tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534217386523205712.post9183491581979810597..comments2023-02-23T00:58:16.834-08:00Comments on 168Blog: 168 Project Rules Debate: ProfanityJohn David Warehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10133713011658149088noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534217386523205712.post-57353853334793236372010-06-08T10:40:33.517-07:002010-06-08T10:40:33.517-07:00Boundaries do increase creativity.
Anybody who h...Boundaries do increase creativity. <br /><br />Anybody who has a question about a fuzzy issue should clarify with 168 during the writing week to avoid the drains of time and emotions during production and post.<br /><br />Great thoughts, all.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534217386523205712.post-47118784531539040712008-07-28T18:57:00.000-07:002008-07-28T18:57:00.000-07:00John,I thoroughly agree with your decision and am ...John,<BR/><BR/>I thoroughly agree with your decision and am proud to participate as a filmmaker in the 168 Hour Film Project.<BR/><BR/>Many Blessings,<BR/>Christopher Shawn ShawAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534217386523205712.post-38765156300371685462007-10-09T20:53:00.000-07:002007-10-09T20:53:00.000-07:00John:I want to commend you about the decision on n...John:<BR/>I want to commend you about the decision on no profanity in the movies that are in the festival!! Your words in your blog says it so well. The decision should also "stretch" those artists who think they can only use ungodly ways of expressing themselves, to be more "creative". They will most likely surprise themselves how they can make it happen without the disgusting ways some people (not everyone) feels they need to express themselves. I have been uncomfortable with other "spiritual" film festivals but was not embarrased when I worked on 168's festival. You deserve a decision emmy.<BR/>JMAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534217386523205712.post-33854351211125526722007-10-09T15:47:00.000-07:002007-10-09T15:47:00.000-07:00Daniel,Thanks for your post. I think you misunder...Daniel,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your post. <BR/><BR/>I think you misunderstand. I am not advocating a sanitization of the subjects of 168 films. I want the gritty stories to be told, but leave out the language and gratuitous sex and gore.<BR/><BR/>Yes, the bible describes all kinds of immorality, but it doesn't dwell on it. I am not aware of swearing either. If there were a clear cut answer to this and a line that never got crossed that we could all agree on, then we would not need to make these kinds of rules. But, what is gratuitous to one is "necessary" to another. And there is always someone who needs to feel "edgy" to be heard. <BR/><BR/>Rather, I submit to you that your message will be heard by more people by excluding the aforementioned elements. Will people really tune out from a great story if there isn't enough profanity? <BR/><BR/>Your creativity is not limited by "no rules." Rather, it is heightened by it. Rules make you find new and creative ways to express yourself, vs. the easy shock factor of foul language.<BR/><BR/>Not to mention the biblical admonition not to offend the weaker brother.<BR/><BR/>Artists who are not capable of describing the "dark gutters" without dragging us through the sewage therein are not being creative enough. <BR/><BR/>A perfect example is "American Beauty." It was a great film that felt it was necessary to wallow in gratuities to carry it's point. We were dragged through the mud for 2 hours and then there was a nice bandaid of hopeful banter thrown on at the end. <BR/><BR/>There is always good and bad, else life's decisions would be easy. Meanwhile, the drip, drip, drip of the depictions of the ugliest parts of life continues to the point where we are today (see "Hostel" and "Saw").<BR/><BR/>The fact is that the bulk of the 168 audience is Christian. The real audience is God. I do not think God wants us to lower His/our standards to reach the gutter. In a very real way, the means are the end.John David Warehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10133713011658149088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534217386523205712.post-2847957105046201602007-10-09T14:26:00.000-07:002007-10-09T14:26:00.000-07:00Isn't your whole premise taking verses and themes ...Isn't your whole premise taking verses and themes from the Bible and making films out of them?<BR/><BR/>If what you're saying is true - then pretty much the Bible itself should be thrown out to be used as a form of media and storytelling. It's chock-full of sexual immorality, cussing, extreme violence, racism, drug use, witchcraft, etc... <BR/><BR/>The reality, if it is not shown to be cool or an end, but shown to be examples of evil, is not only allowable, but necessary. It gives people a sense of what redemption, salvation, reconciliation, righteousness, confession, and forgiveness truly means to us.<BR/><BR/>Can these things be used in excess or in glorifying the sin? Yes. Can we go too far? Yes. <BR/><BR/>My hopes are that 168 will reconsider, or rewrite this rule according to a more Biblical standard; and not alienate such artists who are grittier and have intentions of reaching those in life's dark gutters because of a word or phrase that makes mainline Christians uncomfortable.Daniel Rhotenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08706224434289536217noreply@blogger.com