Adventist Movie Series Based on ‘The Great Controversy’ Wins Film Award
by Adventist News Network
Monday night (August 19) the trailer for a drama series to be distributed on the Web sponsored by the Seventh-day Adventist Church made headlines at the first Geekie Awards in Hollywood. The Record Keeper, which dramatizes the epic struggle between good and evil, won the award for "Best Trailer" in a category which recognizes movies still in the final stages of post-production.
The Geekie Awards are a new thing in cinema recognizing the best independent productions with "geek-genre content, art, products and experiences." The organizers said the goal of the event "is to create an impact on mainstream media, putting the true geek culture in the spotlight as a collection of valid award-winning genres for storytelling and creation." An Adventist production group was among the first award winners at this new show.
Director Jason Satterlund and executive producer Garrett Caldwell accepted the award, accompanied by cast members Aris Juson and Jelynn Sophia. The award show was live-streamed from the Avalon, a historic landmark in Hollywood. “I feel so honored to be here,” Satterlund said. “We are excited to receive this response on a series that isn’t even out yet.”
“We can’t wait to show you the rest of the series,” Caldwell said, acknowledging the role of co-creator Rajeev Sigamoney and the two other executive producers, Ben Schoun and Delbert Baker, both vice presidents of the denomination's General Conference (GC). Web release of The Record Keeper series is expected to begin in October, producers said. Caldwell is an associate director in the GC communication department, an ordained minister who served as a pastor in Portland, Oregon, and the Washington DC area before joining the GC staff.
The Record Keeper follows the story of Cadan (JuneSoo Ham) and Larus (Dennis Hill), two angels who struggle to maintain their friendship after civil war breaks out in the universe. Another angel, Raina (Lindsay Frame), pursues an accurate record of events while trying to make sense of the chaos. The award-winning trailer shows Raina reacting as rebellion spreads to Earth.
The series echoes major themes from The Great Controversy, a book written in the last 19th century by Ellen G. White that chronicles God’s guidance throughout history. The films use the "Steampunk" genre, an approach to story-telling that mixes 19th century costumes, design and manners with science fiction. It features steam-powered machinery in an alternate world or fantasy setting.
The Record Keeper will resonate with people who may not otherwise come into contact with White's book or even the Bible, Caldwell pointed out. “The inspired insights that Ellen White provides in The Great Controversy make the compelling narratives of scripture even more relevant,” Caldwell said. “Many people are expressing interest in [White] as an individual and in her writings as a result of The Record Keeper project. We simply must consider continuing to tell these stories in this manner."
The Geekie Awards is the first award show recognizing the best independently-produced comic books, graphic novels, short films, Web series and more. The winning short promotional piece for The Record Keeper can be seen online:
https://www.thegeekieawards.com/the-record-keeper-2/
I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand I see this as a good witnessing tool to those who are worldly minded and driven by excitement and the quickfill media system that has basically dumbed down the entire planet and shorten the attention span of individuals, but on the other hand I see it as just playing into the hype that popular media has built up and will ultimately drive people even further from the truth. The line is blurred for me right now, until I watch this series completely for myself then I can better get a personal bias for or against. One thing is for certain that the trailer is enticing and it will reach many that otherwise would not have listened.
I see it as a better method of evangelism than what is generally done. However, it's not just the method but the motive and spiritual support done with it. By the fruits….
I view it as a sorry concession to the worldy penchant for entertainment. I saw the trailer months ago and was not at all favorably impressed. Catering to benumbed sensibilities is not the way to go and is counterproductive.
I'm sure some former SDAS would be surprised that SDAS are following the way of the world.
Maranatha
Truth Seeker: Would you rather we ignored these people with the "benumbed sensibilities" and let them die without any hope for eternity. Are they so dispensable that you wouldn't want to do anything for them even to attract their attention and thus give them a chance to think about another way? Or are we so afraid of the ways of the world as to lack compassion for such souls? I don't think that was Jesus' way in the NT who sought to be with sinners. I think the Lord would like to see His people use their creativity in life-saving ways.
Unfortunately, creativity is a much maligned concept. Allegedly creativity can win souls. It is the Holy Spirit that wins souls and this creativity excuse is not at all tenable. The Holy Spirit is promised to those who follow Jesus not to those who follow worldly trends.
Why not check the Bible and what it says about winning souls? This particular film is repugnant, IMO, to true believers and I have seen comments to that effect.
Maranatha
" It is the Holy Spirit that wins souls" An obvious truism that needs no discussion. It's just that humans are His instruments in any sort of evangelism. The Bible commisions us to take the Gospel to the world. Guess what? They didn't have film 2,000 years ago. But Jesus used stories all the time and used things that were familiar to the people of the time. I don't think there is a logical leg to stand on in by opposing this technology and symbolism. Read Revelation.