement of 100 million Christians who have no building and neither pastor nor
programme. "A church without vertical hierarchies," says Rutz, "which will
change the future." They have experienced what Rutz calls a 'lifestyle upgrade':

Lifestyle upgrade
Anyone who uses computer software knows what an upgrade is: a new and better
version of a programme replaces the old version. Through an act of God, many
millions of people have experienced an 'inner upgrade' leading to an entirely
new quality of life. Rutz lists a number of chances and advantages offered by
this upgrade, which were previously unthinkable for many people:
- People experience release from the limitations and burdens of a traditional,
hierarchical (and unbiblical) religious system, being freed into an 'open
Christianity' with 100% participation.
- They are no longer a number in someone else's religious programme.
- They experience personal empowerment and are able to do things they
previously could not even have dreamed of, including the supernatural
(healing, prophesying, performing miracles etc.)
- They learn to overcome their own problems, and help others to overcome
theirs.
- They experience fellowship with a small group of close friends who give
mutual support, so that each person and the whole group reaches God's aims,
which are their calling.
- In doing so, they find that which they have sought for their whole life.

Away from spectator religion
The path away from spectator religion frees people from fixed church
role-playing. Previously, many people were passive, conformist churchgoers,
experiencing church as a television without a remote control. The personal
involvement of every follower of Christ, though, rouses millions of talents and
abilities to solve even the most difficult problems. The result is a
'Megashift', a quantum leap in church history.

Post-Protestant revival
Protestantism was an important epoch in church history, but it is now time to
stop protesting and start acting. The current post-Protestant awakening is
larger than the great American revivals since 1727 under Wesley, Whitefield,
the Herrnhuter or Johnathan Edwards. "This third Reformation," says Rutz, "has
three characteristics:"

The church is transforming itself from an organisation to an organism
After 1700 years of institutional structure, the Body of Christ is emerging in
the form described in the New Testament. People are rediscovering the original
forms and functions in an open, participatory system mostly consisting of house
churches.

100% active
Moving away from the one-man church system, in which the pastor literally did
everything, a growing number of Jesus' followers are becoming active
participants, leaving their spectators' seats and taking their place on the
playing field. It should be no surprise the number of goals scored increases.
When 100 people pray for the sick, prophesy, and plant churches instead of just
one, it is also reasonable to expect the number of miracles to increase.

Immense numbers of new believers
Church growth outside America is breathtaking. Tens of thousands of new
believers (Rutz speaks of 175,000 per day) means that although all religions
are growing naturally, only Christianity is experiencing significant growth
through conversion. Where religions meet, Christianity almost always gains new
believers, and new networks of house churches are formed.

How to be part of this Megashift
1. Stop going with the flow, and decide to actively turn away from the outdated
control structures (clerics & laypeople).
2. Take responsibility. That also means paying the price of being a pionier,
including Christian friends' suspicion and ostracism.
3. Learn to love others, overcoming selfishness and becoming a team player.
That requires a lifestyle of repentance and obedience - out of healthy
enthusiasm, not duty.
4. Help carry others' burdens, and not stagnate but take small steps forward
every day.

Rutz says: "Is there a small voice inside saying 'That's right!'?" Follow it.
But you also have the choice to ignore it. That too is freedom. But please
don't complain later..." Or, as C. Peter Wagner says, "Jim describes what God
is going to do tomorrow. You can't afford to miss this book!"
Source: Jim Rutz, www.megashift.org, e-mail ocmoffice @ openchurch.com

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Articles in the Friday Fax may be republished freely on condition
that the Friday Fax is attributed as "Source: via The Friday
Fax (www.bufton.net/fridayfax)" or similar.

Producing the Friday Fax costs time, effort and some money. If you would like
to support this, please consider making a donation. Details are available at
www.bufton.net/fridayfax/donation.html. (When donating, please remember that
this free version of the Friday Fax will cease at the end of 2005.)

Subscriptions and forwarding
The Friday Fax is a newsletter sent only to subscribers.
To subscribe or unsubscribe, please visit www.bufton.net/fridayfax

If you did not subscribe, but receive it anyway and want to be removed, please
send a copy of the full header, not the Friday Fax, to fridayfax@bufton.net. I
will try to determine where you receive the Friday Fax from. (Note that most
e-mail programs hide the full header details by default.)

