"What would Jesus direct?"

platinumtitan · 05-05-2006, 06:04 PM

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Long criticized by conservative Christians for profiting from violent or sexually graphic films that corrupt the young, Hollywood is starting to see there is money to be made catering to those critics.

"On Sunday, 43 percent of America was in church," Jonathan Bock, head of a movie marketing company that specializes in religious audiences, said at a panel discussion on "What Would Jesus Direct?" at the Tribeca Film Festival this week.

"For studios to not recognize that's an audience is like them saying, 'We're not marketing movies to men,"' Bock said.

He and others on the panel, including a 20th Century Fox executive, said the turning point was Mel Gibson's 2004 movie "The Passion of the Christ," which surprised many in Hollywood by grossing more than $370 million in the United States.

"Until two months before it was released, it was pretty much known as the least commercial property in Hollywood," said Michael Flaherty, whose production company was behind "The Chronicles of Narnia" and "Because of Winn-Dixie," both with strong spiritual or moral messages.

"There's a lot of people in the faith community who are looking for these films that are uplifting," Flaherty said.

While "The Passion" is credited with knocking down the door for religious-themed films in Hollywood, Bock said the growing interest was clearly linked to politics. He noted President George W. Bush, a born-again Christian, was elected twice with solid backing from conservative Christians.

Full story click here --> http://today.reuters.com/news/NewsAr...1-ArticlePage2
what do you think of hollywood cashing in on faith?

SOLDIER Cloud · 05-05-2006, 06:17 PM

If less people go to Hell, than I am all for it.

**Square Ninja** · 05-05-2006, 08:06 PM

It's Hollywood. They're always cashing in on something, because it's business.

Kid A · 05-07-2006, 07:25 PM

Who cares? As long as they aren't unfairly mocking a religeon or ethnicy, I don't really give a damn.
~Fenris Etheral

Xelris · 05-07-2006, 09:41 PM

he probably wouldnt do the Passion of the Christ

Phoenix · 05-15-2006, 06:22 AM

Heh, when bashing religion becomes the moneymaker, they'll go with that too.

GeneralChaos · 05-15-2006, 06:30 AM

With The Da Vinci Code coming out, who says it hasn't already happened, Pho?

Phoenix · 05-15-2006, 06:31 AM

The Da Vinci code only challenges the accepted statutes of Christianity. I say, when making a movie that bashed religions becomes the way to money, Hollywood is going to take it. It'll be a noteworthy day.

GeneralChaos · 05-15-2006, 10:23 AM

I think of The Da Vinci Code as Hollywoods first step to outright slander. Well, that or a cheap cash-in on a successful book. Whatever, really.

05-05-2006, 06:04 PM	#1
platinumtitan Keyblade Novice Join Date: May 2006 Location: the wardrobe that leads you to Narnia... still stuck between the fur coats Age: 24 Posts: 51 Rep Power: 0	"What would Jesus direct?" NEW YORK (Reuters) - Long criticized by conservative Christians for profiting from violent or sexually graphic films that corrupt the young, Hollywood is starting to see there is money to be made catering to those critics. "On Sunday, 43 percent of America was in church," Jonathan Bock, head of a movie marketing company that specializes in religious audiences, said at a panel discussion on "What Would Jesus Direct?" at the Tribeca Film Festival this week. "For studios to not recognize that's an audience is like them saying, 'We're not marketing movies to men,"' Bock said. He and others on the panel, including a 20th Century Fox executive, said the turning point was Mel Gibson's 2004 movie "The Passion of the Christ," which surprised many in Hollywood by grossing more than $370 million in the United States. "Until two months before it was released, it was pretty much known as the least commercial property in Hollywood," said Michael Flaherty, whose production company was behind "The Chronicles of Narnia" and "Because of Winn-Dixie," both with strong spiritual or moral messages. "There's a lot of people in the faith community who are looking for these films that are uplifting," Flaherty said. While "The Passion" is credited with knocking down the door for religious-themed films in Hollywood, Bock said the growing interest was clearly linked to politics. He noted President George W. Bush, a born-again Christian, was elected twice with solid backing from conservative Christians. Full story click here --> http://today.reuters.com/news/NewsAr...1-ArticlePage2 what do you think of hollywood cashing in on faith?

05-05-2006, 06:17 PM	#2
SOLDIER Cloud Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Age: 20 Posts: 1,197 Rep Power: 0	Re: "What would Jesus direct?" If less people go to Hell, than I am all for it.

05-05-2006, 08:06 PM	#3
Square Ninja ARE YOU OKAY Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: BUSTA WOF Posts: 7,514 Rep Power: 12	Re: "What would Jesus direct?" It's Hollywood. They're always cashing in on something, because it's business.

05-07-2006, 07:25 PM	#4
Kid A i might be wrong Join Date: Feb 2006 Age: 14 Posts: 3,180 Rep Power: 10	Re: "What would Jesus direct?" Who cares? As long as they aren't unfairly mocking a religeon or ethnicy, I don't really give a damn. ~Fenris Etheral

05-07-2006, 09:41 PM	#5
Xelris Organization Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: probably nowhere near you Age: 18 Posts: 424 Rep Power: 0	Re: "What would Jesus direct?" he probably wouldnt do the Passion of the Christ

05-15-2006, 06:22 AM	#6
Phoenix Blaaargh! Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Borinquen Age: 20 Posts: 13,856 Rep Power: 19	Re: "What would Jesus direct?" Heh, when bashing religion becomes the moneymaker, they'll go with that too.

05-15-2006, 06:30 AM	#7
GeneralChaos Organization Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: I will tell no one. Age: 20 Posts: 440 Rep Power: 0	Re: "What would Jesus direct?" With The Da Vinci Code coming out, who says it hasn't already happened, Pho?

05-15-2006, 06:31 AM	#8
Phoenix Blaaargh! Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Borinquen Age: 20 Posts: 13,856 Rep Power: 19	Re: "What would Jesus direct?" The Da Vinci code only challenges the accepted statutes of Christianity. I say, when making a movie that bashed religions becomes the way to money, Hollywood is going to take it. It'll be a noteworthy day.

05-15-2006, 10:23 AM	#9
GeneralChaos Organization Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: I will tell no one. Age: 20 Posts: 440 Rep Power: 0	Re: "What would Jesus direct?" I think of The Da Vinci Code as Hollywoods first step to outright slander. Well, that or a cheap cash-in on a successful book. Whatever, really.

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