Nicholas H. Dean
AFA Journal/Engage magazine staff writer
Above, American Family Studios cinematographer Austin Brooks on the set of I Am Potential.
October 2015 – The old adage “you get what you pay for” comes to mind with faith-based films of the last few decades. With production quality dependent on the support of unyielding pocketbooks, faith-based films often cannot live up to the heart and intent behind them.
There to capitalize on a desire for quality faith-based films is the secular film and television industry, producing ever more content revolving around religious themes and symbols – with some arguably beating faith-based films at their own game. Perhaps most notably, such blockbuster hits as Noah, Exodus, and A.D. have graced screens in the last year alone. While these are not necessarily backed by the Christian community, and they are usually lacking in faithfulness to biblical sources, they enjoy the luxury of big-budget production quality.
Conversely, the Christian community has produced films rich in biblical fidelity but lacking in other aspects, though this is not always the fault of the filmmakers themselves. If a story is indeed worth its weight in gold, too many faith-based films do much to reflect the paltry financial support of the church. In the end, these productions need quality just as secular films need integrity.
Christian filmmakers must realize that the message in faith-based films can be lost in poor presentation. Too often, when the gospel is placed on a spoon in an attempt to force feed an audience, the impact of the message is diminished. To make matters worse, naysayers to this point often confuse tactfulness or subtlety of message with hiding one’s light under a bushel.
Balancing message, medium
The biblical admonition not to hide one’s light under a bushel, though, is not meant to be a license to shine that light directly into the eyes of others. Ironically, it is too easy to forget that the very Christ presented in faith-based films Himself more often communicated with a gentler approach.
When asked why He spoke in parables, Jesus answered, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them … This is why I speak to them in parables: Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand” (Matthew 13:10-17). Many beyond the walls of the church are not prepared to hear the message shared within because they don’t understand the language familiar to the Christian community. Thus, the message in faith-based films may be muffled because of generic platitudes of the faith.
However, this trend may be changing. The current generation of Christian filmmakers has seen, tried, and no doubt been disappointed by contemporary Christian film. There is an increasing voice within the Christian community to remedy this. In pursuit of equipping the next generation of storytellers to produce great content and present it effectively, film studies programs are gaining popularity in Christian higher education and parachurch ministries.
One such institution attracting attention is Asbury University. Situated in the unassuming town of Wilmore, Kentucky, Asbury’s School of Communication Arts features such programs as Digital Storytelling, Media Communication, and Theatre-Cinema Performance. It is a training ground for tomorrow’s industry powerhouses. Asbury’s entertainment related programs bring to students a blend of theory, technical skills, access to cutting edge technology, hands on learning opportunities, and a wealth of wisdom from faculty. The department is headed by Dr. Jim Owens who has more than 30 years of broadcasting experiences with such networks as ESPN, ABC, NBC, and more.
Dr. Owens told AFAJ, “Asbury’s goal is to prepare Christian young people to be excellent communicators wherever God calls them, secular or Christian positions. We strive to be the best media school in the world. Not just the best Christian school.”
Owens is joined by a host of faculty with decades of combined experience in television and film, and together they are able to impart their real world experience and insight to their students. Owens believes that Asbury graduates are “impacting the industry in many positive ways, creating quality productions and living life by biblical principles while working in the industry.”
Universities to the rescue?
AFAJ asked two Asbury graduates, American Family Studios’ own Kendra White and Austin Brooks, to discuss the impact Asbury has had on them and the strengths of the programs available. Both spoke of concerns over quality of faith-based films, but also very highly of their alma mater. In reminiscing over their classes and training, both expressed confidence in the quality of Asbury’s training.
Speaking to how Asbury does not sacrifice the quality of production or integrity of the gospel, White noted that Asbury blends the two well, saying, “They teach you filmmaking first and foremost, and leave it up to you to take responsibility for applying your faith in your work. But they also equip you for that application in whatever you do.”
Brooks added, “They’re sending students out into the world after preparing them to be a light in an otherwise dark industry.”
Their comments highlight two crucial issues. First, in order for Christians to be effective in the industry, they must be trained to practice their craft well. Second, for them to have any opportunity to do this, they must be sent into a highly competitive – and potentially hostile – field. This latter issue carries with it a pivotal implication: No amount of technical skill, creative ingenuity, or biblical knowledge will matter if these students and future filmmakers are unable to make connections and get a foot in the door of the industry.
Fortunately, many academic programs recognize this potential pitfall and provide networking opportunities and resources. However, additional venues will always be needed for equipping the entertainment leaders of tomorrow, especially where networking is concerned.
Enter International Christian Visual Media (ICVM). In their own words, ICVM is “a community of Christians involved in bringing the message of Christ to the world through the use of media.” Every year, ICVM hosts conferences offering a number of skill-building workshops and networking opportunities. The roster of former speakers includes Phil Cooke (producer and media consultant), Alex Kendrick (actor/producer/director of Courageous, War Room), Ralph Winter (producer of Star Trek, X-Men, Left Behind - 2001), and Phil Vischer (creator of Veggietales and JellyTelly), to name only a few. Focused on fostering a sense of community and developing skills, conferences like these offer the invaluable opportunity for students to meet and form relationships with the kind of professionals who can open doors that might otherwise be closed.
With these many resources available to students and future filmmakers, the Christian community can take heart that there is a brighter future for faith-based entertainment. That is, if hopeful viewers are willing to do their part in financially supporting quality faith-based entertainment. In Christian universities, students are being equipped to be the storytellers of tomorrow. And as they craft their stories with excellence and creativity, they are set to be the hands and feet of Christ and bring glory to the Creator who created them to create. 
Christian universities with film studies programs*
▶ Asbury University asbury.edu
▶ Liberty University liberty.edu
▶ Biola University biola.edu
▶ Bob Jones Universitybju.edu
▶ Regent University regent.edu
* For more information, Google the name of the university along with the words “cinematic arts” or “film school.”
Training/networking resources
▶ International Christian Visual Media icvm.com
▶ Christian Film-makers Academy mwcfa.org
▶ International Christian Film Festival internationalcff.com
