One thing I wanted to include in this blog was some of the encouragement and readings I read about Missions in Hollywood, from the believers who are already working their. The book that first got me started thinking about it, was "Beyond The Screen". It is written by believers who are already working in Hollywood, who wanted to encourage others who are passionate for film to come to Hollywood. They all stated one similar thing, how much Hollywood needs Christian filmmakers, not only to provide the world with a different perspective in their films, but as lights to a lost set of people, consisting of actors, designers, crews and even the world (as the work of Hollywood is shown worldwide). Not only did they say this, but they also emphasized the importance of motivation. That if I come in the hopes of fame, and publicity, my motives are wrong. This is true of course of anything, because if my motivation and my reason is due to a worldly reason, then it is not serving God. If Hollywood is my "idol" then my reasons for being there will be wrong. It is full of disappointments, but if grounded, can be used to serve the Lord. (So combine, this with what i said about being "scared" in the last blog, and you have my summary of why I want to be in Hollywood.) In addition to the scared blog however, I think being scared is good in the fact that it will remind me why I am here, and whom I am serving with my life. It would be too easy for my to fall into my comfort zone, which is my biggest fear. But I know that if I Trust Him and follow him, He will guide me through.
I will continue to read this book in the years to come, for I need to remember what it says, and be encouraged by people who are currently and preceded me in Hollywood. But the main reason for this blog was to comment and reflect on one article in particular, that I read recently, that helped greatly in this new journey in particular in my life. It was a new article, which encouraged me and reinstated in my mind why and what I want to do. It was published in Relevant Magazine, it's an interview with Zachary Levi (from television's show Chuck.) He is an outspoken Christian who is an actor. I recently discovered, he also spoke at a Christian filmmakers conference late last year. His words on dealing with frustrations in his career were
"The first advice that I would give is to really spend time in prayer to make sure that this is exactly what God wants you to be doing and not just something that you really feel like you should be doing. Many times I have come home from a really devastating audition, and I’d be really thoroughly depressed because it was a role that I really was hoping for. I realized how crucial having a walk with God was because I could turn around and say, “It didn’t happen, but obviously it wasn’t God’s will.” People who don’t have God in their lives only have themselves to blame. So they look back at the audition and they say, “I didn’t do a good enough job.” But so often it has nothing to do with how good you did in the audition; it has to do with the fact that you’re a brunette and they were looking for a blonde. So, to me, the most important factor in all of the rejection was that I had a walk with God. As far as being an actor is concerned, you have to have passion. If you’re not bringing the passion of the character into the room with you, you might as well not come into the room at all."
I think what he said so is so crucial to remember. And something I hope to not forget. So I know it encouraged me greatly. Another response in particular that caught my attention was in regards to the innocent characteristic that would be hard to maintian in Hollywood. Zachary stated "Overall, as a human beings its hard to maintain that innocence. Even now sometimes I’ll find myself in a situation, and I’ll think to myself—and not in a really negative way but—“I wonder if they know who I am.” And not like, “Don’t you know who I am?” like I’m this huge guy, but I wonder if they know if that I am this guy on this TV show, more out of curiosity than anything else. But the problem is that the curiosity, in an instant, can turn into conceitedness. To me that’s what makes putting on the full armor of God everyday so important. Even saying that right now I feel like such a hypocrite, because reading your Bible and really spending alone time in prayer with the Lord every day, I stumble in that"
It's encouraging to hear this from a believer who is already there, knowing that it is not just me that would be feeling this way, and worrying in this way. I hope I can remember this as well. And lastly, he talked about being a Christian in a very anti-Christian world. Of which he said "Absolutely. The atmosphere in Hollywood in general is very anti-conservative, very anti-Christian. The liberal segment of Hollywood, which is 80 percent of it if not more, they look at Christians as hypocrites that are false and fake. The tough part is that in many cases I can’t argue with them. My job on my set, I believe, is to first just love people and gain that trust with people where they know that I really do love them and care about their well-being, so that when they are running into problems, they will hopefully, at some point, come to me and ask me, “What is your peace all about? What is your comfort all about? Where do you get your love? Where do you get your talents? And I can turn to them and say without blinking, “Jesus Christ.” You can’t just come out there and say “Hey, I’m a Christian, and I’m gonna beat you into thinking the way that I do.” You can’t do that. It’s not about manipulation so much as it’s about getting in on someone’s life on the ground floor. So more than anything, that’s what I’m trying to do now. Just build relationships with everyone that I work with."
Lastly, this was so encouraging to me, because it made me realize that so much of ministry is through establishing relationships. And to remind me that I need to be on my guard daily, and thinking of the Lord, everyday. That it is not because of who I am, but of who Christ is. Anyway, this has turned quite long, but I hope you have gotten a better understanding of what it is the Lord has called me to do. If you have any questions, just shout them out, I'd love to talk about it more!
