Movie Update

Can you believe that it is March already? The year is flying by. Thought that I would update you on how my movie project is coming along. I blogged a while back about how I have finally been inspired to begin work on my very first script.

I found this video on youtube this week, and it is a good summary of what my script will be about. Writing a film is a lengthy process, of which I have just begun. I am still just in the research phase right now, but already have some great ideas. There is so much information and so many details to this story, the hardest part is deciding what to include and what to leave out! But like any great story, it will find a way to be told. And like many great story tellers, I feel like this story chose me, I didn't just choose it.

It's My Life

I was recently talking to a new, good friend of mine at the beginning of the year. We were discussing our lives: what we had been through and what were hoping for. I told her that I felt like my life had been on pause. She then asked me something that haunted me--why did I feel that way? I realized that I was in control of my life and it was up to me to unpause it, so I have ! My only resolution this year is to live life to the fullest.

So the same week that we had that conversation, I decided to finally do something that I have dreamed about for a long time: write a movie. I know, it sounds crazy and many of you will think it will never happen. Or if it does happen, it won't be any good. I know this b/c part of me feels the exact same way.

This weekend I was thinking of all the reasons that I have to be happy, and all of the reasons that I have to be depressed. I came to the conclusion that in reality, it's ultimately up to me! So I choose to be happy, and I choose to work on this script.

So hopefully, you are wondering what it's about, right? Well, all I will say for now is that its going to be a true story about how the CIA was involved in the crack cocaine epidemic of the 80's.

Thanks to everyone who will support me, and to everyone else...I am going to be myself regardless ! And to my friend, thank you for inspiring me, not only by our conversations, but by living it by jumping out of a plane !

For the Bible Tells me so

A new documentary is being screened at Sundance this year, called For the Bible Tells Me So (www.forthebibletellsmeso.org). I look forward to seeing it b/c it describes where so many people like myself are at spiritually. We have grown up either fundamentalist or evangelical, and have either given up on Christianity and religion altogether, or we are seeking alternatives to our native faith.



Here is a description of the film from the website:
"For Hundreds Of Years...

The Hebrew and Christian Bibles have been used to sanction discrimination, repression, and injustice around the world. They have justified slavery, empowered segregation, and excused the subjugation of women -- and the tradition continues.

Today, a handful of religious passages are commonly exploited to justify condemnation of and violence against homosexuals.

FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO (working title) is a new feature-length documentary film that will look at this phenomenon and will directly confront the use of scripture by the religious right to deny gay and lesbian people basic human rights.

We will tell the story of V. Gene Robinson, a man from New Hampshire, whose consecration as the first openly gay bishop in the Anglican Communion (indeed in Christendom) has sent shock waves throughout the world. We will also feature Chrissy Gephardt, the lesbian daughter of Congressman Dick Gephardt, as she and her family struggle to deal with her very public coming out. (In addition, an undecided third story of theological transformation on this issue will be featured.)

Throughout the unfolding of three very human journeys, clergy and major Biblical scholars will also weigh-in on what those oft-quoted scriptural verses, so often cited by religious conservatives, really mean. Among those voicing affirming interpretations of scripture are Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Harvard's Peter Gomes, openly gay Orthodox Rabbi Steve Greenberg and Reverend Jimmy Creech."

Sounds interesting, can't wait till it comes to Dallas.

Militant Faith ?

So I saw an independent film a few months ago called Jesus Camp, which just got released on dvd. It was a documentary about children who grow up in evangelical homes. I saw it with two friends, one is who evangelical and the other who is agnostic. Of course we all 3 had different opinions !

I have been trying to convince as many people as possible to see this movie, but had a hard time trying to describe it. Finally, Danielle, the pastor at Journey (www.journeydallas.com) said something that put into words excatly how I felt about it. She said (on a totally unrelated subject) that while watching the news one day, she finally understood how it must feel to be a Muslim in our country. And it finally hit me: my frustration is that when people today think of Christians, they think of the people in this movie.




This is very troubling for people like myself, who are very spiritual people, and who try to follow Christ to the best of our ability. Modern evangelicals do not represent what it means to be a follower of Jesus today, yet that is what most people think of. I am also not saying that all evangelicals are horrible people who are all wrong. I am just trying to sum up the stereotyping and misconceptions that I feel.