The CHURCH and MEDIA
When the Frankfurt School of Philosophy sent their graduates out into the world to spread Marxist thought, they told them to enter two fields: Media, and Education. Education was an obvious choice, because we can see a direct connection between what a child is taught, and what they become. But media is different, more subtle, because it shapes the lens through which we see reality, both visible and invisible.
It's like forgetting that you're wearing glasses, because you've grown accustomed to them. Like a powerful Fresnel lens, that can make a man invisible if he's standing directly in front of you, it can make the Truth invisible to people, even when it's staring them in the face.
Or, like a good lens, it can make everything clearer.
As education shapes the mind, so the arts shape the heart.
But making a written argument for the power of media does seem a bit silly, so in this brief video we ask the question: Why should the Church be involved in Media?
It's like forgetting that you're wearing glasses, because you've grown accustomed to them. Like a powerful Fresnel lens, that can make a man invisible if he's standing directly in front of you, it can make the Truth invisible to people, even when it's staring them in the face.
Or, like a good lens, it can make everything clearer.
As education shapes the mind, so the arts shape the heart.
But making a written argument for the power of media does seem a bit silly, so in this brief video we ask the question: Why should the Church be involved in Media?
“Do we like the world the way it is?”
Hi, my name's Jon Brewer, and I've been working in the field of digital film since 2006, with a roster including the web series Gatewalkers and Stormborn, as well as the short film Light of Hope, and an LCC Top Ten entry. It has been a life-changing journey for me, and for many others who have joined us over the years. That is what I want to offer you.
The Goal
Our ultimate goal is to create a self-sustaining system whereby we can consistently produce short and long form projects, with the intent of giving our audience the narrative tools they need to see the truths of the Gospel. To that end, we are looking for people to join us in this endeavor. People who see what we're doing, and want to be a part of it, in one capacity or another. Those roles can be loosely divided into three categories:
Hi, my name's Jon Brewer, and I've been working in the field of digital film since 2006, with a roster including the web series Gatewalkers and Stormborn, as well as the short film Light of Hope, and an LCC Top Ten entry. It has been a life-changing journey for me, and for many others who have joined us over the years. That is what I want to offer you.
The Goal
Our ultimate goal is to create a self-sustaining system whereby we can consistently produce short and long form projects, with the intent of giving our audience the narrative tools they need to see the truths of the Gospel. To that end, we are looking for people to join us in this endeavor. People who see what we're doing, and want to be a part of it, in one capacity or another. Those roles can be loosely divided into three categories:
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The first level of involvement can be called the “Producers.” It's the support crew, the people who want to see this happen, but don't have as much time to invest, or they want to support someone who is getting involved. They're the ones who find the Resources to make the movie. They're the people who provide Money to the project, who find Locations to film in, and who bring the raw Materials like cloth and lumber to make the Costumes and Sets.
The next level is the roles in front of the camera, like Acting and Stunt Work. This is for anyone who's interested in acting, or likes entertaining people, and for those who like the more physical aspects of the process, respectively. Or they can do both, and we'll train them. Then there are the Behind the Scenes roles, like making Costumes, Props, and Sets for each project, or being part of the Crew that records it all, and makes the production work. That's anything from Sound and Lights, to Costuming and Makeup. In post-production, Composers and Visual Effects artists will have a chance to ply their craft. This is the place for anyone who's ever sewn or swung a hammer, for the technically minded, and those who just like helping. A full list can be found here: Roles and Positions |
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The METHOD
We plan to use the unique backgrounds we've been given in fields both historical and technical to do this work, primarily through the genres of science fiction and fantasy. The primary reasons we chose this are as follows.
We plan to use the unique backgrounds we've been given in fields both historical and technical to do this work, primarily through the genres of science fiction and fantasy. The primary reasons we chose this are as follows.
ENGAGEMENT
While it's fun to watch a heroic adventure, it's even better to be a part of one. To quote actor Christopher Dane, running through the woods with a sword speaks to the twelve year old in all of us. Making movies in the heroic genres draws in people who would otherwise be uninterested in the process. As one stunt team alumni said when we were discussing people urging us to make more modern, “realistic” movies, “But then you wouldn't have had any of us.” There is something about the genres that connects with people, and speaks to us on a deeper level. STEWARDSHIP An actor once told me that the worst jobs he'd ever been on were on Christian films. There can be many reasons for this, but I resolved to not tarnish the witness of our faith by making people regret working with us. This starts with treating everyone with the honor and respect they deserve as a person created in the image of God, but it continues in the feeling they have when they wear their costume for the first time, and the smile they have when they finally learn how to use a sword. We have been given unique life experiences that allow us to work in these genres, and have found that immersing people in making these stories has a positive benefit that exceeds the same work in more modern narratives. |
TRUTH
One of the main jobs of the storyteller and artist is to be truthful. When we tell a story set in the modern world, but censor its content, we are being untruthful. The audience sees this, and is turned off by it. However, no-one questions why there's no profanity in The Lord of the Rings. The rules of that world are not the same as ours, and so through the medium of what are called “secondary worlds” we can honestly discuss the human condition without compromising our values. AUDIENCE It is an open secret within the industry that the market for Christian films is almost exclusively middle class, middle-aged women. If we are trying to reach the world, we must widen the net. The audience for science fiction and fantasy are largely young men and women, though the core fanbase does extend between the ages of 12 and 39. Thus, as Christian films target women over the age of 40, our genres target the younger demographic. Telling stories that resonate with people who are at key transition points, particularly children entering their teens, and teens becoming adults, can have a long lasting impact on their lives. 
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MEDIA and the FAMILY
While making movies can be a good experience for everyone, the core of our team has always been young people, and it's in the context of families that we've seen the best results. Shy kids acting on camera, warring siblings finding common ground, discipline problems withering on the vine, and kids with a sense of purpose in life. But that's all from a parental perspective. For what the kids experience, who better to tell you than the team themselves?
To all you kids and teens out there, this first 40 seconds is for you.
To all you kids and teens out there, this first 40 seconds is for you.
If any of this interests you, then contact us here and we can set up a meeting. We look forward to meeting all of you, and hope to see you on set one day.
Sincerely,
Jon Brewer & the Brightsword Productions Team
Sincerely,
Jon Brewer & the Brightsword Productions Team
