Dramatic Flood Movie

[Floodnut]

I posted something similar to this is the part that was open for everybody, and received many interesting responses, so here it is:

I am working on bringing about the production of a movie about the biblical flood. It is not set in the future, it does not involve time travel or transport. It simply begins about 100 years before the Flood when Noah has two sons, Japeth and Shem, and then takes the story to a conclusion after the flood as the family is making its way down from Aarat to find a place for a new home. It attempts to tell the story from a YEC perspective, with all the details of the world-wide catastrophe of the Flood. We hope it will be the "Mother of All Disaster Movies."


As a preliminary step I am working on telling the story as a graphic novel.

I need an artist. And all suggestions and input would be appreciated.

I know of course that at this forum I will find myself besieged with numerous comments and attacks against the view that the flood is literal. But I hope that there will some good input and perhaps even connections with people who can help with our Flood Film Website, or Art work for the novel.

I don't know if there is an umbrella icon, to suggest that I will need protection from the coming bombardment, but it does seem the site is dominated by those who reject YEC. But YEC is the premise of the film as we intend to make it, with a universal flood. Hopefully there will be more YECs here in the Christian only section.

 

[Floodnut]

And I am hoping to find someone to help with the artwork

 

[adam149]

Hey, good to hear someone thinking about that! It would be the biggest action/adventure/survival/disaster movie of all time if done right!

I've had thoughts about writing a script based on the idea as well (as well as ideas for a film about Abraham, Moses, Joseph, the OT prophets, Jesus, Paul, and the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in AD 70). Of course, great movies could be made of the church fathers, Calvin, and others.

I'd be happy to consult on the script, or anything else. My career goal is film and TV production (writing, directing).

 

[Uphill Battle]

The flood IS literal. (there... maybe they will pick on me instead of you....)

Film isn't my game, but make sure you put into account such things as dinosaurs (would have gone on the ark too!) less species than present (due to interbreeding since the flood, etc...) And the fact that it wasn't just water from the sky, it was the springs of the deep too. (thats all I can think of at the moment.)

 

[Floodnut]

Hey, good to hear someone thinking about that! It would be the biggest action/adventure/survival/disaster movie of all time if done right!

I've had thoughts about writing a script based on the idea as well (as well as ideas for a film about Abraham, Moses, Joseph, the OT prophets, Jesus, Paul, and the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in AD 70). Of course, great movies could be made of the church fathers, Calvin, and others.

I'd be happy to consult on the script, or anything else. My career goal is film and TV production (writing, directing).

There is in the industry favor toward topics of biblical and Christian interest (witness relatively well-done Passion, and the coming fiasco in the DaVinci Debacle). I am slowly steadily writing, and if you want to go to a site devoted to this project, check out my profile. I have had a working web site since December of 2000, but it is under construction now. We have a dedicated thread at the Narrow-way forum also.

What are you doing to reach your career goal? Are you doing intern work at a studio? Studying writing? Just writing? Keep at it.

I have a good bit of script/story complete, intending to do it first as a graphic novel. We also want to generate a power point show to make presentations in Hollywood. We have been invited out there, but I am not satisfied with the visual aspect of what I have to present.

I need to find concept artist.

 

[Floodnut]

The flood IS literal. (there... maybe they will pick on me instead of you....)

Film isn't my game, but make sure you put into account such things as dinosaurs (would have gone on the ark too!) less species than present (due to interbreeding since the flood, etc...) And the fact that it wasn't just water from the sky, it was the springs of the deep too. (thats all I can think of at the moment.)

Of course it is literal. I can't look at strata in the earth without being overwhelmed by the reality of the flood. There is room on the ark, and in the story for dinosaurs. You are right, the rains were not the only source of water, and not even the main source.

 

[Dracil]

If you only want YECs, move it to the Creationist forum.

 

[adam149]

There is in the industry favor toward topics of biblical and Christian interest (witness relatively well-done Passion, and the coming fiasco in the DaVinci Debacle). I am slowly steadily writing, and if you want to go to a site devoted to this project, check out my profile. I have had a working web site since December of 2000, but it is under construction now. We have a dedicated thread at the Narrow-way forum also.

What are you doing to reach your career goal? Are you doing intern work at a studio? Studying writing? Just writing? Keep at it.

Right now I'm just writing, though I will be submitting some scripts to screenwriting competitions soon.

I've written several original feature film scripts, developed and plotted out four full seasons of a Lord of the Rings-esque fantasy TV series (plus written a 2-hour pilot), and adapted (unofficially, for practice) several books into screenplays, including Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, The Hobbit, Terry Pratchet's The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic, Frank Peretti's The Oath, R.A. Salvatore's The Icewind Dale Trilogy: The Crystal Shard, and helped co-write (for fun) Star Wars Episode VII: The New Order, Star Wars Episode VIII: Heir of the Emperor, and Star Wars Episode IX: Restoration of the Republic. I have also, for writing assignments during screenwriting classs, written episodes of That 70's Show, Family Guy, and The Simpsons.

I have directed several short films for film classes, and I'm currently in the middle of a shoot at the moment. We're shooting off of a short script I adapted from a Christian eyewitness of a UFO. It looks at UFOs from a Christian perspective (ala Gary Bates' Alien Intrusion).

I am also in contact with award-winning Christian screenwriter Brian Godawa.

