Film Internship and LGBT?

[goshngolly]

Hi everyone! I’m trying to collect some advice as I figure out what to do regarding an internship opportunity that has finally presented itself in my life. The problem is, while I originally could have thought that it was God helping me in my career with arts and media I would actually be indirectly supporting things I don’t believe to be true.

I would be doing an unpaid internship for a documentarist who will be featuring stories about women and their shoes in a way that kind of shows their symbolism for important things in their life when they were wearing them. Sounds kind of mundane and harmless. I would hopefully be animating a sequence for it which I find terrifying and exciting at once. But, then I read up more on the project and it seems that at least one of the stories will be from an LGBT positive perspective.

Working in arts and media can seem like such a different animal from other situations that pose moral issues. For instance, you will often find films that have many good messages but objectionable parts to them. How do you transform the bad into good with this? I’m going off on a rant here, but I know that this will not be the first encounter I have with the film industry as I am studying to be an animator. But, I want to be able to spread beauty through art in a secular world, even if it is through very simple art projects.

I would love some advice on this! I’m at a bit of a loss as to what to do because I’m not always very confident in myself. When I try to go ahead and pursue things just in case it might be good to do I always doubt myself. If not, I live in fear.

Thank you for your time!

Sincerely,

Confused

 

[LittleFlower378]

Hi everyone! I’m trying to collect some advice as I figure out what to do regarding an internship opportunity that has finally presented itself in my life. The problem is, while I originally could have thought that it was God helping me in my career with arts and media I would actually be indirectly supporting things I don’t believe to be true.

I would be doing an unpaid internship for a documentarist who will be featuring stories about women and their shoes in a way that kind of shows their symbolism for important things in their life when they were wearing them. Sounds kind of mundane and harmless. I would hopefully be animating a sequence for it which I find terrifying and exciting at once. But, then I read up more on the project and it seems that at least one of the stories will be from an LGBT positive perspective.

Working in arts and media can seem like such a different animal from other situations that pose moral issues. For instance, you will often find films that have many good messages but objectionable parts to them. How do you transform the bad into good with this? I’m going off on a rant here, but I know that this will not be the first encounter I have with the film industry as I am studying to be an animator. But, I want to be able to spread beauty through art in a secular world, even if it is through very simple art projects.

I would love some advice on this! I’m at a bit of a loss as to what to do because I’m not always very confident in myself. When I try to go ahead and pursue things just in case it might be good to do I always doubt myself. If not, I live in fear.

Thank you for your time!

Sincerely,

Confused

I’m sure it’s not easy but hang in there. There is work for you with good messages without objectionable parts.

Have you ever heard of Act One?
actoneprogram.com/

I will be praying for you.

 

[lifeandhope]

In any industry you are likely to encounter projects that involve people who have different values and perspectives. Interning on a film project that includes a GLBT individual doesn’t mean you endorse their personal lifestyle; from the project description you gave, the subject of sexual orientation may not even come up. Even if it does, your role is not one that has any influence on the situation.

Speaking of influence, consider this: as Catholics, when we live our lives following the greatest commandments of ‘loving God’ and ‘loving others’ then we are in a position to demonstrate God’s love. If you avoid every encounter, possible encounter, involvement, or proximity to any or all people who have views and lifestyles differing your own, then you will never be in a position to provide a positive example of the Catholic life. If we always avoid these people, why would they ever consider seeking out God, His Word, or His people when they’ve not had a positive experience with a Christian? We have to go to where people are, not expect them to come to us. Treat those people, in this case a GLBT oriented individual, with at least as much (or more even) respect, kindness, and acceptance as you would anyone else. Demonstrate acceptance for WHO they are as a person loved fully by the same God Who loves you and me. We need to gain trust and respect for anyone before we are even remotely in a position to discuss their personal choices. No statement we make unsolicited will convince them to drop the lifestyle and beliefs they’ve developed over a lifetime. First step is to demonstrate God’s love, not to delineate all the you think is wrong with their life. Don’t engage in debates or conversations that will result in them feeling judged. When they feel accepted and see you living a life of truth and love, even if you are never able to overtly talk about your faith or beliefs, what you are doing is providing them with a positive experience of a Catholic Christian person. Add that together with other positive experiences God can bring into their lives that can open up their hearts to us and more importantly to God. Even if you refuse to work on a project involving a GLBT person and word gets back to them, the message to them is 'Christian people and their faith (and by extension, God Himself) are unexcepting and unloving and want nothing to do with me, and therefore I have no interest in them". This is a tragedy. You are performing a job, and by doing so you are encountering people with different beliefs & lifestyles, not condoning those lifestyles. This sounds like a great learning opportunity, both professionally and personally. Having worked many many different GLBT people, there are good and bad individuals just like any other group of people. Most gays I’ve known over the years are really great people. They’re trying to figure out life just like we are. When friendships are built on mutual respect we have a greater opportunity, and responsibility, to share the love and Word of God with them and they will know you well enough (& know you know them well also) to listen and consider looking at their life from a different perspective.

I hope you can decipher my meaning in the midst of all the rambling! These are, of course, my thoughts on the information you provided and I know that there are many details I am not aware of. Please don’t hear any judgement of you in my words–these are things I tell myself and work on also. You seem to have such a good and genuine heart and I believe that your presence in the workplace, ANY workplace, will be a blessing to those around you. I’m very excited for your opportunity and hope it all works out for you. Best wishes & God bless all of your efforts & endeavors.