FIREPROOF - The new film from Sherwood Pictures
- Thread starter Brandon Rice
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jls4
Veteran
stirring up trouble - it really doesn't make since. :beer:
However I agree that there is a huge push whether people want to admit it or not.
Again this is an interesting comment - when many items in both areas are more alike than different. (I won't go too deep because of the rules of the board)
When Eurpoeans settled in America, propaganda was used against the Native Americans and Africans to convince the average American White person to either hate or at least disrespect those people. By doing this they would win over their loyalty and not have to worry about loosing their "investments" by popular opinion.
The same practice continued in WWII against the Japanese. Many Americans hate the Japanese to this day.
The same practice continued to keep Blacks segrogated in the southeast.
The same practive has occured in many political battles including the one that we are currently in.
By your own statement above, you are not seeing your own prejudice. Because Religulous is okay but Fireproof is not, especially since the purpose for Fireproof is two fold - Converting to Christianity and Saving Marriages. Where Religulous is to make fun of religion thereby converting to Athiesm. Same as Family Guy pushes an Athiest theme.
Yet the main argument is that the Non-Christian Community is beating up on the Christian Community, but they are doing the same exact thing that they don't want to Christans to do. They are pushing the Athiest Religion.
To Believe in God, but also to not believe in Him are both religions. They are belief systems.
What's the point? We are more the same than different. Most people want to be happy and they want other people to be as happy as they can be. Under the skin and slightly different facial features we have the same organs, capability to learn, drives, and desire. The only difference is that one group says I want to give credit to God and the others say I'll give credit to myself. But either way, what does it matter. So when a movie like Fireproof comes out, it doesn't mean everyone is about to go on a Jehovah's Witness door-to-door preaching spree. It just means there is another genre for people to enjoy. Personally I'm not a fan of "most" dramas, horror films and documentaries. But you don't see people creating arguments over these types of films. Even the average "Fan Film" which has less than 10% (if that) chance for distribution gets more credit than this Christian Film.
I don't know what else to say right now... I'm out of words.
Ian-T
Veteran
LOL...that's because they are all in this post. Good post by the way.:thumbup:.
I don't know what else to say right now... I'm out of words.
Nathyn
Low Budget Ninja
I don't know what else to say right now... I'm out of words.
LOL, a lot of this happening around here lately. I think you're right. I didn't want to push the issue and it is true Buddhism is lesser known in the American region. But there's also a lot of religious ignorance in this country. I find it totally annoying when people want to not fall under the "Christian" ideaology (because they're doing something it disapproves of or they feel it's to strict) then they go for Buddhism just so they can have some religious belief to cling to as if Buddha would approve of whatever questionable thing there doing. (No offense to true Buddhist out there). At the same time I'll admit Jaa's movies don't push Buddhism but they do have an even more propaganda effect because people are more relaxed because they don't feel the film is pushing anything on them.
People don't get it, beliefs aren't structured around your life, your life is structured around the belief. You believe something because you feel it's true, not just to make you feel good and I think this is also the problem with movies like this. The new mentality is when you don't feel good anymore get rid of the problem even if that problem is a husband or wife you've vowed devotion too. Movies like this say work on it - everything (you know, like human beings) is not disposable. I don't know if any of this made sense. I hope people can see where I'm coming from.
Edit: You know the big issue I have with Christian films. The Bible tells Christians to be wise as Serpents (remember the serpent in the Bible represents Satan/Evil) and innocent as doves. We are surely supposed to know how to do the exact things Hollywood knows how to do, the difference is we're supposed to use these things for worship of God. (Excorcist and Bruce Almighty are good examples). If this was the case people would enjoy Christian films for the entertainment value. That's how Hollywood gets us. They entertain well while weaving messages into the film, even if the message is in your face. We lack that.
-Nate
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jls4
Veteran
I don't think we nessasarily lack it, what we have to have is a plan beyond one movie. Or one move. If you play the game of Chess, you know it's just as importaint to "give away" pieces as it is to keep them. It takes several moves to win, not one. Many Specific Genre films and many indies are more focused to one idea, believeing it will be their last vs building.
My wife and I talk about film theory all of the time, some of it is explicit and some of it is subtle and some of it we've noticed and tried to come up with the why. For instance (I think my wife may have read this some where - so don't quote us on this as fact) but our belief is that Bruce Lee had an agenda in his movies.
If you ever watch any of his documentaries or interviews (which most people have never seen). Bruce Lee was very political in nature and was akin to a Chinese-American MLK. He believed in unity and was extremely upset by the inherant racism against Asians. What we believe is that what he tried to do, was to show both Asians and Blacks in a positive light. When you see his films he promoted both Asian Heros as well as Black ones. He never allowed the Asians to speak in Chinese or Hybrid Chinese-American speech, always the major language. He made sure that you saw him without his shirt, to show he was very much a man and to encouage women to find Asian men attractive. - Many Americans felt that Asians were "feminine looking" even today many Asian men have to work harder to get Asian wives, like many Black Women fight to get Black Men. The Sterotypes and Media push attractive "Blonde women" as well as Attractive Dark Men wether those men are tanned or naturally born. You'll notice even Black women such as Beyonce dye their hair blonde in order to "cross over."
Did Bruce Lee have an agenda, I'm sure he did. It was subtle, but it was there. Does everyone have an agenda, I'm sure they do (as someone already mentioned) nothing is simply Black and White. All my movies have had an agenda, it's just that by the time I got to the third it has become very subtle. I even talk about it in other posts on the website. Everyone has an agenda - even if they don't know it. "Those who understand the power of media are the ones who will truly know how to wield it." - oooh I like that line.
