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COLORS OF CHARACTER: AN ARTIST’S JOURNEY TO REDEMPTION

"Powerful Underdog Story of Redemption"

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What You Need To Know:

COLORS OF CHARACTER: AN ARTIST’S JOURNEY TO REDEMPTION is a documentary about painter Steve Skipper. With no training, Skipper breaks through the racism in the world of fine art. God radically saves Skipper from a notorious Birmingham, Alabama street gang, and his life is transformed. Emboldened with his newfound faith and his talent for painting, Skipper seizes the opportunities God provides and begins getting paid for his artwork. Skipper faces the difficult decision either to leave the gang and its lucrative business that he enjoys or ignore God’s will for his life.

COLORS OF CHARACTER shares interviews with role models and influential people in Steve’s life, including sports figures, faith leaders and civil rights icons. The use of supplementary footage and the acting in the reenactments of Skipper’s life sometimes distract from the story being told through the interviews. However, COLORS OF CHARACTER has a strong Christian, biblical worldview with powerful examples of redemption and trusting wholly on God. COLORS OF CHARACTER reenacts some of Skipper’s past involving drugs and gang violence, so MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for children.

Content:

(CCC, BBB, V, S, A, DD, M):

Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements:
Very strong Christian, biblical, moral worldview with powerful examples of redemption, trusting wholly on God and obedience, plus one man’s salvation is the crux of the story so church, faith, salvation, and providence are important themes, and there are mentions of prayer and following God’s Will

Foul Language:
No foul language

Violence:
Brief violence in reenactments of man’s life before his salvation, with brief bullying, brief shot of a gun, the documentary covers Bloody Sunday and other violence during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, and some old footage of the brawl is shown, but no blood

Sex:
An affair is mentioned

Nudity:
No nudity

Alcohol Use:
Alcohol briefly mentioned

Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse:
Before he is saved, a man’s job was to sell drugs to the faculty and students at his school, man is involved with selling drugs for his gang leaders, and it’s revealed the man got addicted to several drugs, but miraculously he experienced no symptoms of ever being addicted after being saved; and,

Miscellaneous Immorality:
Since the movie takes place in Alabama in the 1960s, racism is a common theme that plays a role in a man’s life.

More Detail:

COLORS OF CHARACTER: AN ARTIST’S JOURNEY TO REDEMPTION is a documentary about the life and journey of American painter Steve Skipper. The iconic sports painter recalls the story of his difficult upbringing and eventual success against all the odds. The documentary also interviews several mentors, friends and influential people who are a part of his story.

The documentary begins by weaving through a river with Skipper talking about his journey. The camera shows some of his detailed sports paintings and some of the figures who consider him to be one of the greatest sports painters ever, and the most prominent sports painter today.

Skipper is a successful painter. His unique ability to combine talent and passion didn’t go unnoticed by the NFL, College Football and Golf legends, who commissioned his artwork. However, some of them recall the harsh life that Skipper lived before his painting career and said they “cannot explain it.”

Next, the documentary picks up in the 1960s when Skipper was a child, and the Civil Rights Movement was nearing its peak. Skipper grew up in Alabama, but said he never realized what the Civil Rights Movement was until later. As a child, his brother and uncle were both talented artists, but neither pursued it as a career. His uncle felt as though he wasn’t allowed to be an artist due to the racism that was still happening at the time, specifically in the fine arts arena.

Skipper stopped pursuing art after joining one of the most prolific gangs in America. Originating in California, the young Skipper sold drugs to his classmates and teachers while attending one of the more prestigious high schools near his home. It wasn’t a group you could leave, but at first, Skipper didn’t want to go. He made more money than his teachers, had new clothes and new shoes, and quickly became one of the top gang members in his area.

Despite this, Skipper recalled being exhausted and that, somehow, God knew. He was sitting on a park picnic table one day, and a man started evangelizing to the group of gang members. Despite being interested, Skipper instinctively knew this man’s life was in danger and agreed to go to church with him if he would leave and stop his preaching.

While in the church, the sermon seemed to be addressed solely to Skipper. The pastor brought up details that only Skipper thought he knew. While at first this made him angry, he felt God calling him away from his life of crime. Emboldened by his new faith, Skipper did the impossible by telling his fellow gang members that he was out, and they let him leave without a word.

However, life as a born-again Christian was not miraculously marked by a quick and easy journey to fame. Skipper still struggled and experienced many setbacks. He distinctly recalls that when those hard times came, he listened to what God had to say and obeyed. When he did that, despite people saying he couldn’t “make it” due to his skin color or his background, despite his parents thinking he was crazy for turning down a scholarship, Skipper trusted the Lord, and the Lord was faithful to use Skipper to break down racial barriers and become one of America’s most influential artists.

COLORS OF CHARACTER: AN ARTIST’S JOURNEY TO REDEMPTION shares interviews with role models and influential people in Steve’s life, including sports figures, faith leaders and civil rights icons. The use of supplementary footage and the acting in the reenactments of Skipper’s early life sometimes distract from the story being told through the interviews. However, COLORS OF CHARACTER has a strong Christian, biblical worldview with powerful examples of redemption and trusting wholly on God. COLORS OF CHARACTER reenacts some of Skipper’s past involving drugs and gang violence, and there is mention of an affair. So, MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for children.

Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.


Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.


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