Screenwriting or Life Lesson Class?

Though I don't think I am the best at it, it writing a movie kind of stresses me out, Screen writing with Laurie Deason has become my favorite class at APU. She so genuinely and tastefully and truthfully integrates faith and Christianity and the subject matter, in a matter of fact way.

I find myself taking academic notes in class and then on a separate sheet taking life notes. So I am going to drop some of her knowledge.

In every story grace MUST be offered, but it doesn't have to be accepted.

This is very much a writers note but look at it in the scheme of life. We are to give grace to others like God grants us grace, but they do not have to always accept that, and then that is between them and God.

The world "Beautiful" means: wholeness, harmony, radiance

We are told that beauty is subjective and that its in the eye of the beholder but that is not true. Beauty is objective but today's society has the wrong standard of it. If we look at beauty being wholeness, harmony, and radiance we can hold things to that standard and see beauty in all others and not just from the superficial society view point.

Be kind; everyone you meet is fighting a great battle

This is so true. Everyone you meet is going through a great battle. You don't know their story, you don't know where they have been or where they are, so be kind. Its like Cinderella says, "have courage and be kind".

"God gave me this kid so I'm going to make the decisions - thank you"

For the couple parents that read this! Do other people try to parent your kids, or give you unwelcome advice on how to raise them? Well, here is a kind come back for you to use next time. God gave the kid to you, so you get to make the decisions!

Christian is not a genre

Don't argue with me, it just isn't. If you are a Christian writer then your point of view will show up in your movie (or book or story or song or whatever you are doing). If you are an atheist your point of view will show up in your movie. The BEST "christian" movies are the ones that have a faith story, that have grace and sacrifice and redemption, without hitting you over the head with the gospel. The last thing I will say about this for now is look at the movies you consider typical Christian films (which again isn't actually a genre) and look at the villain. They are WEAK and easy to push around - now what does that say about our God? He is ALL powerful so give him the hard stuff!

The whole Bible is a romantic comedy rated NC 17

It starts with a guy and girl choosing the wrong person to be with but the guy follows her along through life anyway and then years later it ends with a wedding. And thing about it there is so much love and sacrifice and irony and stupidity and drama in the Bible!

When you tell a story don't tell your audience the meaning of it.

We had to share a credo - a story from our life that taught us something we know to be true (the be kind thing above was my profs Credo). But when we shared we weren't allowed to actually say what the credo, or meaning was. You have to let the audience figure out the meaning for themselves. What they get from your story may not be what you get from it, and that is a good thing.

We are all the sinner, we get the grace

She made us watch three clips from a three different movies and the first one we had to answer "what did you see", then the second "what did you feel", and the third "who were you". And the last scene was from a movie called "Crash" I challenge you to go watch the scene right now. Here is some background: At the beginning of the movie there was a drive by shooting and this little girl is super scared so her dad tells her he is sorry he forgot to give her his invisible protection cloak and so he gives it to her saying she will be safe now.

Here is the link to the scene she made us watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-iyxIincCI

Who do you think you are in this scene?

Spoiler: you are the shooter.

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~Be you

Rachel