I discovered a great book when I was in LA last year at a CCCU Cinema Studies conference. The book is Behind the Screen: Hollywood Insiders on Faith, Film and Culture, edited by Spencer Lewerenz and Barbara Nicolosi of Act One, Inc., a non-profit training and formation program for Hollywood writers and executives. The book features essays from numerous Christians who are working as writers, directors and producers in Hollywood. If you have an interest in working in Hollywood, or you just want to better understand the challenges Christians face trying to shape our culture, then you must read this book!

I cannot just pick out one essay that is my favorite. The essays, though written in isolation from one another, combine together to create a unified, holistic argument for Christian involvement in the arts, and film specifically. I will say that I have used Ron Austin’s (Mission: Impossible, Charlie’s Angels, Matlock, Father Dowling Mysteries) explanation of the differences between Plato’s view of drama and Aristotle’s view of drama numerous times in conversations and in class. Trust me—it is more interesting than it sounds. I have also been challenged and convicted by statements made in essays like Thom Parham’s (JAG, Touched by an Angel) Why Do Heathens Make the Best Christian Films and Scott Derrickson’s (The Exorcism of Emily Rose) A Filmmaker’s Progress.

I was challenged so much by what I read, that I went out and bought a copy of the book for each of the faculty in the Communication Arts department. Of all the books on the issue of Christianity and film that I have read, this one stands out. Perhaps it is because it is broken into small, easily digestible pieces. Perhaps it is because it is written in large part by professional writers who tell compelling stories for a living. Perhaps it is because it is written by people who have lived and breathed the “culture wars” on a daily basis. No matter the reason, I highly recommend this book for any of our students. And you might as well buy it now, because I will likely require it in the next class you take from me.