If you forward the Friday Fax, please ensure that it is apparent that the Friday
Fax comes from your e-mail address, and adjust the unsubscription instructions
accordingly.

(c) 2005 S Bufton

The Good Doctor

Dr Who

(As differentiated from The Great Physician!) As a Doctor Who fan and a Christian, I couldn't have said it better than this article did.

I'm in community!

I was just reading Sandra's blog, and realised that hey, I actually know this person! This most eloquent of bloggers is actually in my orbit of people I know.

And it made me think - this time last year, Marie and I were somewhat on the retreat from close-knit community, while at the same time very aware it was what we needed.

Now, without us trying particularly hard, we find ourselves in community again. It's very satisfying.

There's the Crossover team, where Sandra comes in - and Adam, and Robyn. Neat people, passionate people. The kind of people you want to be around.

Then there's church - theSanctuary in Auckland. Thanks to Marie's work friend Michelle (who is quickly becoming a real close sister!) we're going regularly, because she needs a lift home from us afterwards! Good plan, God! Otherwise we would've never got around to getting regular.

And for this month only (while stocks last) I'm working at my old stomping ground, Rhema Broadcasting Group. I've got community coming out of my ears!

It's funny, the Crossover team aren't all Christians, but we have a surprising amount in common, given our widely divergent backgrounds. And what's really nice is we're fairly open-minded about each other's differences. I think it actually helps our creativity.

That doesn't change the fact I'd like everyone I know to know God personally. That doesn't equate to knowing or believing in exactly the same way I do, to make me feel validated. That's the baggage I've dropped on my journey through, and out of, the dysfunctional church scene.

Speaking of church, theSanctuary is a Godsend. They provide a hype-free zone, and focus on the heart issues. That's not to say they're perfect - I'd get freaked out if I visited the absolutely perfect church. But these guys get rid of some of the stuff that I find gets in the way of people connecting with God.

We had a great guest speaker on Saturday - the Princess of Tonga. Amazing lady, very much led by the Spirit and no slave to tradition. Very quiet, gentle, gracious and radiating an inner strength. So encouraging.

She encouraged anyone to whom it applied to know when a season of grieving was over, and move into what God had that was new for them. I think that was for us!

Quality Christian filmmaking - oxymoronic or just moronic?

Sy's comment - I like this! Especially the vacuum cleaner story. Many's a time I've watched a movie, read a book or heard a song and thought, gee, if only my unsaved friends could just see/hear this, they'd fully understand and give their hearts to the Lord! But I was looking through my eyes at the time, not theirs.

The key to anyone coming into a relationship with God is seeing the reality of Jesus (God with us) - whether that's something supernatural, like Muslims in the 10/40 window who experience visions of Jesus, or something more commonplace, like observing God consistently at work in the life of a fallible fellow human being. In fact, that's supernatural, too!

ASSIST News Service (ANS) - PO Box 2126, Garden Grove, CA 92842-2126 USA
Visit our web site at: www.assistnews.net -- E-mail: danjuma1@aol.com

Tuesday, June 28, 2005

QUALITY CHRISTIAN FILMMAKING -- AN OXYMORON OR JUST MORONIC?
Understanding why movies with a Christian message just aren’t making it

By David White
Special to ASSIST News Service

LOS ANGELES, CA (ANS) -- Even after Mel Gibson gifted moviegoers with the unforgettable Biblical epic, The Passion of The Christ, one of the questions most often fielded by Hollywood’s most successful Christian artists is, “When are Christians going to make BIG Hollywood movies?” By BIG, they mean big budget—an option not available to anyone who calls themselves a “Christian-film maker,” unless, of course, like Mel, you are fortunate enough to be able to afford to bankroll your own vision. (Pictured: David White).

The truth is, Christian actors and producers will make BIG Hollywood movies when moviegoers support their efforts by purchasing tickets. The trouble is, there are plenty of self-inflicted roadblocks in the way that are preventing this from happening.

At the risk of offending an entire group of well-meaning, hard-working artists, it seems the “Christian movie” genre carries a carefully earned stigma of mediocrity marked by a steadily growing collection of low budget, poorly produced films. To mainstream moviegoers, the result of the negative association of following the word “Christian” with the words “actor,” “producer” or “film” is that the collective contributions of these artists are automatically defined as less creative and inferior to their secular, mainstream counterparts.

