Notes from the 2007 San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival
Friday
Be Fruitful and Multiply
My wife and I recently enjoyed a wonderful time together at the 2007 San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival hosted by Vision Forum. For two full days we watched movies and listened to gifted speakers. My wife and I were amazed to find so many large families in attendance, many with eight or more children. I can only describe the sight of so many large families as glorious indeed. In 1 Cor. 11:14 Paul tells us that some things we know are built right into our nature. In regards to the length of a man’s hair he says “Does not nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace for him”. Allow me to skip the Bible passages which affirm the blessing of children and instead suggest our very nature cries out that they are. The joy I feel when I see a large family can not be traced to a few Bible passages, instead it arises from deep within.
Child-Like Filmmaking by R.C. Sproul Jr.
In the past year R.C. has challenged my thinking time and time again and I was eager to listen. He made a number of great points and provided some interesting illustrations. The following points are my own notes from memory.
- In 1 Cor. 2:2 Paul says “For I decided to be concerned about nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” R.C. pointed out that Paul does not mean to say that issues such as ecclesiology are not important (although that is what we frequently do with this passage). If this was true then Paul would be violating his very own statement by discussing a number of such issues in the remainder of the book. Good ecclesiology flows from Christ and him crucified.
- Our children are frequently a model of child-like faith. We should look to them as our example. Personally I could not help but think of my daughter J. and how often I find her reading her Bible, singing hymns or dancing and praising God. She is a good example for me. I will be sure to look to her more often. Our children hear and believe (child-like, simple-faith), may it always be and may A. and I learn from them.
- R.C. is always pointing out how Satan is described as crafty. He told us a great story about one of Satan’s assistants presents the idea of evolution to Satan as a method for winning souls. Satan thinks it is a horrible idea for winning the souls of men who are already dead but believes it is great way to get Christians to look at the world in a strictly mechanical sense thus robbing his joy and ultimately his child-likeness.
- Why would God create such a large universe for such a small insignificant planet? R.C. repeated some of the more common answers and then gave us the verse “the heavens declare His glory” as being the real reason. He discussed how the God knows the stars by name.
- R.C. discussed recounted his experience many years ago when an Old Testament college professor challenged him with the question, “R.C., does God have a strong right arm?” R.C. struggled with the reason for the question for many years and eventually realized that when we take a verse like that and try to say that what it really means is that God is omnipotent that we are not really adding to the clarity of the verse but in fact taking away from the impact of the verse.
Ray Comfort
Everyone attended a session by Ray Comfort next. Ray is always challenging. If you have heard Ray speak you know what the message was about, if not then I suggest you visit Way of the Master. I don’t always agree with Ray’s reasoning but he is always pushing us in the right direction.
Heartstrings
Next A. and I watched a movie called Heartstrings. The production value was not the greatest but the story was very good. I was surprised to find myself close to tears more than once. The heart of the story is that a father has a responsibility to be very deliberate in working to tie his children’s hearts to his own, thus the title “Heartstrings”. The movie was created by two families and it won the Audience Choice Award.
Revolutions, Pushtins, Serving in Babylon
During the next session A. and I watched three more movies. “Revolutions” is a documentary about the Romanian Revolution of 1989. The film was primarily an interview with two Romanian Christians who went through the revolution. It was very interesting to hear them make the case that the revolution began in the churches. Pushtins was a short documentary about an important people group from Afghanistan. Serving in Babylon was another short documentary about Christian soldiers serving in Iraq.
Sound Design and Cinematic Storytelling by Geoff and Benjamin Botkin
Wow! I attended this session by myself while A. opted to view some more films. I will never view a movie the same again. This session was really about the music you hear while the movie is playing. Benjamin (Geoff’s son) is the guy that scores much of the music for the projects the family works on. I learned a lot about how music is not only used to inform us but yes even manipulate us at times. I had the opportunity to hear Geoff Botkin speak quite a bit during the festival and I am greatly impressed by this man. He reminds me of what I think a Lee or a Grant might have been like. He is very deliberate and calculated in all that he says. He has also made what will be a very controversial film to some in “Return of the Daughters”. I will be praying that this man not only sees great success with his future projects but that is protected from what I fear will be many attacks.
