Stained Glass Windows

Last night I was watching a broadcast of U2's Vertigo tour stop in Milan. During the show Bono mentioned they were recording this concert for a DVD, "but then you know a lot about films, Italy created the first movies." I thought, "Bono, wrong information. France actually (I think) was the location of early film." Bono continued, "Stained Glass Windows were the first films, and the (he named some cathedral down the road) was the first cinema. Light projected through a frame." Wow, he was right. I know people have issues with Bono, but I just love his insight. I am a huge film fan and hope to someday make films (I just found out a short film I made was accepted in the Omaha Film Festival!!!). Stained glass windows were created in churches to tell the stories of faith to the illiterate believers. Stories from the Bible, of saints, etc. The images would educate and hopefully inspire. They were the first film, some documentary in nature, and others based on true events (or so it was believed).

Thus is my dilemma in film-making. I have a faith, a strong faith (although some would not agree and that makes me happier than you know). But how do I include that in film making? I do not want to be a "Christian" film maker. I do not even want to be called "Christian" much anymore. First of all it has to do with the word Christian and not about the faith or ideals that are central to the Christian faith. It just seems to me that when people use the word Christian, it is more of a moral designation than a faith designation. If some one says, "He is a Christian man..." that usually means he is good and is not necessarily connected to his faith. I have met some atheists, who were far more "good" than some Christians I have met.

Second of all a Christian film-maker is too much of a label to overcome. Christian music is not really competitive in the musical world. It sells a lot, because Christians like music and most are not allowed to buy music from the secular world (you could invite the devil in your house, just because of the drum beat...for instance...this was actually taught at a conference). A friend (the watchman...check out is blog at www.fromthewatchman.blogspot.com) and I have a joke "If you like Green Day you'll love...fill in the blank with some Christian "punk" band". This is from stickers you will find on Christian music and Christian book stores. So I do not want to have a DVD of my movie at the Christian bookstore with a sticker that reads..."if you like Love Actually...you'll love this Christian Bullshit that isn't really even close to as good as movie, but morally you better choose this or you might lose your soul and lead your family to destruction and desolation."

Stained Glass and the original cinema kind of had a corner on the market. Back in the Holy Roman Empire days, the church was pretty much everything. You had a captive audience. You controlled distribution. And yet if you have taken time to look at stained glass, it is some of the most beautiful art of its day. And if you have a chance to sit and see the sun gleam through a stained glass window and see the colors stream across the faces of those kneeled in prayer or mediation, it is transcendent.

So this is my task, to tell stories that inspire, that give hope, but that do not sell out or that become Christian propaganda. I am excited to see where this road leads me. I am actually excited to stop by a few churches in town with huge stained glass windows and just spend some time mediating and praying and thinking of stories that are much bigger than I am, and yet I find myself a part of...

Jack

Band-Aid, TO, and that kid from that one show

What are Hootie and the Blowfish up to? What about Joey Lawerence? Or Joey from Friends for that matter? The other day the 80's charitable Band-Aid song "Do They Know It's Christmas" was playing on the radio (if you do not know about it, it came out in 84 or so, and was a collaboration of top recording artists, primarily british, that wanted to bring awareness to the famine in Ethiopia). The list of groups and individuals was huge, and these were all at the top of charts. Duran Duran, Boy George and Culture Club, Wham!, Big Country, Bananarama, Spandau Ballet, Heaven 17. I remember watching the video. This was huge. And as I listen to the song it amazes me how quickly stardom was gone for a majority of these singers and bands. There are a few names that remain, Bono and Adam Clayton, Sting, David Bowie, and Paul McCartney to name a few (Phil Collins remains, but in some sort of Karma induced purgatory...). Did these stars know there days were numbered. or was this just their chance for impact? You always hear of the 15 minutes of fame, but maybe it is 15 minutes of impact.

So what does TO have to do with band-aid and child actors. Terrell Owens was at the top of his game in San Francisco. He was a huge star and was commanding the price of one of the leagues top players. I noticed that he is just not what he used to be. And then I was watching a friends rerun the other night and saw the cast, and thought of TO. Or tune into Sienfeld, is TO George Costanza. Will Jason Alexander really ever be seen as anything other than George, no matter what role he plays? He got his shot and his shot was George. Chandler Bing is who Matthew Perry is to us, and he can play a TV writer in a new show, but all we see is chandler. Is TO the kid from the TV show that we wonder what happened to, only to turn up in a police station? Is TO a one hit wonder. Did he misuse his 15 minutes?

So what does that have to do with me, or us? I wonder sometimes if I missed my 15 mintues, did I get my shot and let it go? Did I already sing my one line in a song for charity and that was the top of what I will see. I can think of some incredible things I have been a part of, was that it? Will I get a chance for something greater? And then If I am able to somehow someway be a part of something giant, will it leave as quickly as it came, and then find myself dwelling on the good old days.

I write this in a small office in the basement of a small insignificant building. But reaching for something greater. Reaching to create impact and change. That is my offering. I'm not looking for 15 minutes...I am looking for impact.

Jack

Username?

I would have written sooner, but as fate would have it, I did not know which username or password I used for the blog. If you're like me you have ten to fifteen different user names and the same number of passwords. Also for the record, if you do not know which username and password you used for which thing, it makes it hard for the username "finder" to help as well. Who knows how many people just recieved an email stating that someone was just attempting to log on to their blog.

This was just to let you know I will be (or attempting to be) more consistent and also to let you know I wrote down the name and password to the blog (it is in the third drawer in the file cabinet in a folder marked "spiritual gift tests"...don't ask...I figured an empty folder would work). But now that you know, I am counting on you to remind me the next time I forget it.

Jack