Pushing Drugs-- God's Way

There was a time a few years ago that anyone wanting to sell their program to the church only had to add those two words from the title "God's Way."  You could raise children, God's Way, teach Sunday School God's Way, diet God's Way and so on.  So let's talk about Substance Abuse-- God's Way.

Nice non-sequitar.  But I'll link everything in a moment.  This post continues on the subject of emotions started with the "Ministry of Hype" blog.

Let's look at a junkie.  Why does he shoot up?  To escape.  To forget.  To remember.  A substance abuser uses to self-medicate.  He has a hurt inside and he thinks this will fix it, even if for a moment.  He takes something to change his emotions-- remember, emotions are children of thoughts, and the substance abuser does not like the sober thoughts, so by taking the drug, he can change those thoughts, thereby changing the emotion.

His drug of choice can be coke, smack, heroin, meth, really hip worship service, marijuana... wait!  Did I really throw that next to last one in?  If we're talking about not liking our emotions, so we shoot up to change the emotions, why not?  Why do you think the light shows, great music, videos, big sound, dramatic pauses, vamping, visual aids are so popular?  Because it feels good!  People aren't flocking to mega-churches because they hate it.

Now wait a minute Dan!  People are at least flocking to churches.  Would you rather they all die and go to hell?  Of course not.  But if Jesus had allowed the Rich Young Ruler to come follow as he was, it would have poisoned heaven, leavening the loaf.  This is so polar opposite to the evangelical climate of the church.

But Jesus was more concerned about disciples than decisions.  If it was all about decisions, why doesn't God just kill everyone after they made the turn?

Now I work in a creative field-- making movies.  And what we do is impact people's thoughts and emotions.  But the movies are simply a tool-- a story to make a point.  Like Jesus's stories.  I do believe in excellence of craft, and I'm not saying if your church is using the cool, hip light shows and music it's wrong... I'm saying being a disciple is SO MUCH MORE than that.

Worship is a day by day, hour by hour endeavor.  Music is only a very small part of that.  I love music, it has taken me a long time to come to that conclusion.  As a worship leader, I have felt that our part of the service was really the most important.  I know I'm the only one (ha!).  There is only one time recorded in scripture where Jesus and the disciples sang a song.

But music can hit those emotions.  The right song can remind me of thoughts that pour out emotions.  And it's like a drug.  And that's okay... God created music and emotions. And great music is an awesome tool.

But if this is the center of your walk with Jesus, I feel sad for you.  Because you might be someone who is just using the emotions as another quick fix to make the pain go away, without doing any real and lasting change.

As we said in "The Imposter," sometimes God's more interested in you going through a process than zapping you with spiritual morphine.

Get clean and become His disciple.

The Original WB

We're taught in school and in this society that this country was founded on the principles of religious freedom-- that the forefathers came to this country to escape religious persecution.  I hear this in the secular and the Christian world.  But it's inaccurate.  So for this Memorial Day, let's remember back and uncover truth.

We have the journals and writings of our forefathers-- the Pilgrims.  Back in the early 17th century, King James I was not a fan of the Christian sect of Puritism.  Called "Separatist," the leaders were arrested in 1609.  Many of the congregation fled to Amsterdam, and one was a young William Bradford (19 years old).

So yes, the "pilgrims" left England to avoid religious persecution-- but when they went to Amsterdam and eventually settled in Leiden, they found the freedom they were looking for.  So if you want to talk about them coming to the new world for religious freedom, it's not that accurate.

Some say that the tide was turning in the Netherlands in 1620-- that because of new alliances with England, they started putting pressure on the Separatists to curry favor with James.  But there's no evidence of this.  What there is are letters and journals where these Separatists were concerned about the Dutch "worldy way" influence on their children.

Regardless, Separatist leader John Robinson supported the emerging idea of starting a colony in the new world.  Bradford was a big early proponent.  So to leave behind the European politics and pressures, these Pilgrims boarded the Mayflower in 1620, working out a deal with some merchants for provisions now and later.  These Pilgrims took a long time, but did in fact pay off these merchants so they could keep the land they colonized free and clear.

While in sight of the new world, after the rough trans-Atlantic voyage of this ship, the men on the ship decided to come together on a set of rules and law which was the Mayflower Compact (which was not a Mary Kay product contrary to current thought).