Nathyn
Low Budget Ninja
Very good post jls4. I concur with that idea of having a plan. I have a film myself I won't shoot until I have a nice amount of money. Maybe go for big screen release. I wouldn't be surprised if the next Sherwood film has some big names in it. With the money they have now they can convince some known folks to come aboard. Question is will the script ever get to the actor? But if they're paying right someone will say "Hey gimme that role."
-Nate
-Nate
CallaghanFilms
Veteran
:huh:
Brandon Rice
Distributed Producer
Nate... I BELIEVE (which means I could be wrong) Sherwood would like to maintain the same model of film-making within their church, with a volunteer crew and cast.
Jason Miller
Veteran
Brandon, that makes me wonder where goes the profit? this film is huge, does the cast and crew share in some of the profit? is the profit being donated to missions in Africa China and South America?
Brandon Rice
Distributed Producer
Jason, for "Giants" the profits were used to build a big rec center thing for the community... the funds go back into the ministry of Sherwood Baptist Church.
Nathyn
Low Budget Ninja
That makes sense. But seriously, with 13,000,000 you can improve the quality drastically. If this film cost $500,000 the next could cost $1,000,000. I notice each film increases by production cost and profit. It would be wise to increase quality. There's no reason not to. But then again that's what I would do. If they have a system that's working then great. Let God lead them and if they continue to follow things will work out. Personally I would like to see Christian films with the highest production values possible for the budget and at least some faces. I somewhat like the insanity of people going "How did it happen? How did it get big?" I'd love to see a "Why did this particular celebrity do the role? Are they Christian?" The celebrity sex tap will be old hat. Being Christian will be the new scandal. LOL.
-Nate
-Nate
jls4
Veteran
If you watch Family Guy they often make fun of God and Jesus and Bryan the Dog is a known Athiest and loves to talk about it. It's very anti-christian.
jls4
Veteran
That would be very funny/interesting.
CallaghanFilms
Veteran
I'm still at a loss...
How does Seth MacFarlane (through Family Guy) "push an Atheist theme"?
You mentioned that Brian is an Atheist and loves to talk about it; but Peter is a Catholic and Lois is a Protestant (both of which are talked about, and used as major plot points, infinitely more than Brian's spiritual views are):huh:...
Nathyn
Low Budget Ninja
Anyone seen the trailer for DCCowan's Oversold? Their thinking about doing it as a feature. I think that could be the new hotness. http://www.oversoldthemovie.com/
-Nate
-Nate
Jason Miller
Veteran
ok but Fireproof has made Millions in just pure profit, a lot of people worked hard on it, any they probably expected it to do better than Giants, reroof the chuch, maybe a park, but they can buy the entire town, and 5 towns around them. more than one small town church could ever use. I honestly believe they should pay their cast and crew these people worked hard not expecting anything back except a great film.
I also hope they do more with it than make there church look nicer. or add to their property or else I probably will not watch their next film.
Nathyn
Low Budget Ninja
I agree. I made a promise to mayself that if I ever start making a lot of money at this thing I'm going to start paying my people. I've already started paying leads a small amounts a day and sometimes paying the crew when I can. If I made this kind of money, I'd at least save back $2,000,000 for the next project. During the shoot I'd mix my staff. Get pro Camera Ops, sound people and actors and bring back some of my best volunteer staff and pay them. This is my dream. There's several people I'd love to work with again and one actress whose on a new TV show right now (on a major network) that's dying to work with me and vice-versa.
Here we have have several film schools so I'd get people who've helped for free in the past and new people from Columbia and Flashpoint. Almost everyone (if not all) would get paid and fed. And I'd get a few name actors even if it's only for a few days. Then again you have to also question is their company a not-for-profit. If so I believe they have to have $0 by tax time or have just broken even.
But yes I hope they do good with the money. I like the community center idea though, but I know what you mean. They're poised to make Gibson money if they do things right.
-Nate
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David W. Richardson
Chapelgrove Films
There's no indication that the CHURCH is reaping those profits. I would assume the distributor is making the bulk of it.
The cast and crew -- including Kirk Cameron -- gave of their time and talents as an offering to the Lord.
The cast and crew -- including Kirk Cameron -- gave of their time and talents as an offering to the Lord.
Jason Miller
Veteran
well then the church needs to calculate how much ot the profits would have gone to the cast and crew, and donate it to Missions around the world or something of the like. I believe a lot of the profits should stay within that church and that town, and to funding the next couple of films. but the point of this film is to spread the word. I think the Church owes it to its cast Crew and loyal viewers like myself to do something beyond a new comunity center, or church repairs. the should use it to help send the word outside the reach of the film. I'm currently working on a 3d animation project called reprogrammed and the people behind it are going to be donating its profits to the mission effort in China and Africa. I think thats pretty amazing. I hope they will do something like that.
the Church spent 500 grand, and you can bet they are getting at least 50% of the profit.
the Church spent 500 grand, and you can bet they are getting at least 50% of the profit.
David W. Richardson
Chapelgrove Films
As far as I know, the idea that the church is using the profits for a new community center or church repairs is just speculation. I haven't seen any info to that effect.
It's very likely that the church DOES have mission efforts in those countries and others, as well as other community outreach programs. Many churches do.
The cast and crew donated their time to the church. I would imagine they are quite comfortable with what the church does with its money.
Lastly, have you ever heard of an indie filmmaker cutting a distribution deal that got him 50% of the profits??? I haven't.
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