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August 01, 2006
Mel Gibson.....and my own little Hollywood rant.
Will Samson has some thoughts on the Mel Gibson's fiasco
Will has raised some great questions, and left me with even more questions to think about. Especially in regards to Christian Evangelicalism (of which I am a part of) and its desire to find Hollywood stars to latch onto...for what. I am not sure.
I work and minister in the heart of Los Angeles. Something like %65 of our 3,000 people who come to church on Sunday are in the entertainment industry. I went to Mel's film company, Icon, and watched an early rough-cut of the Passion with a dozen other people. So I am a part of what Will is talking about, and yet he is so right on this issue in many ways.
A month doesn't go by that I don't have movie companies calling me to see if some of my students can be filmed or used as extras. Or I get the call from a studio asking me to screen their film in my college group because it is "family friendly" or "promotes Christian values." And in the process I feel like a pawn being used as a marketing tool for Hollywood. (And I know I've promoted a few of these types of movies on my own blog, hoping that because the name Christian is somehow attached to it, it will extol the things I want and am looking for). Something doesn't seem right about that. A while ago I had a producer call me and ask if I could round up some students so that they could film them...in a mock Bible study, praying. But that wasn't all. They asked, can you make sure you send us some "cool students"..."you know, good looking ones." Ughhhhhhh.
Okay, I'm done ranting. But ever since the Church has been seen by Hollywood as a great marketing tool, the calls don't stop, and somehow we have bought into the whole thing. I know this. Because I am sometimes enamored as the next person when it comes to Hollywood and stars.
Posted by rhett at August 1, 2006 10:34 PM
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Comments
I was just in Hollywood. I should have stopped by!
It is a strange marriage in entertainment and the Church. There is a desire to use the "industry" for our cause and the "industry" wishes to use us, too.
Posted by: Rich Kirkpatrick ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.rhettsmith.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at August 2, 2006 01:04 PM
interesting thoughts, perspective, experience and reflection.
hollywood has certainly realized that the ppl of the church have money and are willing to use their money as a vote to support that which they see as refrencing the sacred.
--RC of strangeculture.blogpsot.com
Posted by: RC of strangeculture at August 3, 2006 11:22 PM
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