Larry W. Poland - Chasm: Crossing the Divide Between Hollywood and People of Faith

CHASM

Crossing the Divide

Between Hollywood

and People of Faith

Larry W. Poland, Ph.D.

CHASM

Crossing the Divide Between Hollywood and People of Faith

2014 Larry W. Poland, Ph.D.

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ISBN 978-1-63047-062-3 paperback

ISBN 978-1-63047-063-0 eBook

ISBN 978-1-63047-064-7 hardcover

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013957036

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DEDICATION

To Bill Bright, who, in 1979, first challenged me to make a positive spiritual investment in the lives of those who control global media.

Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called children of God.

Jesus of Nazareth

CHAPTER ONE

LAYING THE FOOTERS

Solving a PR Problem

The screening room at the NBC studios in Burbank held a rather motley assortment of religious leaders from various faithsyou know, the usual minister-priest-rabbi mix. The assembly had been called together by Jay Rodriquez, NBCs Senior Vice President of Public Relations, West Coast, to help resolve a PR crisis that was driving NBC execs nuts.

The crisis was the result of a rumor that NBC was planning to air a movie in prime time near Christmas with a scene defaming Jesus Christ. Supposedly, in the opening scene of the movie, Mary and Joseph, a Roman soldier assaults Mary with the clear implication that Jesus is the illegitimate offspring of that union.

The fact that the rumor was not trueand never had beendidnt stop thousands of angry Christians from writing and calling the network execs with all kind of demands. The flood of rage was horrific.

Jays plan was to call together a group of religious leaders to screen the film in advance of its air date and then have them sign a joint press release stating that the rumor was false, and the film was fine. Good strategy.

The film was fine. I watched with some anticipation of blasphemy, or at least heresy, and found none. At the end of the film, I was prepared to recommend that my boss in a Christian organization sign the press release, and I stood in line to tell Mr. Rodriquez so.

A Blast from the Reverend

In line in front of me was a young church pastor who obviously saw the film through a different filter than I did. When it came his turn to speak to the exec, he unloaded on him. He saw all kinds of unscriptural and inaccurate and even blasphemous stuff in the film and bombarded Mr. Rodriquez in a most disrespectful manner. The more he attacked Jay, the more I shrank in my shoes.

Finally, his piece having been said, the young pastor spun on his heels and exited the room in a huff. It was my turn.

I identified myself, told Mr. Rodriquez I was going to recommend support for his effort to clear NBCs name, and then got personal.

I owe you an apology.

Hows that? Jay replied.

Well, I am a follower of Jesus Christ. He is the most important person in my life and has been since I was a kid, but I couldnt help overhearing what this young man said to you and the way he said it. I believe that if Jesus Christ had been in front of me in line, He would not have spoken to you as disrespectfully as this young man did. On behalf of all those people calling themselves Christians who have been angry, abusive, unkind, and disrespectful, please forgive us... and dont hold it against our Lord.

There was a silent three-count as Jay processed what I said, then he responded, May I take you to lunch?

Sure. I never turn down a free lunch.

Thus began a journey and body of experiences stretching over more than three decades, a journey that is expressed in this book.

What Is Hollywood?

Let me lay a foundation for our interchange by defining terms. Ill start with Hollywood. In reality, Hollywood doesnt exist as just a place!

What a letdown for tourists who finally make it to Hollywood and Vine or Sunset Boulevard or the Chinese Theater. Ive heard them describe the sheer disappointment. They thought Hollywoods glamour was the place. It isnt. Hollywood isnt the shabby buildings on the boulevard lined with tourist traps, tacky lingerie stores, and greasy spoons. Its not the place lined with the homeless people, ladies of the evening, and druggies traversing the so-called Walk of Fame. The sign at the city limits or on the hills above the town may say H-O-L-L-Y-W-O-O-D, but everybody knows it isnt really here. Only one major film studio is even close to the Hollywood zip code.

A day on the Universal Studios tour may give visitors a little of the magic of Hollywood and film making, but, even then, they leave knowing they let themselves be seduced by mirrors, strings, pulleys, and computer-controlled contraptions. It was a tourist factory. It wasnt really Hollywood.

A map to the homes of the stars is equally unfulfilling. It may feed the mystique for a tourist to imagine whatand wholies behind those tall, iron gates and security systems on the palm-lined streets of Beverly Hills and Bel Air. But Ive been in enough of them to tell you that some of them are messes and others are tackyWest Coast Gracelands. Hollywood doesnt exist there either.

A Mental Construct

Hollywood exists only in the mind. Hollywood is a mental construct which includes many citiesfrom Burbank to Manhattan, Beverly Hills to the Hamptons, Malibu to Tribeca. Its an image thing. It isnt reality, and its slightly different in each persons mind. Its the product of pictures and sounds and celebrity stories and slick copy and publicity agent spin and tightly edited TV documentaries. Its the product of finely tuned media productions of Oscar and Emmy celebrations. Its the aggregate of all the films and videos and TV shows and video games and still photos and magazine articles and broadcasts and Filmland consumer products weve ever experiencedall compressed into some cranial compartment between our ears.