A Southern Boy's Adventures in LA: Ben vs. Eli Stone

As many of you are aware, one of the first things I did upon arriving in Los Angeles was to sign up for Central Casting.  They provide all the background extras that you see on over 80% of the major network TV shows, and I figured it would be fun to have that as a work option.  Well the past two months I've called the hotline again and again only to find I either don't fit the profile or desire the job, in many cases both: "seeking Hispanic men in their 50's with tattoos to play strip club patrons on next week's episode of Dirty Sexy Money".  As you can see, this is the kind of prime time family entertainment being made out here.  Finally, last week I got through the phone lines and qualified to be a background extra on the ABC legal drama/comedy show Eli Stone.  If you've watched the show, then you know what's it about, if not, here's my attempt to sum it up:  Eli Stone is a young lawyer at a prominent firm who suffers from a hereditary brain aneurysm that causes him to have visions.  These visions are usually in the form of some sort of colorful hallucination, most involve singing or dancing of some sort, and they almost always give him the clues and/or answers as to which cases he should take.  He regularly seeks the advice of a Chinese acupuncturist to help him decipher these visions, and the show's creators treat Eli as if he's a sort of prophet sent to help those in need and point the way towards truth and justice.  Never mind that the prophetic insight comes from a scientific irregularity in his brain and not a divine source of wisdom... like God.  Nevertheless, it's usually a very colorful, creative, engaging show that seems to have caught on well and is rocking along in it's second season on ABC.  Since it's a legal show, most episodes end in the courtroom with Eli taking a pro bono stand for someone who otherwise wouldn't get the justice they deserve.  Well when I got the job, I was cast as "courtroom atmosphere", which means I'll be sitting in the gallery of the courtroom, observing the proceedings.  The show takes place in San Francisco in the fall, so we had to wear appropriate clothing, which meant light sweaters, layers etc.  Sure enough, I pulled off a business casual autumn look with a collared shirt, tie, and green v-neck sweater, and the directors liked my choice of wardrobe so much that they actually placed me right behind Jonny Lee Miller (the actor who plays Eli Stone) in the scene, so when the episode airs later this season, you ought to be able to see me just over the right of Eli's shoulder in almost every scene they film of him from the angles they were using.  I was initially excited about this, and still am kinda looking forward to seeing myself on TV, it's always a fun experience to be on something that thousands watch, and yet this episode left me more bothered than I anticipated.  Here's what happened basically:

The plot of this episode, which is entitled "Two Ministers", is apparently about a court case involving a United Methodist Pastor who had a sex change operation to become a woman.  Now I haven't read the full script and was only able to decipher some of this from the scenes I was in, and the bits of the dialogue that I heard.  I do know I was in the courtroom for the closing argument, and so I can go ahead and tell you how the episode ends: in a brilliant display of "tolerance".  Eli of course is defending the pastor, who is seeking monetary damages for being unjustly kicked out of his church once the elders found out he was having this operation.  The elders are painted as intolerant, bigoted, judgmental, and narrow-minded.  The Pastor is the victim here, and this is an excerpt from his final statement, which is to be the passionate center-piece of the episode.  Once again, I'm trying to recall this off the top of my head, but since we shot the scene about 8 times, I heard the speech well enough to memorize most of it:  The Pastor turns to the jury and says, "In Matthew 16, the disciples ask Jesus who he is, and he responds 'Who do you say that I am? Who are you?'... my whole life I've not known the answer to this question.  Then 3 years ago I embarked on a journey to free myself from this body of mine, a body that is a prison holding my soul.  I know my soul is saved from hell, but my body is holding me back here on earth.  I used the blessings and advancements God has given us through science and medicine to help me find my freedom.  Now, the prodigal son has returned home, seeking love, acceptance, and forgiveness.  I know who I am now... and by the way you pass your verdict today, I'll know who you are too."  Keith, a young black lawyer working with Eli on the case then approaches the pastor, and asks him: "what kind of verdict did you expect from your congregation when they found out about your operation?"... the pastor sighs, and responds, "acceptance.... love... understanding... the tolerance that constitutes the teachings of Christ."  This is the part where everyone acts like they're emotionally moved and then votes in favor of the plaintiff and awards the pastor lots of money.  Hurray, happy ending, everyone hugs and rejoices, and the episode ends... 

