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Posted by storymonger on Mar 12, 2015 in Faith in Writing , Filmmaking | 21 comments
“I don’t really like Christian movies. The acting is SO terrible!”
I can’t tell you how much I’ve heard people expressing their dislike of Christian movies with variations on this sentence. I guess it makes sense. Independent Christian movies are made on a much smaller budget than their Hollywood counterparts. Actors are quite often drawn from a small pool that includes friends, family, church members, and that nice bald guy from the local Home Depot.
The occasional professional actor in a Christian flick is usually more of a C-list variety. Like, “Oh, I remember that guy, he played Screaming Man #4 in Attack of the Shwormoglobbrians .”
It seems to be a common belief that bad acting is the number one problem with Christian movies, that if only we had the budget or connections to hire big-league actors, our movies would stand on par with Hollywood productions, or at least come close.
I mean, yes, actors with talent and training go a long way toward good production value. But I don’t think a lack of professional actors is the root of the problem.
Christian films, in general, tend to be really badly written. I’m not trying to be mean. It’s just a sad fact. Here are two things I think we’re missing in most of today’s Christian screenplays.
Great screenplay dialogue is prompt, witty, and crammed full of subtext.
In most independent Christian movies I’ve seen, the dialogue is flat, predictable, and almost completely void of subtext. People say exactly what they mean, usually with perfect grammar and stilted emotional pauses that were probably written into the script.
Even a fantastic actor would have a hard time making that dialogue sound anywhere NEAR believable. They’d struggle through it, trying to bring every ounce of life they could to the banal script, and then when the movie was out they would get slapped with the verdict of “terrible acting.”
Now that’s just not fair at all.
“High Concept” is a term that gets thrown around quite a bit in the world of screenwriting, but what does it actually mean? For me, a high-concept story starts with a synopsis that promises something I haven’t seen a million times before. Something like this:
“A thief who steals corporate secrets through use of dream-sharing technology is given the inverse task of planting an idea into the mind of a CEO.” (Synopsis taken from IMDB)
Inception is a high-concept story. Industrial espionage using dreams? Yes, please.
Most Christian films are not high-concept. There seem to be three main story types that these movies fall into.
A man, who is a major jerk, is a successful athlete until something bad happens and he loses his mojo. In order to be a successful athlete again (and win back the woman he loves) he must learn that his sport is actually a weird convoluted metaphor for life, and that he should not be a jerk anymore. Oh, and also pray a lot.
A man is a major jerk, and is also very wealthy. Something bad happens. His family falls apart. In order to get his family back, he needs to learn to trust in God and not be a jerk. He does this. Then everything is awesome again.
A man is a major jerk. One day he is stranded in a place where everyone else is a Christian. He learns that it is bad to be a jerk, and good to be a Christian. He becomes a Christian who is not a jerk anymore, and good things happen to him.
This is theme, thinly wrapped in story in an attempt to make it a little less like medicine.
Yes, the theme–the message–is important. But a message whispered by an outstanding story is so much more powerful than a message shouted by a mediocre story.
Great dialogue from great characters. High-concept stories. Christian movies need this a lot more than professional actors.
I’d like to clarify that I’m not trying to bash Christian movies. In recent years, the production value of Christian movies has really risen, and that’s exciting. However, production value always begins with a truly great story, and I think that fact is often overlooked in the search for professional actors, pretty cinematography, and cool visual effects.
Next I’ll be talking about books. Stay tuned.
Rachelle O'Neil March 12, 2015 Good points, Braden! I think you’re on to something with the writing being more of a problem than the acting. I know that I, personally, can stand slightly imperfect acting if the story is great. storymonger March 13, 2015 I can too. And the thing is, good writing can coax a great performance out of unskilled or untrained actors, just like bad writing can get a bad performance from great actors.
Good points, Braden! I think you’re on to something with the writing being more of a problem than the acting. I know that I, personally, can stand slightly imperfect acting if the story is great.
storymonger March 13, 2015 I can too. And the thing is, good writing can coax a great performance out of unskilled or untrained actors, just like bad writing can get a bad performance from great actors.
I can too. And the thing is, good writing can coax a great performance out of unskilled or untrained actors, just like bad writing can get a bad performance from great actors.
R.G. Nairam March 12, 2015 Good post! I like this one better than the introduction to the series. 🙂 Especially the high concept point, I’m not sure I’ve heard people bring that up before. storymonger March 13, 2015 Heheh, good! 😉 I haven’t really heard it either, as regarding Christian films. But we need it, I think.
Good post! I like this one better than the introduction to the series. 🙂 Especially the high concept point, I’m not sure I’ve heard people bring that up before.
storymonger March 13, 2015 Heheh, good! 😉 I haven’t really heard it either, as regarding Christian films. But we need it, I think.
