Today’s Rant—Have We Lost our Sense of Humor?

Have you seen Dr. Pepper’s latest 30-second commercial for their new soda, Dr. Pepper10? It’s absolutely hilarious. I’ve seen a lot of bad commercials (for example, Geico) on television these days, but finally we have one that is totally entertaining and funny. The ad plays out as an action movie with an action hero talking to a female audience about the joys of Dr. Pepper 10. It ends with the tag line—“Dr. Pepper 10 it's not for women.” It’s all in fun and not to be taken seriously.

But as unbelievable as this sounds, there are actually women’s groups who are complaining. Some are calling the ad stupid and sexist. Have we lost our sense of humor? Of course, this ad is not to be taken seriously. That’s the whole point. Dr. Pepper 10 has only 10 calories so the inside joke is men would like this drink because it’s more of a manly soda than a soda with 0 calories. Obviously, Dr. Pepper wants everybody to buy this soda.

It’s good advertising, and it’s designed to get everyone’s attention. There’s nothing sexist about this ad; however, in today’s society, the politically correct police will undoubtedly be out in full force. I realize there are plenty of important issues to write about, but I think this Dr. Pepper controversy reveals a serious flaw in the fabric of our society. Everything seems to be a point of divisiveness even if it’s not important. For once, can’t we just laugh at ourselves in how men and women view things differently and enjoy a good advertising campaign?

The Pros and Cons of Studying From a Working Actor

By Jessica Gardner

Deciding which teacher to study with can be daunting. Some actors try to narrow their search by saying things like "I want to study with a female acting teacher" or "I want to study with someone who teaches this specific method." But should whether or not a teacher is a working actor affect your decision to study with him or her?

The Advantages of Studying With Teachers Who Act

The obvious advantage to studying with teachers who are working actors is that they understand today's challenges. They know what you are going through with your agent, manager, auditions, callbacks, and bookings. They can share with you things that have happened to them in the audition room, on set, or onstage.

Teachers who are working actors can give you real-world examples of how what they teach can apply and why what they're teaching is applicable to you as an actor. Actor Stephen Tobolowsky ("Groundhog Day," "Heroes," "Glee"), who teaches at Kalmenson & Kalmenson Voice Casting in Burbank, Calif., says he shares with his improv students how he had to use improvisation in auditions and on set that week. Rather than teaching a traditional improv class, "I teach a class on the way improvisation is encountered when you actually work," he says.

Actor-teacher Ken Lerner, who says his slogan at The Ken Lerner Studio in Los Angeles is "Work with a working actor," feels it is important to study with someone who is experiencing all the things that you, as an actor, are going through. That way, the teacher can "break it down" for you, prepare you for what may happen, and guide you through how to handle it. Lerner—who recently finished working on "The Mentalist," did three episodes of "In Plain Sight" earlier in the year, and was going to an audition after our interview—certainly understands the life and struggles of being an actor and says he shares his experiences with his students. "The first 15 minutes of [my] class is talking about agent meetings and readings we've had for producers and auditions," he says. "Then we open it up and talk about the experience they had and how they could have handled it better. I don't see someone who's not [a working actor] being able to do that. You can give an approximation or your opinion, but unless you've been there and been in the room and experienced that, I don't think it comes from a real honest place. I can't imagine studying with someone who hasn't been through it."

And the Disadvantages


Solely because someone is a good actor doesn't mean he or she is a good teacher. Many actors are instinctive about what they do and don't know how to teach it. According to teacher William Esper of The William Esper Studio in New York, legendary actor Alfred Lunt couldn't communicate to someone else how to act. He would only say, "Do it this way," and then he'd act it out for them. "You have to be able to communicate what you know," says Esper.

If you decide to take classes with working actors, make sure you haven't just chosen them solely because they work. They need to be able to communicate their process to you. "I can explain in different ways to different members of my class, so they'll understand it, what it is that I do and how they can utilize it," says Tobolowsky. "That's what makes a good teacher from someone who works a lot."

Read more at http://www.backstage.com/bso/news-and-features-features/the-pros-and-cons-of-studying-from-a-working-1005382052.story

Cincinnati Shines in The Ides of March

It’s not every day that Hollywood comes a calling. Back in February and March George Clooney brought his production company to Cincinnati to shoot his new movie, The Ides of March, which will open nationally on October 7, 2011. There is already a considerable Oscar buzz about this film. The Ides of March has already won the prestigious Brian prize at the 68th Annual Venice International Film Festival.