Obviously you can see where this is going.  Where do I even begin here?  First off, I want to be sincerely concerned for all those struggling with finding their identities in the body God gave them.  I may not personally be able to relate, but I do know it is a serious issue for some, and my heart goes out to them.  But Scripture is also clear on this issue.  Genesis 1:27 institutes this when God makes man "in his [God's] image, male and female he created them." (emphasis mine).  If we believe in the sovereignty of God, then we believe in a God that doesn't make mistakes when it comes to someone's gender.  He fashioned and created us to be who we are.  People who struggle with transgender issues and homosexuality have essentially done what all people do when they sin, they've told God they think they know better, in this case as it relates to sexual orientation and identity.  The Bible isn't grey on this issue though folks, it makes it quite clear in both the old (Leviticus 18:22; 20:13, Genesis 19) and new (Romans 1:18-32) testament.  What upset me as well about this episode's script was the misrepresentation of Matthew 16.  Christ is never asked by his disciples who he is first, as the screenwriter has mistakenly claimed.  He also doesn't ask them "Who are you?" after asking them "Who do you say that I am".  Specifically, he asks them who He is because the whole passage is about Christ's deity, and the fulfillment of the Messiah prophecies in his person and existence.  To infer that this passage is no longer focused on Christ then is to take the meaning and focus of the text off of where it rightly belongs and to place it on fallen man.  I know who man is without even looking in scripture.  Look around, the doctrine of Total Depravity is proved by every human heart, and if you want an excellent concrete example, observe children... they know what's wrong from day one, they have to be taught what's right.  I'm getting off topic here though... all I'm trying to say is that here we have a case where a screenwriter is either severely misunderstanding and confusing the word of God because he hasn't properly had it taught to him or correctly done his own study of it... or something much more grave: an intentional perversion of God's word to fit an agenda.  I haven't met the screenwriter, so I can't make that call, but let me remind everyone that next time you hear from anyone that Hollywood doesn't have an agenda, think again.  This place has it's views and like soldiers in the first world war, they are dug in deep.  To get them to give an inch will require a work of God through his people taking the gospel to Hollywood.  We need people who know their stuff artistically and technically, and seek to make excellent films to the glory of God, and people who are not afraid to move out here and pursue careers in the industry.  I have all sorts of respect for those called to make films like Fireproof and Facing the Giants, that entertainment is necessary considering most of what Hollywood puts out in theaters these days, but I humbly would argue that to make a sub-culture of Christian films based and produced out of churches isn't going to make nearly as much of a potential impact as when believers take the message to the front lines of Hollywood itself.  Move to Los Angeles, come to Sunset Blvd. and Hollywood Blvd.  The mission field is right here, and it's ripe for harvest.  But as of now, the workers are certainly few.  Films reach people all over the world.  What would it look like if we had more believers in the industry, making films that promote redemptive stories of grace, truth, beauty, and good morals back into society?  I'm not saying we should make blatantly preachy films, but I am saying we should make good films.  Films like A Man For All Seasons and Chariots of Fire, both of which won Best Picture in the respective years they were made.  It's time for a reformation in the media world, and I'm out here to be a part of it.  If you have a passion for telling stories with the visual medium of filmmaking, won't you join me? 

I can promise it will make a difference.  And I can already see how badly this town is in need of it.  Let's go back to the Eli Stone episode.  The extras all talked amongst ourselves when they weren't filming, and the views that came out where incredibly inaccurate in the way they viewed Christianity, the church, and the messages of Scripture.  One lady said she thought tolerance was the best policy.  She didn't want to vote Yes on Proposition 8, which would define marriage as between only a man and a woman.  In fact, this whole town wants to vote No from the majority of the stickers and posters I've seen.  They want to codify homosexual marriage, and their rationale for doing such shows how many have been handed over to a debased mind (Romans 1).  Another lady said she thought of voting yes, but then thought 'what if I have a child who turns out to be gay?'.  This shows a fundamental misunderstanding of homosexuality as well, thinking you're born with the gay or lesbian orientation.  The conversation over gay marriage, brought up specifically by this episode's content on the transgender pastor and his plea for tolerance, led way to a discussion over the sanctity of life.  At one point a gentleman in the room went so far as to say he thought abortion should be federally enforced on religious families to keep them from perpetuating what he saw as "harmful teachings which are holding out country back from it's progressive future."  Another person simply joked that any woman who's had a child and been through the experience of raising children should wish now that she had an abortion instead, which received a round of laughter.  Another proposition on the ballot this election in California is Proposition 4 which would make it against the law for a minor to seek an abortion without gaining parental consent.  Many commercials have aired in the LA trying to make a claim that this endangers the safety and possibly the life of the minor if she lives with abusive or violent parents.  They urge voters to vote "no" because they want these girls to have the right to a quiet abortion without having to tell anyone.  Essentially, you can abort a life from your womb without parental consent, but you still have to have a note from your parents before you can get an Advil from the school nurse.  This is the state of things out here and the majority view in Los Angeles so far based on what I've seen.  I was speechless in the midst of all of this, and keeping in mind that the discussion was anything but a civil discourse on the issues (I've actually edited many of the comments to remove foul language and crude remarks) where people chimed in simply to stir the pot of hatred and vitriol flung at believers, I determined the best plan of action in this case wasn't to try and take everyone else in the room on with my views based on God's word, but simply listen politely and silently pray for these people, for this town, and for this industry.  The views they hold are certainly not in accordance with God's word, and they are dug in deep in those views.  I'm out here to make a difference in that, by God's grace.  Is every episode of every show like this?  Of course not.  But on this episode of Eli Stone, an agenda came out, quite clear and simple.  And for a state like California and industry like Hollywood that prides itself on being so progressive and setting the pace for as well as mirroring the culture, that's something to be concerned about. 