I have a good bit of script/story complete, intending to do it first as a graphic novel. We also want to generate a power point show to make presentations in Hollywood. We have been invited out there, but I am not satisfied with the visual aspect of what I have to present.

I need to find concept artist.

Wow, that's cool that you got invited out there.

Yeah, well, I'm no artist. Concepts, I'm good for. Ideas? Check. Visualization of said ideas? Yup. Drawing talent? None. Sorry.

Although, for some juicy visuals of the flood, you could also use some of the images from Walt Brown's site, like this one and this one (it's only a hair down from the top of the page, you'll know which one ).

I'd love to be involved in some way though ("here's your coffee, sir!")

(btw, your site doesn't seem to be working)

 

[Floodnut]

I would be happy to have the Input of anyone on making this film, ideas for who should play the various roles, Like some have suggested Charleton Heston for Noah, but I say he should be Methuselah! And how do we show the goodness of God in the midst of this horrible judgment? I am not an RC, but I thoroughly enjoyed Gibson's portrayal even though it included many extra-biblical traditions (Veronica). So people can input on the flim plans regardless.

 

[adam149]

And how do we show the goodness of God in the midst of this horrible judgment? I am not an RC, but I thoroughly enjoyed Gibson's portrayal even though it included many extra-biblical traditions (Veronica). So people can input on the flim plans regardless.

I would note the old saying in writing: "Show, don't tell." Everyone has a worldview, and everyone expresses this worldview in what they write. What we need to do is present the BIblcial worldview in this film.

It can be argued that a story is a logical argument or proposition. It is a linear series of events that build off of the last in order to reach a climax (the final confrontation). Similarly, the messages in films build off of one another The films To End All Wars (morality, who is my neighbor), One Hour Photo (purpose, taking photos, need for basic human love), Pirates of the Carribbean (moral relativism), King Arthur (Pelagian heresy), Star Wars ("Only a Sith deals in absolutes, Anakin," -Ep.III), Lord of the Rings ("There is always hope," "All you have to do is decide what to do with the time that is given to you"), Spider-man ("with great power comes great responsibility"), Troy (desire to be remembered) all express a certain central message the audience is supposed to accept and come away from the theater with.

The themes of these movies are embedded within the events of them. Usually there is an element that is spoken and an element that is inherent to the structure (take Signs for example. The characters speak their worldview, but the events of are structured in such a way that it brings a wayward Christian back to his faith because he can no longer deny the evidence: God exists and he is a merciful God).

So what you'd want to do is structure of film in such a way as to have God's goodness and mercy shine through the judgement. You might express it before the flood by having a character question why Noah's loving god would judge men. Allow Noah to give an answer. You could express it by having Noah desperately desire to save at least one person not of his family and fail in this. Show him reduced to sorrow and compassion on the deck of the Ark as all of humanity is destroyed. Or you could develop a prologue which starts with creation, summarize God's purpose for man, the Fall and a montage showing the rapid slide into apostacy. I'd do all of them. But the bottom line is that the goodness of God would have to be built directly into the plot and structure, otherwise the audience likely won't buy it.

 

[Dominus Fidelis]

Are you going to include a vapor canopy? How about asteroid impacts? Pangea?

 

[adam149]

Are you going to include a vapor canopy? How about asteroid impacts? Pangea?

The canopy theory is defunct. Most creationists even admit that now. So, no, I wouldn't personally include it, but then I'm not the writer.

 

[Floodnut]

I would note the old saying in writing: "Show, don't tell."
* * * * *
What we need to do is present the BIblcial worldview in this film.
* * * * *
all [films] express a certain central message the audience is supposed to accept and come away from the theater with.

The themes of these movies are embedded within the events of them.
* * * * * *
So what you'd want to do is structure of film in such a way as to have God's goodness and mercy shine through the judgement. You might express it before the flood by having a character question why Noah's loving god would judge men. Allow Noah to give an answer.
* * * * * *
But the bottom line is that the goodness of God would have to be built directly into the plot and structure, otherwise the audience likely won't buy it.

Showing will be my main approach. I want people to ask, HOW CAN A GOD OF JUSTICE ALLOW SUCH EVIL TO CONTINUE, GOD SHOULD DO SOMETHING!

But the main objective of the film will be to show flood geology and the YEC/catastrophist explanation of the formation of fossils and the like, but in an entertaining dramatic format. The audience should be walking out of the theater muttering, "you know that really might have been possible!" I also hope to smash old stereotypes of the round bathtub shaped ark and a primitive Noah, with long beard and robes using a hand ax to make a crude structure. I want to show a culture that was the source of the sudden rise of civilization, and the Ark was real, Feasible as put by Woodmorappe.

 

[Floodnut]

The canopy theory is defunct. Most creationists even admit that now. So, no, I wouldn't personally include it, but then I'm not the writer.

I don't know that I'd say the canopy theory is DEFUNCT, but it is not held in as great favor as it was back 20 years ago. It is certainly no longer seen as the SOURCE of the waters of the flood. We would design the scenery to allow it without requiring it.
But we definitly include cosmic impacts. See articles at AiG by Danny Faulkner, and others by Wayne Spencer on the place of impacts in YEC models. The configuration of the continents would have been entirely different in the preflood world. A single land mass seems to me to be the picture presented in Scripture, and less altitude in mountain structures. Dr. Weiland of AiG pointed out the idea of floating forests as a feature of the preflood world, which we would also want to show.

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