Films that the Church felt were immoral often faced an outright boycott. That type of influence by the religious community has waned since the 1960s, but the confrontation continues. In an industry where religion is often viewed as a liability, these actors, writers, directors, photographers and producers are banding together in support groups, encouraging one another to express their values in their work. Today, says the newsletter, there are 23. And, according to the Parents Television Council, a watchdog group, Hollywood in 1996 portrayed more TV characters with religious faith than ever before.
Opinions abound among religious groups on how best to get the message across.
The Fellowship is typical of the religious support groups that have multiplied dramatically in Hollywood during the last dozen years. The number has grown from two to 19, says the Movie Guide. We're trying to utilize our talents to put out things that are positive and to get the industry to realize its responsibility to people viewing what it produces. Though he dislikes the script for the space-age thriller, Preziosi chose to work on the project in the hopes of having a hand in reshaping it. Either the picture gets made without you and you have no influence, or you take the job, put your two cents in and make it better.