Poll: Is It The Same As Filming Porn

[Toriver]

*headdesk*

I can't believe I am saying this...

But when we seem to be arguing that making an evangelizing film for your church is worse than making porn, I am losing faith in humanity. I really am.

Though I do have to say this: if you are actually having issues deciding between this and porn, which is AGAINST the Church's teachings, maybe you should consider switching your church. If it bothers you so much to make a video supporting a church that you claim to support so much, perhaps you don't support them as much as you think you do, especially if you're comparing their work to porn.

My advice? If you haven't already, start by requesting a copy of a manuscript of what they want you to film. Read it over and decide from there if you are comfortable filming it. If you are, do it. If not, turn them down. It's that simple. Just make that part of your policy when deciding what filming you're going to do. You're the artist, you have the control over what work you will and will not do.

 

[Cowabungaa]

But when we seem to be arguing that making an evangelizing film for your church is worse than making porn, I am losing faith in humanity. I really am.

People confuse society with humanity oh so often.

Still, I have to agree with people here. I detest evanglication, it's condescending. Porn is just entertainment, I'd say that's not worse than propaganda.

 

[The Maddest March Hare]

Consenting sex or forced religion..I'd say they're not the same, but the porn is less demeaning and far less immoral.

The porn is something you have little against but don't wish to spend time on.

The religion, however, is something you have strong feelings against. You said you greatly dislike forcing religion on people, where you simply would prefer not to film the porn but otherwise have little against it.

I'd say the choice is clear, but that is just one man's opinion.

 

[Wolfenbarg]

Tell them you want to see a script before you make any commitments. Go through it, and if it is something you are absolutely opposed to, decline to take on the project and be professional about it.

Overall, I think you're making a good move by avoid aggressive religious action and pornography to pay the bills just because it leaves a very dirty stain on your portfolio. If you someday were ever contracted to make a mega blockbuster because your talents became renowned from a breakout hit, the girl from that porno you made could fess up about it and screw you over. People have similar adverse reactions to anything that implies fundamentalism. Though just to be clear, if their idea doesn't reek of the things you think it does, then don't turn them down. Churches can be good friends to have.

 

[BlindTom]

The only thing going through my mind is nun porn.

 

[Toriver]

But when we seem to be arguing that making an evangelizing film for your church is worse than making porn, I am losing faith in humanity. I really am.

People confuse society with humanity oh so often.

Still, I have to agree with people here. I detest evanglication, it's condescending. Porn is just entertainment, I'd say that's not worse than propaganda.

Well, I used the humanity thing for the precise reason that I see it too damn often.

To correct myself:
I am losing faith in Western society and culture. I really am.

But what I am wondering is, how is the making of this video forcing anyone to do anything? A video can't force anyone to watch it or to follow the instructions on it. All it can do is present the information contained therein. There is no coercion involved. If anyone is forced to view it and/or act on it, the blame goes to the person or group committing the coercion, not the filmmaker or the film itself.

And if anyone is forcing people to convert based on the video, they're doing it wrong.

Really, I have the feeling it's just an informational video that the OP and others are blowing out of proportion. Cooler heads should prevail on this, but somehow I doubt they will, because cooler heads rarely speak up in these instances, when they really should.

EDIT:

Yes, how dare people have opinions they can back up with reasoning.
What has science done?

My own reasoning is provided above.

 

[garfoldsomeoneelse]

Churches are tax-free institutions that rob their followers blind; don't tell me you don't want a fistful from their coffers. Besides, since when have people been allowed to pick and choose where their money comes from? Jobs are a necessity (and nowadays, a rarity), so take them wherever the hell you can.

 

[Cowabungaa]

Well, I used the humanity thing for the precise reason that I see it too damn often.

To correct myself:
I am losing faith in Western society and culture. I really am.

But what I am wondering is, how is the making of this video forcing anyone to do anything? A video can't force anyone to watch it or to follow the instructions on it. All it can do is present the information contained therein. There is no coercion involved. If anyone is forced to view it and/or act on it, the blame goes to the person or group committing the coercion, not the filmmaker or the film itself.

And if anyone is forcing people to convert based on the video, they're doing it wrong.

Really, I have the feeling it's just an informational video that the OP and others are blowing out of proportion. Cooler heads should prevail on this, but somehow I doubt they will, because cooler heads rarely speak up in these instances, when they really should.

Western culture and society? You mean that completely dehumanised hedonistic and hypocritical cesspool? Surprised you had any faith left in that to begin with.

Anyway, no-one says a movie is forcing someone to do something, that's not what the argument boils down to. What people are saying is what I've already said; an evangelical video is basically condescending propaganda to get 'sheep' (that term alone is revolting enough) to join to flock, save those poor poor innocent bastards from themselves. Ugh, typing the words alone make me want to puke. And apparently it ain't just an informational video. The OP said it himself, it's a video to 'help them "aggressively reache out to people who are far from God."' That's pure evangelication.

Porn however, is just entertainment. That's it. Some concenting adults (hopefully) doing all kinds of sex-related things for the pleasure of the viewer.

Now the question was which one of the two was worse, and some folks here, me included, say that yeah, making a porno, simple entertainment, is a lot less worse than making a condescending propaganda film for a church.

