How to Make Christian Films That Don't Suck

Pro tip: Christian movies shouldn't be sermons. Let's stop pretending like they should.

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[TWMFellowship]

Caleb you are right on the money. I have often asked the questions you just answered.

[heavenawilson]

I remember seeing a interview with a Christian Filmmaker...Many years ago who talked about how Christian films are rarely seen...This may be where prayer is needed...

[TheWordPlay]

THANK YOU!! These points are exactly how I've felt about Christan films. A lot of my upbringing was shaped more by secular cartoons, games and films than from Christan media. Hoping things change for the better

[oddtalesstudios]

This is so true. When I watched the Left Behind Movie, I was sitting there like, "Are we at the rapture yet?" I really think Christian movies CAN be good, but people need to realize how to do it!

[differnet]

And they could delve into more contemporary Christian history. I think stories about some more modern saints could make compelling movies. I think the story of the Memphis Martyrs and the Yellow Fever epidemic would make a compelling movie, or the story of Florence Li Tim-Oi's life would be an amazing. We have such rich stories of people who actually struggled and triumphed for God.

[laurrieaustin]

Watch "The Chosen". It is not a movie, but a multi-season television program about the life of Christ. No cheese included.

[TayloredImpression]

I wish HBO would make a series on david... like straight outta the Bible with no editing or censoring. Show it all.

[trevoronjones]

Excellent points. I think much of it also can apply to the way we market our churches to the community. I love the idea of focusing on questions instead of solutions.

[AlenShip]

So good. Hey are you currently shooting a movie? Or going to shoot one?

[gibby_da_birb]

I've always wanted to a make a Historical Fiction Christian War movie. Set in WW2, exploring the perspective of a Catholic Heer Soldier in an army full of Nazis and fighting the Atheistic Soviet regime. It would explore the values behind Chivalry, the Catholic ideas of "Just War", and how faith collides with the hellfire of the Eastern Front. Think something akin to Hacksaw Ridge but through a German Perspective.

[DillonVibbart]

These are interesting ideas and hopefully more Christian filmmakers start creating more films that aren't just "Gods Not Dead"

[inakiortizvillasenor]

A writer is conditioned to write only about this he/she knows there it comes it’s responsibility to know a lot.

[saywhat]

Totally had to watch a PureFlix ad to watch your video. They're scared of you...

[MHlovesz]

Good points! I can hardly recommend any "christian" movies to my "secular" collegues and relatives! Most are are so one-dimensional, sometimes even ridiculous.

[DavidMcElroy]

About 15 years ago, I happened to be part of a test screening audience for a religious movie called "Facing the Giants." I thought the movie was an absolute train wreck, with terrible writing, subpar acting, cringe-inducing storytelling and (worse of all) bizarrely bad theology. When we got to the end of the movie, I couldn't wait for the survey forms to be passed around so I could explain how artistically and theologically offensive this movie was. But as the forms were being passed out, I realized that pretty much all of the people around me were misty-eyed and were deeply affected by this artistic garbage. After it was released, it became super popular. (At my own church, the DVD of the film was a popular Christmas gift to give to unchurched people that year.)

I think there are a number of problems when religious people make movies. First, they tend to make propaganda, not art. When I was young, I would have agreed with them, but I strenuously disagree today. (Franky Schaeffer's book, "Addicted to Mediocrity, " was a real wake-up call for me, even though he eventually went in directions I didn't appreciate.) If you make good art which happens to contain a message, you can influence people. If you make propaganda, you're only going to make something which your allies will like.

Second, many religious people want movies which fit their political agenda, not the teachings of Jesus. The non-Christian characters are often presented as awful people because the people who write the work DO see them as "the enemy" and the religious audience sees them the same way — for cultural and political reasons, not for theological reasons.

Third, because those in Christian media (especially of the evangelical variety) have been brainwashed to see every media attempt as evangelism, very few of them ever learn media as art. They tend to treat all media as "sales material" which should beat people over the head in a very direct way, like a filmed version of an aggressive sermon. And this is NOT what good art is. Christians have typically been on the outside of the arts world, at least from the creator point of view, simply because most artists aren't "our kind of people."

I'm a wannabe filmmaker myself. I made a short film years ago (that got into smaller film festivals and won a few awards) and I'd like to make more. My own beliefs will inform whatever else I make, but I will never make a "Christian movie, " because what I would make wouldn't be the simplistic sales pitch that the religious audience wants. And anything which doesn't fit that formula is going to be a failure with the church audience, IMO. (Look at the Steve Taylor film, "The Second Chance, " from about 15 years ago. It was a serious, well-done Christian film that was made on a small budget — and it flopped with the church crowd, all because it wasn't the simplistic "us vs. them" story which seems to be popular. I think the church has been hostile to art for so long that it's deprived us of a lot of talented people who could have trained to be excellent filmmakers — and it's also resulted in a church audience which is ignorant about what good art is. And as proof, all you have to do is look at which "Christian" films are successful and which are not. I find that depressing.

[zimmylevi]

Have you guys seen the chosen? Not that your points are invalid. I just think it’s a good show.

[dianacato]

Hello, Sir, and this is great advice for those who are wanting to make great christian moves such as myself, however I think that you must be called to do this we should have a deeper spiritual connection and understand how to answers question, so we can make movies that are effective so we can lead a person that have question to the feet of Christ. I am a firm believe if we connect with the Holy Sprit we can write more effective moves that will reach a audience of many unbelievers and believers to carry out the gospel just trust him in your writing, this is not a competition but a anointing to break the york you have to be called to do this work for the kingdom, I also think that you should try writing a book first. Many are called but a few are chosen please check your faith. A Christian movie is a creative extension to inspire others it is not a preaching tool.

[watsonryan]

I’m actually about to start filming a Christian feature film! Would love to talk to you and others about it. I’ll join the discord. I have some similar content on channel about big issues too like marriage and mental illness

[heavenawilson]

Why not pray to God to be able to make good films that are Great..Films that don't compromise in its content..to appease the world. Films that show how God is apart of our everyday life..That seven days a week living that we do.. That Monday to Next Sunday Relationship with God/Jesus..

[SwaySkits]

I've been saying many of the same things for years. For example I am currently writing a Christian script but I am writing it based on my experiences and anything not based on my experience I know someone that went through them and I interview them extensively. Also my story is not a whatever minutes long sermon where everyone comes to Christ.