Pornography Kills Again
January 23, 2013

By David Outten, Production Editor The body of 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway of Colorado was found dismembered October 10. On October 23, Austin Sigg’s mother turned him over to the police as the killer. Sigg had been receiving treatment over the last two years for a pornography addiction. The case of Jessica Ridgeway is far from unusual. In 2009, there were 65,964 cases of child sexual abuse reported in the United States. German research found that 60 percent of men and 10 percent of women watch porn at least weekly (most daily). A study by IconKids & Youth found that 30 percent of girls and boys see porn before the age of 11. By age 17, 93 percent of boys and 80 percent of girls have seen porn. Therapist Tabea Fretag, a ...

Aurora Fallout
January 23, 2013

Aurora Fallout: Batman Shooting May Decrease Movie Attendance, Study Shows By Ben Kayser, Staff Writer Despite some conflicting research, a new study by Front Porch Research shows that the Aurora, Colo. shooting at this summer’s new Batman movie may lead to decreased attendance at movie theaters. Front Porch Research surveyed 500 adults and 300 “tweens” between the ages of 12 and 15 after the shooting. Their survey reveled that 34% of adults and 30% of children between 12 and 15 were either “somewhat more” or “a lot more” concerned about violence in movies and TV after the shooting. The survey also found, “19% of tweens and 18% of adults claimed that they would see fewer movies at the theater. If 19% of the 22...

Dr. Baehr In India
January 23, 2013

DR. BAEHR IN INDIA Dr. Ted Baehr, author and founder of Movieguide®, is globe-trotting over the next few weeks, spreading media wisdom.  If you are, or know of anyone, in India, please pass along this invitation. Dr. Baehr has just returned from Russia. ...

Dr. Baehr in South Korea
January 23, 2013

Dr. Baehr has set out on worldwide travels to spread media wisdom.  If in South Korea or if you know someone who is, you don't want to miss this important Family conference. ...

Book Guide: Unlocking Children’s Potential
January 23, 2013

The MISTER D. book will give great encouragement to children. Having been Director in charge of the TV Center at the City University of New York and Chairman of the Christian Institute for the Study of Media at the "Center for the Arts, Religion and Education” of the Graduate Theological Union at the University of California at Berkeley, I have spent years teaching and researching cognitive development theory and media literacy. With that in mind, I commend the book MISTER D. It will help children get over their doubts and fears, and unlock their potential. Hollywood star Kevin Sorbo proclaimed, “Being a proud father of three children, bedtime reading is my favorite part of the day with them.  Mister D delivers in a big, fun, colorf...

Don’t Be Con-Fused
October 19, 2012

By Dr. Ted Baehr, Publisher Christian investors are starting to look to produce feature films and entertainment that will both give them a return and influence the culture. Since we have been sounding this trumpet since 1978, we’re glad that people are starting to take the culture seriously. It’s true that a few movies made outside of the Hollywood system have succeeded beyond anybody’s dreams, including FIREPROOF and, of course, THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST. Most independent movies, however, average less than a million at the box office. A few eke out a little bit more, but the key to success is understanding the rules of the Entertainment Industry. No one reading this article, I hope, would hire a janitor, a bookkeeper,...

Lighting The Way
October 16, 2012

LIGHTING THE WAY: The Kairos Prize for Spiritually Uplifting Screenplays Bring Light to Audiences as Winnings Scripts Head Into Production Dr. Ted Baehr, founder of MOVIEGUIDE®:  The Family Guide to Movies and Entertainment, announced today that the Kairos Prize for Spiritually Uplifting Screenplays winner UNDER THE APPLE TREE, written by Matthew Hill and Landon Johnson, will be heading into production this fall, making it the third script to be produced this year. By all accounts, the Kairos Prize, which seeks to champion first-time and beginning screenwriters of faith filled scripts, is having a banner year. Supported by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation and presented annually by MOVIEGUIDE®, the Kairos Prize has ...

Trial and Error, and Prayer
October 16, 2012

Trial and Error, and Prayer: Behind the Scenes of THE AMERICAN BIBLE CHALLENGE with Pastor Troy Schmidt By Jeff Holder, Web Editor Movieguide® sat down with a friend of the ministry, Troy Schmidt, the writer on the GSN hit game show, THE AMERICAN BIBLE CHALLENGE. When not writing questions and jokes for Jeff Foxworthy, Troy is the Campus Pastor at First Baptist Church Windermere in Orlando and has a long history of writing for childrens animation, notably the Max Lucado HERMIE DVD series as well as the GLO interactive Bible encyclopedia. Plus, way back in Movieguide®’s early days, Troy was a movie reviewer! Movieguide®:  AMERICAN BIBLE CHALLENGE has become a hit. What do you think is the reason for the success? Troy:  T...

Rumor, Spin and Ignorance
October 16, 2012

Rumor, Spin and Ignorance: How We Lost History and Common Sense By Dr. Ted Baehr Not too long ago, a major international encyclopedic publisher asked me for an article on fantasy and film. When I wrote about the early days of Georges Melies and his fantasy films, including A TRIP TO THE MOON (1902), in the early 1900s, the point person, an esteemed Ivy League professor, insisted there was no fantasy in movies before A WIZARD OF OZ (1939). This academic myopia was refuted soon thereafter when Martin Scorsese came out with his great movie HUGO (2011), which featured the story of Melies. No one wants to blame any particular academic institution for such revisionist history, mainly because we love education, which comes from the L...

Exploring Tim Burton’s Imagination:
October 16, 2012

Behind the Scenes of FRANKENWEENIE By Evy Baehr, Associate Editor Tim Burton’s newest film, FRANKENWEENIE, is coming out Friday. The movie is about a boy, Victor, and his love for his dog, Sparky. When Sparky dies suddenly, Victor is crushed, but is able to do a science experiment and spark Sparky back to life. MOVIEGUIDE® had the chance to interview some of the cast and crew. Writer/Director Tim Burton Q:  This movie obviously took you back to your Burbank neighborhood. Why has it stayed with you? Tim Burton:  Yeah, I think any place where you are from it is part of your life. You don’t have to go look at the specifics, it’s just more like the memory of it. That was the interesting thing about this project, u...