Faithspotting "Disclaimer"
Faithspotting
Faithspotting Hosts Mike Hatch and Kenny Dickson discuss and spot faith reflected in the AppleTV+ series starring Oscar winners Cate Blanchett and Kevin Kline. Disclaimer is the first television series directed by four time Oscar winning director Alphonso Cuaron and is based on the psychlogical thrilling novel by Renee Knight. Faith Notes: Disclaimer depicts the impact impact of unresolved grief and anger that grows into hate, as well as the destructive power of hate fueled revenge. Disclaimer demonstrates the impact of not effectively working through grief and anger. While people...
info_outline
Faithspotting "Exhibiting Forgiveness"
Faithspotting
Mike and Kenny discuss the wonderful film and spot faith elements reflected in Titus Kaphar's feature length directorial and screenwriting debut. Included in the episode is an indepth conversation with Titus Kaphar. Based on Kaphar's life, Exhibing Forgiveness examines the need and difficulty many face in offering forgiveness. Titus Kaphar is a well known artist whose paintings and sculptures are highly sought after by private collectors and galleries. The forgiving process mirrors Kaphars understanding of art as a way to disrupt past narratives which breaks the power of past events in the...
info_outline
Faithspotting "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice"
Faithspotting
Kenny and Mike discuss Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Tim Burton's sequel to his 1988 classic horror conference Beetlejuice. Michael Keaton returns as Betelgeuse, the bio-exorcist along with Winona Ryder and Catherine O'Hara who reprise their roles as Lydia and Delia Deitz. Jenna Ortega, Justin Theroux, Willem Dafoe and Monica Bellucci join the cast as Betelgeuse continues his pursuite of Lydia while avoiding his recently reconnected and now murderous ex-wife Delores (Monica Bellucci.) Kenny also shares some of his experiences at the Venice Film Festival where Beetlejuice Beetlejuice had its world...
info_outline
Faithspotting ClassiX: "Almost Famous"K
Faithspotting
Kenny and Mike talk and spot faith elements in the popular 2000 fim Almost Famous, written / directed by Cameron Crowe, and starring Kate Hudson, Billy Crudup, Patrick Fugit, Frances McDormand, Phiip Seymour Hoffman, and Anna Paquin. Crowe won an Academy Award for best screenplay. Faith Spotted: The place and function of community as a source of accountability and support to help one mature as a person as well as in faith. The importance of love that serves serves others and brings others together rather than seeking to lift up and serve oneself. The difficulty but necessary...
info_outline
Faithspotting "Sing Sing"
Faithspotting
Kenny and Mike review and spot faith elements presented in the powerful A24 film Sing Sing, The film is based on the true story of John Divine G Whitfield (Colman Domingo) who was falsely convicted and spent 25 years in Sing Sing prison. While there he co-founded the Rehabilitation Through Arts program where persons who are incarcerated stage theatrical programs. The episode includes interviews Mike and Kenny had with Divine G and director Greg Kwedar. Faith Elements: The transformative power of story, Redemption, Rehabiliation, Repentance and Community. Kenny...
info_outline
Faithspotting Celebrating 100 Episodes
Faithspotting
Hosts Mike and Kenny celebrate 7 seasons, 4 years and 100 episodes of talking film and spotting faith on the Faithspotting podcast. Listen as they discuss and reflect on their favorite moments, episodes, and play some of their favorite interviews. Kenny and Mike recording the Nope Episode at the Faithspotting "Studio" at Button Memorial UMC. Mike and Kenny with Director Fran Kranz and Ann Dowd from MASS Mike, Kevin Von Erich, and Kenny at The Iron Claw premiere party.
info_outline
Faithspotting "Inside Out 2"
Faithspotting
Kenny and Mike begin the seventh season of Faithspotting by discussing and spotting faith reflected in the newest Pixar film, Inside Out 2. Considering how much Mike and Kenny enjoyed the film and thought the message of Inside Out, that all emotions have purpose and value, both entered the theater with high expectations and hopes Inside Out 2 would be a worthy sequal. Faith Spotted: The teaching in Psalm 139, and other places, that we are children of God and are wonderfully made even when considering our imperfections and brokenness. How living this teaching allows for true joy and a rich...
info_outline
Faithspotting 2024 Oscars
Faithspotting
Kenny and Mike are joined by our good friend and regular Faithspotting contributor Dr. Ryan Parker for the annual Oscars preview episode where we predict winners and share our choices for who wins the Oscars. Ryan works in public relations and marketing for independent films, and is also the Executive Director for the Misssissippi Film Society. We agreed that this was a solid year for films and nominations. We were grateful that folks had a reason to get excited again as was experienced in the "Barbenheimer" moment, we also were happy that folks are discussing cinema thoughout various genres....
info_outline
Faithspotting "Rustin"
Faithspotting
Mike and Kenny discuss and spot faith reflected in the biopic about civil rights leader Bayard Rustin. Starring Best Actor nominee Colman Domingo, Rustin, directed by George C. Wolfe and co-staring Chris Rock, GlynnTurman, and fellow 2024 Academy Award acting nominees Jeffery Wright and Da 'Vine Joy Randolph, tells the story of Bayard Rustin, the organizer and driving force behind the 1963 March on Washington. The March is best known for Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" speech and is considered not only one of the seminal moments in the Civil Rights movement, but in modern American...
info_outline
Faithspotting "Past Lives"
Faithspotting
Hosts Mike and Kenny review and spot faith elements reflected in the Academy Award nominated film by Celine Song. Past Lives stars Greta Lee (Nora) and Teo Yoo (Hae Sung) who were childhood friends and first loves, separated suddenly when Nora's family immigrated from South Korea to Canada. The film co-stars John Magaro (Arthur) who meets and marries Nora after she moved to New York. Nora and Hae Sung reconnect via social media after 12 years. Following another 12 year gap Hae Sung travels to New York to see Nora and meets Arthur. Faith Reflected: The importance of pursuing one's...
info_outlineKenny and Mike discuss the and spot faith reflected in the Todd Field film Tar starring Best Actress nominee Cate Blanchett. Tar received an five Oscar Nominations for Best Picture, Actress, Director, Original Screenplay, Cinematography, and Editing.
Lydia Tar is the first Music Director of the Berlin Philharmonic and a force in the Classical music universe whose ego and appetite for power and control over others threatens to unravel all she has worked to acheive.
Faith Spotted:
Pride is antithetical to Christian teaching that as all people are children of God, one's life and the lives of others belong to God and therefore worthy of love, care, and respect. Matthew 22:34-37, Mark 12:28-34, Leviticus 19:9-18
As talent is a gift from God, it should be used to God's glory rather than to glorify and elevate oneself. All the work and training that develop talent are a part of one's responsibility to use the gift to the fullest potential.
Power is the oxygen that feeds the flame of pride to destructive beliefs and practices. Scripture referencing pride: Proverbs 8:13, 16:18, Romans 12:16, ! Corinthians 13:4, Galatians 6:3, James 4:6-7.
In contrast, the Fruits of the Spirit reflect and and draw one closer to God and deepen one's faith. Galatians 5:22-23