Heheh, good! 😉 I haven’t really heard it either, as regarding Christian films. But we need it, I think.
Will March 12, 2015 When u talk about Christian books, u should write about Ted Dekker. The movies rnt great, but the books r storymonger March 13, 2015 I do like some of Dekker’s books, especially the Saint/Showdown/Sinner trilogy. Good stuff! Will March 18, 2015 One Christian movie that I didn’t fell like face palming when I watched it: How to Save a Life. Not only is the story logical, it faces more bug issues than the average film
When u talk about Christian books, u should write about Ted Dekker. The movies rnt great, but the books r
storymonger March 13, 2015 I do like some of Dekker’s books, especially the Saint/Showdown/Sinner trilogy. Good stuff! Will March 18, 2015 One Christian movie that I didn’t fell like face palming when I watched it: How to Save a Life. Not only is the story logical, it faces more bug issues than the average film
I do like some of Dekker’s books, especially the Saint/Showdown/Sinner trilogy. Good stuff!
Will March 18, 2015 One Christian movie that I didn’t fell like face palming when I watched it: How to Save a Life. Not only is the story logical, it faces more bug issues than the average film
One Christian movie that I didn’t fell like face palming when I watched it: How to Save a Life. Not only is the story logical, it faces more bug issues than the average film
Thought by Thought March 12, 2015 Great post. I agree about the whole acting/writing thing. I’ve had plenty of people blame it on the acting and what you’ve said makes plenty of sense. Thanks for sharing. storymonger March 13, 2015 No problem! Glad you liked it. 🙂
Great post. I agree about the whole acting/writing thing. I’ve had plenty of people blame it on the acting and what you’ve said makes plenty of sense. Thanks for sharing.
storymonger March 13, 2015 No problem! Glad you liked it. 🙂
No problem! Glad you liked it. 🙂
Monica March 12, 2015 Too true! I am REALLY looking forward to your script! Can I be in the movie? lol By the way, I have a stack more of current movies for your evaluation….in your spare time, or movie night, whichever comes first. 😉 ❤ storymonger March 13, 2015 Haha, I’m looking forward! 😉
Too true! I am REALLY looking forward to your script! Can I be in the movie? lol By the way, I have a stack more of current movies for your evaluation….in your spare time, or movie night, whichever comes first. 😉 ❤
storymonger March 13, 2015 Haha, I’m looking forward! 😉
Haha, I’m looking forward! 😉
Morgan Huneke March 12, 2015 This is very true. It’s kind of the same as the reason I no longer like to watch animal movies very often. So many of them are pretty much the same. The story and the characters are so important. Without that, the message has no power. storymonger March 13, 2015 Meeeeh, animal movies. I did like War Horse, mostly because of Spielberg’s directing.
This is very true. It’s kind of the same as the reason I no longer like to watch animal movies very often. So many of them are pretty much the same. The story and the characters are so important. Without that, the message has no power.
storymonger March 13, 2015 Meeeeh, animal movies. I did like War Horse, mostly because of Spielberg’s directing.
Meeeeh, animal movies. I did like War Horse, mostly because of Spielberg’s directing.
Emmarayn Redding March 12, 2015 I agree. I thinkk it would be amazing if there were more Christian movies with sophisicated plots like Inception, or Unbreakable. 🙂 storymonger March 13, 2015 Me too! It’ll happen at some point. 🙂
I agree. I thinkk it would be amazing if there were more Christian movies with sophisicated plots like Inception, or Unbreakable. 🙂
storymonger March 13, 2015 Me too! It’ll happen at some point. 🙂
Me too! It’ll happen at some point. 🙂
Etcetera Blue March 12, 2015 Yes. It needs to be said, specifically by someone in the Christian and writing community, not just atheists and the general population. It can make me feel like an unwelcome opinion among many of my IRL Christin friends when I say I rarely like Christian movies. storymonger March 13, 2015 Yeah, I also tend to be the lone dissenting voice. Sometimes, just because something is labeled as “Christian”, I think it’s automatically seen as a very holy cow that should not be poked at. francinelocke March 15, 2015 A voice in the wilderness….Your comments are dead on. Sadly, those who need to hear the message, rarely see themselves in it. Now how about another post on “Christian Film” -what is it, made my Christians? for Christians? so Christians will like it? Someone says a prayer and is saved? Or should it be reality, dirty gritty life, but there is a true source of hope & possible redemption. Sorry I couldn’t post this separately, only let me attach on to your previous comment. Good job! storymonger March 15, 2015 Thanks, Francine! And yeah, excellent point. Honestly, I’m not a big fan of the term “Christian Film”. I’m even less a fan of the term “Christian Industry”. Let’s stop thinking about industry and just make good art that leads people to truth. Matt Gibson March 24, 2015 I think you might enjoy this article by Peter Jones over on the Kuyperian Commentary on the subject. Really good stuff http://www.kuyperian.com/making-movies-christian/ Love your article, by the way. Personally I feel if something claims to be Christian art, it needs to endure a rigorous gauntlet regarding every aspect. Keep up the fantastic work my good sir! Matt Gibson Florida. storymonger March 29, 2015 That’s a great article. Point nine ftw. And yes. It should be held to the same standards as every other kind of art, if not higher!