For more than 15 years, I have been fortunate to find success in Hollywood as both an actor and a producer—and yes, I am a devout Christian. My one-man show, Holyman Undercover, that I perform in various live venues—both secular and Christian — is a success as well. I find, however, that being defined only as a “Christian actor” or “Christian producer” doesn’t sit well with me.

Why?

Perhaps it is because so many of the movies produced and marketed with the “Christian” pitch rarely realize their full potential, reach their desired audiences or, more importantly, impact the lives of those viewing in a way that is memorable and life affirming. Where is the passion? Where is the commitment to quality? Where is the sold-out devotion to great storytelling?

In fact, so compromised is the response of mainstream moviegoers to most films labeled as having a “Christian message” that they are rendered almost useless as the evangelistic tool most Christian filmmakers pray their works will be.

A highly publicized study commissioned by the Dove Foundation and conducted by Paul Kagan and Associates proved that while some people line up to buy tickets to sex- and violence-laced R-rated movies, G-rated films are more than eight times more profitable. In the wake of that eye-opening study, makers of “Christian” movies are stumped by the figures. They are asking themselves why “Christian” movies aren’t seeing the success their less family-oriented counterparts enjoy. In a climate where family movies are the proven moneymakers, how did this happen? Why are Christian filmmakers—and Christians who are working to produce films with a Christian message—missing the mark?

Those who are fans of these kinds of movies are loyal and want to do what they can to support these kinds of productions. So, why is it so hard to grow the Christian-film market and expand the number of those who are avid fans of this type of family-friendly fare?

The easy answer—and the truth—is because movies with Christian themes are about Jesus and Christians and how their faith affects their daily lives. The general public thinks using the word “Jesus” is the dividing line they don’t want to cross.

The more complicated—and more totally accurate—answer has to do with everything from the quality of the story and who is involved with a project to the complexity and cleverness of a film’s marketing plan. Had any filmmaker other than Mel Gibson attempted a project like The Passion of The Christ, it is unlikely the film would have garnered such an onslaught of media coverage and wide-spread praise—and angst—or enjoyed such amazing box office success. Why? Because Mel Gibson is Mel Gibson after all. He is a great filmmaker, and, most of all, he had a genius marketing plan.

Was it successful because it had a big budget?

Doubtful.

Without a good story, budget will mean little.

A film’s lack of success has less to do with the availability of a BIG budget than it does with a lack of creativity and a sold-out commitment to quality in writing, acting and production. It also has much to do with the agenda-based approach to storytelling that has come to plague the Christian filmmaking industry.

A friend came to see me a few weeks ago, and in the natural course of our lengthy, very pleasant conversation, our talk shifted from one subject to the next until we found ourselves talking about, of all things, vacuum cleaners. He immediately set off into a wildly descriptive monologue extolling the virtues of the most amazing vacuum cleaner of which I had ever heard. By the time he was finished telling me about all the really great things it could do, I could hardly wait to buy one for myself. I was really grateful he had shared with me information that I might not have been able to get from someone else who hadn’t experienced what that machine could really do and how it could change my life.

Then I got a kick in the stomach I wasn’t expecting.

He offered to sell me one of those amazing vacuum cleaners at a one-time-only, today-only, low, low price of $69.95.

At the end of our conversation, I realized, sadly, that maybe he really wasn’t my friend at all. Everything that led up to his final sales pitch had simply been a manipulation designed to prepare me for a successful conclusion to his carefully constructed presentation.

Filmmakers producing movies with a Christian message have fallen prey to this same kind of hidden-agenda storytelling, and viewers are rejecting the sales pitch—and the movies. Many times, the Christian filmmaking industry is so intent with what they want to happen after a film is viewed—namely the viewer falling to their knees to accept the Lord Jesus as their personal Savior as the credits slowly roll—that the story they use to present the message becomes secondary. To them, the message of the story, not the story itself, has become the most important element. Now, in itself, a story slanted to a particular viewpoint isn’t altogether uncommon. However, to be successful, it must be told with a no-holes-barred commitment to honesty in its presentation, or the audience can simply feel used and manipulated.

Quality writing, acting and production have taken a back seat to an all-out, get-them-in-the-end sales pitch. Unfortunately, the result is that audiences who feel manipulated and pressured are likely to reject the message altogether.

Something has to be done—and quickly—before our ability to use this format to further the Kingdom of God is lost forever.