The last time a major Hollywood movie was shot in Cincinnati was in 1987. You might remember the movie, Rain Man, starring Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise. The film went on to receive several Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Dustin Hoffman. Wouldn’t it be funny that more than 20 years later George Clooney’s newest movie, also shot in Cincinnati, would win an Oscar for Best Picture?

Perhaps, shooting in Cincinnati could be your road to the Oscars. One thing for sure Cincinnati shines in the Ides of March. Practically every iconic location in the city was featured in the film, including Riverside Drive, Memorial Hall, the Suspension Bridge, and Fountain Square to name a few. Most of the outdoor locations were shot here while interiors were shot in Detroit. Both Ohio and Michigan are offering generous tax credits which helped convince the producers to shoot here in the Midwest.

George Clooney is a hometown boy, who grew up here in the 1970s. For several years, he has been looking for an opportunity to shoot a movie in Cincinnati. This one might just pay off big time.

Clooney has always been interested in classic films. Stories with substance and weight have always intrigued him. I have to confess I am a big fan of his work. He is one of very few filmmakers today who will make intelligent movies. But he also knows how to make them both fun and entertaining. For example, his work shines in films such as Michael Clayton, Good Night and Good Luck and Syriana, for which he won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

He was attracted to the Ides of March, which is essentially a political drama, because, in some ways, it was a personal story. The issue of politics always comes up when talking about George Clooney. He is heavily involved in social activism. You may remember Clooney’s work to stop the atrocities in Darfur, Sudan. And, of course, he’s gone on the record to label himself as a liberal. So there’s no question that Clooney is extremely political. But talking about political issues wasn’t his main motivation in making this film. Clooney has been quoted, “Some people will think this is some long civics lesson, but it has very little to do with actual politics and much more to do with what happens to any person who gets involved in the back rooms.”

The Ides of March is basically a morality play. At what point are we willing to sell our soul? Does the end justify the means? How far are we willing to go to get what we want? These are some of the issues this film explores. The Ides of March could have taken place on Wall Street, a law office, or any other workplace.

George Clooney plays Mike Morris, the fictional Governor of Pennsylvania. Morris believes he can make a difference and is running in the hotly contested Democratic Ohio primary for president. Steven Meyers (Ryan Gosling) is Morris’aid and press secretary who is both idealistic and ambitious. Days before the primary, Meyers considers switching to the rival campaign which could end Morris’s run for the White House. The film plays out in the backdrop of double-dealing, dirty campaign tricks, misinformation and backroom deals. Candidate Morris has to decide how far he is willing to go in order to win the primary. What kind of deals does he have to make?

It would seem that the driving motivation for most of the characters in this film is the unquenching thirst for influence and power. Complicating matters are the tactics of the campaign managers played by Philip Seymour Hoffman and Paul Giamatti. Clooney based the script on his own father’s experiences. Well-known Cincinnati anchorman and AMC movie host, Nick Clooney, ran against Republican Jeff Davis for Kentucky’s 4th District for congress, and was solidly defeated due in part to some of the same tactics suggested in The Ides of March.

His father was pretty devastated when TV ads were aired that demonized him as a Hollywood elitist. The elderly Clooney was shown wearing an army jacket, round John Lennon style glasses, and holding a joint. He was also embarrassed and demoralized by the entire process of seeking campaign funds and the type of people you had to hang around with. Personally having grown up here in Cincinnati, I can tell you for a fact that the ad definitely misrepresented Nick Clooney. He is anything but a Hollywood elitist.

George Clooney is quoted as saying, “I saw my father really fight it and lose pretty terribly. No matter how pure you try to keep it, you’re always going to have to take meetings with people you don’t like. I got a real sense of how ugly it is—and that was just for a congressional seat.” It seems that Clooney is suggesting that the entire process of electing candidates is corrupt and flawed, whether that’s conservative, liberal, Democrat or Republican.

I have a feeling that the Ides of March is going to be a powerful film. I think all of us here in Cincinnati are proud that George Clooney decided to shoot his movie here. It makes perfect sense considering the upcoming election and the role Ohio plays as a swing state in determining the outcomes in national presidential elections.

Finding the Old Road

I’m sure that we are all on some type of journey in our lives. My journey is to rediscover God and to determine where he is at work and how I can join him in that effort. In order to do that, you have to travel down the old road because that’s where you can find God. God is showing me that the old road is a metaphor and a guide for us on how we should live our lives for Christ. But first you have to find where the old road is.