Yes. It needs to be said, specifically by someone in the Christian and writing community, not just atheists and the general population. It can make me feel like an unwelcome opinion among many of my IRL Christin friends when I say I rarely like Christian movies.
storymonger March 13, 2015 Yeah, I also tend to be the lone dissenting voice. Sometimes, just because something is labeled as “Christian”, I think it’s automatically seen as a very holy cow that should not be poked at. francinelocke March 15, 2015 A voice in the wilderness….Your comments are dead on. Sadly, those who need to hear the message, rarely see themselves in it. Now how about another post on “Christian Film” -what is it, made my Christians? for Christians? so Christians will like it? Someone says a prayer and is saved? Or should it be reality, dirty gritty life, but there is a true source of hope & possible redemption. Sorry I couldn’t post this separately, only let me attach on to your previous comment. Good job! storymonger March 15, 2015 Thanks, Francine! And yeah, excellent point. Honestly, I’m not a big fan of the term “Christian Film”. I’m even less a fan of the term “Christian Industry”. Let’s stop thinking about industry and just make good art that leads people to truth. Matt Gibson March 24, 2015 I think you might enjoy this article by Peter Jones over on the Kuyperian Commentary on the subject. Really good stuff http://www.kuyperian.com/making-movies-christian/ Love your article, by the way. Personally I feel if something claims to be Christian art, it needs to endure a rigorous gauntlet regarding every aspect. Keep up the fantastic work my good sir! Matt Gibson Florida. storymonger March 29, 2015 That’s a great article. Point nine ftw. And yes. It should be held to the same standards as every other kind of art, if not higher!
Yeah, I also tend to be the lone dissenting voice. Sometimes, just because something is labeled as “Christian”, I think it’s automatically seen as a very holy cow that should not be poked at.
francinelocke March 15, 2015 A voice in the wilderness….Your comments are dead on. Sadly, those who need to hear the message, rarely see themselves in it. Now how about another post on “Christian Film” -what is it, made my Christians? for Christians? so Christians will like it? Someone says a prayer and is saved? Or should it be reality, dirty gritty life, but there is a true source of hope & possible redemption. Sorry I couldn’t post this separately, only let me attach on to your previous comment. Good job! storymonger March 15, 2015 Thanks, Francine! And yeah, excellent point. Honestly, I’m not a big fan of the term “Christian Film”. I’m even less a fan of the term “Christian Industry”. Let’s stop thinking about industry and just make good art that leads people to truth.
A voice in the wilderness….Your comments are dead on. Sadly, those who need to hear the message, rarely see themselves in it. Now how about another post on “Christian Film” -what is it, made my Christians? for Christians? so Christians will like it? Someone says a prayer and is saved? Or should it be reality, dirty gritty life, but there is a true source of hope & possible redemption.
Sorry I couldn’t post this separately, only let me attach on to your previous comment. Good job!
storymonger March 15, 2015 Thanks, Francine! And yeah, excellent point. Honestly, I’m not a big fan of the term “Christian Film”. I’m even less a fan of the term “Christian Industry”. Let’s stop thinking about industry and just make good art that leads people to truth.
Thanks, Francine! And yeah, excellent point. Honestly, I’m not a big fan of the term “Christian Film”. I’m even less a fan of the term “Christian Industry”. Let’s stop thinking about industry and just make good art that leads people to truth.
Matt Gibson March 24, 2015 I think you might enjoy this article by Peter Jones over on the Kuyperian Commentary on the subject. Really good stuff http://www.kuyperian.com/making-movies-christian/ Love your article, by the way. Personally I feel if something claims to be Christian art, it needs to endure a rigorous gauntlet regarding every aspect. Keep up the fantastic work my good sir! Matt Gibson Florida. storymonger March 29, 2015 That’s a great article. Point nine ftw. And yes. It should be held to the same standards as every other kind of art, if not higher!
I think you might enjoy this article by Peter Jones over on the Kuyperian Commentary on the subject. Really good stuff http://www.kuyperian.com/making-movies-christian/ Love your article, by the way. Personally I feel if something claims to be Christian art, it needs to endure a rigorous gauntlet regarding every aspect. Keep up the fantastic work my good sir!
Matt Gibson Florida.
storymonger March 29, 2015 That’s a great article. Point nine ftw. And yes. It should be held to the same standards as every other kind of art, if not higher!
That’s a great article. Point nine ftw. And yes. It should be held to the same standards as every other kind of art, if not higher!
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