Christians in the TV & Film Industry (with Tom Halleen)
Jan 21, 2025
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Tom Halleen, Dean of Biola's Snyder School of Cinema and Media Arts and former AMC Networks executive, shares insights from over 30 years in the entertainment industry. He discusses how Christians can navigate Hollywood with integrity and purpose, and reflects on the moral complexities in popular shows like 'Breaking Bad.' Halleen emphasizes the importance of community and character in filmmaking while exploring the balance between faith-driven storytelling and secular influences, urging thoughtful media consumption.
Christians in the entertainment industry can effectively communicate their faith by embodying virtues like love and kindness rather than confronting opposing views directly.
Aspiring filmmakers should prioritize character and integrity alongside professional ambition, fostering relationships that reflect their faith and values.
Deep dives
The Power of Media and Faith Representation
Media serves as a powerful form of communication and significantly impacts how faith is represented in society. The industry often depicts faith as a weakness, misunderstanding its complexity, which compels individuals within the faith community to demonstrate Christian principles through their work. By portraying faith as a strength and engaging with the industry from an insider perspective, Christians can promote a more nuanced understanding of their beliefs. Effective communication of faith is achieved not through direct confrontation but by embodying the virtues of love, joy, and kindness within the media narrative.
The Role of Christians in the Industry
Many Christians are already working at various levels in the film and television industry, challenging the notion that faith-filled individuals are scarce in this field. By fostering community among like-minded professionals, Christians can offer mutual support and collaborate on projects from a place of shared values. Building a network allows individuals to not only reinforce their faith but also influence the production of content that accurately reflects their beliefs. This community exists across all aspects of the industry, including executive positions, showcasing the potential for transformation from within.
Guidance for Young Filmmakers and Actors
Young Christians entering the film industry are often confronted with the challenging balance between professional ambition and maintaining their values. The allure of fame and success can lead some to define their worth through external achievements rather than their character and integrity. It's vital that aspiring filmmakers understand the importance of both skill and character, as these attributes are increasingly sought after by employers in the industry. Demonstrating faith through consistent behavior and nurturing relationships can be just as impactful as the projects they choose to work on.
Navigating Content Creation and Consumption
When approaching content as creators or consumers, Christians should assess the moral implications of the materials they engage with while considering the messages being conveyed. Decisions about roles or content should stem from individual conviction and faith alignment, weighing the potential impact on both personal beliefs and the audience. The media can serve as a platform for discussion, allowing for exploration of larger themes such as consequence and morality seen in character arcs from shows like Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead. Engaging thoughtfully with challenging content can lead to meaningful conversations and reflection on personal and societal values.
How can Christians think biblically about TV and movies? What kinds of entertainment should Christians consume? And can Christians survive and thrive in Hollywood today? These are the kinds of questions Sean and Scott ask their special guest, Biola professor and dean Tom Halleen, who has worked as an executive in Hollywood for over three decades.
Tom Halleen, former executive vice president of programming strategy, acquisitions and scheduling at AMC Networks, is the founding dean of Biola’s Snyder School of Cinema and Media Arts. Through his nearly 30 years as an entertainment industry executive, Halleen has experience in all divisions of programming national television networks including acquisitions, scheduling, development, production, operations, viewer services, research, legal, standards and practices, and promo/media planning. Throughout his career, Halleen has negotiated for the acquisition of over $1 billion in series, specials and movies.
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Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California.
To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.
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