SAICFF: 10:55 A.M. - 10/28

Presented by Geoff Botkins in his session Vocational Realities for Aspiring Filmmakers:

Cold Facts About the Filmmaking Industry:

• Filmmaking can be a sin trap because the present industry is a sensuality cartel.
• Filmmaking is not as prestigious, refined, classy, or glamorous as the industry portrays itself. (“Film are made by morons for morons.” - Walter Matthau)
• Film can also be spiritually dangerous because it is a fun vocation. It integrates many challenging arts, sciences, technologies, and talented people. It entertains. It thrills. It’s so much fun, we can make an idol of it.
• Film is a religious weapon that has been used for both garish and brutish amusement and subtle indoctrination.
• You need spiritual maturity in order to know how to use this versatile weapon because it teaches. Filmmakers are teachers. (James 3:1 - "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.")
• Because every film teaches theological truth and falsehood, you must understand the You must have character as well as sound theological footing on order to rise to positions of responsibility in the industry.
• You must choose your positions and training carefully in order to avoid helping the wrong people advance the wrong ideas.
• You must develop the vision to be a wise leader and not a blind follower. You must attain to positions of influence in order to be the most effective teacher you can be.
• You must aspire to be an independent writer/producer/director.
• The most influential form of media is the two-hour theatrical feature film. In the early 21st Century, this motion picture format is still the influential pacesetter of American Culture. As it is exported to other nations it upsets cultural realities wherever it is seen. It colonizes culturally and it disciplines theologically.