Content of a film?

As christian filmmakers is it acceptable for us to have sexual content in our films? I feel that it is okay, because, many christian women and men have given into this temptation. But I also believe that there is a way to push the envelope without being vulgar. And I also believe it depends on the story of the film, who are the characters? What brought them to the brink of letting go? I think a filmmaker has the capacity to make a very tasteful film that will touch the non-believer and the believer by showing the struggle and the temptations that christians endure in a world that is not their own.

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Permalink Reply by Nethan on September 27, 2008 at 6:07pm: I like your approach to that. Especially the angle of attracting non-believers. Yes, I agree. We'are planning to shoot a short in conjunction with Abundadant Life's Group starting 14 th Oct in Cape Town, but one of the scenes actually the first is showing how this girl who is an exact comparison to Mary Magdelene is partying. Having a real Jol. Rather what this signifies is her, fornication in the world, to persieve to the viewer where she actually is coming from...She is in the world, the story slowly develops to her love for Christ and her new found boy friend who above all accepts her, as she is. In return he simbolises Jesus, to her; in her life at that spisifical stage.

When I was talking to some of the crew, they agreed. That how-else could you tell a christian story, without showing the true self of a character, especially if the audience is a secular audience?

Still let me answer you with a question, where do we draw the line, as those whose supposed to uphold the real family virtue of abstenance, and respect to the person in bodiment. That God created them perfect, with love, and respect on all aspects?-Just ponder on that...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by maria on September 28, 2008 at 6:52pm: Nathan thank you so much for you opinion! Where do we draw the line? In 2005 God gave me a screenplay to write that I have not quite yet finished yet because of the fornication aspect. It is about a women who loves God personally and spiritually her sister who is the only human who could understand her dies and she is weak and thus the temptations haunts her. She is in a weak moment in her life and forgets everything she has built with God. There are people in the world who are not of this world who have weak moments; where do we draw the line you say. I say we leave the line drawing up to God and not stress about that. You and I want to use film as our medium to spread the gospel to the least of these. If you surrender your film to God your film wil be tasteful and won't offend those who matter, the ones who will gain something from our films. I am not sure if that answers your question but that is what God put on my heart.

Nathan thanks again! I have a question for you what film changed you life?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ryan Moore on March 8, 2009 at 8:01am: Did God refrain from Sexual content in the Garden of Eden? Did he stop the practice after sin entered the world?

There is nothing wrong with the sexual content, it's all about the context. Since when did sex become something wrong or taboo? Why is it considered almost evil and a borderline sin when it's on the big screen? Sure, sex out of wedlock and in vulgar situations would be inappropriate, but what about the different scenes that are shown in the confines set forth in the bible?

To be clear, I agree that the way that sex is shown and perceived in Hollywood may be wrong 90% of the time. BUT, the problem is in the way it is presented, not in the act itself. Lets not throw the baby out with the bathwater.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kent Kingston on May 6, 2009 at 8:59am: I can't remember where I read it, but it really hit me hard: if Jesus was an actor, what would you, as director, feel comfortable in asking Him to do? Would you ask Him, for instance, to French-kiss another actor who wasn't His wife in real life? What would He be likely to agree to?

And if you think that professional actors are able to distance themselves from their characters, just look at the broken marriages in Hollywood that stem from actors not being able to switch off their on-screen "chemistry".

Maybe we could do a film version of the Song of Solomon!!! Make some Christian porn!!! I bet there'd be a market for it!

Yes, the Bible contains sexually explicit content. But it's one thing to read it - it's quite another thing to re-enact it.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Scott Hampton on May 9, 2009 at 8:39pm: Hmmm...touchy situation!

We can have sexual content in our films, certainly. How we present the content is another matter entirely. I just completed my first real short and deal with what could be considered sexual scenes, but did not present any of it graphically. It wasn't even implied. It was symbolized.

I believe we have the power in our hands to mold the minds of the viewers. That said, we should do our best to present our imagery in a way that doesn't excite lower passions, but, rather, glorifies God (not saying that you didn't). (1 Corinthians 10:31)
Scott; ▶ Reply to This