As I have been trying to think of
things to write about in this Lenten blog, I’ve searched out topics that I can
stretch for more than a day or two (thus the Baptismal Covenant). It’s not particularly easy cranking out 40
blogs in 40ish days. And I’ve
specifically tried to not write a bunch of these in advance. The point is to have something to write or do
every day and not slack off because I’ve got 10 blogs in the chute waiting to
be published.
This topic should provide me with
a few days of blogness.
A number of years ago, I did a
two night seminar at my church about Christ on Film (or Christ in Film). The story of Christ is, at first, easily
sellable. Most people know the story. When Miriam and Michelle recently went to the
ballet to see “Romeo and Juliet” I asked them what it was about and Michelle
laughed at me and said: “ha ha father.”
Most people know the story of the
Bible (Adam & Eve, Noah and the Ark, Moses, Ten Commandments, Red Sea,
David & Goliath, etc.) but the Bible is a bit unweildly. The story of Christ, though, fits well into
what we in the screenwriting community call the “Three Act Structure.”
Maybe that’s why the story, in a
lot ways, resonates on a basic story-telling level. There’s something intrinsicly by-the-book of
the story of Christ’s journey from baptism to ressurrection.
Breaking down the
three-act-structure splits out this way.
Hook - The Hook draws you into
the story with something that pulls questions out of you: Who is this?
What’s going on? Where is this
going?
If we start with Christ’s birth,
there are more questions than answers and if we jump to Christ’s baptism there
are more questions.
First Act - You learn who the
hero is and some sub characters, you possibly set up a subplot or two. At the end of the First Act your hero needs
to start their journey.
Christ’s story as he goes on his
fast and is tempted by the devil is an interesting twist to the first act. At this point we’ve also met some of his
disciples.
At the end of the First Act,
Christ begins his journey to Calvary.
We, as the audience knows that the hero has started his journey and that
his world is going to change.
Second Act - The journey begins
and there should be some victories but there is also the impending doom. The villain shows up, obstacles start to
appear. Conflict becomes stronger.
Jesus has some wonderful miracles
but, in the process, his reputation starts to filter to the authorities. Jesus begins to be a threat to the power
structure. The villain? Satan?
Judas? Roman Authorities? Jewish Authorities? In this act there appear to be multiple
villains, making the journey that much more dangerous and full of conflict.
During the 2nd Act, we
have something called the “All is Lost Moment” - it’s basically a point where
the hero comes face-to-face with death or the realization that if they continue
to move forward, they’re most likely going to lose their life.
What is the “All is Lost Moment”
in Jesus’ story?
In my opinion, this moment in
Jesus’ story is the death of Lazarus and Jesus’ bringing him back from the
dead. THIS is the miracle that is going
to fully wake up the authorities and a moment where Jesus realizes the power he
has through God. At this point the story
ramps up to the crucifixion which brings us to the Third Act.
Third Act - this is the climax,
where the rubber hits the road, the finale.
Your hero takes the last steps towards their journey where they either
succeed or fail.
In the Passion of Jesus it comes
at him from all fronts. Judas’
betrayal. Roman authorities, Pontius
Pilate, even his friends deny him. Our
hero is, literally, on his own at the end - save for a few friends.
With an intact three-act
structure, the story resonates in ways that people might not expect and pulls
us into the story in ways that all good stories pull you in.
Tomorrow will get into some films where Christ is featured.
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