Exciting news!

CROSSFLIX SIGNS A DEAL WITH TNM Production house

In January 2019, a fast growing Christian movies streaming site signs a deal with The New Man movie productions, which sees their feature film Beyond Natural Eye added to their list of movies. This comes as a great encouragement to the entire production team who are grateful to God for such a brilliant opportunity and exposure to bring our inspiring and faith-building movies to a much larger audience. As someone once said, “we are nothing but pencils in God’s hands”.

While ideas do sometimes get stolen, it doesn’t happen as often as you’d think, and it’s something that worries beginner writers much more than experienced professionals. (What follows is a very general guide to the legal situation, but if are concerned, as with any other legal matter you must consult an experienced media lawyer).

The first thing you need to know is that there is no copyright in ideas, only in how they are developed and recorded in some form (written, photographed, etc).

You should not talk about your ideas too freely until you have developed them as fully as possible. In any case, you are unlikely to find even development funds for them until you have written at least one draft of the script (see below). Furthermore, too much talk can lessen the pressure on yourself to finish the writing. However, once the script is written, you will need to pitch it. Don’t over-agonise about the risks. Everyone pitches. If you pitch to responsible, legitimate industry professionals, the chances of them stealing an idea you have already developed to script is small.

If you are really concerned, then ideas can be covered by the law of confidentiality. Politely make it clear that your pitch is made in confidence, perhaps in a letter before or after the meeting. But don’t be aggressive or legalistic – it looks amateur.

Anything you have developed, eg: written down in detail, from synopsis to script, is however covered by the law of copyright. The more detailed the better. Your rights are automatic – you don’t even need to put the copyright symbol on. However, if you think your script has been plagiarised you will need to be able to prove you wrote yours first.

Again, this doesn’t happen often, but if you are worried there are a couple of things you can do in advance. You can post yourself your script in a sealed jiffy – taped over with signatures over the tape to show it has not been tampered with. Make sure you use a postal service that registers the date of delivery and keep it unopened. If you ever need it for legal reasons, you will need to open the envelope in front of a lawyer. There are also organisations which will receive and register your script for a small fee. Google “script registration” to find one that suits you.

 

Written by Charles Harris

(With permission by  www.euroscript.co.uk)

Movie/Drama Ministers please take note!

After suffering an epic defeat, satan (creation’s enemy) left (fled from) Jesus for a more opportune time, scripture tells us. Satan’s strategy in spiritual warfare against the Believers hasn’t changed. He is still very much in the business of seeking that ‘opportune time’, which calls for soberness and vigilance on our part.

When it seems like you have overcome, and it seems like there is no more waylaying by spiritual oppositions and it appears that you can finally take a breather; well, sorry to crash in on your party, but the enemy only runs away for a while and like a crafty serpent will attempt a come-back after he has sought a more opportune time.

It is very easy and tempting to relax after any victory, but real conquerors as the Spirit of God ministers to me are those who win ONE battle and ready themselves in case of ANOTHER. Yes, our moments of overcoming should be a time to get deeper with

the Lord and stay guarded; certainly not the time to fold our arms, sit idle and relax; for he who thinks he stands should take heed lest he falls (1 Cor 10:12).

Indeed, it is by the power of God that we are standing but the fact that ‘standers’ are the devil’s major target makes it crucial that we don’t wallow in undue gloating. We must realise that every victory must be accompanied with further sensitivity in the Spirit, which is the ‘taking heed’ part; for the enemy knows that it is more painful and the rippling effect more resounding when a man or woman falls from a position of strength, therefore an opportune time he will seek. Yes, he will war against every risen giant within us. GOOD NEWS is that no matter how many times he keeps coming back like an unrestrained animal, God guarantees our victory always (Psa. 34:19, Jas 4:7, Isa. 54:17).

Overcoming the battles of life is the lot of every believer, but spiritual strategy must be in place. Knowing who the real enemy is will help us to identify what kind of battle we are in, and knowing the battle in which we are in will help us implement the right strategies through the word of God. More importantly, also, knowing the God you carry daily will give you undeniable victory and hope (Dan 11:32).

Since we are constantly on the (spiritual) battlefront as ministers in drama and films, we must develop a personal, prolonged, Anti-Sunday-Only relationship with the Holy Spirit. For in such alliance is true REST and VICTORY.

 As drama ministers, these true words should not be far from our heart; seeing that our service itself is spiritual warfare. As I am always fond of saying: WE OUGHT TO FIRST BEMINISTERS BEFORE WE ARE ACTORS!

BEYOND NATURAL EYE  – (Film Review)

By Desiree Wisekal (Christian Film Database, LLC.)

 

This is a story about temptation, trust and prayer, with a great message for those seeking marriage.  Here were some highlights:

• When God closes one door, he opens another….. Sometimes we need things to come to an end in one area for us to notice the next direction in God’s path for us.
• We need to trust that God knows beyond our understandings, and can see right to the end of each path we take….. We may not always understand in the moment, why things happen the way they do – especially when it goes against what we have planned and hoped for ourselves.
• There is nothing we can do, that is more powerful then prayer….. Luke 18:27 But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
• A nice ending, reminding us to always be patient for God’s plan….. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. – Romans 8:28

 

 

Although not yet attained, our key aim at TNM Ministry is to continue steadfastly in yielding to the converting power of God’s law (His Word), knowing Christ and making Him known. We long to first be seen as (drama or movie) Ministers before we are seen as (drama or movie) Actors. This is not merely in terms of title but of deeds. For whoever acts through the ministry of drama is indirectly a minister of the Word/Gospel albeit through visuals, and it is the deeds that give a true definition. By their fruits, they shall be known!

Why were the Christians so called, in Antioch? The first time that a group of people saw the disciples of Jesus and labelled them ‘Christians’ was for no other reason than their deeds. The disciples lived, breathed, healed, loved, forgave, oozed out divine power, talked, behaved, and maybe even walked like Christ, so no other befitting description would the Antiochians use other than ‘Christians’.

What are we being called today, and why? What are we oozing today in our daily walk with the Lord? More specifically, in our respective kingdom assignments and ministries, be it drama, choir, ushering, prophetic, teaching, pastoring, and so on; what virtues are we oozing or failing to let live?

When you act based on your gift, people may applaud you; but is God applauding you on account of how you have allowed the unction of His anointing to function through you?

Gift is but a shadow of the real deal – the Anointing! Yes, Gift only bears a semblance of the Anointing but is not the same as it. Everyone can be gifted enough to duplicate an act, but not everyone can duplicate the ‘anointing’.

The anointing of the Holy Spirit is what makes the difference in any ministry. Seek therefore the sure anointing of God more than the misleading approval and deleterious applause of men. Human approval is ephemeral and can fade without even a prior hint of departure, but anointing is lasting!

The anointing can turn a simple drama or movie into a power machine that breaks and converts souls. That is where we want to be at TNM, and that is where you should desire to be as well in your life and ministry.

As inferred from 2 Timothy 4:5, let us DO the work of the ministry, and quit the mere acting!

DON’T JUST ACT, MINISTER!

Shalom!