In the last session, How to Win a Jubilee Award, Doug Phillips communicated what, in the eyes of the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival judges, are the most common problems in festival submissions.

To begin this portion of the session, Mr. Phillips identified what he called the two primary categories into which most independent Christian films fall: 1.) A story of a horrible, terrible bad life of a protagonist who overcomes all his trials towards the end where there is redemption and a Bible verse, and 2.) A story with a message that is so incredibly subtle that it’s almost indiscernible.

Although neither of the above two categories are illegitimate genres, our goal as Christian filmmakers should be somewhere in the middle — communicating a powerful presentation of a biblical worldview in a realistic and artistic way.

Now, the top six problems of film submissions to the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival. Future filmmakers, take notice.

Six Top Problems of Festival Submission

1.) The film has nothing to say. No purpose or message. It is far better to pick a simple topic you understand than a complicated topic you don’t understand.

2.) The story structure is ill-conceived. This includes poor development, no clear beginning, middle or end, etc… This is basic storytelling.

3.) The music is either poorly chosen, poorly executed or potentially offensive to your target audience. Music and sound can powerfully complement or unneccesarily distract from the purpose of your film.

4.) The filmmaker is duplicating the wrong aesthetics. This is often due to Christian filmmakers admiring non-Christian filmmakers and copying their methods and technique, without thinking through the possible theological and philosophical message behind them.

5.) The dialogue is absurd. This often happens in evangelistic films. If we force (that’s the key word) “Christianese” into the script-writing, it will sound and look stilted and unrealistic. This is a problem can often be solved simply by thinking through your dialogue and using an economy of words. Less is more.

6.) The filmmaker defiles the audience in the process of trying to bless them, unneccesarily exposing viewers to the very sin you’re trying to condemn. Don’t drag your viewers’ eyes or minds through the gutter.