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NPR recently ran a story about the (supposedly) exciting new “Christian movie industry.”

The story contained this quote:
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The Browser: News & links to raise your eyebrows & furrow your brow. New headlines may be added as the day goes on. Stay tuned.

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You’re welcome!

(Thanks to Jason Panella for finding this.)

The Browser: News & links to raise your eyebrows & furrow your brow. New headlines may be added as the day goes on. Stay tuned.

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Statement Regarding Buddy’s Health

Following his show in Baltimore last Thursday evening, Buddy Miller was not feeling well. After consulting doctors at Johns Hopkins Hospital, tests revealed some heart blockage. It was determined that surgery was needed right away. He is now resting and recovering and expected to be released from hospital shortly. Buddy and his family would like to thank all for their well wishes and prayers.

If you’d like to send wishes to Buddy you can send them to:
PO Box 120479, Nashville, TN 37212

Man oh man, do I have a case of the Monday morning blues.

More bad news for Americans who love to see great cinematic art.

Founded in 1965 by Dan Talbot, New Yorker has a legendary legacy, boasting a long-standing track record in international film distribution, bringing a staggering number of international auteurs to this country’s movie theaters over more than four decades. The company’s crucial role in establishing a lasting film culture in this country cannot be underestimated. A New York Times profile in 1987, marking a 14-week salute to the company at New York’s Public Theater, listed an illustrious roster of filmmakers whose films were released by the company: Ackerman, Bertolucci, Bresson, Chabrol, Fassbinder, Fellini, Godard, Herzog, Kieslowski, Malle, Rohmer, Rossellini, Sembene, Wenders, Schlondorff, and many others.

Tonight, every seat in my living room was full of movie fans.

We had good food, good drinks, and an amazing chocolate-raspberry pie.

But you know what we didn’t do?

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Thanks to Josh Hurst for the news. It sounds like we should all say a prayer for Buddy Miller, and I’m sure we should pray for Julie too.

Evidently, he’s recovering from a heart attack and emergency surgery

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090221/TUNEIN02/90221022/1005/ENTERTAINMENT

Tonight, the millions who tune in to the Oscars will hear dozens of short speeches.

A few people who have been blessed with incredible opportunities to do what they do best will go to the microphone, blink back tears, and thank the people who helped them do their work. While the Oscar winners will get the attention, their pictures plastered all over the news for the next 48 hours as if this statuette is actual confirmation that they are the best, the acceptance speeches will indicate, for a few fleeting moments, that it really isn’t about one glamorous celebrity. It’s about a creative community who made something good happen. It’s about a team effort that enabled them to contribute in a way that earned the appreciation of Hollywood. (For whatever that’s worth.)

It’s my favorite thing about the Oscars. I won’t be tuning in tonight. (I’m hosting a Boycott the Oscars party for dozens of moviegoers who would rather watch WALL-E, Shotgun Stories, The Dark Knight, Flight of the Red Balloon, and other films that actually deserve high honors. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the Academy blow it as badly as they did this year.)

I love to hear people give thanks to other people in public. I love it so much that I think I’ll host a little Oscar Speech party right here.

The spotlight is now on YOU.

Think back over 2008, or the past couple of months in 2009.

Think about the opportunities and blessings you enjoyed. Then think about all of the people who were involved in making that happen.

This is your chance. Thank them. In public. I don’t have Oscar’s audience of a bazillion viewers in the audience worldwide, but I do get, oh, between 1,500 – 2,500 readers a day… so that’s a decent audience for you. If the spotlight fell on you, and you had 30 – 60 seconds to thank people in your life for parts they played in 2008, who would you thank?

It’s okay if you cry. We’ll cheer anyway.

Make a quick list of four, five, ten people to whom you are grateful. Post your personal “speech.” Then contact the friends, family, colleagues, and others who you thanked. Give them this link. Let them know you mentioned their name in the spotlight.

I’m going to make a list of my own. If I receive 10 responses in the comments below, I’ll post it. Since we’re all here, let’s make something memorable out of it.

Gratitude. It does a body good.

And congratulations to everybody involved. Especially the Director.

I have this feeling that I’m going to spend the rest of 2009 waiting for a movie that impresses me more than The Class, which opened in Seattle today.

I may not find one.

Yes, that’s a huge, hearty recommendation.