Hollywood Ark
All of a sudden, Noah’s Ark is popping up everywhere. I don’t mean the actual big boat, of course, that archaeologists have been hunting for generations. But people are talking about the flood and Noah again in all kinds of unlikely places. Why?
Well, a Hollywood marketing budget doesn’t hurt. The sequel to Bruce Almighty is all about a modern day guy directed by God to build a Noah-style ark. It doesn’t hurt that the star of Evan Almighty (due out June 22) is funny-man Steve Carell of “The Office.”
Normally, a Hollywood take on a controversial biblical story starring the guy from The 40 Year Old Virgin would make me nervous about how God’s Word would get abused in the process. It helps some that Bruce and Evan director Tom Shadyac is a Christian with a track record of exploring biblical ideas on film in mostly respectful (and often funny) ways. Still, we’re curious to see where he goes with this thing.
Also curious: Using a Hollywood marketing budget to urge churches to do “good works.” That’s what the Evan Almighty team have done with a site called ArkAlmighty.com. Go there, and you’ll see actor John Goodman walk onto your monitor and explain how they can help people with needs in “your church” hook up with people in “your church” who can help. What? We need a Hollywood PR plan to find out what the needs and the talents of people in our churches are? Isn't that kind of the whole point of church?
Okay, maybe some of us can use the help. Still, it feels a little odd to have site built to market a movie used both to attract church-goers to the film and than promote church work in our churches. It's either a really good idea or a sign of the apocalypse.
And speaking of apocalypses, maybe an ark would come in handy. If so, this biblical creationist in Holland will be ready. After having a dream that "Holland will become flooded," he followed Noah's blueprint (to a point) and built himself a half-size ark. And the thing looks amazing. Mr. Huibers has stocked it with life-sized models of animals, a 50-seat theater for showing videos about the biblical flood, and even a petting zoo for the kids. Check it out.
Well, a Hollywood marketing budget doesn’t hurt. The sequel to Bruce Almighty is all about a modern day guy directed by God to build a Noah-style ark. It doesn’t hurt that the star of Evan Almighty (due out June 22) is funny-man Steve Carell of “The Office.”
Normally, a Hollywood take on a controversial biblical story starring the guy from The 40 Year Old Virgin would make me nervous about how God’s Word would get abused in the process. It helps some that Bruce and Evan director Tom Shadyac is a Christian with a track record of exploring biblical ideas on film in mostly respectful (and often funny) ways. Still, we’re curious to see where he goes with this thing.
Also curious: Using a Hollywood marketing budget to urge churches to do “good works.” That’s what the Evan Almighty team have done with a site called ArkAlmighty.com. Go there, and you’ll see actor John Goodman walk onto your monitor and explain how they can help people with needs in “your church” hook up with people in “your church” who can help. What? We need a Hollywood PR plan to find out what the needs and the talents of people in our churches are? Isn't that kind of the whole point of church?
Okay, maybe some of us can use the help. Still, it feels a little odd to have site built to market a movie used both to attract church-goers to the film and than promote church work in our churches. It's either a really good idea or a sign of the apocalypse.
And speaking of apocalypses, maybe an ark would come in handy. If so, this biblical creationist in Holland will be ready. After having a dream that "Holland will become flooded," he followed Noah's blueprint (to a point) and built himself a half-size ark. And the thing looks amazing. Mr. Huibers has stocked it with life-sized models of animals, a 50-seat theater for showing videos about the biblical flood, and even a petting zoo for the kids. Check it out.
1 Comments:
My family and I saw the movie this past Tuesday and I posted my review and comments here on my blog:
http://www.provocativechurch.blogspot.com
I had some further thoughts about the marketing aspect of the movie, I would like to hear your opinion on that.
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