DTM

Been on vacation, but back as of last night.  A long time ago, I wrote a blog about DTM-- Do The Math.  This is the principle where I actually figure out the answer to the question I have.  Now if I don't have a question, then certainly, there won't be an answer.

In other words, DTM is like 4+3.  Many times I just want to be told "7."  Actually, more accurate is all the time.  Part of my laziness.  What do you mean I have to figure this out?  Why not just tell me the answer!  Then I'll be fixed.

Which of course speaks to the opening VO (voice over) of "The Imposter."  God's more interested in me going through the process than zapping me with spiritual morphine.  But the process is work.  It's sometimes hard.  It's sometimes painful.  I have to daily commit myself to going through the process.  Which is Discipleship (root word there is discipline).

You see, sometimes I fall into the rut of letting others do the heavy lifting.  Need a word from God?  Well, maybe its in the sermon this Sunday.  Or a good teaching book.  Or my spouse.  Heaven forbid I actually dive into the Bible and study it myself, applying what I read to what I'm going through.

And going back to the first paragraph, if you don't have a question, there won't be an answer.  What "process" are you going through this morning?  What is God working on in you?  What is He birthing in you?  If the answer is "nothing," or even worse "I dunno," then you might be spiritually dead.  Time to get resurrected this morning.

What am I going through?  Well, for one, I didn't realize how lazy I still am when it comes to DTM.  So now I'm digging in, working out the process.  As I read today in John, Jesus said to Peter at the end "Follow Me."  I think in the word "follow" comes the DTM process.

DTM

Back in January or February (you can check the archives), we talked about one acronym for writers-- OTN, which stands for "On the Nose" which is the driving element for cheesy writing.

Another important acronym is DTM-- "Do The Math." In filmmaking, this translates to letting your audience draw conclusions. In Christian filmmaking, this is very difficult to do-- what if the audience draws the wrong conclusion? Can't have that. So let's just tell them the conclusion. I think it happens in a lot of pulpits too.

I can tell you "7" and you walk away, maybe remembering "7." But if I tell you 3 + 4, then your brain starts churning and you think "7." You know "7." The danger here is what if you walk away thinking and knowing "8." As a Christian story teller, I'll take the risk. I think it's far better for my audience to keep their brains-- not check them in at the brain-check in the foyer (check out the "Believe is an Act music video).

So I encourage you filmmakers and writers-- let your audience do the math. Your movie and its message will have much more impact.