Christian film industry

De Christian film industry be aspect of Christian media give films wey dey contain a Christian-themed message anaa moral. Dem often interdenominational films, but sanso fi be films wey dey target a specific denomination of Christianity.  

 Ein criteria 
Popular mainstream studio productions of films plus strong Christian messages anaa Biblical stories, such as Ben-Hur, The Ten Commandments, The Prince of Egypt, The Robe, Sergeant York, The Blind Side, The Book of Eli,Chen, Sandie Angulo (January 15, 2010). "Will Christian Audiences Embrace Denzel's 'Book of Eli'?". Moviefone. Archived from the original on July 2, 2010. Retrieved January 15, 2010. Machine Gun Preacher, Risen, Hacksaw Ridge, den Silence, no be specifically part of de Christian film industry, being more agnostic about demma audiences' religious beliefs. Dem films generally sanso get much higher budget, production values den better-known film stars, den be received more favorably plus film critics. 

Many films from de Christian film industry be produced by openly confessing Christians insyd independent companies mainly dey target a Christian audience. Dis get dey be on de rise since de success of Sherwood Pictures wey Fireproof be de highest-grossing independent film of 2008.Buss, Dale (January 21, 2009). "What Christians Watch". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 22 June 2015. Retrieved April 6, 2009.

 Ein history 
Beginnings
Catholic priest Athanasius Kircher promoted de magic lantern by publishing de book Ars Magna Lucis et Umbrae insyd 1646.Vermier, Koen (25 May 2005). "The magic of the magic lantern (1660–1700): on analogical demonstration and the visualization of the invisible". The British Journal for the History of Science. 38 (2). Cambridge University Press: 127–159. doi:10.1017/s0007087405006709. ISSN 0007-0874. S2CID 143404000. Controversy soon followed as priests den masons used de lanterns "to persuade followers of their ability to control both the forces of darkness and enlightenment," den temperance groups used de lanterns to fight alcoholism.Herlihy, Patricia (12 December 2002). The Alcoholic Empire: Vodka & Politics in Late Imperial Russia. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 20. ISBN 0-19-513431-1. OCLC 47140987. alcoholism magic For de 1800s insyd, missionaries such as David Livingstone used de lanterns to present de Gospel for Africa insyd.Horne, Silvester C. (May 5, 2006). David Livingstone. Kessinger Publishing. p. 76. ISBN 1-4254-9628-8.

Through de years, many Christians began dey utilize motion pictures give demma own purposes.Lindvall, Terry (2007). Sanctuary Cinema: Origins of the Christian Film Industry. New York: New York University Press. pp. 56–57. ISBN 978-0-8147-5323-1. OCLC 794701134. For 1899 insyd, Herbert Booth, as part of de Salvation Army, claimed to be de first user of film give de cause of Christianity. 

 20th century 
For de 1940s insyd, Christian film libraries emerged. Harvey W. Marks started de Visual Aid Center insyd 1945. Around 1968, Harry Bristow launched Christian Cinema insyd a small theater for de Germantown area of Philadelphia insyd, den for de early 1970s insyd, de ministry moved to a theater insyd Ambler, Pennsylvania. Christian Cinema operated a movie theater dat showed only Christian films, but e close down for de mid-1990s insyd. De growth of Christian film libraries led to de Christian Film Distributors Association (CFDA) being formed insyd 1974. De CFDA began dey hold a conference each year give Christian filmmakers den distributors. De Christian Film and Video Association (formerly de Christian Film Distribution Association) gave out Crown Awards give films dat "glorify Jesus Christ."Kintz, Linda; Lesage, Julia (April 1998). Media, Culture, and the Religious Right. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. pp. 194. ISBN 0-8166-3084-4. OCLC 37947297.

Spencer Williams ein 1941 race film The Blood of Jesus wey dem screened insyd cinemas den for Black churches insyd.""Micheaux and Williams: Titans of 'Race' Cinema," Village Voice, March 18, 2008". Archived from the original on October 23, 2008. Retrieved November 18, 2008. Dem produce de film for Texas insyd for budget of US$5,000 top. To present de afterlife, Williams used scenes from a 1911 Italian film wey dey bell am L'Inferno dat depicted souls wey dey enter Heaven den in addition to Williams, dem make de cast up of amateur actors den members of Reverend R. L. Robinson's Heavenly Choir, wey sang de film ein gospel music score. De film's commercial success enabled Williams to direct den write additional feature films give Sack Amusement Enterprises, wey dey include two films plus religious themes: Brother Martin: Servant of Jesus (1942; now considered a lost filmArchival Treasures: Spencer Williams' "Brother Martin" Trailer|UCLA Film & Television ArchiveHall, Phil. "Film Threat's Top 10 Lost Films, Part Five". Film Threat. Archived from the original on 2011-06-07.) den Go Down Death (1944)."Spencer Williams," AfricanAmericans.com Archived 2009-01-01 at the Wayback Machine

De 1971 Christploitation film If Footmen Tire You, What Will Horses Do? be based for sermon top wey Estus Pirkle hold am for January 31, 1968 top at Camp Zion for Myrtle Mississippi insyd plus de title "If Footmen Tire You, What Will Horses Do?". Dem make de sermon available by print, den Estus W. Pirkle joined plus filmmaker Ron Ormond for demma first collaboration insyd, den converted de sermon into a film. De pair made a number of oda films togeda (The Burning Hell in 1974 den The Believer's Heaven in 1977), but dis first film be de team ein most well-known. De film became widely distributed among churches den church camps for de 1970s insyd.Brannock, Jennifer: "Item of the Month - If Footmen Tire You, What Will Horses Do?" - University of Southern Mississippi, November 2011Stadtman, Todd: "IF FOOTMEN TIRE YOU, WHAT WILL HORSES DO?" - TELEPORT CITY festivities revels & nocturnal dalliances 

