How to Make Christian Films That Don't Suck 

I remember seeing a interview with a Christian Filmmaker...Many years ago who talked about how Christian films are rarely seen...This may be where prayer is needed...

This is so true. When I watched the Left Behind Movie, I was sitting there like, "Are we at the rapture yet?" I really think Christian movies CAN be good, but people need to realize how to do it!

Caleb you are right on the money. I have often asked the questions you just answered.

THANK YOU!! These points are exactly how I've felt about Christan films. A lot of my upbringing was shaped more by secular cartoons, games and films than from Christan media. Hoping things change for the better

And they could delve into more contemporary Christian history. I think stories about some more modern saints could make compelling movies. I think the story of the Memphis Martyrs and the Yellow Fever epidemic would make a compelling movie, or the story of Florence Li Tim-Oi's life would be an amazing. We have such rich stories of people who actually struggled and triumphed for God.

Watch "The Chosen". It is not a movie, but a multi-season television program about the life of Christ. No cheese included.

I wish HBO would make a series on david... like straight outta the Bible with no editing or censoring. Show it all.

Excellent points. I think much of it also can apply to the way we market our churches to the community. I love the idea of focusing on questions instead of solutions.

I've always wanted to a make a Historical Fiction Christian War movie. Set in WW2, exploring the perspective of a Catholic Heer Soldier in an army full of Nazis and fighting the Atheistic Soviet regime. It would explore the values behind Chivalry, the Catholic ideas of "Just War", and how faith collides with the hellfire of the Eastern Front. Think something akin to Hacksaw Ridge but through a German Perspective.

Totally had to watch a PureFlix ad to watch your video. They're scared of you...

Good points! I can hardly recommend any "christian" movies to my "secular" collegues and relatives! Most are are so one-dimensional, sometimes even ridiculous.

Well said!!

So so goood!!! 🔥🔥🔥

A writer is conditioned to write only about this he/she knows there it comes it’s responsibility to know a lot.

These are interesting ideas and hopefully more Christian filmmakers start creating more films that aren't just "Gods Not Dead"

About 15 years ago, I happened to be part of a test screening audience for a religious movie called "Facing the Giants." I thought the movie was an absolute train wreck, with terrible writing, subpar acting, cringe-inducing storytelling and (worse of all) bizarrely bad theology. When we got to the end of the movie, I couldn't wait for the survey forms to be passed around so I could explain how artistically and theologically offensive this movie was. But as the forms were being passed out, I realized that pretty much all of the people around me were misty-eyed and were deeply affected by this artistic garbage. After it was released, it became super popular. (At my own church, the DVD of the film was a popular Christmas gift to give to unchurched people that year.) I think there are a number of problems when religious people make movies. First, they tend to make propaganda, not art. When I was young, I would have agreed with them, but I strenuously disagree today. (Franky Schaeffer's book, "Addicted to Mediocrity," was a real wake-up call for me, even though he eventually went in directions I didn't appreciate.) If you make good art which happens to contain a message, you can influence people. If you make propaganda, you're only going to make something which your allies will like. Second, many religious people want movies which fit their political agenda, not the teachings of Jesus. The non-Christian characters are often presented as awful people because the people who write the work DO see them as "the enemy" and the religious audience sees them the same way - for cultural and political reasons, not for theological reasons. Third, because those in Christian media (especially of the evangelical variety) have been brainwashed to see every media attempt as evangelism, very few of them ever learn media as art. They tend to treat all media as "sales material" which should beat people over the head in a very direct way, like a filmed version of an aggressive sermon. And this is NOT what good art is. Christians have typically been on the outside of the arts world, at least from the creator point of view, simply because most artists aren't "our kind of people." I'm a wannabe filmmaker myself. I made a short film years ago (that got into smaller film festivals and won a few awards) and I'd like to make more. My own beliefs will inform whatever else I make, but I will never make a "Christian movie," because what I would make wouldn't be the simplistic sales pitch that the religious audience wants. And anything which doesn't fit that formula is going to be a failure with the church audience, IMO. (Look at the Steve Taylor film, "The Second Chance," from about 15 years ago. It was a serious, well-done Christian film that was made on a small budget - and it flopped with the church crowd, all because it wasn't the simplistic "us vs. them" story which seems to be popular. I think the church has been hostile to art for so long that it's deprived us of a lot of talented people who could have trained to be excellent filmmakers - and it's also resulted in a church audience which is ignorant about what good art is. And as proof, all you have to do is look at which "Christian" films are successful and which are not. I find that depressing.

