Some are suggesting a protest. But the problem with
this option is that it doesn't work. Any publicity is good publicity.
Protests not only fuel the box office, they make all Christians look
like idiots. And protests and boycotts do nothing to help shape the
decisions being made right now about what movies Hollywood will make in
the next few years. (Or they convince Hollywood to make *more* movies
that will provoke Christians to protest, which will drive the box
office up.)
Some suggest that we simply ignore the movie. But
the problem with this option is that the box
office is a ballot box.
The only people whose votes are counted are those who buy tickets; if
you stay home, you have thrown your vote away, and you do nothing to
shape the Hollywood decision-making process regarding what movies will
make it to the big screen.
Some suggest that we go see the
movie so we can be better prepared to discuss it, to "engage the
culture," so to speak. The problem with this option: No one's
listening. They think they know what we're going to say already.
But I'd like to offer another option.
On DVC's opening weekend—May 19-21—you should
go to the movies. Just go to another movie. That's your way of casting
your vote, the only vote Hollywood recognizes: The power of cold hard
cash laid down on a box office window on opening weekend.
Use your vote. Don't throw it away. Vote for a movie other than DVC. If enough people do it, the powers that be will notice.
The major studio movie scheduled for release against DVC is the DreamWorks animated feature Over the Hedge. The trailers look fun, and you can take your kids. And your friends. And their friends. In fact, let's all go see it.
Let's rock the box office in a way no one expects—without protests,
without boycotts, without arguments, without rancor. Let's show up at
the box office ballot box and cast our votes. And buy some popcorn, too.
Let's "othercott" DVC on May 19 by going to see Over the Hedge instead.
Read more at Church of the Masses.
Barbara Nicolosi is the founder and director of Act One, an organization whose mission is to train committed Christian writers to work in the Hollywood film industry.