For years I have traveled the back roads across America, especially Route 66. The old road is anything but easy to find. Over 90% of Route 66 still exists, but you won’t find it on any road map. If you do find it, it’s often difficult to follow because you really never know if you’re on Route 66 or some other old pavement. You can purchase special maps, but it’s no guarantee that you will be able to follow it accurately. Route 66 now has many names. Depending on which state you are in, it could be a county, state or local route designation.

It was commissioned in 1926 and continued to be a work in progress for the next 50 years. It went through multiple pavements, bypasses and upgrades throughout its history. What makes it especially difficult to follow Route 66 is there are many abandoned sections and multiple routes. With so many different alignments, it requires the driver to be dedicated and passionate in his or her efforts to adequately follow the road. Our life as a Christian also requires the same effort if we are to stay on course.

So how do we find the old road? First, we have to accept Christ as our personal Savior. We have to believe in our heart that God is real and he sent his son to die for our sins. By accepting that we are saved. That is the basic requirement for entry to the old road. By doing this we can start our journey. As incredible as this sounds, for many Christians this is as far as they will go. In fact, instead of journeying down the old road, they would rather detour back to the interstate.

For those who wish to journey farther requires us to develop a personal relationship with our Savior. We need to know who God is. What does he want? What is his character, his nature and his value system? We can travel the old road by knowing his Word and then putting it into practice. We can also observe our fellow Christians and learn from their experiences. And through prayer we can begin the process of understanding of how God works in our lives.

As we journey down the old highway, we will encounter the next road sign. As we begin to know God personally, we will be faced with a decision that each Christian must face. Will we make him Lord of our life? And how much are we willing to turn over to him? Whether we realize this, each of us will start to negotiate with God. We are ready to make a deal. We tell God, if you give me what I want, I will turn this percentage of my life over to you. We think we can negotiate with God. All I can say, after many years of experience, good luck with that one. God is not in the business of making deals or negotiating. With him it’s all or nothing. But as we travel down the old highway, we will continue to try to offer God a deal.

What we really want is to follow both the old highway and the interstate. That way we can have the best of both worlds. I’m convinced that many Christians are miserable because they try to travel both roads. At some point along the journey, you are going to learn that it’s one road or the other. As we continue on, some of us will start turning over more of our life to God, and we will reach a tipping point where we start to ask the question, What is his will for me and how can I experience his presence in my life? Can we hear his voice? Absolutely! If we are prepared to stay on the old road.

We stay on the old road by diving into the Word of God, and through people, circumstances and prayer we will start to see Him with more focus. God will speak to us in any way he desires and that includes through nature, objects, and everything in his creation. I have never failed to experience God fully in nature. I have some of my most significant encounters climbing mountains and exploring canyons. It will be different for every person. There is no formula you can follow. Remember, the old road has many curves, dips and corners, and they are different on every old highway.

As you look for God out on the old road and hear his voice, you will reach the final mile post. This one will be the key to knowing how God is at work in the world and knowing how to join him. Some people call it a crisis of faith. The very thing you want the most or that part of your life that you’re holding on to, God will place himself in front of you as a barrier. You will have to make a decision. Are you prepared to finally make him Lord of your life? I’m convinced the reason many of us don’t see God at work in the world is because we have failed the crisis of faith. This is the part of our journey on the old highway where we stop negotiating with God. Remember, we’re not buying a car here. God does not negotiate. He offers his deal and his plan and it’s a “take it or leave it” proposition.

After you pass this final mile post, you will start seeing God at work in places you never imagined. The interstate will be a past memory, and you will wonder why you ever spent so much time there. Traveling the old road is about building the Kingdom of God. And the Kingdom that God is building will look vastly different than anything we can imagine. Are you ready to take the off ramp? God is out there on the old road looking for you.

Fenced Off Debuts at Cincinnati Film Festival

There is nothing sweeter than the sound of the words “the world premier of”. Rebel Pilgrim and Vineyard Productions’ latest film, Fenced Off, debuted this past weekend at the second annual Cincinnati film festival. Judging from the audience reaction, Fenced Off may have a bright future.

Before I go on, I must make a full disclosure. I shot the behind-the scenes footage and interviews for the film. Also, most of the people who worked on the movie are my personal friends. With that said, Fenced Off is an amazing film, considering it was shot in just 12 days with a budget of under $13,000. That’s quite an accomplishment.

But the miracle is - Fenced Off is a totally watchable film. It’s a testament to the hard work of writer/director, Brad Wise, and assistant director/writer, Isaac Stambaugh. I’ve seen films with significantly higher budgets that cannot compete with Fenced Off. Hats off to Jim Heartman, who composed the sound track for the film. His soundtrack absolutely made the movie. Most low-budget features suffer in sound quality and usable audio. Thanks to sound mixer Ryan Putz, this is not an issue with Fenced Off. Dialogue is clean and totally understandable and in a word, impressive. Shot composition and cinematography are well within acceptable standards of motion picture production.

