The Wild Ones

The iconic French filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard once described cinema as "truth at 24 frames per second." It has been a long quest of mankind to seek what is this truth. Godard strongly believed he had found the truth in cinema, not knowing the answer came many centuries before the Lumière brothers set up the first motion picture. In John 14:6, Jesus tells his disciple Thomas that He is "the way, the truth, and the life." In other words, Jesus is truth. But we must not quickly discard Godard's theory. Indeed, movies are a powerful portrayal of what the filmmaker believes is true. After all, they have an uncanny way of providing joy, laughter, scares, and even tears to its audience, even though all it consists of is people (actors) pretending to be something or someone they are not. If Jesus is truth, then cinema must be Jesus at 24 frames per second. The question we must ask ourselves is: what role do we as revivalists play in all of this?

Many sometimes overlook the role of film as a powerful mind-molder in our society. Roger Ebert, long-time movie critic for the Chicago-Sun Times, describes two films that heavily influenced the way young men acted and were seen in pop culture. One of them is The Wild One, starring Marlon Brando as a motorcycle gang leader. The other is Nicholas Ray's Rebel Without a Cause, with James Dean in the lead role. Both Brando and Dean were were catalysts in a shift in the culture of the 1950's. As Mr. Ebert puts it, "[men] could be more feminine, sexier, more confused, more ambiguous." Both these films brought teenager angst into the light. For example, a product of this generation was a famous folk musician called Bob Dylan. Marlon Brando and James Dean empowered young people, molding a new culture in which they would not be left aside.

If movies such as The Wild One and Rebel Without a Cause brought new standards for young men in the fifties, we are more than called to bring newer standards for our society today. It all starts with the screenwriters and their amazing stories. Screenplays shouldn't necessarily be remakes of The Passion of the Christ or even have feel-good, explicitly Christian messages, such as Facing the Giants and Fireproof. Not that we should stop making these movies, but the world is looking for a different message and a different approach. Revivalists in the film industry should have a different perspective on the story we portray in our films. Pedro Almodóvar, Spanish director, is a strong believer in content (the story and message) over form (camera angles and special effects). I believe he is right. Movies loaded with special, computerized effects are very common, however movies with a really good story are very rare. Even more rare is a movie that carries Jesus. And we can totally make a good World War II movie and still convey the message of Jesus in it, even though it is not explicit. Schindler's List, for example, carries the message of compassion and mercy. Films have a way of messing with the audience's emotions, and it is our core values that should dictate how we portray a story.

Our core values shouldn't be limited to our personal lives, but they should also infiltrate and affect the atmosphere and others around us. American actor Tom Cruise is known for his strong beliefs in Christian Scientology, to the extent that he went all out on national television. He is not hiding his beliefs under the blanket of being politically correct (just ask Brooke Shields). I believe we need to have someone in Hollywood who is all out for Jesus. Someone influential who will not compromise his or her core values for the sake of making an extra buck or being politically correct. Someone who will sit on the chair next to David Letterman and, not only defend his stance, but have the talk show host saved. We need cameramen, gaffers, actors, and directors that will shift the atmosphere and create an amazing working environment on the movie sets. Hollywood is like a compass that points people to where they should go, and if we are able to point that compass towards Christ, huge changes will happen in our generation. Revival!

Godard was right; cinema is truth at 24 frames per second. However, the time of Brando and Dean is gone. It is our time! We are the Marlon Brandos and James Deans of our generation. It is a privilege and an honor to be living in times such as this. We will see revival in Hollywood!

Preface

So now is the time where my friend Eero would say, “Hey man, you’re way too awesome to be writing on your blog and not be reading your John G. Lake book.” Indeed, my amigo from Finland is right, as it would be in my best interest to finish all my summer homework before school starts. But when you really think about it, I’ve been putting off writing for so long, it’s something I must start immediately. Yes, I know that if I’m going to start writing, I should start writing my book report. Yet something inside me is saying that it’s not all about what is in my best interest but what is in the general interest. So what do you want to read? A half-written book report on a half-read book or my thoughts and creative ideas that if I don’t write down at this exact moment may disappear forever? Yeah, I thought so, too.

My blog is called “Out of the Silent Planet,” until I decide otherwise, of course. No, it’s not about C.S. Lewis’s famed science fiction novel, although I may refer to it from time to time. It is definitely not about the Iron Maiden song! (You know that a person really means something when he ends the sentence with an exclamation mark, even though it’s completely unnecessary). For me, “Out of the Silent Planet” means I’m writing my thoughts and ideas down, whereas before, I would keep them to myself. I’m leaving my silent planet but probably not literally in the same way as Dr. Ransom. I was obviously not kidnapped by a megalomaniacal physicist and his accomplice and taken to another planet. I’m still here, on planet earth. The title is just a cult reference and a symbol of my writing being exposed to the world, not just being kept to myself.

Now what do I write about? I propose a blog about everything and nothing. Don’t understand that? The blog is just for you! Oh, you do understand that. Then, the blog is also just for you! (Although I may argue that you are, in fact, a pseudo-intellectual). In the 1990’s, the TV show Seinfeld proposed to be about nothing. That’s what I propose in this blog, nothing. But then again, I must say that my nothing means everything to me. Hence, a blog about everything and nothing.

I know my predecessors, Aaron Ninaber and Billy McGrail, wrote many beautiful words in their first posts on their blogs, but I think I must stop here (by the way, if you have a chance, follow the links to their blogs – amazing writing by amazing people). Writing has always been a passion in my life, and it’s something I feel can change the way people think. It’s all about changing cultures through words. This is my passion.