…our recent trip to Tanzania was everything we had hoped it would be. We planned, filmed, shot, and edited two complete music videos, with two different groups in two very different settings. And we were able to mentor and train folks there in production techniques that will help them create better media resources in the future.
…movie reviews: ______ didn’t have people living Christian lives. Therefore, ______ stinks. Also, there is swearing.
I saw this tweet yesterday from @cinexcellence: “WORLD magazine movie reviews: ______ didn’t have people living Christian lives. Therefore, ______ stinks. Also, there is swearing.”
I’ve been on the receiving end of good and bad reviews for my film work. In some cases, Christian reviews do seem to take this rubber-stamp, reactionary approach. In other cases, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by reviews – from very conservative audiences – that let me know that they understood the film, what we were trying to accomplish, and why it contained ‘objectionable’ elements. [“The Enemy God” has nudity, violence, drug use, occult practices – the whole deal – within the context of a highly redemptive and God-honoring story.]
My favorite is when we get something like a ‘highly recommended’ but a 2 out of 5 rating. The ratings are based on content elements that may offend people. But the film is excellently done and compelling! I think that’s an OK place to be.
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.
I find myself constantly amazed by how technology is permeating even the most remote places on the earth.
I’m think pretty well-traveled, but I find myself constantly amazed by how technology is permeating even the most remote places on the earth. Of course, there are still very isolated cultures, but our image of places like Africa may be way off.
I saw this article the other day that talks about how different organizations are using mobile phone technology for education and development work in Africa. You may be surprised at what they are doing in places that are far from urban tech centers.
It was about a dream fulfilled and a God who made it all come together. I couldn’t put it down!”
The Second Trail - Behind the scenes of The Enemy God
“This book is an exciting adventure in the art of filmmaking in a challenging environment and among diverse cultures. It was about a dream fulfilled and a God who made it all come together. I couldn’t put it down!” – Lita Stang
Sometimes, the stories behind a film equal the drama and emotion of the film itself. The making of our film, The Enemy God, has those kinds of stories behind it. Now, in a new book, Amber Castagna, one of the crew members on the film, captures the drama, the joys, the pain, and the miracles we saw in bringing one of God’s stories to the screen.
Amber has written her own account of the film in this new book, The Second Trail. We’re happy to be making it available alongside the DVD of the movie and some other books that tell about what God has done among the Yanomamö of Venezuela. You will be amazed and encouraged by this book!
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.
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.
“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.”
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.
MindSoulStory 