Greetings Everyone.
I am not a movie buff. Never have been and probably never will be. But, last night, Terri and I watched the Oscars. It is not the first time, nor will it be the last. It causes Terri and me to have some interesting discussions on trends within our culture, what this one segment of our society values and the length to which they will go to honor those who produce the movies watched around the world.
One of the questions I asked myself was “What does it take to produce the Oscar Show?” Here are some of the ‘fun facts’ that are publicly shared.
More than 3,000 — Linear feet of red carpet made in custom hue of "Academy" red
600 — Man hours to install and remove the red carpet, which is cleaned the morning of the show
The stage is 120 feet wide and 75 feet deep, and there is a 32-foot-wide elevator onstage that goes 50 feet down into the basement, to help with the changing of scenery
More than 5,000 — Production staff, broadcast technicians, stagehands, associate directors, stage managers, hair-and-makeup staff, costumers, performers, singers, dancers, musicians, stand-ins, ushers, pages, catering staff, security, building staff, Motion Picture Academy staff, valets, seat fillers and vendors
1,500 — Lighting instruments, along with 18 miles of data and power cable, that are used to light the show
All electrical power is provided by Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. In the event of a power outage, a dual UPS backup system is used, saving hundreds of hours of generator time and diesel-fuel use
More than 200 — Countries air the Oscars, many of them live
To capture the broadcast, 55 cameras are used across the Oscars, pre-show, digital show and international feeds. Plus, 12 broadcast mobile units and over 20 technical-support and office trailers are used in the production, and 14 miles of fiber optic cable are used to support the broadcast infrastructure
14,000 — PCR COVID-19 tests administered to cast and crew members ahead of the show, overseen by a 70-person COVID-19 team
Wow. And why? To promote their reflections on human life, share their views of what the world looks and ought to look like, honor those who have expended their time and energy to produce movies, and pat themselves on the back in grand style.
As I see the extent a secular agency will go to produce a show, I must ask myself, “How valuable is the message God has given me through Jesus Christ?” “Am I as committed to seeing someone become a disciple of Jesus as Hollywood is making someone a disciple of watching movies?” “How would I/do I present my message of God’s good news to a world that needs to hear what I am offering?”
And a couple of final questions:
If you were to give an Oscar to someone who has shown Jesus Christ to me, who would that person be? If they are still living, have you told them how valued they are in your life? If no, why not do it today?
Remember, you may be the only Jesus someone will ever see.
God bless you. Pastor Paul
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