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TechnoratiThere has been a notable rise in the number of Christian films being produced as more believers seem to be catching on to the impact that movies have on the culture of society.
Director Scott Derrickson (right) directs actor Keanu Reeves on the set of "The Day the Earth Stood Still."
Among the most talked about this year within Christian circles is “Fireproof,” the independent movie produced on a $0.5 million budget by pastors at a Baptist church in Georgia. Since its Sept. 26 theatrical release, the movie has made over $32 million.
Less obvious, however, are films not formally labeled as Christian ones, but that present a Christian worldview. The latest – though perhaps not the most obvious initially – is “The Day the Earth Stood Still,” which stars mainstream celebrities Keanu Reeves and Jennifer Connelly.
Though it is a Hollywood film and a remake of a 1951 sci-fi classic, Scott Derrickson’s “The Day the Earth Stood Still” is laced with biblical themes and allusions, including references to the story of Noah, a child knelt before the cross, and a Christ figure, who is presented in the movie as an alien visitor named Klaatu.
“For me, the Christ story of Klaatu is so embedded in the narrative, it’s inescapable,” Derrickson told Christian press earlier this month. “And I tried to put things in there that I thought would be elegant enough for a modern audience to appreciate and enjoy.”
“I thought the Christ analogy was pretty strong,” he added.
Despite its Christian undertones (or perhaps because of them), the movie has reaped notable success, debuting this past weekend as the top movie and raking in over $31 million. Derrickson’s last movie, “The Exorcism of Emily Rose,” generated similar success, making $30 million in its opening weekend three years ago and eventually over $144 million worldwide ($75 million in the United States).
Though the budgets for both films were by far larger than the budget for “Fireproof,” Derrickson’s successes have been recognized and celebrated among Christian entertainment pundits. Last year, Derrickson was tapped as one of the most powerful Christians in Hollywood (No. 12) by the multi-faith site Beliefnet.com.
The Christian director has also been making a direct impact in the Christian film industry, having taught young Christian filmmakers for some time at Biola University, his alma mater, and Azusa Pacific University.
"I taught … because I wanted to help facilitate that passion (for movies), and nurture it,” explained Derrickson, who has degrees in humanities, communications and theological studies from Biola and earned his masters in film production from the USC School of Cinematic Arts.
Though Derrickson’s films may not have the label “Christian,” they frequently contain Christian elements, which most believers can pick out and some may not see at first glance. And it’s this subtlety that Derrickson prefers, as opposed to what “message movies” tend to do.
“I don’t like message movies,” he said. “I don’t like movies that tell me how to think, that tell me how I’m supposed to vote. Even if I agree with them, I don’t like that.”
Many Christian film experts tend to agree with Derrickson when it comes to “preachy” flicks, including Dr. Phil Cooke, who heads Cooke Pictures, a faith-based media consultant and production company.
“From my perspective, many Christians are bound by the need to be too explicit in their films,” says Cooke, a producer and media strategist with a Ph.D. in Theology. “We somehow think that it's not a Christian film if Christ isn't in the movie. So we push too hard on shoving the gospel into stories, and forget that people go to movies to be entertained.”
But Cooke says Christians need to be far more subtle in their story telling. Continue >>
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