I’m not saying that Fenced In is a perfect movie. It does have some issues. The film has no real antagonist and offers little or no perceived danger, therefore nothing seems to be at stake for any of the main characters. The writing could have been a little bit tighter and, perhaps, the boundaries and issues the film was exploring could have been pushed a bit further. And the film dragged a bit in the middle. A couple more twists and turns and surprises would have been a nice addition.

The story itself is based on true events and is an excellent premise for a feature film. Fenced Off dives into perceived and imaginary racial prejudice. Without giving too much of the story away, Josh, played by New York actor, Joshua Zirger, is a twenty something idealist social worker who moves into a predominately African American community. George (Reggie Willis) is the 50 something recently retired next door neighbor who is giving Josh the cold shoulder.

Josh discovers a strange package in his back yard, which complicates the relationship with George. Suddenly Josh’s imagination gets the best of him. Did he make a mistake moving here? Is he as enlightened as he believes? Is he prejudiced? Why does George just want to be left alone? Is racism a two-way street? As you can see, Fenced Off has plenty of material to work with. It is an intriguing character study of George and Josh. Adding a voice of reason is George’s wife, Tia, played by Whitney Cornelius, who is trying to keep the situation from escalating out of control.

Although Fenced Off features mostly unknown actors, they do an outstanding job of portraying their characters, especially Reggie Willis. Great casting and directing also adds to the overall entertainment value.

So, I’m sure you’re asking yourself where you can see Fenced Off? At this time, distribution plans have not been finalize. However, executive producer, Joe Boyd, said at the premier that he is looking into a TV deal, along with a Netflix digital download. A DVD release is planned at a later time. I will keep you updated as to when Fenced Off becomes available.

Media Center Faces New Challenges

I’m sure you’re wondering about the progress of the new media center. As you might remember, thanks to a generous offer we acquired space to house our new media training center—Storytellers Media Center. We planned on starting renovations in October 2011 with a possible opening date of January 2012. However, renovations have been postponed due to a lack of funding. There is no firm date at this time for the opening of the center.

But there is some good news to report. We have an offer from another Christian organization that will give us access to video and editing equipment. Obviously, this can save the ministry thousands of dollars. We also have a number of volunteers ready to offer their talents in the areas of teaching and training. And, of course, we have the space already. It has to be one of the greatest sweetheart deals of all time. The site at 1530 Tremont is provided rent free and utilities free for the next 18 months. If I search the city over, I would not find a better facility to call home for our new media center.

Our biggest challenge and obstacle is fundraising. This is usually the “boogieman” for most ministries. Back in July, I thought our fundraising looked like a sure thing. However, a number of major donors who expressed interest have simple not committed. To be honest with you, this is very frustrating. We have equipment, volunteers, and space. But, at some point, you need money to continue on.

I am certainly not giving up, and I am committed to the cause. The truth is we really don’t need that much money to get the project off the ground. We can do it with a rock bottom budget of $75,000 for the year 2012. That won’t get everything up and running, but it would get the doors open. Our six-month live-in program would not be launched until 2013 or 2014.

But, if we get the doors open and start with some small projects, I think we have a better chance to attract major donors. We don’t need the entire $75,000 up front. But we do need to raise $30,000 by January 1, 2012. That will include money for basic renovations and improvements that need to occur before the center can open, along with a small operating budget to turn on the phones, web access and other basic monthly expenses. And my personal mission support and salary for four months is included in the $30,000.

Over the years, I have demonstrated the ability to stretch a dollar. Storytellers Media Center will be no exception. This center is the first of its kind, a training facility for the development of media missionaries who are pursuing careers in mainstream media and entertainment. There is no comprehensive training of this type anywhere in the country. We have a real opportunity here to redeem culture and change the direction of our society. I’m not going to go into detail because I’ve written a number of articles that you can access at mediamissionaryschool.com, along with a video describing in detail the entire project.

To be honest with you, fundraising has never been one of my strong points. I really hate to ask for money. But I believe in this ministry with all my heart and I believe that God has called me to do this. So I am going to ask for your support and your money. Frankly, we need to get back on track. Until the center is up and running, Media Missionary School will be too cutting edge and innovative for most big donors to get behind the project. If every person who came to this blog and website contributed $10, $15, or $25 each month though PayPal, Storytellers Media Center could be open by April 2012. So I need your help. We need to raise $30,000 by January 2012. If we do not, it is very unlikely the center will open. If you want to give an end-of-year gift, I can’t think of a better time than right now.

