Non-Christians Creating Films of Faith

While there are many Christians working in Hollywood including Stephen Baldwin, Jim Caviezel, and Ralph Winter (producer, "The X-Men"), it may comes as a surprise to know that there are just as many non-believers working in Christian cinema.

In 2001 the first "Left Behind" movie made its debut and although controversial among Christian circles because of its theology, nobody seemed to notice or even care that many non-Christians were involved in its creation.

Director Vic Sarin who was born to a Hindu-Buddhist family says that for him, "Left Behind" was an opportunity to gain a better understanding of another belief system.

"I have very much an open mind and I do truly believe that we are seekers from the time we are born until we die. So when this project was offered to me, I thought, 'What a wonderful opportunity to extend myself and to discover new paths.'"

Sarin was asked by BC Christian News if he was worried about directing a film that some would say is intended to scare people into a certain religion.

"Not really. Every film has a certain message whether it's a Christian-based film or 'Seven Years in Tibet' or whatever the case may be and my job is to tell the story as actively and honestly as possible."

Actor Gordon Currie took on the role of Romanian politician and Antichrist Nicolae Carpathia in the films and does not shy away from letting people know where he stands spiritually.

"Put it this way: I would be left behind" he says. "I have nothing to hide, but I just approach this from a professional point of view."

However, Currie doesn't let religious differences keep him from enjoying the story.

"I'm kind of hooked on the characters. It's kind of like a soap opera on paper. You get used to this nucleus of characters fighting the forces of evil."

"In terms of the film's agenda or message," Currie says, "my feeling is that, as an actor, I get opportunities to work with people all over the world on different types of media: TV, film, TV-movies, on stage, and there are so many different messages and questions that are raised in different pieces of work and this is just one of them."

Christian films aren't exactly known as Academy Award winners and they rarely garner a nationwide theatrical release, but that changed with Walden Media's "The Chronicles of Narnia" series, the first of which won an Oscar for Best Achievement in Makeup.

Although based on a series of books by Christian theologian C.S. Lewis, most of the cast are non-Christians, including Skandar Keynes who plays Edmund Pevensie. Not only is Keynes an atheist, but he is also the great-great-great grandson of Charles Darwin.

"I know the film's really Christian and everything but it doesn't really affect me," he told the now defunct Popcorn Magazine. "When I was a child, when I first read it, it completely went over my head. That's what I think is so great about C S Lewis's writing. While it does have these messages that, you know, I have no problem with at all, it is a very sort of 'take it or leave it' attitude that he's taken."

While Christian movies are not without its controversies, the most notable came in 2006 when openly gay actor Chad Allen appeared in the Christian film "End of the Spear" playing Nate Saint, one of five missionaries murdered by members of the Waodani tribe in Ecuador in the 1950s.

Some Christian groups that had been planning to promote the film began to question whether they should. Jason Janz, assistant pastor of South Sheridan Baptist Church in Denver criticized the filmmakers for casting Allen.

"No doubt, his fan base will explode, especially among Christian kids. Every email that is sent from evangelical teens will go through his hands. You cannot go to Chad's website and spend any time there without seeing his homosexuality on display. At several points, kids can learn about gay publications, online magazines, and support groups for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and trans-gendered teens."

However, the movie is not without its supporters.

Steve Saint, who was heavily involved in the film, has said that although he had reservations at first, he soon realized that Allen was the perfect choice to play his father and that he hopes people who view the film will see "that all of us have tragic, shattered relationships in our lives and that God is the one who can put them back together in incredible ways."

The film's lead producer, Mart Green, producer/writer Bill Ewing, and director Jim Hanon issued a three-paragraph statement to Baptist Press concerning Allen. The statement said, in part:

"We cast Chad Allen because he had the best audition of anyone else by far. We know that the character in the film and the actor are not the same. If as a film company we could only work with people who were completely sanctified, then the film would never have been made. We do not agree with Chad over homosexuality. End of the Spear is not about Chad Allen, but rather it's about remarkable people who lived their faith against all odds, and dared to reach out at the cost of their lives."

As for Allen, he found that being involved in the making of a Christian film would change his perception of the religious community.

"When I went to make 'End of the Spear' I expected to meet a group of hateful, bigoted, at-best ignorant individuals, and I didn't," he told Newsweek. "I met a group of smart, God-loving, God-following individuals who were doing what they thought was the most loving thing to do when they suggested to me that God wanted me to be different."

It's this attitude that would impact Allen when he went on to develop, produce, and star in another movie with Christian themes titled "Save Me" which explores the ex-gay movement.

"I remember sitting around with the rest of the producers and saying, 'We have to make a movie that shows evangelical Christians as smart and loving. We just need to have a conversation about love.'"

Allen says he believes "in the importance of having this conversation about God and gay. I think that 'End of the Spear' opened up that conversation and 'Save Me' is the perfect follow-up to it."

After "Save Me" made its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, David Swanson, associate pastor at New Community Covenant Church in Chicago wrote, "Rather than feeling cornered and defensive, this film seems to invite dialogue between the gay community and the evangelical community. I left the theater shaking my head at what I'd seen and somehow hopeful for the future of this polarizing issue."

Those on both sides of the faith issue may have more in common than they realize. While they may disagree religiously, they both understand the transforming power of a good story, and as long as they continue to strive to create great art with captivating characters and storylines, they'll continue to leave their audiences with something to talk about.

And sometimes, an open dialog is the best path to take on the road to understanding.

Peter T. Chattaway, "Non-Christians Felt Honoured to be part of Left Behind," BC Christian News
"Skander Keynes," Celebatheists.com
Art Toalston, "End of the Spear: missions buffeted by U.S. Culture war," Baptist Press
David Swanson, "Afflicting the Comfortable," Christianity Today
RC, "Gay Actor Chad Allen's 2nd Appearance in a Christian Film," Strange Culture Blog
Kris Rasmussen, "Chad Allen's Still Looking to be Saved," Idol Chatter: Religion & Pop Culture Blog