Film Academy Live: Post #5
All Things RED
Jon Erwin
This is a mostly technical session. So I won’t be able to go as in depth on what they say as some of the other sessions. Isaac Botkin reminded us at the beginning that though it was a technical session, it’s related to technique and theology. “Technical is servant to Technique, and Technique is servant to Theology.” he said.
Jon was homeschooled from first grade on in Alabama. when he was 12 he interned at a cable station. He started falling in love with film. When he was fifteen, the cameraman who interned for, got sick before a football game and he took his place on the TV camera.
Is Film better, or is RED? RED can’t be said to be better than film. They’re both tools, but to compare them is like comparing two different size paintbrushes.
He then proceeded to overview the camera and it’s features, and then played a short clip shot on RED. Incredible image quality.
Then he asked the question, why go digital? It’s cheap for one, and you can take footage you just shot and edit it immediately. But there are disadvantages as well: things like frame rate and the size of the sensors can be problems.
“Ultimately, the RED is the way to get a Cinema picture at a Digital price.” He said.
The Story of Fireproof
Stephen Kendrick
Mr. Kendrick is maybe the most successful Christian filmmaker to attend this festival ever. He told the young filmmakers to take things one step at a time. “You must kill the Lion and the Bear before you take on Goliath.” He said.
You must seek God’s Blessing by:
Dying to yourself
Dedicating your projects to the Lord
Becoming poor in spirit
Walking in integrity
Staying unified
Tuning in to the voice of God
He shared incredible stories of influence. Wives were calling them and telling them that their husbands have decided to start attending church after watching Facing the Giants and Fireproof. A Muslim airlines featured Facing the Giants on their inflight entertainment.
Alex was jogging one day and felt impressed by God to make a movie about marriage and relationships. And after he shared his idea with Stephen, he said, “God’s calling us to make that movie, and God’s calling us to write that book (the Love Dare).”
Remember to listen to God’s voice:
1. Sense what brings the peace of Christ
2. Soak your situation in God’s Word
3. Receive Christ’like counsel
4. Honor the reputation of Christ
5. Submit to authority
6. Seek God in diligent prayer
7. Search for open doors
8. Use wisdom
Excellent is always changing, it’s always excelling. We must remember to continue to excell.
“Knock on doors. Don’t try to knock them down. If you knock on the door, and it doesn’t open, say “Thank you God” and move on.”
Make sure your films don’t become idols. It’s all for the glory of God.
“The message of your movie is more important than your movie.”
When God’s favor is on your project God will bless it, but make sure to give God credit.
In closing he told the young filmmakers, “You are a part of something big because you have the Lord. I pray that God uses you to change the world.”
Behind the Scenes of Expelled
Logan Craft
Mr. Craft shared about much of the opposition they have experienced with the release of ‘Expelled’ which challenges the cultural evolutionary norm. Several organizations and people have filed law suits against them for mere technicalities because they want to censor the film. Mr. Craft left us with four things to think about:
1. Culture should be changed in other ways than merely the church.
2. Make sure you know the challenges of making a distributing a film.
3. We need more filmmakers who expose lies in the culture.
4. Be open to all that God wants you to do.
That’s all for now, God Bless!
January 7th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
yay first comment!
Wow that sounds amazing, I especially like the one about fireproof. I’m a bit confused as to exactly what RED is though…?
January 7th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
@Hannah RED is a camera company.
Thanks for the updates Isaac, it almost seems like I’m actually there.
January 7th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Cool! I had to look up read too
I’m sad that today is the last day of these posts and the festival for you, Issac 
This has all been so interesting to me, as a filmmaker myself. I have learned quite a lot from these posts!
Also, I noticed, you are very good at taking notes
January 7th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
HannahMarie: RED is a Cinema quality camera. It can cost up to 60-80,000 dollars.
January 7th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
Emily: Actually, though the Film Academy will be over, I still have two more days of live-blogging since the Film Festival follows immediately afterwards. Glad you like my notes though
January 7th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
That is really cool, Issac! I love the Kendric Brothers’s movies and can’t wait to see “Fireproof.”
January 7th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
Yeah, I really do..I’m awful at taking notes.
Yay! Two more days of it! You should start some type of permanent blog after this is over. Really, I’m serious!
I have a question for you, but I understand if you can’t answer it. I would seriously like to look into going to this next year. I was curious how much does it cost to attend? Do they let anyone go, or do you have to be ‘approved’ for it? Lastly, did you say this was in San Antonio, Texas?
January 7th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
Like what Stephen Kendrick says in his lessons learned from making “Facing the Giants” and “Fireproof”
Though, when he says, “The message of your movie should be more important then the movie”…I agree that the messages in our films should very important, but I think the making of the movie, in terms of desiring to achieve best quality possible (in equipment, story development, and know-how) as well as portraying the message in a way audiences will come to understand and appreciate, is just as important…
…And maybe he made that disclaimer, but I wasn’t there so…yeah, that’s just my two-cents on that.
January 7th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
I agree, Daniel M….the movie is still very important. I think the best way to put it is to ask: “How can I get this message across in the most high-quality and attention-grabbing way?” and not “How cool, snappy, and popular can I make this movie?” You still have to consider the movie and regard it as very important, but not wrap yourself up in trying to produce a hit film.
I think that was what he meant…but then again, I wasn’t there either
Emily: if you go to http://www.independentchristianfilms.com you can find a lot of information about pricing and locations and things. That’s where I looked, because I’m very interested in going next year as well!!
January 7th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
Daniel M: Sorry, I should have made that more clear:
Quality is important, yes. But if you make the most technically brilliant film, but it has no point, no message, than it’s absolutely worthless in the long run. You haven’t accomplished anything worth of any real value. The ideal situation is a technically sound film, and a strong message. The way that Fireproof and Facing the Giants are, I believe. Message should not be compromised or ignored for the sake of quality, though quality is very important.
January 7th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Hey Isaac -
Thanks so much for keeping us updated!
My mind is often in San Antonio this week - I want to go to the Film Academy and the film festival so badly!
I was just curious - did he say which Muslim airline played Facing the Giants?
January 7th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
The points that Stephen Kendrick made are so encouraging!
Thanks for the post again Isaac!
January 8th, 2009 at 9:00 am
Kyleigh: No, unfortunately he did not.
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