• John Doryk (film composer)
• Dan Marlow
• Blair Zykan (Allied Vaughn, media on-demand specialist)
• Linda Seger (renowned “Script Doctor”)
• Tom Silkwood (Freedom Films in Northern Thailand)
• Dave Balsiger (Grizzly Adams Productions)
• Dave Anderson
• John Shepherd (producer, The Ultimate Gift, The Stoning of Soraya M.)

Additional speakers are comedian Ken Davis, writer/director/producer/actor Alex Kendrick, and CEO of Prison Fellowship Mark Earley.

The Catalyst Conference will also mark the debut of the new film from Downes’ Brothers Entertainment Like Dandelion Dust, based on an Karen Kingsbury novel, as well as the director’s cut of The Bill Collector.

If you make it to Denver, look me up. I’ll be there talking with everyone about film, about faith, and getting some interviews with some of your favorite filmmakers. See you in the Mile High City!

He just wrote a review for the film A Greater Yes, and in the introduction captured what I think is the essence of some of the questions we struggle with. He says:

I’d really hate to be a Christian filmmaker who’s actually known as a Christian, making films for the Christian audience.  It would be almost impossible to please anyone. From the outside, you’d be criticized for preaching to the choir; from within you’d hear talk about making films for the Christian ghetto; and, of course, you’d be certain to get criticized from the ghetto choirloft itself about the “theology” of your film no matter what doctrinal persuasion you espouse.  Nothing you made would ever be quite Christian enough.

Of course, all filmmakers are subject to such scrutiny.  But from what I’ve seen, it’s a little tougher to aim for the Christian niche than to go more broadly secular.

He also makes the point that no one film can capture (more…)

I’ve  had the opportunity to attend press junkets for several films in the last year. [A junket is a combination of screening and interview sessions with talent from the film, which could include the director, producer, writer, and a number of cast members] Journalists from a lot of different media outlets attend (online, print, radio and television), both from “secular” and “religious” media.

Since the success of The Passion of the Christ, studios have observed power in the church movement and are trying to engage it for as many films as possible. Some critics think Hollywood looks at religious media as “a way to sell tickets” to their films, and credit the box office results of family-oriented films to positive reviews.

Do reviewers really have that much power to build an audience for a film? Or are we attributing too much power to media (even if it is “religious”)? Is Hollywood (and critics of religious media’s involvement with Hollywood films) overlooking a simpler answer? Could it be that Christians actually like well-made films with good storylines and positive messages, even if there’s no direct gospel message given during the film? What do you think?

I thought the story must be told, but also that nobody in their right mind would venture into something like this.

Steve’s latest film, The Stoning of Soraya M., is the story of a woman in the Middle East who suffers psychological abuse at the hands of her husband and who eventually falls victim to a deadly conspiracy. The powerful tale of her persecution is both a daring act of filmmaking and a compelling parable about mob rule. The Stoning of Soraya M. opens in theaters June 26, 2009.

The Stoning of Soraya M. has been compared to The Passion of the Christ in terms of its impact on audiences. How did you come across the property?

Steve:        It’s a funny thing. I had hired Cyrus Nowrasteh, the director, to (more…)

ICVM is International Christian Visual Media - a meeting of the creative minds of Christian filmmakers. This conference is home to the Crown Awards, which is peer-to-peer recognition of excellence in filmmaking, scriptwriting, and other categories. It’s a great opportunity to discuss the challenges you’re facing with others who have the same challenge, to network with other filmmakers, and in general have a lot of fun, stay up late, and make new friends. Don’t miss this networking opportunity! I’ll be Twittering, Facebooking, and blogging from there so if you can’t attend, I’ll feed you as much info as possible.

ICRS is International Christian Retail Show - a conference for Christian retailers to connect with Christian distributors, filmmakers, and vendors of all sorts of products. Want to meet the people who are selling your films to their local customers? Then come to the show.  There are lots of opportunities to meet authors, hear artists, and see new films that will be coming out soon. At least three films are being screened that I know of: VeggieTales: Saint Nicholas, A Story of Joyful Giving, The Samaritan (a true story of freedom, human rights and sacrifice), and Like Dandelion Dust, the first film based on a novel by best-selling author Karen Kingsbury.

These are two of the top 5 annually-occurring conferences involving Christian film, so if you can get to Denver, I’ll see you there!

Maybe you think it doesn’t make a difference, but it guides everything you do as a filmmaker, and how you do it.

Some filmmakers know they have a specific calling to make movies for the church (Sherwood Pictures, makers of Fireproof). Sherwood Pictures and the Kendrick brothers are determined to only make movies with volunteers from their church as cast and crew. They brought in Kirk Cameron for Fireproof, and hired some professionals for key crew positions, but other than that, anyone involved in the film is from the church.

Rich Christiano (Unidentified) believes Hollywood is corrupting America (more…)

They hired about 20 people to pass out amateurish material and hold signs bearing slogans such as “Trade in Your PlayStation for a PrayStation,” “Hell is not a Game” and “EA = Electronic Anti-Christ” outside the recent Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles. The agency also created a website (more…)

They are looking for pre-1993 cars, especially ones that look old and rusty looking. They consider cars from the 1980s to be ideal. The Prop Master from the film will be renting some cars on a weekly basis, and Boston Casting will be looking for cars on a daily basis.

If you’re interested, email photos of your car with your name, phone number, union status (probably need to check into this to see what’s required) and year, make, model, and color of your car. Send to: fightercars@gmail.com and put the year, make, and model of your car into the subject line.

If your car gets into the film, let us know.

Businesses are just now coming into their own through the use of social media. They’re figuring out how to use it, who should use it, and when it should be used. Is it a promotional tool? Is it a communication tool? Is it a sales tool? You can find social media “gurus” all over the Internet - just Google the term and you’ll find lots of self-described experts just waiting to teach you via a webinar for only $79.

One recurring theme here at the Gideon Film Festival is the power of networking. We listened to T.C. Johnstone talk about his network of about 30 filmmakers (some as far away as Bolivia) who are in constant contact, and can be relied upon to help each other find jobs or crew members with very little notice.

Filmmaking is an industry that relies upon networking, and with the global nature of today’s culture, social media is the quickest and best way to bridge the geographic gaps that separate us. I’ve made friends this week that I’ll stay in touch with via social media, and when I need help with a project or an answer to a question, I’ll drop it into the bucket of knowledge and experience that is that network, and I know I’ll get some help.

What do you see for the future of social media networks? Are you a fan, a fanatic, or wondering what all the fuss is about?

Then at lunch today, we discussed the Second Coming of Christ, the state of life in California, and Barbara Sundstrom’s new screenplay. It’s a very eclectic, well-read and involved group of people gathered here. Rodney and Lori Marett did a great job bringing together some of the best in their fields, and when you get that many creative minds together in one room, watch out!

Today’s film festival includes A Cry from Iran, Israel, a Journey Through Time, and The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry, followed by a Q & A with writer/director Dave Christiano. The only film I haven’t seen yet is The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry, so I’m really looking forward to that, and hope to get an interview with Dave while he’s here. Look for it soon!