What a weekend...

Well, as I said in my previous post, I spent the weekend at the San Antonio Independant Christian Film Festival. GREAT time.

Saw alot of encouraging films (it really revved up my vision for impacting the world through film) and met a lot of neat people, some of whom I hope to work with in the not too distant future, and heard some excellent lectures on film and film making and philosophy.

One of the best was on Saturday morning. Geoff Botkin, of First Pacific Media, was talking about the Frankfurt School. If you havn't heard of them (I hadn't) you should look up whatever you can.

Basically, Lenin and the Marzists figured out that they couldn't create the same kind of economic revolution in the West as they had in Russia, so they came up with a different solution. A cultural revolution, driven by two essential lines of battle. First, degrade morality, and put sensuality in its place. Second, degrade the ability to learn, create illiteracy.

Both have been done in our country VERY well. Many of the men in the Frankfurt School became professors at universities (you can see thier influence in the things that are taught) and many became activists in Hollywood. Basically, McCarthy was right, there WERE alot of communists in Hollywood (Reagan would have agreed, he saw them and was threatened by them).

But... on to more up beat stuff:) I talked about a couple films this last post, and want to mention a few more. You can, btw, see some of these at various websites. After Hours and Choosing Life, runner up and the other the winner for Best Narrative, can be seen at www.cityonahillproductions.org. I am sure you can find links at the official site for the festival, www.independantchristianfilms.com

The winner of the festival, which really deserved it, was The Art of Play. This was a film that basically was pointing out the benefits of traditional play, and lamenting the fact that now days kids only play video games. Really great production values, nicely edited and shot, acting was pretty good, nice music. Just a great little film.

Washington's Cross, an edgy drama taking a post modern thought process to George Washington's crossing of the Delaware river, was well acted, nicely shot and edited. The writing was a bit... heavy? but effective. It has grown on me. Basically, a guy is being held in "prison" because he believes that Washington crossed the river, and he is being told that that is not true. Interesting.

My personal favorite was Nellie: A Life Worth Living. It was a documentary on John Nelson, an assistant coach with the Pacific Lutheran University football team. Thing is, he is paralyzed from the neck down, and has been since birth. Neat story, and they documentary was really well done. Touching and emotional. You can find it at www.thenelliemovie.net

Anyway... good time had, I was very surpised at the quality of many of the productions, and I was encouraged by the vision put forward by the speakers and organizers.

And now... back to regular programming... btw, if you live near me, I have a copy of these films, as well as of a few of the others, so let me know if one grabs you...