By Jessilyn Lancaster
Managing Editor
Forty years ago, Dr. Ted Baehr built on his family’s Hollywood legacy to create Movieguide®, the media arm of Good News Communications, to use his extensive research to educate families about how to consume content and impact the box office with their media choices. With his wife, Lili, and their children, Baehr committed his life to ministry through movies.
The results are startling, with millions of people — consumers and creators alike — benefitting from Movieguide®’s advocacy work. Last year, Movieguide® touched 64 million lives through articles, reviews, videos, radio broadcasts, interviews, research reports, speaking engagements, and face-to-face interactions.
“It’s our prayer that, with each passing year, we’ll be able to report on increasing industry profits made on movies that uplift society, enrich people’s lives, and honor family, life and God,” Baehr says. “Of course, the bottom line can’t be measured in dollar signs or stars and pluses. It can be measured only in a society that moves in grace toward real truth, goodness, justice, beauty, and blessings.”
What began humbly in Atlanta in 1985 is now a worldwide phenomenon with readers and listeners from Singapore to Australia, from Indonesia to Argentina, and all the countries in between. Millions of people visit movieguide.org for uplifting articles, accurate review, and inspirational interviews. According to The Hollywood Reporter, 1 in 3 families uses Movieguide® to inform their viewing.
In addition to families, Movieguide® and Dr. Ted Baehr’s work has left an impression on entertainment industry players.
Movieguide® hosts an annual gala to celebrate the very best movies and television programs in the preceding year. At the gala, Baehr and the Movieguide® team present the Report to the Entertainment Industry that details how the highest-grossing movies in the box office are ones that reflect strong morals and biblical values.
Producer Dave Johnson says, “I’ve seen the Movieguide® Awards grow in stature, influence, and scope within the last few years. It’s gotten to a tipping point where most movie studio people want to attend. Many moviemakers know their movies will never be nominated for an Academy Award because they’re not perceived to be cool or hip enough among the club of Hollywood insiders. But, they know that Movieguide® recognizes and honors the movies that most Americans respond to. It’s increasingly being realized that the Oscars are way off to one side, but Movieguide® is mainstream. Ted Baehr’s facts and figures are increasingly hard to ignore since he makes his report each year. While the Hollywood left tries to twist the significance of the data, they’ve never been able to dispute the data.”
Johnson is a writer and producer for dozens of television shows, including SUE THOMAS: F.B. EYE, for which he won a Movieguide® Award.
Kingdom Story Company co-creator and director Andy Erwin echoes Johnson’s sentiments.
“What Movieguide® has done over the years is saying you don’t have to compromise your Christianity in order to create great art,” Erwin says. “For us, we serve an audience, we want to create a product that is safe for the whole family, something that celebrates those values that we all hold near and dear as Christians. But what we found is, when we find these stories that naturally have the power of redemption in them, this curious outside audience steps in and says, ‘What’s all the noise about?’”
Here’s what other people have said about Baehr and Movieguide® throughout the years:
Michael Clarke Duncan, actor: Kids are so influenced by what we do and say. No matter what we say, we are role models. Once you get on that screen, you are a role model and you have to conduct yourself like that on and off camera. It’s a shame that more people don’t take responsibility in that and show kids you don’t do it this way, do it this way. The awards are fantastic! You got a guy like Ted Baehr stepping outside of the box. You don’t have many rebels like that. Everybody just goes with the flow or they don’t worry about their fellow man. What he’s doing is great. I hope he continues to do it and I hope more people follow his lead.
Dave Peterson, producer: I just want to thank you again for your gracious invitation and hospitality during the Movieguide® Awards. Your efforts are clearly making inroads in the entertainment industry.
Candace Cameron Bure, actress and producer: I’m truly so blessed by you and your family’s commitment to the Gala, the website, and all the great information and data you give moms and dads all year long. Thank you for your leadership, your dedication, your boldness, and faithfulness. I learn so much from you.
Pat Boone, musician and actor: The Movieguide® Awards are just a light shining in what is becoming the gathering darkness, I think, in the movie industry. It does spread the word that good things can be rewarded. Good things can reap rewards.
Jen Lilley, actress: Attending the Movieguide® Awards and being part of such a meaningful celebration of truth, goodness, and beauty was and always is an absolute honor. Knowing that you are in my corner truly means more to me than you’ll ever know. Your unwavering commitment to uplifting faith and family in entertainment is both inspiring and deeply needed, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to support that mission in any way I can. Please know that I’m always cheering you on as well, and I look forward to staying in touch.
Paul Castro, screenwriter: One hundred thousand “thank you’s” for the sensational evening at the Movieguide® Awards. I was thrilled that my original screenplay/movie I wrote way back in March 2000, AUGUST RUSH, was fondly recognized. I was raised a Christian and served as an officer in our fine United States Navy. In 2006 through 2007, I was recalled to active duty serving Naval Special Warfare. When I returned I had a new appreciation for my craft as a writer. Often people told me nobody would be interested in heartfelt, family-friendly movies. I’m glad I chose to write what God guided me to write. In the mean time, I will keep on keeping on writing stories that actually spread good will.
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