Seriously. Sly and I talked about his upcoming movie. OK, so it was really just Sly doing the talking… and it was a conference call with who knows how many hundreds or thousands of other people on the line, but it was interesting never the less for several reasons.
Let me begin with some background:
Yesterday, out of the blue I got a marketing email from BuzzPlant (I’ve posted it online) inviting me as a so-called “leader in the faith and family community” to join Sylvester Stalone in a live conference call in which he will talk about his upcoming movie, Rocky Balboa. It was kind of odd because it was sent to a bogus email account I had set up years ago that forwards to my main email address. It must have gotten on somebody’s list that was purchased or rented by BuzzPlant. I have a great interest in new, innovative marketing ideas, so I figured what the heck, at the very least it will be educational. Plus the email promised some free promotional stuff.
The conference call was hosted by Paul Lauer, director of marketing for Motive Entertainment. They did marketing for the Passion and Narnia movies. Jud Wilhite, Senior Pastor of Central Christian Church in Las Vegas, moderated the conversation with Sylvester Stalone.
Sly talked about his motivation for doing the movie, a little about the parallels between the story and his own life, and about how the Rocky series has been a story of faith and overcoming your past. He talked a little about his own spiritual journey and wanting to have a spiritual message in this movie. It was interesting.
The obvious question, though, is: was this genuine?
Hollywood has done a 180 when it comes to Christian values in the movies. The movie studios used to scoff at Christians and Christian values and constantly push the envelope of decency. But with the tremendous success of The Passion of the Christ, Hollywood took notice. OK, so maybe it wasn’t a complete 180. It’s not as if the studio directors have all had a spiritual conversion experience and have stopped making trashy movies. But at least they are paying attention to Christian values and realize there is a large audience for values movies.
Where it gets real interesting is how this collides with the latest trends in marketing. Mass marketing is on decline. The days when you could reach the entire country by doing a TV blitz on the big 3 networks is over. Furthermore, people are increasingly skeptical of traditional advertising. So marketing is going old school. It’s going back to word of mouth. I could write a whole series of articles about this trend and maybe sometime I will, but for the time being if you’re interested you can check out the book Applebee’s America by Ron Fournier, Douglas B. Sosnik, and Matthew J. Dowd
Anyways, the strategy behind this new old way of marketing is to create a buzz by giving opinion makers a sneak peek and some free stuff in the hopes that they will tell their friends, family, co-workers, or blog audience 😉 about whatever it is they’re marketing. So, that’s what this conference call was all about – creating word of mouth buzz among Christians. They even created a whole website at RockyResources.com to further propell the social marketing of the movie.
The optimist in me would like to believe that Sly is genuine about his faith (he certainly sounded genuine on the phone) and the movie studios are genuinely trying to produce movies that support and uphold my Christian values. The skeptic in me wonders if Hollywood has gone from scoffing at Christians to using us for their own financial gain. Maybe it’s a little of both.
What do you think? Post a comment and share your thoughts.
28 Comments
I think that Kathy Morris is missing the point. Mel Gibson was never asked about John 3:16 because he believes salvation is in his religious affiliation. Therefore, it would be impossible to believe John 3:16. As far as alcoholism is concerned, I would just like to say something for people to think about. The Lord's Word says that we are not to drink in access. If we do something that is against the Lord's Word, is that not sin? We have become so accepting of sin that now we want to call it a disease instead of sin. Sin is sin, no matter how we as sinners want to look at it. Society may be accepting of it, churches may be accepting of it, but if God says it is sin, who are we to say "no, it's not". I believe that we are to pray for others, try to restore the fallen brethren, but not become numb to what sin is.
As far as Sly Stalone, Mel Gibson, etc. I truly believe that if they are saved people, then they would not be in Hollywood for the fact that Hollywood is the largest promotor of, yes you guested it, sin.
You see, at one point Christians were close to God and far away from the world. The world went farther away from God and the Christians equally went farther away from God, but not any nearer to the world. The state in which the world used to be, is where the Christians are now. Still not any closer to the world, but much farther away from God. How sad! Let us get our minds cleared, focus our eyes and look at Jesus. Can you see Him? Need a telescope? or is He right there with you? Long distance relationships are so difficult, lets try one that works, up close and personal.
there is a fine line between seeing a person as he/she is, or does, and judging…and it is NEVER our place to judge…that is in the Word…and, we do not go to Church, we do not accept salvation, because we are GOOD ENOUGH…we do so because we NEED the Lord…i need Him as much as Sylvester Stallone does, as much as Mel Gibson does…if i say otherwise, i lie…because there is only one perfect man, and that is Jesus
TJM – You said:
“I believe that all these movie stars are a big joke.”
You really believe there is not a single Christian in the movie industry? Or were you perhaps exagerating a bit? What about someone like Kirk Cameron:
https://www.christianitytoday.com/tc/2003/002/1.20.html
“I truly believe that if they are saved people, then they would not be in Hollywood for the fact that Hollywood is the largest promotor of, yes you guested it, sin.”
