My Perspective as a Film Artist In a Dark Industry

Hello Everyone!

          A few weeks ago, an actor I cast in one of my cautionary short films wanted some advice of how I manage my faith as being a Christian in the film industry and I thought I would share this information with you all as well.

         Well, Like anyone else, I defiantly face struggles with my faith on a constant basis, but not so much with film whether it is being an actor, writer or directer. I feel it's all about portraying the authenticity of a message in order to represent the moral, theme or message of a cinema piece. Do not get me wrong, I definitely have my limits, but like most people know about me as a story-teller, all of my films must convey a message or moral, if it doesn't then I won't consider myself a part of the creative aspect of the project. When I start making feature films, I intend on being one of those visionary directors that will show all the DIRT in order to show why it had to become clean. I feel as Christians we must become a light in a dark industry, which is one of my motto's as a film artist; is to become a light in a dark industry, but I feel the only way I can be a light is to reveal how dark we are, which is why I express so much authenticity in my shorts. I tend to dig real deep in my characters from skin deep; It's like redemption, you can't show the realistic form of  redemption in a film if you're unable to show how that character has progressed, and what they have been through; you have to show the dirt in order to show why it needs to become clean again. Why make something clean if you're not going to show how dirty it was? Hope that metaphor helps.

        I will admit that some of my short films may seem like they are not messages, but every single short film I have ever done actually has a message. My goal in life as a film artist is to produce films that allow the audience to become aware of everyday social issues and concerns,  notice how I said "aware" instead of "more aware" because I feel like our society is so lost in a world of distraction that we need a wake-up call, and I honestly intend for majority of my films to be strong wake-up calls.  Most of the time we have to show the dirt of the situation in order to wake people up, and simply the dirt is the authenticity of an imperfect character or society of a film's plot. 

          So there you have it, MTV'S True Life:  The Life Of Jo, LOL, but seriously though, this is really how I see my moral choice when it comes down to my faith as a film-maker in the industry. I'm not saying that my morals must be everyone's morals to abide by as a Christian, but it is surely my way of life. when it all comes down to it, I feel like it is really between you and God. Our relationship with God is what determines how you react in life; long as God knows your motives then no other man can judge you because only God can truly know what is in your heart and why you do the things you do. I know why I make films, and I know what I want to get out of them. I am strongly confident with my morals as a film artist because God knows me in and out, and if God knows my reasons then I do not  have to prove to any man who I am in Christ. So basically to point it all out, long as I know my status with God and build my relationship with God each and everyday, I know God will send signs to let me know where I am at in life, and I know he will direct everyone's steps because he always knows an individual's heart like no man could ever know. God is the director of my story.