Watch for yourself (and see me on TV!) when Eli Stone, Season 2 Episode 9 entitled "Two Ministers" airs later this year on ABC.  Probably sometime in late December/Early January is my guess... 

A Southern Boy's Adventures in LA: Ben's Reasons For Moving to Hollywood

So, many of you have been inquiring as to my health and wellness out here in sunny Los Angeles, (where I'm proud to report that the weather is finally getting cooler... yesterday our high of 90 became a nice chilly 82 by the end of the day.  See?  We have seasons), and I must admit I've been absent from the blog boards lately.  I've been keeping my amateur film review blog rolling along pretty well, and just added my latest review for Changeling the other day, I film that I highly recommend.  You can read it here. As far as how I'm actually doing though, this little story has been a long time coming, but here goes:

Like 3 weeks ago, my roommate JP (pictured above at the grave of Cecil B. DeMille) and I decided to go spend the afternoon in Hollywood and see the sights we've so far just drove past or avoided altogether, basically we finally did some of the more touristy stuff we swore we'd never do (haha, that's what we get for swearing, right?).  Ironically and somewhat morbidly, one of the more touristy things and first things we did was go to Hollywood Forever, a famous cemetery in town.  This is where some of the most famous directors, actors, and various other household names from the early days of Hollywood are buried, and as such it's become a sort of tourist destination.  We thought it would neat to see the final earthy resting places of such famed directors as John Huston (The Maltese Falcon, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, Key Largo, The African Queen), and Cecil B. DeMille, (The Ten Commandments, also appeared in Sunset Boulevard as himself), and actors like Douglas Fairbanks (silent film star of The Thief of Bagdad), Rudolph Valentino (huge silent film star of virtually everything else), and Tyrone Power (The Mark of Zorro).  Being big film school nerds we were pretty excited and enjoyed (as much as one can) touring the cemetery.  I was struck by a few thoughts, some of them slightly profound:  

Obviously, all of these people are dead.  They've turned to ash and returned to the dust of the ground, it's been a long time since they were  "appointed to die once and after that, face judgement" as Hebrews 9:27 tells us.  I can't tell you for sure which ones are currently spending an eternity in heaven and which ones sadly are not, but I can guess that the majority would unfortunately be the latter category.  It struck me as well that while these people are gone, they remain with us in a very unique way.  Think about it: no other art form on earth that I'm aware of can capture a person as completely as film can.  The irony here is that they were actors, so who we see on screen in the films they've left behind is rarely the real person they were.  But still, we have their movements, speech patterns & voices (for those who weren't silent film stars at least), facial expressions, and personalities recorded for all time in a unique medium that people still watch today.  You can turn on many stations on Christmas as see James Stewart playing George Bailey in It's A Wonderful Life.  People still recognize and know who he is, and always will.  Granted, he'll be frozen in that role he played and the body he had back in 1946, but still you have to admit, that's incredible.  The paintings of Monet, the writings of Dickens, and the symphonies of Mozart have been with us as well in unique ways, but the performances of film actors are recorded in such a way that I find extremely comprehensive and compelling in a way few other art forms can be.  

