Spreading the Good News at the Critics’ Choice Awards

Spreading the Good News at the Critics’ Choice Awards

By Dr. Ted Baehr, Founder and Publisher

There are many awards ceremonies prior to the wonderful MOVIEGUIDE® Annual Faith & Values Awards Gala & Report to the Entertainment Industry. Just after the Golden Globes is the Critics’ Choice Awards. Many times I nominate movies with faith and values and those do not get in to the selection at the Critics’ Choice Awards. Instead, the Critics’ Choice gives the award to a movie or entertainment which is more in line with Hollywood’s standards, rather than what the 170 million Christians who go to church every week consume.

That said, the atmosphere is usually very welcoming at the Critics’ Choice, and the opportunities to be an ambassador for the Good News are many.

At the red carpet, Evy Carroll, my daughter, and I had an opportunity to talk to several of the people who were coming. The sole of Evy’s shoe detached, and some wonderful stylist got some glue out of her bag and some tape to repair Evy’s shoe. She was an angel, and I commended her with the fact that she was a miraculous part of God’s Good News.

I discussed with Kevin Feige, the head of Marvel, that our Report to the Entertainment Industry shows that the more sex and foul language you put in a movie or entertainment, the less money it makes. Since Oprah Winfrey and I are connected through a good friend, David Sams, who helped launch her career, we got to talk about him and the Good News. When Harrison Ford began his career, it was toward the tail end of my father’s career, which gave us a platform for addressing the fleeting nature of Hollywood stardom. Robert DeNiro, whose political opinions are opposed to most Christians, and I are on the board of the American Theater of Actors, which is one of the most prominent theaters off Broadway in New York City, thus giving us plenty to discuss. Will Farrell’s breakthrough movie, ELF, was produced by one of my favorite friends for whom Will is eternally grateful for his big break. Mark Ruffalo starred in one of the year’s best limited series, ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE, which is very anti National Socialist, and an allegory of all the light we can’t see in the person of God Himself. Although that series was not recognized by The Critics’ Choice, Mark said he’s gotten more good comments about that role than any others. Margot Robbie was very excited about my praying for her and the fact she wanted to be real and have children. There were many other opportunities at the Critics’ Choice Awards to be a blessing in the Entertainment Industry.

Therefore, I want to thank all of you who help us with your prayers and giving to bring the light of the Gospel into the Entertainment Industry as part of our mission to redeem the media for the benefit of our children and grandchildren.