It is time to issue a call-to-arms for all filmmakers who aspire to produce quality films that advance the cause of Christ by drawing lost souls home to the One who created them. We need films that encourage and edify believers everywhere and yet still have the ability to impact the lives of non-believers in a positive way.

How can we turn the tide? By turning our backs on mediocrity in Christian-genre filmmaking. It isn’t about BIG budgets. The hearts of searchers aren’t looking for a BIG story. They are searching for a story their hearts know is real.

Great filmmaking is a complicated, multi-faceted endeavor that can’t be oversimplified. While great marketing is as important an aspect of successful Christian films as who is involved in the production, it isn’t necessarily about how much money filmmakers spend on their productions that is the key to success. It is about telling stories about real people in real-life struggles in a way that enables viewers to discern for themselves that the real answers to life’s most difficult questions and situations can only be found in a life lived for Christ.

The Lord has a great sense of humor and the Holy Spirit certainly can—and does—use even the most poorly written, acted and produced Christian films for His purpose. But God’s message of redemption deserves our very best efforts and commitment to quality.

We serve the God of ALL creation and He lives within us. Because of this, mediocrity can never be part of our agenda. It is time makers of movies with a Christian message take that to heart and live it every day.

When are Christians going to make BIG Hollywood movies? When moviegoers support them. And that is only going to happen when Christian filmmakers properly market films based on a strong, creative and superior-quality story.

To contact David White about the views found in this article, or to find more information about his Holyman Undercover Show, visit his website www.thedavidwhiteshow.com.

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David White has been a working actor and producer in Los Angeles for over ten years. He was raised in a small farming town outside of Dodge City, Kansas. He went to school in Chicago, then moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dream in the film industry. At 19, David jumped right into the business. Just six months after moving, David landed a recurring role on Evening Shade with Burt Reynolds for four years. David then went on to guest appearances on such shows as: Coach, Saved by the Bell, Sisters, Melrose Place, Martial Law and many others. (Pictured: Burt Reynalds and David White).

In 2000, he produced and starred in Mercy Streets opposite Eric Roberts, Stacy Keach and Cynthia Watros. In 2003, he produced and starred in SIX...the Mark Unleashed opposite Stephen Baldwin and Eric Roberts. In 2004, David produced and starred in the thriller Ghost Soldiers opposite Viscellous Shannon (The Hurricane). This film is still in Post Production. David’s Company currently is in post production on the Frank Peretti film, The Visitation. It stars Edward Furlong, Kelly Lynch and Martin Donovin. "This film is set to be released June, 2005."

Currently David is in Pre Production on the Vietnam film "To the Wall" and also starring in his own One Man Show, The David White Show: Holy Man Undercover! It is a cross between the HBO comedy specials (Robin Williams, Chris Rock etc…) meets a multi-media Vegas routine.

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** You may republish this story with proper attribution.
Send this story to a friend.

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This story is the personal opinion of the writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of the ASSIST News Service or ASSIST Ministries.

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ASSIST News Service is brought to you free of charge and is supported by friends like yourself. If you would like to make a donation (tax-deductible in the US) to help us continue this service around the world, you can do so by logging onto our website -- www.assistnews.net -- and making the donation by credit card or by sending a check to ASSIST, PO Box 2126, Garden Grove, CA 92842-2126.

Interview with Don Hahn

ASSIST News Service (ANS) - PO Box 2126, Garden Grove, CA 92842-2126 USA
Visit our web site at: www.assistnews.net -- E-mail: danjuma1@aol.com

Tuesday, May 31, 2005

THE SECOND GOLDEN AGE OF ANIMATION: AN INTERVIEW WITH DON HAHN
From: SO YOU WANT TO BE IN PICTURES? -- Interviews and Articles By and About Key Men and Women in the Entertainment Industry

By Dr. Ted Baehr, Publisher of MOVIEGUIDE®

HOLLYWOOD, CA (ANS) -- EDITOR’S NOTE: This insightful article complements Dr. Ted Baehr’s new book SO YOU WANT TO BE IN PICTURES? It is available in a special section of www.movieguide.org to everyone who buys the book. SO YOU WANT TO BE IN PICTURES? is a comprehensive book on movies that every Christian interested in becoming involved in the entertainment industry and every Christian who wants to redeem the entertainment industry (and the culture!) will want to read. It shows Christians how to use their faith to change the culture of Hollywood and how to develop their screenwriting, acting, directing, producing, and behind-the-scenes interests. Some of the best and the brightest people of faith and values in the entertainment industry share their secrets of how to make a great blockbuster movie!

