 Free Christian Movies? by Angela Walker - Editorial "Free Christian movies" is a very popular online search term. With today's economy, consumers are looking to cut expenses wherever they can. Often, it's the entertainment budget that is cut first. Director/producer Kyle Prohaska [STANDING FIRM] has taken a strong stand against pirated films and it taking a lot of heat for it. When he finds a site showing his movie illegally, he fills out the necessary paperwork for a "Cease and Desist" order not just for his own film, but for others he knows are being shown illegally. Jump to..
Facebook Debate
How Do You Know?
Find a Trusted Site
Nothing Is Free Facebook Debate
In a recent Facebook post, Kyle was questioned by someone who asked, "Why not let the goal of sharing the Gospel be served by letting the greatest number of people possible see your film? I'm assuming you would say sharing the Gospel through your film is more important than making money off of it." The succinct response from another person compared that statement to asking a pastor to work for free. "No, we support that labor because those resources in the end help Kyle to produce more films, therefore reaching even more people for Christ. How Do You Know?
But what if the content you find is illegally provided? Do you know how to identify whether or not the producer or distributor has given their permission for a film to be shown online?
I think that's the most challenging piece of the puzzle. I can figure out the illegal ones on YouTube: they take a feature-length film and split it up into 10 segments. And rather than coming from a studio or a producer, they're from someone with a name like "ilikeblueunicorns."
However, not all sites are as obvious, and some even offer downloads or streaming videos as a blessing. Who are they blessing? Themselves? Their visitors? They're definitely not blessing the producer and those who invested in the movie.
Find a Trusted Site
If you find a film available as a download or streaming file from a reputable, well-known source like Netflix or Blockbuster, you can trust that they have the permission of the producer and have made arrangements to pay them for their work. If, however, it's an amateur site with poor design, chances are they have ripped the film from a DVD or took a video of their television screen while it was playing [Hint: A barking dog and running dishwasher in the background are dead giveaways!].
A good rule of thumb is: when in doubt, check it out. If you're not sure, and can't find information that legitimizes the source, turn around and walk away.
Nothing Is Free
We all like to get things free. But, as Kyle points out on his website [Click HERE to see his post], even free things cost somebody. I work for a producer and know many Christian film producers, and none of them are getting rich off of their films.
If we really want to support Christian movies, we must be willing to pay for them. Most are made by people who have invested everything they have because they want to create solid entertainment with a Biblical worldview.
If money is tight, consider a membership in a DVD rental program [Check ours out HERE]. Then you can watch a film before you buy it, and guarantee your satisfaction. The debate will probably continue to rage between those who want their entertainment without paying for it and those who make their livelihood in entertainment. I know which side I'm on. Do you? ©2011 ChristianCinema.com | 
