Category: Culture

Belize Benefit Screening of “The Enemy God”

Folks in Belize are rightly proud of the work they did on our film, The Enemy God. We’re pleased that they’ve selected the film as part of this special benefit festival. This is from a note we received this week from the festival Director:

THE RADISSON FORT GEORGE HOTEL, THE BELIZE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL and the NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CULTURE AND HISTORY are collaborating to present a selection of  films made in Belize – during the month of September, 2010 – which as you know is a month of national pride for us. All entrance  proceeds from this screening will go to the Stella Marris School of  Special Education in Belize City.

Your  film THE ENEMY GOD has been pre-selected to be a part of this special screening.

The work our K’ekchi’ Maya actors and our many other Belizean crew members did on the film is a testimony to their creativity and dedication. As indigenous people, constantly looked down-upon by others, our friends told us that the film proves that the K’ekchi’ are capable of great things. Now, once again, the people of Belize will have a chance to see the fruit of our labors together.

Islam’s Answer to MTV – NYTimes.com

Irony, or tragedy? My peers in the Muslim world are creating broadcast media to counteract the influence of the “Christian” West.

"Your Voice Is Heard" - Muslim Pop Idol?

Irony, or tragedy? My peers in the Muslim world are creating broadcast media to counteract the influence of the “Christian” West.  When I read this article from the NYTimes Magazine, and watch the video below, I can see myself saying similar things in my Christian context. It’s about values.

Imagine MTV without the gratuitous gyration and skin, and with videos about family, public service, Palestine and, above all, salvation. In trying to make Islam relevant to youth, 4Shbab is part of a recent trend that, from Cairo to Kuala Lumpur, has inspired restaurants with Islamic themes, Islamic entertainment centers and even Islamic water parks and beaches. 4Shbab’s mission seems to be communicating that there is a middle ground between the rigid Islam of stern-faced elders and jihadists on one hand and the louche ways of the West on the other. On 4Shbab, you can be traditional and modern at once, Islamic and hip, pious and fun.

Be sure to watch the video clip “Impressario of Islam” on the sidebar of the article.

Here’s a link to the whole article in NY Times Magazine. “Islam’s Answer to MTV – NYTimes.com“

Forming Artists to Reform Culture « StoneWorks

Forming Artists to Reform Culture – We’re pleased to be connected with Stoneworks, an organization that shares our passion for creative expression of faith.

We’re pleased to be connected with Stoneworks, an organization that shares our passion for creative expression and the desparate need of our world to hear from artists who can speak in compelling and authentic ways about the redemption we have in Christ. Here’s how Stoneworks describes their vision.:

Forming Artists to Reform Culture

StoneWorks is a global arts initiative for cultural restoration and the recovery of the imagination in the life and mission of the church.

StoneWorks exists to articulate a global vision for Christians in the arts, to clarify the biblical and theological mandate for the arts, to affirm what artists are sensing that God is doing through the arts around the world, and to call Christians to be a part of it.

While I was away in Africa recently, a new link to our ministry, 10X Productions, was created on the new Stoneworks web page. We appreciate the opportunity to connect with others through their network, and encourage you to check out the other artists and organizations who are doing amazing things around the world.

Here’s the link to our post on Stoneworks-arts.org: 10X Productions « StoneWorks.

Musical/Visual Stories of Hope

This is our challenge – to be the culture-shapers AND to help those who are already culture-shapers to discover a new story for themselves, through Christ.

“Picture this. You’re standing in one of the most remote corners of Tanzania, East Africa, in a place called O’lerumo. Around you are a few bomas (collections of huts) – you’re in a Maasai village comprising maybe 200 people, living more or less in a dozen family groupings. There are no cars here. There are no wells here. There is no electricity here. You’re standing in a circle of a dozen people under a thorn tree, praying, and you’re feeling like for the first time you really understand just how nearby God is. Then a cellphone rings and a dozen Maasai reach into their shukas and pull out their phones – some of them have three – and someone apologizes and takes the call. It’s in that moment you’re reminded that the difference between here and there is not as big as it used to be.”

For us, this story from Jeremy, a friend in East Africa, vividly tells the story of the changes our world is experiencing and the opportunities that we have to bring Jesus to people and places that once seemed so far off. These are opportunities our 10X Productions’ ministry team is pursuing.

Assist the Culture-Shapers

In every culture, even among the Maasai, the stories communicated through technology and media like films, music, and games are what set the tone and agenda for the future. We have an opportunity every day to tell our own stories that reflect Kingdom values and have the potential to lead us to a different future. However, our voices tend to be drowned out, unless we are the ones who are leading the way in popular culture. This is our challenge – to be the culture-shapers AND to help those who are already culture-shapers to discover a new story for themselves, through Christ.


This summer, my team and I have a chance to help shape culture in East Africa. We are partnering with a singing group, The Sowers Group, and a ministry in Tanzania, Pamoja Ministries, to create music videos that will share stories of hope in Christ in a region that is torn by poverty, war, and oppression. The Sowers Group is a group of Christians from Rwanda, Congo, and Tanzania who have been through civil war, genocide, and the more ordinary trials of life. Through their music they speak of hope and freedom in Christ. The Sowers Group is becoming more well-known in East Africa and so have many opportunities to perform in secular and Christian concerts.

[listen to the song HERE]

Why Music Videos?

Africa is in the middle of a media explosion. Nearly everyone has a cellphone and a DVD player. It’s common to exchange music with friends on cellphones and the preferred way to listen to music at home is via DVDs of music videos. We want to help The Sowers Group create a high quality music video album on DVD. We expect the DVDs to be taken all over East Africa where the message of Christ in the music and visuals will have a great influence.

The Sowers Group are pop culture storytellers, helping to shape their culture through music. 10X Productions, through our collaboration with Pamoja Ministries, can help increase their influence by training and mentoring emerging local filmmakers. Our experience in filmmaking, combined with their cultural expertise, is a potent combination. The skills we teach will be used to create even more videos in the future.

Ten Steps In Screenwriting

I follow this blog By Scott Meyer on Twitter and often find valuable and practical tips for screenwriting. Here is a series that gives a good overview of one writer’s process.

How I Write A Script at GoIntoTheStory

My personal writing process is much less thought-out, so I appreciate Scott’s way of defining steps, and the discipline and intentionality that is so important for a working writer.