Over the last fifteen years, worldwide audiences have been thrilled by the stunning, memorable family movies entitled, WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT,HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. These movies boasted several “firsts” in the areas of animation technology advances, digital enhancements, and colorization.

The producer of these movies, as well as other beloved classics such as LION KING, EMPEROR'S NEW GROOVE and ATLANTIS, is the talented Don Hahn, of the Walt Disney Company.

Don attended Cal State Northridge as a music major and art minor. “I never studied film. I studied opera, musical theatre, and orchestras, and I was always interested in storytelling, drawing, painting, and color theory. I saw the art side of movies as more of an inspiration than the story side. I think movies can be too self-referential sometimes… too insular. I get inspiration from life, nature, other characters and people. I think there are more interesting ways to make films… films inspired by reality.”

Producers are Coaches

Don feels that his job most closely resembles that of a coach on a football team. “I’m not calling plays or passing the ball, but in every way I’m responsible for pulling a team together, creating the project, creating the idea, encouraging the gifts and talents that help the team work together. I’m coaching them to get the best work out of them. I get to work with amazing people. They’re the best musicians, artists, and technical people in the world. We all work much better together than separately; no one could make a movie alone. Joint collaboration makes a movie great. I especially appreciate my core team – the storyteller and songwriter of each project. If we understand each other, it’s powerful. I feel lucky to have them in my life.”

Favorites Project vs. Best Experience

When asked what his favorite project has been, Don responds with, “Oh, that’s hard. That’s like asking ‘Who’s your favorite child?’ I guess if I were pushed I’d have to say BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. I had a great team, the response was so great, it won Best Picture nomination, and it had fantastic direction and lots of innovations. It was an interesting time back in ’91.”

Don feels that it’s less about favorites, though, and more about quality of experience. “With ROGER RABBIT, LION KING and THE HAUNTED MANSION, I learned so much. I worked with different teams and very different stories. Each project had different stories that surrounded it, and each gave me great life experiences that I drew from on subsequent projects. I’ve been fortunate to have the opportunity to produce films that involve both live action and animation, and I know it’s rare that I’ve gotten to work with both. MARY POPPINS was both, and that always inspired me. I produced ROGER RABBIT, and PETE'S DRAGON, which were both the combination deal. It was a lot of fun.”

It’s all About Talent

When asked about the potential for people of faith to get involved in Hollywood, Don responded with, “There’s an open door for people of talent. There are no barriers beyond that, honestly. There are many people of many varieties of faith – Christian, Muslim, and Jewish, who are all very successful, but it has little or nothing to do with their faith. Hollywood’s all about talent. A person who has an interesting idea or perspective, has done his homework, and learned the craft of filmmaking, that’s what it’s about. It’s all about the talent and ability to deliver something fresh and entertaining.”

Find a Like-Minded Environment, If Possible

According to Don, Disney is naturally a family medium, in keeping with his faith and values. “It’s not often that moral dilemmas come up in my environment. It’s the reason I work at Disney. I could have worked and still can work anywhere else, but there’s a great spirit in this company, and the kinds of movies they promote make it a great place for people with strong values to function well.”

“PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN, FINDING NEMO and MIRACLE are all examples of fun, cool-to-watch, incredibly successful films financially. They’re also spiritually connected, positive family movies about overcoming obstacles. Our movies are always obstacle-related, not faith-related or religion-related. Though like any other company, there’s plenty of great water-cooler talk about politics and religion, that’s not what our work is about. Sure we’re humans that read the paper, watch TV, and like to gossip. But if you want to know the truth, most of us who work here are stuck in a state of perpetual adolescence. We’re kids, so we tell stories and make movies about pigs and lions and little lost fish. We dream in ‘cartoon’ at night.”

Excellence Rules

Don Hahn believes that producing animation and live action movies takes a combination of talent, skill, and luck. “Luck is being in the right place and right time. You have to understand the industry enough so that you’re not stunned. It’s a business, and it depends on excellence and quality to make money. Make yourself excellent. Hire the job candidate who is most excellent – the one with the best qualities, instincts, and knowledge. Don’t skip the knowledge part just because it’s not fun. Don’t be like the piano player that doesn’t want to practice his scales. Spend time learning, drawing, understanding the craft, seeking out mentors, and immersing yourself in the industry.”

