Why Should I Come?
Ten Reasons Tomorrow’s Filmmakers Should Attend the San Antonio Christian Film Academy
August 31, 2006
1. You should come because the Academy has a better curriculum.
The Academy is different from other Christian film schools in seven important ways. In these same seven ways your filmmaking needs to be different from that of most other Christian filmmakers. Learn the seven distinctions many students of filmmaking will never hear about, and why all seven are foundational to your success.
2. You should come to validate your decision to be involved in filmmaking.
The faculty greatly respects the arts and sciences of filmmaking. They know it is a legitimate pursuit for godly men who understand true imaginative creativity. The faculty is sincerely concerned for your success. Find out what the Bible has to do with filmmaking and how your gifts best fit His sovereign plan.
3. You should come to learn about the production process.
The process is changing. Learn the difference between a TV commercial, a how-to DVD, a documentary, and a feature film. Learn about the costs involved and the tools required to make each.
4. You should come to learn how to make money with small productions until you can make your first feature film.
To make disciples of mass audiences, you need money, equipment and experience. You can get all three as an entrepreneurial producer of small productions.
5. You should come to touch and handle the latest gear.
You need to know the tools of the trade, and the language used by producers and directors to describe every flag, cube tap and blonde. Experts from the film industry will be on hand to demo the new [PENDING] Sony xx 34 hu HD camera and a 35mm Arriflex 450 BL xxx 45T. Do you know your lighting rigs and how to get crystal clear audio signals? Watch the pros do it live.
6. You should come to learn how to avoid common mistakes.
Save yourself years of grief. Find out the common mistakes before you repeat them unnecessarily.
7. You should come to learn about the real world.
If you’re getting into film because you think it’s cool and glamorous, you need a heavy dose of reality. Come to be challenged in your motives. Find out about the complexities of the industry. Find out if you’ve got what it takes to wrestle tigers, harpoon sharks, and believe the Bible.
8. You should come to meet potential colleagues.
Filmmaking is a collaborative process. Meet other filmmakers who have been inspired by God and see what God has wrought in their lives. Find out how the most serious filmmakers of your generation may be able to help you with your productions.
9. You should come to learn the difference between good films and bad ones.
Will you fail as a filmmaker because you follow a corrupt Hollywood formula and create poisonous media? Or will you be a pioneer who changes cinema history? The faculty will help you gain the discernment to see truth, goodness, and beauty and how to build them into your scripts.
10. You should come because it takes professionalism to be an influential dominion man.
Tomorrow’s filmmakers will possess the power to subdue cultures and create new industries. The Academy will be training the leaders of these new industries by imparting the kind of professionalism that will be required of
them. If you think you have a place in cinema, you need a sense of responsibility and the leadership skills you will learn at the Academy.