"Hollywood is a place where they'll pay you a thousand dollars for a kiss and fifty cents for your soul." – Marilyn Monroe For many Christians, the famous Hollywood hills sign is a symbol of the worst of American culture. To them, the movie industry draws the innocent into its vacuum of moral decadence and crashes them upon the rocks, having compromised their values and beliefs. How could any believer actually want to be a part of the entertainment world? How could they possibly survive once there?
Meet DeVon Franklin. He is the vice president of production with Columbia Pictures and, yes, a devout Christian. His new book,
Produced By Faith, outlines how he—and you—can be successful no matter where you go while never compromising your faith. I spoke with the 30-something executive by phone.
What first drew you to Hollywood?
When I was nine, my father died of a heart attack at age 36. Part of my therapy was going to film and movies. It actually planted a seed for me. [I thought] ‘How can I be behind the camera? How can I help create those images? How can I be a part of that process that is able to facilitate change in the world?’ Going through such a difficult experience really was what got me the most interested in Hollywood and pursuing a career in film.
Is that what's kept you in Hollywood?
Definitely. I feel that part of my purpose in life is to make movies. [It’s to] make films that challenge the way that we think, will inspire us, will give us hope, will empower us.
What are the factors that go into whether you push a film or turn it down?
One, what's the commercial prospect of the film? You want a movie that has a high-concept idea, something that you believe will actually work, that people will actually go see. Then, as an executive, what are your tastes? [I ask] do I fundamentally get where the target is for this film? And can I help champion this film to help it get there? If the answer is yes, then it's usually something I will advocate.
Continued on page 2: 'We can only control two things...' »
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