Working at a Christian school, I am constantly told by well intentioned people about new media ventures that are supposedly Christian themed or family friendly. The problem is they are generally poorly written, poorly produced, and poorly acted. “Angel” studios is trying to ride the wave of success they had with “The Chosen,” but so far their follow up efforts have been sophomoric at best.
The irony is that TV and movies have had powerful Christian stories written by Jewish and even atheist writers… history is full of “very special” Christmas episodes of sitcoms written by people with last names ending in -berg or -stein. A good story is a good story, regardless of the writer. And a writer focused on something other than telling a good story (i.e. telling a family friendly story) is doomed to stink.
The Deadwood TV series is among the most moral and Christian stories ever told, but I suspect if David Milch ever heard me say that, he’d punch me in the face. Milch sets out to tell stories… he cares little for how I might interpret them or what my personal takeaway might be. By contrast, “Left Behind” (all versions of it) is an amoral and unchristian mish-mash because the writer couldn’t write his way out of a paper bag; the fact he’s a Christian doesn’t factor into it. Left Behind has gaping plot holes, horribly stiff and unconvincing dialogue, and whole sections of all-consuming nothingness. I’m a God-fearing man, and I’ll take a well crafted tale from a nonbeliever over garbage from a devout theist any day.
Ben Shapiro has no discernible skills. His life experience is less evolved than an octopus in a jar in an underground bunker. He cannot articulate a basic persuasive argument; I am skeptical that he can tell time. He has no business being the backbone (creatively or financially) of any media venture. Which probably means he will earn millions of dollars doing it while people with genuine talent struggle to scrape together the money to buy a cup o’ soup.