IN THEORY
Q: There's a new movement underway to train Christians to be film and television executives. The move is apparently in reaction to a perceived bigotry in Hollywood toward Christianity. A new program called Act One, run by Barbara Nicolosi, trains Christians to become television and film executives. It includes a three-month-long program that places Christians in entertainment internships while hosting lectures by industry professionals. First off, do you think there is a bias in Hollywood that works against Christians? And if so, can a program like this reverse that bigotry?
A: It is more than a perceived bias against Christians and I don't think there's any other group that would tolerate the blatant stereotyping that goes on against them on the big screen.
Unfortunately, we're caught in a vicious circle where the right is defining Christianity and the left is reacting to that definition and the middle is lost.
There is more to Christianity than
what the right represents, but for obvious reasons of profit and
greed, the sensational messages get the space and time media.
Case in point, last week the Pope made an historic trip to
Germany and spoke of respect and tolerance. Meanwhile, here in
the states, Pat Robertson called for the assassination of the
Venezuelan President. When all the dust settled, what is
remembered by the press? Which message becomes the topic of the
media and the people? Whose Christianity is taken to task?
I'm pleased that Barbara Nicolosi
has taken the step to form Act One. In particular, I appreciate
her approach, because the message of Christ is not one to be
compromised. It is not a message that belongs only to
Christians, but a message that can have global implications for
peace. Films and television shape and define much of our society
and the need to abandon stereotypes for messages of hope and the
good is essential.
FATHER VAZKEN MOVSESIAN
Armenian Church Youth Ministries
In Context
There's a new movement underway to train Christians to be film and television executives. The move is apparently in reaction to a perceived bigotry in Hollywood toward Christianity. A new program called Act One, run by Barbara Nicolosi, trains Christians to become television and film executives. It includes a three-month-long program that places Christians in entertainment internships while hosting lectures by industry professionals. First off, do you think there is a bias in Hollywood that works against Christians? And if so, can a program like this reverse that bigotry?
In my opinion, "Christians" would be missing a great opportunity by not getting involved in Hollywood. However, it should not be a hostile takeover! Movies and television influence the way people think, so why not accept that some programs such as "Touched by an Angel," and other "family" type programs have high ratings? Obviously there is an audience who wants this kind of programming.
Opportunities for personal growth should be grasped by Christians too! If "Christians" refuse to evolve and miss any opportunity to reach out to someone who is able to listen and feel connected, then shame on them.
THE REV. ALICE PARSONS ZULLI
Director of Bereavement Support and Services
Glendale Adventist Medical Center
It is more than a perceived bias against Christians and I don't think there's any other group that would tolerate the blatant stereotyping that goes on against them on the big screen.
Unfortunately, we're caught in a vicious circle, where the right is defining Christianity and the left is reacting to that definition and the middle is lost.
I'm pleased that Barbara Nicolosi has taken the step to form Act One. In particular, I appreciate her approach, because the message of Christ is not one to be compromised. It is not a message that belongs only to Christians, but a message that can have global implications for peace. Films and television shape and define much of our society, and the need to abandon stereotypes for messages of hope and the good is essential.
FATHER VAZKEN MOVSESIAN
Armenian Church Youth Ministries
It's not difficult to find "religious" folks in Hollywood. They don't like using that term, but they are. The more accepted industry jargon is "spiritual" but that's just nonsensical gibberish. Everyone is "spiritual" whether they address the inner person or deny it exists. Yet Hollywood's brand of religion is twisted. It wears red strings around its wrist and displays lesbian embrace on awards night. It throws temper tantrums on talk shows while starring in films that exhibit clearly categorical pornography. It makes docudramas about itself declaring "I am God," and entertains every predilection opposed to genuine "spiritual" truth.
You wouldn't know this country had any biblical moorings if your cultural insights were purely silver screen, and perhaps this is why most of the world views us with a frown, as celluloid is universally America's most apparent cultural snapshot.
