July 2008
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Cover Story
Using Movie Scenes Legally
By Paul Herman
At the Men’s Prayer Breakfast tomorrow morning, Pastor Nolan is planning a brief message on Courage. He just rented the movie Gods and Generals and was very moved by the scene that shows General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson addressing the Confederate troops prior to battle. So Pastor Nolan asked his media volunteer to cue up the scene so he could use it as an illustration during his message.
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Editorial
Thank You for Your Emails
By Steve Hewitt
Thank you for the many emails we received with words of encouragement after the release of our first issue last month. I join many of you in the excitement you expressed due to the information we provided in this new publication. As a matter of fact, although I am the Editor, I am learning new things myself!
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Article
Can Batman Teach Spiritual Truth?
By Kean Salzer
What is it about Superhero films, like the current blockbuster The Dark Knight, that create such box office success? We know from industry reports that word of mouth is the main difference between a lackluster theatrical run and a smash hit. So the real question is this: why do superhero films engage our culture so much that viewers encourage their peers to also spend their hard-earned cash at the local Cineplex?
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Article
Avoiding Costly Pitfalls of Live Streaming
By Austin Moore
I was checking email one morning when my extension rang. The person on the other end of the line was very direct in his questioning to me. “Do you know how to stream live on the Internet?” I answered him, “Yes.” He then asked for several examples of clients that are streaming live. Of course, I pointed him to one that was to stream live that night. I told him to call me tomorrow if he was impressed with the live stream. Judging from his voice and his line of questioning I needed to prove to him I knew what I was talking about.
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Greg's Toolkit
How to get started:
By Gregory Fish
In my first article I detailed the journey that took me from being a kid with a camcorder to being a featured filmmaker on www.sermonspice.com. It's nice to know that when your video is in the top ten downloads; it is literally going out to thousands and thousands of people. That sort of distribution is mind-boggling, even in indie film circles. I certainly have no ambitions of ever participating in a film festival. Why, because my work is screened in churches on any given Sunday. It's an amazing extension of my ministry that I'm so glad to be a part of.
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Article
Microwave Praise
By Christene Jackman
When I say this phrase, “A thief in the night”, what images come to mind?
Perhaps a man dressed in black with a ski mask sneaking in through a window, or picking a lock in the darkness?
If you were a Jew living during the second temple time, the images in your mind would differ greatly. The Captain of the Temple was known as the “Thief in the Night.”
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Article
Daniel's Picks
By Daniel Temple
Hey everybody Daniel Temple here with some great flicks that I think you will love from deep inside the Sermonspice vault. Each month I will plunge deep into the Spice archives and find the jewels that inspire, challenge, or entertain me and hopefully you as well. Let's get started:
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Article
Talents for the Talented
By Stewart Redwine
Is the lack of a production budget keeping you from producing? If you’re sitting around waiting for “big money” remember the words of rapper, The Notorious B.I.G., “Mo money, mo problems.” Instead of solving problems, money simply adds fuel to the fire. If you have no money, you have no problems, or at least fewer problems.
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Special Feature
Welcome Video on Ministry Sites Adds Personalization
By TaylorWorks
I make contact with Christian technology/Internet/video companies almost daily. It is always a pleasure to hear about how these companies started, their zeal for ministry, and their present services and accomplishments. Recently I discovered TaylorWorks, Inc. a Network Design company located in Longwood, Florida. As we chatted, we talked about Christian Video Magazine, and they shared that the most sought out feature from their clients is a “Welcome Video” on the home page. A few years ago, it seemed that everyone wanted to have a Flash graphic intro that sought to “wow” their visitors. Now, however, their ministry clients are seeking a welcome video, providing immediate information about what the site has to offer. People want interaction, and a welcome video can make a quick introduction, give a real human face to your site, and immediately open a line of communication.
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Article
Have You Tapped Your Competitive Advantage?
By Terry Wilhite
Video production for purposes of advancing the Great Commission is vastly different from shooting wedding videos, creating television commercials or producing the nightly news. Many of us in multimedia ministry come from these type backgrounds and that can be a great thing. In addition, most of us who are in ministry realize (or should) that we have the most important message – that “God loves you, proven through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ”.
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Article
Video Conferencing for Churches
By Danny Nix
Recently we had a fairly new company come into our office and demonstrate for us their new videoconferencing equipment. I was amazed at its potential and capabilities. HitCast Unified Conferencing is one of the new players in the video conferencing field. HitCast can operate on regular high speed internet. This saves you money on phone line and usage charges. I like to think of HitCast as video conferencing on steroids.
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Article
Bring on the Popcorn
By Chris Crowder
When you go to the local cinema to see the latest blockbuster, the movie is only part of the entertainment. You always enter a little early, sit down with the popcorn, fizzy drink, noisy candy wrappers, and wait… for the previews. Now, your Pastor might not approve of the popcorn, fizzy drink or candy, but the previews – or as we call them, video announcements – are a relatively new concept that is becoming more and more popular with churches around the country. And unlike many movies today, they’ll be completely wholesome, free to watch, and extremely popular!
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