Eden String Quartet
This was a documentary from Franklin Springs Family Media about a family of four sisters and the road they took to become accomplished musicians. This documentary was very well done. I have enjoyed all of the films I have purchased in the past from Franklin Springs and I was glad to see one of the films was featured here.
The Return of the Daughters
In the evening everyone met in the main theater to view the world premiere of Return of the Daughters. This film documents the lives of daughters who have decided to continue living under the headship of their fathers until marriage. In most cases this means forgoing higher education and the pursuit of a typical career. Instead many of them continue education within the home by assisting the vision of their fathers and making themselves available to the church. This film is the very definition of counter-cultural. I brought home a copy and will be interested in seeing the reaction to it from many of my friends.
Ray Comfort
What can you say, Ray is well…Ray. Nice way to end a very long day and we still have tomorrow!
Saturday
Geoff Botkin and Family
A. and I decided to spend the morning with the kids since we missed them so much. We skipped the first session and made it to the second. I was privileged to hear the Botkin’s discuss making their film “Return of the Daughters”. One remark that struck me as important was his experience of discovering that the home is an excellent means of evangelism and discipleship. I thought how often our homes are a wreck all the while we are running off to some ministry outside the home. I agree with this. Our homes should be in very good order before we commit to ministries outside the home but I think it would be even better to find ways to make our homes a place for ministry. This is something I will spend some time thinking about.
The Botkin’s are also an excellent example of a family economy. I would love to work besides my children someday, but even if that is not possible I will show then as many examples of this as I can that they might cast the vision of a family economy for their own families.
R.C. Sproul Jr. – Putting the Meta in our Narratives: The Christian and Postmodernism
A. went to watch some more movies while I listened to another great talk from R.C. I took a lot of notes and I will share a few with you here.
- R.C. quoted Gen. 3:1 “Now the serpent was craftier than any beast of the field” and made that point that not only was he but he still is!
- The focus of the serpent is not on the blind (the unbeliever) but on those that can see (the believer).
- His focus was initially on the first Eve but now it is on the second (the church).
- Education is the sacrament of the modernist.
- Smart is not one of the fruits of the spirit.
- The Bible does not discuss world views, instead it says get wisdom.
- In the name of seeming humble Christians are attracted to post-modernism.
- The devil has only one weapon, pride.
A Cry from Iran, Locks of Love
A. and I watched a movie made by two brothers which documents the martyrdom of their father. You can read more about it here. Locks of Love was a short film documenting the experience of two young girls who donated their hair to Locks of Love.
Peter Pollock – Introduction to Prizewinning Photography
WOW! Mr. Pollock presented an information packed presentation which moved very quickly. I was able to take a lot of notes and I am already teaching some of these concepts to my five year old. He is also very funny. If you ever get a chance to hear Peter Pollock teach I highly recommend him.
Geoff Botkin – How to Analyze a Hollywood Movie
This was the final presentation we attended before the award show. Once again Mr. Botkin impressed my greatly. He used a popular movie (even among homeschoolers) and demonstrated the techniques he uses to instruct his own children about what is being conveyed. I will say that before seeing this presentation I would have told you I already do this. After seeing the presentation I feel like I have never done this! I think I already said this but I will say it again, I will never look at a movie the same again. I am excited to teach these concepts to my own children.
We finished the day by attending the award ceremony. It was also great fun and exciting to see the young film-makers win their awards. I think the real fruit of this effort is still a good ten years away. I really believe some of the young men and women being trained and prepared today are going to make some incredible films.
Added Nov. 25, 2007 – I blogged about a project idea related to this discussion here.