At first, they farmed, worked and toiled to combine efforts to pay back that debt.  But that didn't work (socialism was a failed experiment in those early years).  What they found was that if a man didn't work, then he shouldn't eat. (Hmm, sounds Biblical).

They practiced there religion and raised the children away from the influences that they wanted to avoid.  So it was more than just to escape religious persecution that brought them to this land.  Just thought you should know.

Advances

I was doing a documentary for a NYC company in textiles, that wanted a look at the cotton industry.  What was interesting was that the advances they've made in farming have been phenomenal-- what one person can do today, took ten people twenty or thirty years ago.  It used to be that one bale of cotton per acre was a good solid yield.  Now they're getting three and sometimes four bales per acre.  This is due to technology.

Makes me think about the parallels in the film industry.  For eighty or ninety years, the camera used to create most movies remained mechanical unchanged.  But now, technology has enabled the filmmaker to do a lot more with a lot less.  I think about my own feature film career.

Ten years ago this September, I was shooting "The Keyman" starring Adam Baldwin.  We shot 35mm film and I edited it on an Avid... and that's a bit misleading because it was an offline.  The film was sent to a lab in LA and transferred to BetacamSP tapes.  I was given a 3.5" floppy disk with the files so that I didn't have to build any clips-- I just put it all in and did a batch capture, at a terrible resolution (maybe 4 to 1 or even the really bad 10 to 1 back then?).  I cut the movie over several months then generated a Cut List for the negative cutter in Burbank.  She went to work cutting the negative to assemble the picture.

One thing that caught me by surprise-- when we went to color that original negative, there was a scene with a big scratch down the middle that we never saw on the BetacamSP.  The Colorist argued that's why people still watch dailies on the big screen.

Then for my second feature, "A Promise Kept" shot at the end of 02 and beginning of 03, things were still the same.  I cut the movie on the same Avid Media Composer, using the same negative cutter.

But by 2005 and Striking Range, things were finally starting to change in Hollywood.  For instance, the previous movies, I still had to give the ADR company a 3/4" tape of the reels for doing looping.  By now, they would let me send quicktimes.  Also, instead of BetacamSP, I had them send me the footage on DVCam for offlining.  I had a new Avid Express Pro and a DSR10 deck.  Also, instead of dailies on VHS, this was the first time to get them on DVD.  2005.  H'Wood was pretty late.

Now, with my fourth and fifth movie done on HD, we could skip some costly steps.  Now I could "online" the movie.  And I moved from the buggy Avid on a PC to Final Cut Pro on a Mac.  (That Avid Express Pro is sitting in a storeroom at my office and hasn't been turned on for two years).  No negative cutter.  The last film, Rising Stars, shot on the Red at 4K, was totally onlined at our facility.

But H'Wood still wants tape deliver (HDCamSR or other expensive tape formats) so that they can take the tape and digitize it into the computer.  I'm trying to talk them into taking the already digitized files so we don't have to go through the cost and trouble of going out to tape and back in to computer, but we'll see.

BTW, I still have a few seats for the Edit Workshop this coming Thursday Night.  Go to www.s-films.com/pov for info and registration.  Only $39 and I provide the dinner!

The Ministry of Hype

Here's another controversial topic.  In the nineties, while working for a corporate/commercial video production company, I ran the show for the big sales convention for a client.  The president, in one meeting months before, told me I was "in charge of hype."

What this meant was that I worked with the set designer to get the stage all ready, hired the lighting company to have some really cool, hot, moving lights, smoke, loud music, videos.  When properly arranged for the three day convention, I could get the sales people to yell, cry, get chill bumps, and then come back to do it all again the next night.  I was very good at it.

So do I take this skill to the church?  A few years later, I was actually wrestling with that idea-- I mean, why not, I'm good at it?  Then I visited a mega church and saw them do it.  Exactly what I could do.  And something troubled me inside.  On one hand, I could say God created light and sound and all those things.  But on the other hand, it smelled like manipulation of emotions.

What exactly does that mean?  Well first lets define "manipulation."  I describe it as the coercing someone to do something they hadn't intended on doing.  In some regards, the people coming to the church want the show-- they want to be emotional lifted up, then down, then up.  It's an emotional ride-- church as an amusement park.  I just don't think that's what God intended and certainly not what Jesus intended for His bride.