Never Give Up!

In order to make it in the industry, believes Don, one must find his natural talents and gain knowledge of his craft. It takes persistence and patience, he says, so most don’t stick it out. “They give up. But that’s part of the talent, is persisting. I’ve had to persist through a lot of seemingly closed doors in my day, and there’s always a level of frustration in every endeavor, but I’m fortunate to have known the people I’ve known and that I’ve made it long enough to have done the things I’ve done. Persistence is definitely the key.”

Be Relevant

The common thread in great movies, says Don, is relevance. “So often movies and stories are told that are unrelateable to mainstream audiences. They’re distant and abstract. The audience has to relate to the characters on the screen, whether it’s an animated elephant or a live pirate character. In good movies audiences have some feelings about the protagonist’s dilemma. If they can’t understand the characters, or they’re unredeemable jerks, audiences will feel squeamish, frustrated, even let down. If they’re not real enough, they’re not relateable, and you’ve got a bad movie.”

Transcend Targeting

When asked what the major target audience is for his films, Don says, “I never try to have a conversation about target audience. A good movie, or a satisfying movie, transcends the idea of a target audience. For instance no one liked Lizzy McGuire more than me. Good movies don’t punish parents; they’re as entertaining for the parents as the kids. Yes, we do have generalities of targets, but the most successful movies are relateable to audiences from 6 to 85. For example, in LORD OF THE RINGS one can’t point to the film and say, ‘This was our target audience.’ It was for all of us. Just like the majority of the movies Disney produces.”

No Bad Dreams

The goal of a good Disney film is to excite and entertain, but not truly scare, it would seem to at least one of its producers. “Intense movies really bother me,” admits Don. “It’s a personal thing. For instance, BRAVEHEART was a work of powerful filmmaking, but the graphic images stayed with me for a long time. I just don’t think people need that gratuitous violence in their gray matter.”

It’s Not Called “Show Friends!”

Producer Hahn reminds us Hollywood wannabes that the entertainment industry is, indeed, a business. “Movies have to, for most part, be profitable. That’s the goal. Sure, there are some rare exceptions, like the movies made simply for the art, but the entertainment industry has to have profitability at its heart. Financiers want to know, ‘Is this movie relevant? Excellent in quality?’ People don’t want to pay $10 and feel ripped off. They want to come away saying, ‘I loved those characters.’ Where quality and entertainment meet in a movie, the money will follow.”

Most animated movies are made from between $15 and $100 million dollars, says Don. “One of lowest, most restricted budgets I had was with BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. We had to do so much corner cutting, put in overtime… It was a pressured financial situation. We had to make something fantastic for a low price. As the producer, I had to be responsible to that, to understand the business of it all.”

It’s Big Bucks, Folks

When asked about the expenses on an animated film, Don tells us “Big money goes to the labor pool of animators, and the voice cast would be a more minimal cost. We’re paying people to sit at a drawing board and painstakingly draw out each scene. For instance, there were close to 600 animators per major movie about years ago, but now the movies require less due to the impact and efficiency of computerized animation advances. Other crew needed for an animated picture include musicians, sound effects guys, or “Foley artists.” In THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, we used thirty animators and one hundred clean up people, or the folks who draw in the details after the initial rough drawings.”

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In-House Development Works

Don and his team don’t get many scripts sent to them, they say, mainly because they don’t solicit from outside sources. Don develops projects himself with writers, and mostly does movies based on favorite kids’ books. ATLANTIS was an original, but HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, LION KING and ROGER RABBIT were novels. LION KING was also adapted from a novel. “You never know where the stories are coming from. We rarely read anything from the outside. We’re more likely to find good ideas and hire writers to carry them through. Actually, the writer on HUNCHBACK was a first time screenwriter. He had been an intern and Disney, then a staff writer. Then, we just trusted him with a big one. Obviously, he did a great job.”

And just as obviously, Don Hahn does a great job as he continues to entertain the world with his colorful, well-produced Disney animated classics. More, more, more!

* * *
EDITOR’S NOTE: If you appreciated this article and want to know more about how you can redeem the mass media of entertainment and/or become involved in the entertainment industry, please read SO YOU WANT TO BE IN PICTURES? Dr. Baehr’s book is available in bookstores and at www.movieguide.org. When you buy a copy you get access to many informative articles from top Hollywood talent and executives.