So what's my point?  Well first off, these works of art won't last forever either.  Only one work of art will, and it's the book of Holy Scriptures, the Bible.  People's souls will too, they are like rays in math class, they have a firm beginning, but no end.  Everything else on this earth is like a line segment with a clear beginning and end.  Some art, some names, are lost to history and never remembered by the masses in the way others are.  But for those who stand the test of time, there is a unique chance to continue to impact lives long after theirs has ended.  Think of what Martin Luther (a great current example as October 31st approaches) did all those years ago.  His writings and convictions still encourage, inspire, and yes, even infuriate many to this day.  He left a legacy that made an impact for the kingdom.  What have these men and women in Hollywood left behind?  An impact, yes, but for what?  The history of cinema?  The world of art?  These impacts are still just as temporal as the men and women who left them.  They will be forgotten and left behind at the end of time as we know it.  Only what is done for the kingdom will matter.  And that's why I'm out here... to combine the two loves and interests I have impacting the world of art and yet also leave a greater legacy in that sphere: an impact for the kingdom.   I've heard it said that you can influence someone from afar, but can only impact them from an up-close and personal experience.  That's why I believe in what I'm attempting to do here in Los Angeles.  I believe we're called to take the gospel to the culture and impact it where it is.  I know some have a calling to bring art into the church, and I admire the heart and effort behind such attempts in those cases where the attempt is spiritually sound and appropriate for acceptance in times of corporate worship.  But I also would say that the so-called emergence of some theologies that have sacrificed the principles, doctrines, and teachings of scripture as they attempt to court the culture have only left the church in a worse place than before to effectively communicate this gospel message to the world.  I'm out here to hopefully pursue a calling and career in Hollywood itself, and to help the efforts of other like minded believers seeking to transform the culture from within.  Paul exhorts us to not be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds... likewise, the church ought not conform to the culture, but seek to transform it by the renewing of those spheres in which the culture has dug it's claws deep, be it politics, media, science, medicine, business, athletics, education, etc.  I have huge respect for those in the full time service of the ministry of the church, but I would simply challenge more people to follow me out here to Hollywood, to help in this battle to influence hearts and minds for the good of the kingdom, to see people transformed for eternity.  So that's it basically, that's my reasoning and rationale for being where I am and doing what I do.  It's also because I love it, obviously I feel called to take the reins of a filmmaker and use the power of film to tell stories both visually and using dialogue to influence (and hopefully impact) audiences with my worldview.  And it's crucial for more of us to be here.  A survey done by George Barna has shown that while 80% of people can remember the plots of films they saw over two months ago, indeed, they can even recall entire passages of the scripts from those films, only 20% of the same people interviewed who said they regularly attend church can remember the theme of the sermon preached that week in a Sunday service.  I'm not advocating pastors change what they're doing at all or spice up their sermons with video presentations, the proclamation of God's word is still the highest earthly calling there is.  I'm just saying that in many ways (and I don't say this proudly or to brag either) tomorrows filmmakers will be impacting in a way that todays teaching pastors simply cannot, if current trends continue.  

Now I'm different from most kids that go to film school.  I was raised on classics, and believe many of the best films Hollywood has made were made before 1965.  I like to listen to sermons and consider myself somewhat of an intellectual.  I read things, and that includes books with chapters and no pictures too.  Many of those graduating from schools today that I've talked to don't give a flip about classic literature or classic film.  They aren't religious and if they are, many swing towards the more liberal end of the theological spectrum.  They hate history and reading.  They only want to make films that are edgy, or continue to prolong the current trends and stereotypes that reflect the postmodernism and relativism that our culture exalts.  Am I saying that everyone who makes art films or music videos is a fool or has no greater intellect or inspiration?  Absolutely not.  They are simply called to communicate on different levels and to different individuals than I feel I am.  That's one of the beauties of this medium: film can be used to teach, provoke thought, entertain, move, or challenge many different audiences on many different levels.  Unfortunately in the wrong hands films can also be used to defame, exploit, sexually arouse, attack and misrepresent certain viewpoints and subjects.  Once again, it's not the camera itself that is good or evil... that's amoral.  It's the attitude of the heart of the man or woman with the title "director", "screenwriter", "artist", "producer", or "actor/actress" that makes the difference.  That's why when people tell me "Ben, you know everything in Hollywood is evil, what are you doing out there?", I have to hold my tongue and remind myself that they've bought into this horrible picture of what this place is.  Now I'll readily admit that it's not the same Hollywood of the 1950s.  They don't make nearly as many To Kill A Mockingbirds and It's A Wonderful Lifes as they used to.  They certainly make more Brokeback Mountains and Saws than our culture needs.   There has been a shift in thought and worldview out here as the media has pursued a more liberal and homosexual agenda than before, that's all true.  But it's no reason to give up on this place.  The last few years have also seen the acceptance and success of such films as The Chronicles of Narnia and The Passion of the Christ.  It was only a little over 28 years ago that a film like Chariots of Fire actually won best picture, the highest award given out by the industry.  This place is completely capable of recapturing some of it's past splendor and once again telling stories with moral significance to a generation of Christ-followers.  But in order to do that we need more screenwriters and directors to come out of the church and move out here to help make it happen.  We need actors who will use their platform of celebrity for good and not for frivolous and trivial issues.  We need more believers, less skeptics and haters.  So yeah... all of this was going on in my head as we walked around this graveyard and I reflected on eternity and my calling as an artist and what that means.  Hope it wasn't too heavy for any of you.  Haha.  I blog because I care.  Thanks for reading.