Then I think about the opposite-- so are we to kill all emotion?  Be the "Spock" church?  No, that's not right either.  So I do think it boils down to intent.  In other words, let's say I'm a pastor.  And I want numbers.  I want to be successful and build a huge church... a mega church.  I want to be the man.  The rock star of the steeple.  In that case, there's a lot of things I can do to manipulate emotions, especially for the sheeple (or is it "sheople?) who come wanting it.

Now sure, I don't' come right out and say all this.  No, I make it sound noble with things like "I have compassion for the lost," or "I'm reaching this generation."  Man, I'm spiritual.  So hopefully you're getting the sarcasm.  Does this mean thou shalt have no light-show with morning worship?  You know, if it's for truly His purpose.  But if it's to build my kingdom, clearly no.

Emotions, I'm told by my mentor, are "children of thoughts."  I'm still chewing on that.  Like children, emotions need boundaries and protection.  And there are weak minded sheeple out there and understanding the right Jedi mind tricks, I could manipulate a few of them pretty easily.  And if I can, then I know a lot others not only can, but do.

The opening music video of "The Imposter" called "Believe (is an Act)" is all about this.  Also, everyone's been sharing the link to the Sunday Morning spoof video which is awesome.  I just wonder about all of us who laugh at that video and then participate in what that is spoofing.  Kind of sad.  Pathetic really.

For those who think I'm off base, I encourage you to read John chapter 6.  Jesus did not have a disciple in charge of hype or publicity.  If He had, that disciple would have quit right then.  There was so much more that Jesus could have done to manipulate the crowd.  To bring in the numbers.  I mean, that's the point right? 

If Jesus was so concerned with numbers, why did He choose that moment to preach his most controversial sermon?  He had them ready to make Him king!  Bad move Jesus.

As I studied God's Number Philosophy throughout scripture, I found it's really more of an anti-number philosophy.  Or if you have to have a number, they're small.  Like One.  The shepherd who left the larger number (99) to find the One.  Or Three-- His inner circle.  Or twelve-- the number Jesus, the Son of God felt was appropriate for His purpose.  (Why does a mega church need 40 pastors on staff??  Just who is the senior pastor discipling?)

To the pastor dedicated to success by numbers, I remind that Jesus called us not to reach one million for Christ.  But to go and *make* disciples.  He took on twelve and He was God.

I'm just saying.  I'll quit now.

The Editor's Prime Directive

While watching that Christian movie two weeks ago (I mentioned it in this blog about sound), one of the big problems early on was with the editing.  So let's examine what the purpose of editing is and how this art is best achieved.

First, the purpose of editing is to movie the story along.  In anything distracts from telling the story, it needs to go.  In fact, the edits should enhance the story telling.  If fancy editing draws attention to itself, pulling the viewer out of the story, then the editor has failed, though it might look cool.  This is the prime directive of editing and any rules established must first go through this filter-- does it move the story along.

So what are some distracting editing?  Well, you have the ADD/ADHD editor.  This is the amateur, or professional in the commercial world, who gets nervous after lingering on a shot longer than two or three seconds.  Cut to this, cut to that.  You need to take a Dramamine to get through it.  To this person I say, it's okay to stay.

Closely related, and a problem in the aforementioned Christian film, is the nazi editor.  This is the person who strictly adheres to a rule, forsaking perhaps the prime directive, but by golly, this one rule was never broken!  The rule in the Christian movie is this: If a person has a line, we must see them on camera deliver the line.  What results is a bit unnatural.  You're with some friends, having a chat.  Do you automatically turn your gaze at the moment someone starts talking?  No.  You might linger on the person who just finished saying something.  You might glance over at a different friend for the reaction of what was just said.  You might look out the window.

Then there's the martini-shaker-editor.  This is the person who throws all the setups into the shaker and spills out on screen whatever happens to come out next.  Begin with a close up?  Why not.  Pop to a wide shot in the middle of a small intimate monologue?  Sure.  The *general* rule (don't be a nazi) is to establish then move in closer as the scene progresses.  Where's the "beat" of the scene?  This is where the character's emotional value changes.  Come in closer here, maybe.  Some might say they're looking for the artistic way to cut a scene.  But I say you need to know structure to be able to do anti-structure.  As I told my UTA students this past semester, I don't mind you breaking the rules if it's a choice and not an accident.  This requires at least a knowledge of the rules.