* * *

(c) baehr, 2005

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NOTE from Dr. Ted Baehr: For more information from a Christian perspective, order the latest MOVIEGUIDE® magazine by calling 1-800-899-6684(MOVI) or visit our website at www.movieguide.org. MOVIEGUIDE® is dedicated to redeeming the values of Hollywood by informing parents about today's movies and entertainment and by showing media executives and artists that family-friendly and even Christian-friendly movies do best at the box office year in and year out. MOVIEGUIDE® now offers an online subscription to its magazine version, at www.movieguide.org. The magazine, which comes out 25 times a year, contains many informative articles and reviews that help parents train their children to be media-wise consumers. MOVIEGUIDE® also regularly broadcasts several international TV and radio programs hosted by Dr. Baehr. Also, if you want to train your family to be media-wise, call 1-800-899-6684 in North America to order the book, video or audio version of THE MEDIA-WISE! FAMILY, Dr. Ted Baehr's latest book. © baehr, 2001

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The Music Baton

I got this from Sandra ages ago, and haven't posted anything about it until I bought some more CDs! ;)

I don't know any bloggers well enough to pass this on direct, but if you're reading this and you have a blog - consider the baton passed! Put something similar on your own blog and link to it in the comments here.

Total Volume of Music Files on my Computer:
I have 130 hours of music ... 6.8 Gigs... so I haven't got as many as Sandra. Yet :)

The Last CD I Bought was:
Whew. I bought about 7 in one sitting... they were (from memory)

• The Matrix Reloaded theme music
• The Matrix Revolutions theme music
• Star Wars: The Phantom Menace theme music (fantastic!)
• Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers theme music
• "Shine" soundtrack

(getting the idea I like movie soundtracks? They're magnificent for creative inspiration. But that's not all, I also got:

• 13 Years of Herbs
• Bob Marley the Early Years (or similar)
• Katchafire single (Giddy-Up)
• King Kapisi Single (Reverse Resistance) - that guy is so talented

Song playing right now:
Anakin's theme from The Phantom Menace (well, actually the TV's on, but that was the last song playing)

I've also got lots of music recorded off vinyl LPs - some vintage Christian music (2nd chapter of Acts, Barry McGuire, Phil Keaggy), some classical stuff (a lot actually, lots of Beethoven), and some sort of nice old music (Barbara Streisand, John Denver, Neil Diamond).

5 Songs I listen to a lot or that mean a lot to me:
"Painting Pictures of Egypt" by Sara Groves
"Grace by which I stand" by Keith Green
"Jesus Walks" by Kanye West
"Orange Crush" by REM
"Mezzamorphis" by Delirious

Actually, I don't listen to any of those that often, but me and them go back a long way, and they have all helped me.

Now you've read this, the baton is in your hand!

Fragmentary Book Review: Memory & Identity, by Pope John Paul II

I'm not a Catholic, and unlikely to ever be one, but I enjoyed some of the reflections in Memory and Identity, a sort of memoir by the late Pope John Paul II.

Some of it was particularly hard to understand, using theological terms I'm not familiar with. Plus phrases in latin that I never learnt in high school latin!

But one particular piece leapt off the page and into my heart. It was a wonderful description by John Paul of what God does in redemption:

"In Jesus Christ, God bends down over man to hold out a hand to him, to raise him up and to help him continue his journey with renewed strength. Man cannot get back on his feet unaided: he needs the help of the Holy Spirit. If he refuses this help, he commits what Christ called 'the blasphemy against the Spirit', the sin which 'will not be forgiven' (Matt. 12:31)

Why will it not be forgiven? Because it means there is no desire for pardon. Man refuses the love and the mercy of God, since he believes himself to be God. He believes himself to be capable of self-sufficiency."

That was the most eloquent - and strikingly simple - description of what the unforgivable sin is, and why, that I've ever heard. And this in a book that in other spots is too complex for me.

It's worth plugging through the difficult bits, though, because this Pope lived through unprecedented times in world history, and he talks about living in Poland under the Nazis, and then under the Communists.

It's a refreshingly real look at how faith goes into action, how our faith can engage with philosophy and the issues of the 'real' world.

So, whether you're Catholic or not (I'd like to be one with a small 'c' - meaning 'universal') I recommend you grab a copy of Memory and Identity, and let it make you think.