 

[AngelSword]

Honestly, we really can't make the decision for you. You can either do their film at the expense of being able to sleep at night, or not do the film and wonder where you are going to sleep at night. Asking people on the internet to make that choice for you is only asking for trouble.

Kudos to you, though, for having your convictions being strong enough to matter.

 

[marscentral]

But what I am wondering is, how is the making of this video forcing anyone to do anything? A video can't force anyone to watch it or to follow the instructions on it. All it can do is present the information contained therein. There is no coercion involved. If anyone is forced to view it and/or act on it, the blame goes to the person or group committing the coercion, not the filmmaker or the film itself.

And if anyone is forcing people to convert based on the video, they're doing it wrong.

Really, I have the feeling it's just an informational video that the OP and others are blowing out of proportion. Cooler heads should prevail on this, but somehow I doubt they will, because cooler heads rarely speak up in these instances, when they really should.

I agree with this. There's nothing wrong in a church wanting to put across it's point of view and people are free to watch it or not. For the OP, I'd say that so long as the church isn't looking to put in something you would consider offensive, then what's the harm?

 

[lionsprey]

As most people already said, same thing no, bad yes.
however there are a few things you can do such as look over the script and see if it's to forceful etc. And if you are allowed to make changes to it you could always try to make it less of a JOIN OR HELL deal and more of a hey look what we got. want some? instead.

 

[Jackhorse]

Most people who are far from the church will ignore aggressive attempts to reach out to them.
Go ahead you probably won't do any harm, or if you are worried it will effect others film it badly before someone else can come along and make it. Its going to get made anyway help yourself to a hot meal at their expense.

 

[theultimateend]

Just film porn. You get to hang around dead eyed sacks of meat all day. Happy days.

It's just like retail!

(Of the two I think God would prefer you work in porn than retail, I highly doubt he/she/it appreciates the mechanics of capitalism or business)

Well, I used the humanity thing for the precise reason that I see it too damn often.

To correct myself:
I am losing faith in Western society and culture. I really am.

But what I am wondering is, how is the making of this video forcing anyone to do anything? A video can't force anyone to watch it or to follow the instructions on it. All it can do is present the information contained therein. There is no coercion involved. If anyone is forced to view it and/or act on it, the blame goes to the person or group committing the coercion, not the filmmaker or the film itself.

And if anyone is forcing people to convert based on the video, they're doing it wrong.

Really, I have the feeling it's just an informational video that the OP and others are blowing out of proportion. Cooler heads should prevail on this, but somehow I doubt they will, because cooler heads rarely speak up in these instances, when they really should.

A) Western Society and Culture is fine, it's the exponential rise of power in capitalist entities that have nothing to do with that culture and society that are giving it such a bad stigma (and indeed warping it for profit). Much like a healthy diet fixing the issue will resolve the problems quite quickly.

B) Psychology is a beast. Religions have known about the intricacies of psychology for far longer than Science. While >some< people might not be influenced by various tactics of speech and bias, many people are. The trick tends to be to catch people while they are young.

I have nothing against people being nice, or believing in a god, but the communizing and monetizing of the whole thing has never (in the overall scheme) lead to good or at the very least has never led to as much good as would be achieved by each individual acting individually.

Largely because the preacher/pastor/whatever has an agenda and it rarely actually follows the bible (only a very-very-very-very small part of it. Sometimes less than a dozen lines read out of context)

Make porn, and instead of making videos about faith, make videos about optimism. The average viewer will receive the same cognitive benefits from optimism and not lose their Sundays or Money (both of which pieces of their lifetime).

TL;DR Kinda - Life is short, if there is a god that god will accept you or is not worth being in the afterlife with, so I wouldn't worry about life or death unless you aren't having fun and aren't being curious (always be curious).

 

[Wow they sure are generous with the usernames]

Everyone's jumping to the conclusion that this video is immediately conservative christian propaganda and a morally bankrupt to do. What the hell? None of you have any idea of what is in the content of the video, other than it is aggressively reaching out to people. OP: it honestly doesn't matter what we think of it. Try to get more information, i.e. what the content of the video would be, then make a choice. We can't pick what you're comfortable doing.

 

[Kakashi on crack]

I can tell you that a religious movie will pay you for a month, but a porn film will pay you for longer

Anyways, back on topic, yes, if both violate your wishes/beliefs, but no in the litteral sense.

Meh, it's your choice though, just looking at the pay aspect, the pom with make you more money, but also your reputation as that kind of director could also get out there.

 

[Mandalore_15]

Don't do it! It's a hard industry, in in film-making sticking to your principles is key. Most people in porn didn't want to do it but did so just to "pay the bills". Now they can't get work doing anything else.

Sometimes you have to ride out the rough times to get to where you want to be. Sure, make a few crappy films, at least people can appreciate that the cinematography is good. If you start making religious nut-job films, then people might start to assume that that's what you're all about. Considering the number of Jews in the film industry, you probably don't want that hanging over you. =P

 

[ultimateownage]

They aren't the same, but they are equivalent. Honestly, as long as the people in the porn aren't getting forced to do it or beaten then the porn is better than the propaganda. Filming people having fake sex is better in my opinion than filming a video to convince people Catholicism is great and all other beliefs should be dismissed. Your beliefs should mean more to you than filming two people naked, and your integrity even more than that.