If you want to be an editor, study the great films. Watch them over and over.  Listen to the commentaries of the filmmakers.  You need to develop a sense of what feels right in storytelling, then you can trust yourself more in the edit room.

More about this at the Evening Edit Workshop on Thursday June 3 in Fort Worth.  Only $39 and dinner will be provided.  6:30 pm.  Register at www.s-films.com/pov.

Insecurity Police

Insecurity.  Feelings of Inferiority.  My mentor has stated that in all his years of counseling, most of the problems come down to these two roots.

In the film business, we see this a lot, and it's manifested in opposite ways-- the two sides of the same coin.  For instance, an insecure actor can second guess every move she makes, become a nervous wreck, unable to perform her part.  Or an actor can be so insecure that he puts down everyone around him in false bravado, compensating for his feeling of inferiority.

A director can be insecure and try to control every minutia of production, never trusting the department heads he's brought on.  A producer can wear as much arm candy as he can find and prance around the set, showing everyone how important he is.

And of course, the set is not an exclusive place for this human disease.  Marriages.  Parenting.  School.  All relationships carry this cancer.  Some are more along in the damage of the pathogen.  A husband clinging to a spouse, gripping tight because he fears she'll leave him.  A wife manipulating her children to make herself feel better because she feels valueless inside.  Children acting out in the classroom because negative attention will be a self-fulfilling prophecy of the monster they believe they are.

The opposite of Insecurity is Identity... or more precisely, understanding the truth about exactly who you are.  I believe there's two of me-- there's the spirit man that Paul writes about, especially in Romans (specifically chapter 8)... and there's the flesh, or the ego, that is a result of our sin nature.  You see, this is where the liberals and the humanist make a huge mistake-- they believe that inside, man is basically good and noble.  It's clear to me that if left to one's own nature, they'd be like lions looking to feed themselves from whatever they can take.

Sorry Gene Roddenberry-- you're whole futuristic look on mankind was predicated on the basic goodness of the human nature.  His characters, Captain Kirk and Mister Spock travel the galaxy to find out that humanity is basically good inside.

But what Mr. Roddenberry didn't quite understand is that you are evil... AND the inner you, was hand crafted by God Himself and you are fearfully and wonderfully made. (Ps. 139).  And as Paul writes in Romans 8, you who are of the flesh walk by the flesh and you who are of the spirit, by the spirit.  Of course, maybe Roddenberry did get it on that one episode, where the "evil Kirk" is separated from the "good Kirk" in a transporter accident.

It's a daily battle, but as I wage it, I start to understand more how special God made me (just like everyone else around me), and how evil I am and how that has to die daily.  It will be a war until the day I actually die.  Paul writes in Romans 7:19 that he practices the evil he doesn't want to do."  Practice.  As in present tense.  The writer of a lot of the new testament is confessing he practices evil.  It took me awhile to digest that.  I never wanted to call my ego "evil."  Oh c'mon, it's not that bad!"

Yes it is.  And it must die.  Again.

The Edit Room

I think one of the most powerful educational experiences for writers, directors, actors and producers is to actually sit in the edit room and see what works and what doesn't.

For writers-- they can see that transition scenes they thought were so critical to add to the screenplay didn't really make a difference.  The writer can see why it's important to enter a scene at the last possible moment and leave it as quick as you can.

For the directors-- they can learn the 80/20 rule and why it's so imperative to not spend so much time on scenes that aren't as critical and spend more time on the ones that are.

For actors-- oh there's so much here that can help the actor.  From realizing why continuity makes a big difference (and how a "better" performance might be left on the cutting room floor because of continuity gaffs), to having a better understanding of the subtlety of film performance.

And producers-- all the money that can be saved by shooting just what you need and not all that other stuff.

I'm going to host an Evening Editing Workshop on Thursday June 3 at 6:30 in Fort Worth.  I'll provide the pizza.  Space is very limited and we'll be doing some scene editing.  Register at www.s-films.com/pov .  Only $39.