We have a 90-day window, that’s it. As always, your contributions are tax deductible because we are a 501c3 nonprofit organization. I know $75,000 is a lot of money, but in light of starting a media training center that sum would be a small amount and nothing short of a miracle to make this happen. Through your generosity, we can get this done. That’s what it’s all about, the Body of Christ working together to further the Gospel.


Storytellers Media Training Center from Media Missionary School on Vimeo.

Courageous Hits Theaters

Courageous, the long awaited and much anticipated follow-up to Alex and Stephen Kendrick’s film, Fireproof, will hit theaters on September 30, 2011. Of course, a ton of questions have already risen on a number of blogs and websites. Will the film be successful? Can it break out and impact a larger and broader audience? There is no shortage of opinions about the work of Alex and Stephen Kendrick. Some people love their movies while some people hate them.

Since I teach on film and media, I am often asked by my students what do I think of Facing the Giants and Fireproof. To be honest, I have mixed feelings. I think there are three questions you have to consider when you evaluate their movies. The first one is what is a Christian movie? Or maybe a better way to state it would be - Is there such a thing as a Christian movie?

Over on Matthew Kilburn’s blog, he’s posted the ten commandments of a Christian movie: Thou shall not exceed a PG rating from the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America). Thou shall not have any bad language. Thou shall not show any skin, including a bathing suit. Thou shall not display any bedroom scenes. Thou shall not leave the story open-ended or to be thought-provoking. Thou shall display a prominent salvation moment. Thou shall use Christian actors. Thou shall display a traditional church setting. Thou shall use a Christian music sound track. Thou shall be a usable church resource.

Although Matthew was trying to be comical and have a little fun, there is a tremendous amount of truth in his ten commandments. He has hit on the very issue that plagues films like Fireproof and Facing The Giants. And I’m sure Courageous will follow the same pattern. Movies should be about entertaining audiences first and foremost, not about presenting a lesson. Movies like Fireproof are Christian because they follow a certain formula such as the ten commandments of Christian filmmaking. You can argue that objects and things such as movies, bumper stickers and books cannot be Christian because only people can be Christ-like or reflect the image of Christ. But for the sake of argument, we are going to call films that contain Christian content “Christian movies”.

The second question to consider about Fireproof or Facing the Giants is whether or not they are good examples of filmmaking? Can they match up with the best Hollywood has to offer? Would they be competitive at the Sundance or Toronto film festivals? To be honest, they would not. They are certainly serviceable and watchable, but they are lacking in quality in terms of acting, writing, and production values.

In terms of evaluating the work of Alex and Stephen Kendrick, it certainly excels within the realm of Christian filmmaking. In fact, their work is probably at the top of what the Christian movie industry can offer. I wouldn’t be surprised if Courageous will end up being the best Christian movie ever produced.

The final question: Is the Kendrick’s work making a difference or an impact on culture? This is a difficult question to answer. I think the Kendricks will tell you that their movies are aimed at Christians and not at a broader secular audience. In other words, they are preaching to the choir. There’s nothing wrong with that because the choir needs to hear the message as well. Their last movie, Fireproof, made $33 million at the box office. So there’s no question that they have found an audience. I’m sure they’re making an impact but not in the sense as some Christian filmmakers who promote the concept that Christian movies can impact and change culture.

I admire what the Kendrick’s have accomplished. It’s an amazing story how a church in Albany, Georgia, Sherwood Baptist, developed their own production studio, Sherwood Pictures, and went into the movie business. That doesn’t happen every day. What the Kendrick’s have created is nothing short of a miracle. They have inspired a new generation of filmmakers.

The Kendrick’s have become the darlings of Christian filmmaking. It seems like everybody is beating a path to Albany, Georgia, to discover their secrets. I have heard the Alex and Stephen speak on several occasions. They are extremely smart and know exactly what they are doing. They understand their audience and what their audience wants. Don’t believe the narrative that these are two good ‘ol boys from the South who stumbled into the movie business.

Stephen Kendrick is quite comfortable in the deal making process. He understands the business end and what sells. The Kendricks’ choose their material wisely, picking subjects that matter to the Church such as marriage and fatherhood. The Kendricks believe in the power of media. I remember hearing Alex Kendrick talks about a study he read that said movies are more effective than Sunday morning sermons. This is the primary reason he went into filmmaking.

Look for Courageous at your local theater. For more information check out their website.
http://www.courageousthemovie.com/