So good. Hey are you currently shooting a movie? Or going to shoot one?

Have you guys seen the chosen? Not that your points are invalid. I just think it’s a good show.

Hello, Sir, and this is great advice for those who are wanting to make great christian moves such as myself, however I think that you must be called to do this we should have a deeper spiritual connection and understand how to answers question, so we can make movies that are effective so we can lead a person that have question to the feet of Christ. I am a firm believe if we connect with the Holy Sprit we can write more effective moves that will reach a audience of many unbelievers and believers to carry out the gospel just trust him in your writing, this is not a competition but a anointing to break the york you have to be called to do this work for the kingdom, I also think that you should try writing a book first. Many are called but a few are chosen please check your faith. A Christian movie is a creative extension to inspire others it is not a preaching tool.

Why not pray to God to be able to make good films that are Great..Films that don't compromise in its content..to appease the world. Films that show how God is apart of our everyday life..That seven days a week living that we do.. That Monday to Next Sunday Relationship with God/Jesus..

I’m actually about to start filming a Christian feature film! Would love to talk to you and others about it. I’ll join the discord. I have some similar content on channel about big issues too like marriage and mental illness

My professor got a shoutout!!

The Chosen did this in such a great way even though it is a series.

God’s Not Dead movie is my favorite 😻

Very interesting points. I've always had trouble watching Christian films and movies. I notice that they either add to the Word of God or not explain enough. Being a filmmaker and storyteller this problem bugs me because I've learned from the Lord not to add to His Words (Proverbs 30:6). As storytellers its our job to represent Jesus and His Gospel message correctly whether through actual Bible stories, symbolism or every day stories. I like to use Legacy Productions musicals and Narnia as great reference of what could be.

I've been saying many of the same things for years. For example I am currently writing a Christian script but I am writing it based on my experiences and anything not based on my experience I know someone that went through them and I interview them extensively. Also my story is not a whatever minutes long sermon where everyone comes to Christ.

I've seen some secular movies that have a strong, pro Gospel message which churches could use for outreach if they'd just get out of their own way.

We need to be friends.

I started making Christian videos when I was 26 years old. Later I decided to go to a Christian college to get a master's degree in film, video and television production. I spent all my money and starved, hoping one day I could make Christian movies. I never got any support from any church or ministry and the few people making Christian movies were very egocentric, narcissistic and arrogant. See as an example the Christiano Brothers, they want to do everything, even if they are not the best people to do. The same with the Kendrick brothers. I was humiliated at Christian film school, some teachers were very arrogant, I was persecuted and humiliated because I didn't align much with the school theology. All my friends from Christian cinema school are doing other things than making Christian movies. Christians get jealous when someone good shows up. Many years ago, I was attending a Baptist church. I had many years of video production experience. We were supposed to edit a video for an event. I got earlier to the place where the editing equipment was and started editing the video. When the youth pastor got there, he kicked me out of the editing suit saying that he was the one going to edit. He didn't want good editing, he wanted glory for himself. Many people involved in Christian movies are narcissistic and egocentric, they want personal glory, not good work. Churches just want to put their labels on the movies for self-promotion.

I don't like how in Christian films, it draws a line between believers and unbelievers. As a Christian myself I was taught to not hate on unbelievers but to show kindness to them ( Love your enemies as yourself ) and films like God's not Dead feel like they are teaching the opposite of that and are teaching the wrong message.

Blackbar ,check out Loor.tv . It’s an upcoming streaming service whose motto is: Christian movies shouldn’t suck

A major problem is that most Christian movies are an echo chamber for bad theology.

What is your email address?