Are you suggesting Christians should concede the entire American media and entertainment industry to unbelievers? Wouldn’t that approach guarantee all music, TV shows, and movies be anti-Christian? That seems counter productive to me.
What about Jesus command that we are to be salt and light to the world?
I would suggest you google “Christians in Hollywood” and look at the evidence of Christians who are trying to make a difference for Christ in the entertainment industry.
http://www.worldmag.com/articles/10983
http://www.beliefnet.com/story/42/story_4210_1.html
It is nice to have such a wonderful guy on the net. I think he is to be trusted. and as a rider to that, it will be nice to have such figures as Sly who are christians in hollywood to be brouth to public notice for christian audience. they can serve as source of encouragement for many especially those of us who watch them just on screen- I MEAN IN MOVIES. Their presence in Hollywood has to make a remarkable difference in the kind of influence that that media organization has had on the world. they are better be true christians or let us know if there is any christian in hoolywood.Help us to be able to coverse with these people once in a while. It will be a moral boost to us too. thanks for the Idea.
I guess nobody is familiar with, a little leaven, leaveneth the whole lump.
I never said every actor was not a Christian, just speaking in general.
By the way, Kirk Cameron tried by making those Left Behind, but those were just fiction, lots of things were not even close to what the Scriptures says.
Anyway, back to the purpose of my response, we are to live in the world, but the world is not supposed to be in us. You let a little leaven in, the Bible says, it will corrupt you. Is God’s Word not telling us the truth?
I do hope that Sly has come to the saving grace of God and it is Gods job to judge their hearts. We need to pray for them and take them at their word and watch for the fruit.
When it comes to opinions such as TJMs, it bothers me deeply. I work in the Hollywood crowd and in the film industry and I know without a doubt that I have been saved by the blood of my Lord, Jesus.
So if a little leaven, leaveneth the whole (thats if you let it become your life)then why are you on the internet, because it is mostly used for PORN and child abusers. Or if you beleive it is not, you lie to yourself. So crawl into a hole and hide till the second coming or go into the world and yell from the mountain top ( or the HOLLYWOOD sign ) Jesus is Lord. I will do the latter.
Its very heartening to see the responses, glad to see people have hung to their faith in the Master. Faith is what making you and me write these messages, otherwise which would have been dismissed as ‘just another forum’. Passion of the Christ was an eye-opener, its success was due to the mass realization or search for the truth. It shook Hollywood, as God always did when things got too far…and Hollywood is such a wretched place with absolutely no sense of morality. Its good to see that Sly is atleast considering a spiritual theme to it….which could change lives or make people think about their lives. God bless mankind….In His precious Name.
Christians SHOULDNT BE in Hollywood!!!!
Really thats like saying Christians shouldnt be in Africia because it is a country that practices witchcraft!!!!!!!!!
Come on people “GO INTO ALL WORLD AND PREACH THE GOSPEL”
Jesus sat and talked with sinners on a daily basis. What would you have said if you were living in Jesus time and he forgave the women at the well…would you have said, “Sin is sin and Jesus should have never talked to her”? The Bible is timeless therefore it can and should be applied to living today.
Let his fruits show his faith. We have NOOOOO business or place to judge S.S.
Wouldnt it be interesting if there was a camera in your home that showed your every move and sin that you committed…WOULD Christians still call you a Christian or would they say, “A CHRISTIAN WOULD NEVER DO THAT”?
Read Stephen Baldwins book “The Unusual Suspect”, and that will give you a great prespective on Hollywood Christians. By the way Ravi Zacharias backs his book!
GOD IS GOD AND WE ARE NOT!
I do believe Mr. Stallone is genuine as Michael Landon Jr is as well..
Some people in Hollywood are in the acting, writing and directing business.. But whatever business your in does not mean you can not and do not believe..
Mr. Stallone has had a lot of hardship in his life and does not adversity bring us closer to our Lord?
I have been his latest movie and thought it was wonderful.. It teaches us there is a better way.. through Faith and Values.
Being an Actor and a Christian in a place like Hollywood is a great place and a good forum to be able to witness to others and draw them closer to god..
I stand by Mr. Stallone I do believe he is faithful to Christ and Is a Christian..
TJM,
Did not Christ spend His time with sinners? Did He not proclaim it is the sick who need doctors?
I think anyone out there who is going to judge Sly should stop for a moment and think about this… Whoever is without sin can cast the first stone! Before the room empties, remember that being a part of God’s Kingdom has nothing to do with some religious experience (ie. quoting the sinners prayer and then going on with life as if nothing has changed). It has to do with a deep and private relationship with God. From what I have read, Sly has a private relationship with God that appears important enough to him to stick his neck out into the very public world — and share his faith! I speak Peace & Blessing into your life brother Sly! God is our only judge — not some bloggers who cannot see inside a man’s heart.