 Movie theaters den film festivals 
Since The Great Commandment opened insyd movie theaters for 1941 insyd, many Christian filmmakers have attempted dey pursue theatrical releases. World Wide Pictures be pioneer insyd dey partner plus churches to bring Christian films to de cinema. Gateway Films (now Gateway Films/Vision Video) be "formed plus de express purpose of communicating de Christian Gospel for secular motion picture theaters insyd" den released The Cross and the Switchblade for 1972 insyd. Insyd 1979, de Jesus film appeared for theaters insyd across de United States. Dem made dis film, based on de Gospel of Luke, give $6 million by Campus Crusade give Christ.Foer, Franklin (February 8, 2004). "Baptism by Celluloid". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 29 June 2019. Retrieved November 21, 2009.

For 1993 insyd, Tom Saab launched de Merrimack Valley Christian Film Festival for Salem insyd, New Hampshire. Each year, dem hold dis festival during Easter week den draws an audience of thousands to a theater to dey watch Christian films for free. Saab ein organization Christian Film Festivals of America sanso be presented film festivals for Salinas, California, den Orlando, Florida insyd. For October 1999 insyd, de Voice of Pentecost Church insyd San Francisco hosted de first Annual WYSIWYG Film Festival. Oda Christian film festivals dey include de San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival, de 168 Hour Film Project, den de Redemptive Film Festival.        

 Recent years 

Insyd 2006, dem produce nearly 50 Christian-faith films. De films grossed an average of $39 million. All five of de major Hollywood studios have created marketing departments to target de growing demand give faith-based den family fare. Movieguide publisher Ted Baehr said, "There is competition for the Christian audience now that there hasn't been before. I thought at some point it would level off, but so far it's getting bigger and bigger. It's more than I could have possibly imagined. One of the audiences that has become stable and even grown for books, music and movies is the Christian audience.""Hollywood makes room for holiness". The New York Times. Los Angeles. March 8, 2007. Archived from the original on 10 September 2009. Retrieved November 13, 2009.

De proliferation of Christian movies den Christian films has led to de establishment of many online retailers dat dey focus demma business exclusively on de sale den distribution of Christian movies den family-friendly films such as Parables.tv, Exploration Films wey dey base for Monument, Colorado, FishFlix.com, ChristianCinema.com den ChristianMovies.com insyd. Parables TV sanso dey provide streaming den linear TV. For 2013 insyd, FishFlix.com opened de first eva DVD store devoted completely to Christian DVDs insyd Tulsa, Oklahoma.Sherman, Bill (November 23, 2013). "Tulsa physician with roots in Turkey sells Christian movies". Tulsa World. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2009.

De 2014 film God's Not Dead be one of de most successful independent Christian films of all timeLaw, Jeannie (16 December 2016). "'God's Not Dead 3' Is in the Works, Says Actor-Producer David AR White (Interview)". The Christian Post (Interview). Archived from the original on 17 December 2016. den de 2015 film War Room became a box office number-one film.Simanton, Keith (2015-09-06). Weekend Report - 'War Room' Walks to #1. Box Office Mojo (Report). Archived from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 2015-09-06. 

 Christian film for Africa insyd 

 South Africa 
Faith-based, family-values films be popular for South Africa insyd sekof its predominantly Christian audience, wey dey include Faith Like Potatoes, a 2006 biopic of farmer-turned-preacherFaith Like Potatoes - TV Guide Angus Buchan.Faith Like Potatoes|Christianity Today

 Nigeria 
Nigerian Christians be actively dey contribute to de booming Nigerian film industry known as Nollywood. Christian films dey make up about 20% of Nigerian films. Independent companies, ministries, den large churches wey dey produce hundreds of Christian films often see demmaself as an alternative to Nollywood. Nevertheless, dem sanso be participated for mainstream success insyd den many of dem films dey appear for state television channels top.Zylstra, Sarah Eekhoff (27 October 2009). "Nigeria: Christian Movie Capital of the World". Christianity Today. Archived from the original on 29 October 2009. Retrieved 30 October 2009.

De Redeemed Christian Church of God founded Dove Studios, ein studio became de country ein biggest movie studio den distributor."Nigerian church transforms into movie mogul". CBC News. 26 March 2006. Archived from the original on 27 September 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2009. Dem sell more dan 50,000 copies of demma movies before April 2006.Murphy, Brian (25 March 2006). "Redeemed Church Takes Nollywood by Storm". World-Wide Religious News. Lagos, Nigeria. Archived from the original on 4 April 2012. Retrieved 11 January 2021. De Gospel Film Festival (GOFESTIVAL) sanso be major Nigerian film attraction.Stephen, Alayande (21 April 2009). "A Celebration of Gospel Cinematic Excellence". Modern Ghana. Archived from the original on 27 January 2016. Retrieved 30 October 2009. 

 Sanso see 

 The Bible in film
 Christian Film Database
 List of Christian films
 List of Christian film production companies
 Independent film
 Indiewood

 References