Evangelical Film Auteurs
Evangelical Film Auteurs
This chapter discusses how the challenge of churches embracing films was complicated by three problems. First, there were few suitable films to be shown. Second, very few churches possessed sound 16mm film projectors for exhibition. Finally, widespread opposition to Hollywood simmered among numerous conservative Christian leaders. Despite their doubts about film, many religious leaders came to agree that film exhibition would benefit their ministries. The celluloid sermons materializing from three pioneers—Rev. James Friedrich, Carlos Baptista, and Irwin Moon—paved the way for other individual Christian filmmakers and denominations to follow. While their forays into filmmaking reveal contrasting strategies of communication with their intended audiences, they each guided spectators to the same theme of God's presence in the world. Each emerged as an auteur whose primary visions of Christian communication shone through his works.
Keywords: religious film exhibition, celluloid sermons, Rev. James Friedrich, Carlos Baptista, Irwin Moon, Christian filmmakers, Christian communication
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