Before Christ, I had originally come here to earn my own fortune as an actor. Even so, I was immediately struck by the preponderance of uttered phrases like, "tasteful nudity," "homosexual role," or "religious nut," as auditions came and went. As my own "spiritual" journey has led me away from the enamored craft, I have also discovered how difficult it has become to fully endorse anything Hollywood creates.
Without good, evil prevails, so kudos to those honorable efforts at stemming the tide with Christian influence. And blessings to the young and the restless who already "shine like stars" (Philippians 2:15) as Christ would have them do in such an influential but spiritually dark venue.
THE REV. BRYAN GRIEM
Senior Pastor Light On The Corner
Montrose
I believe there is a general atmosphere of bias against Christians in Hollywood. In many cases it is mild, but in some cases it can rightly be classified as bigotry.
The bias is probably in part a reaction to how many in the church have (wrongly, I think) rejected Hollywood on a whole-scale, thoughtless manner -- "If it's from Hollywood it must be sinful!"
In part, the bias is because of disagreement with the stance many Christians take on issues like abortion, sexual morality and the use of aborted fetuses for medical experimentation.
But underneath these superficial skirmishes lies one central factor. Paul told the Philippian church that " ... in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation ... you appear as lights in the world" (Philippians 2:15).
Light exposes what lies in the darkness. The good deeds and good doctrine of authentic followers of Christ exposes the spiritual darkness of secular humanism that pervades most of what Hollywood produces. And the reaction from the darkness is exactly what Peter described: "they malign you" (1 Peter 4:4).
I believe programs like Act One can help reverse Hollywood's bigotry against Christians by teaching believers to be skilled in their field, sensitive to others who disagree and effective in communicating the good news about Jesus Christ to a world in darkness that desperately needs him.
PASTOR JON BARTA
Burbank
Does Hollywood have a bias against Christians? It may seem so. To me, however, the bias seems to be aimed only at Christians who are holier than thou, who love to thump their Bibles, and who seem about ready to have a nervous breakdown if everyone doesn't think of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and God Almighty in the flesh.
Hollywood does not mock Christians who consider Jesus Christ as God's most trusted and valued teacher of moral values. I don't think Hollywood has ever had a bias against reasonable and thoughtful Christians. The bias, if it exists at all, has always been aimed at what can only be described as caricatures of Christianity.
Someone once said there is only one thing wrong with Christianity. When asked what that one thing is, the wise man's answer was "Christians." He was probably more right than wrong.
Christians who claim their way of life is the only path to heaven have always damaged the movement. I suspect it will continue to be that way unless more reasonable and more responsible Christians elevate the movement from the depths it now finds itself in today's world.
No real Christian would ever propose the assassination of a head of state, for example, as Pat Robertson recently did. Not even Hollywood can make up such a scenario and get away with it.
As for Christians trying to play a more active role in the production of motion pictures -- why not? The bottom line always will be whether people want to see the finished product. As for me, I would rather trust Hollywood to make films than Robertson. That way I can continue to avoid most movies Hollywood turns out. If Robertson types take over the industry, I can then avoid all movies. That will give me more time for good books.
THE REV. THOMAS E. WITHERSPOON
Unity Church of the Valley
La Crescenta
If there is bigotry in Hollywood against Christians -- and I am not at all sure that there is -- I have my doubts about a program that purports to train "Christians" to be film and television executives. What's the point, to engender a new bigotry against anything that is deemed "un-Christian"?
I believe that we are living in an era when the so-called religious right is feeling its political muscle, and I believe there is pressure to conform to what the religious right calls "Christian."
We enjoy wonderful freedoms in this country, and freedom of expression is one of them. So what if a movie is a little too sexy or a little too vulgar or a little too whatever? We have the wonderful marketplace that will judge whether a movie is trash or art, and to have "Christian" executives telling us what "Christian" values they adore or abhor is another step down the road of censorship.
Is Roger Ebert or Richard Roeper a Christian? Who cares! What is Leonard Maltin or Jim Svejda or Gene Shalit? Does it matter? No, of course not. Well, I'd better cut this short. Some "Christian" leader may call for my assassination!
THE REV. SKIP LINDEMAN
Congregational Church of the Lighted Window
United Church of Christ
La Cañada Flintridge