Things for Aspiring Christian Playwrights and Screenwriters to Think On

In addition to being an actress, I'm also an aspiring screenwriter/playwright, and I've often mulled over the quandaries we Christian writers face. A while back, I asked my devout actor/screenwriter friend about choosing characters around which to center our stories. For example, are we believers justified in writing about persons (say, historical figures) who led lives of sin, but repented at the end? Should we automatically rule out subjects because their lives were less than exemplary if they were eventually redeemed? I want to write things which will delight my audiences while teaching subtle lessons as well, and my friend's advice was so excellent that I decided to share it with my fellow Christian writers out there; it ties in with what he told me about playing less-than-moral  characters. 

1. - The question you must ask is: "What is the reason for telling the story?" If you're glamorizing the character's bad deeds and tacking on the lesson at the end half-heartedly, that's not okay. Characters can and should have flaws because no one was perfect (except Jesus, of course, and his Mother Mary), and besides, perfect characters aren't very relatable or interesting to audiences. However, you don't want to make your audiences fall in love with characters who are ultimately evil - as my friend so aptly put it, "you have to remember that audiences are most vulnerable in a dark theater." You have to guide their emotions in a manner which will lead them to the truth, not to evil. Is your end goal to do that, or to show evil (as something to be avoided), or to inspire caution? All of these are fine intentions; to conclude, the best tales are those which sink deep into your mind and heart, causing you to ruminate over them, and which ultimately draw you to truth.

2. - When it comes to determining if certain historical characters or classic books are worthy subjects  (especially if the persons are very flawed but you do have a duty to tell the tale truthfully),
the key point to consider is: does it ultimately lead people to God? If so, it's worth telling. Cautionary tales are good, for example, and it's just fine to simply entertain people; a deep theme isn't required. As long as the story doesn't offend God, you're good.

3. - Things which offend God (which we ought to steer clear of): sin that can't be faked (e.g., profanity, nudity) versus those that can (murder, stealing, etc.). If you portray the virtue as good and  the sin (either simulated or implied) as evil, you're okay.

And there you have it, my friends. Pick up yours pens and create true beauty - my prayers go with you.

Image: Straying Thoughts by Edmund Blair Leighton (1913)

Advice for Christian Actors and Actresses

Here's a little wisdom which a devoutly Christian actor/screenwriter friend shared with me about playing evil characters (because the baddies are necessary, otherwise there would be no one with whom to contrast the virtuous hero). These are two important requirements for playing unsavory persons.

1. - The characters' evil deeds aren't glorified, but portrayed truthfully as sinful (an example of this is the cautionary tale).

2. - If the sin in question is something which can be simulated/implied (e.g., lying, murder), you're okay. Things which can't be faked (like taking the Lord's name in vain, using curse words, or appearing naked) should be avoided. To which I add: the audience isn't stupid - they understand implied actions, and it's much more powerful to hint at something and let them fill in the blanks rather than fling it all in their faces, which insults their intelligence. Besides, if you ever want to leave the acting business, get married, and settle down, do you really want to have to explain your immoral acting choices to your kids? If you truly want to serve as an example of a devout follower of Christ and as a virtuous person overall, take care to avoid those roles now, and you'll save yourself embarrassment then. And even if you say, "it's not me, it's the character," ultimately you're the one doing the action, and thus you're responsible. Walk in the way of truth; the best thing to do if you're confused about a role is to pray, and talk it over with firm Christians you trust. Faith and good counsel will see you through.

The stage is set, the cameras are rolling, and you're on - light up the stage and screen with the radiance of God's love!

Image: Edwin Booth (actor and brother to John Wilkes Booth) as Iago in Othello by Thomas Hicks (circa 1864)

True Beauty

One morning several weeks ago, I was reading Magnificat (a daily Mass devotional), and in the Year of Mercy issue I found a wonderful passage which I thought my fellow creative souls would enjoy. It's by the Christian singer Audrey Assad.

Artists are deep - sea divers in search of a pearl to enjoy and display: whether or not an artist recognizes the ocean as the divine mercy of God does not change the fact that it is so. The mercy of God in art is apparent in the fact that our work may be imperfect or lazy or even bad - and yet there is something mystical in all art, because those who make it are looking beyond what is visible to communicate something invisible. 
It is an immutable reality that we live in a state of yearning. Art reflects that perhaps most poignantly, because the very act of creating it is a search: and in listening, we search to encounter ourselves, and perhaps there we may encounter God and his divine mercy. 

I love this - it warms my heart. It reminds me of a quote from Dostoyevsky's The Idiot which Pope John Paul II used in his Letter to Artists: "Beauty will save the world." When we artists search for beauty to refashion, we inevitably find the Source of True Beauty. We serve a God who cherishes us, who's our closest friend - may we always remember that, and may we continually fix our eyes upon His kind face, full of eternal affection for His children, to whom He says, "You are precious in my eyes and honored, and I love you" (Isaiah 43:4). May we revel in His lavish love and be perpetually joyful emissaries of His burning passion for the world in all our works of art.

Image: Madonna and Child with Lamb by William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1893)