ChurchVideo.com

[holly]

I'm putting this one under RESONANCE because even though it links to a specific commercial website, I think the topic of VJing in church is perfect for this forum.

Take a look at
this site (http://www.churchvideo.com) which to my eye is a very slick store masquerading as a VJcentral-type community. Notice the software specific to churches which features "dual-display for uninterupted worship" :lol . Also a complete line of Edirol products reviewed, compared, and offered for sale. It's just like in startrek where the evil dimension discovers there is a parallel but "good" dimension...!

Now I ask you, who among us couldn't create some inspiring and worshipful content for this very interesting and contraversial VJ market (timelapse clouds, beautiful tunnels of light, 3D crosses, steeples, etc)? Couldn't our guis be retooled to be more somber and respectful of the lord?

Rather than the tired old "church equals bad" rants, why don't we have a discussion about marketing to churches, what they might need or want that we could provide, and especially what content would have RESONANCE for this market.

Some advantages of churches over clubs:
For one thing, churches stay open under the same management for a LOT longer than your average disco.... I hear some religions even make you do shots:
http://www.ealaindraoi.com/images/religious_gifts_christian_crosses_confirmation_gif t/praying_hands_prayer_christian_symbol.jpg

[Syntax]

I'll do the video that shows what happens when your bad! lol!

I do see the potential and the thought has crossed my mind a few times. They do put alot of work into some of those slick graphics, just a glance at TBN shows alot.

[alangeering]

Around 50% of my output goes to Christian organisations and churches, and it is indeed a growing market.

There are a few distinct markets:

1. Images for worship
This is all the inspiring things Holly mentions and more.
If you can make your content compatible with MediaShout (probably the market leader) then your content can easily be sold here: http://www.mediashout.com/store/
(take a look at the competition)

2. Taylored images for specific events
There are big conferences each year, and some of these will require branding, into/outro work. There are also Christian TV stations.

3. Images/Video with specific relevence to bible teaching.
To get this right you need to more closely work with the leader who's going to be doing the teaching. You may also feel it relevent to read the relevent sections of the bible and possibly commentrys on those sections.
This is usually less abstract, and often story based.

[akira_k]

I always referred to this as some sort of joke, but never considered it to be quite true. Seems liekchurchs over here are quite different.

The ulimate church performance solution for the needs of today's visual church.

God is a VJ indeed!

[thomase]

alan, how do you make content compatible with shoutmedia? does this require a special codec or something more specific?

[alangeering]

I'm going to email MediaShout and ask them to answer this question for you (i.e. here in this thread).

Lets see...


PS: I've trown lots and lots of media at MediaShout, I think the windows version uses DShow, so pretty much anything that you've got a codec for will play. I think they will probably ask for MPEG2, but as I said, we shall see.

[holly]

Wow Alan! Thanks for the link! Some of the items offered on that site are stunning. The one about "sin (http://www.mediashout.com/store/productdetail.cfm?recordid=231) " that is all timelapse withering plants with nice ambient music.... It never occured to me that religious imagery would be so dark... and powerful. I sorta question the use of the blinky text (just because they use a gothic-y font doesn't spell church to me). Interetsing that it is offered with and without text.... $50

The "I am here to worship" disc was more what I was expecting: generic blurry shots of clouds and churches over tinny gospel music.... Very UNinspiring.... $20

As for formats, powerpoint seems to be a staple (steeple?:D :rolleyes: ) like any motivational speech, and I could see making a few generic dvds of motion graphics and backgrounds, but you're right about needing study (altho I don't really think it's the specific bible passages that I would need to analyze). It's the jargon used to sell to this specific market which seems so alien to me:
:help: pulsating praise and unhindered joy...
a visual compliment to powerful, humble worship...
love, forgiveness, holiness and mercy...
Sharable Parables...designed to reveal deeper truths about God

The hyperbole is a little extreme, but it's really no different than reading silly pr about "eyeblasting never-ending blood-thumping syrupy bass yaddayadda...." I need that faux-google thing that translates websites into SnoopDog-fer-schnizzle -- only Christianified.
:love:

[Kyle]

I would love to create content for the Peyote Church...but then again...i?m sure they don?t need visuals.:D

[thomase]

woah, these images are indeed quite inspiring at times...

edited to add: the celebrate video looks as if one of us already DID sell something to them...

[visualove]

Some advantages of churches over clubs:
No smoke gumming up the works!

Viewing and listening to the mediashout loops, I couldn't but imagine the images and loopy music combined with live preaching, like some super serious fire and brimstone hip hop.

Maybe even political speeches will go this way someday. EBN could accompany the acceptance speeches at political conventions live. It sure would liven up C-Span and maybe is the way to get younger people more interested in politics. The Brits have their trademark House of Commons heckling and the US could have a Senate VJ (or each Senator could have a VJ) {I'm getting going on this, we could sindicate the "best of the Senate" like MTV and broadcast to the world} All of this would be perfect for a live VJ mixing especially with a script to plan clips.

Having been raised Catholic, I think I got my lifetime fill of Christianity by age 13 or so, but that is just me. I understand churches in Europe are emptying out, this doesn't seem to be the case in the US.

Plenty of people consider the dance community to be their religion. I think it's fine for individuals to produce work for churches. You might want seperate brand identities for club and church business. Me, I'd want to be sure I agreed with the politics of the church I sold loops to, somehow that sense of personal responsibility is what I retained from my upbringing.

Whether there is money to be made producing loops for churches depicting sin more explicitly is another question entirely ;) My guess is that that will come...

[BlueRinse1]

I'm in the process of working on live and recorded A/V sets for Christain events later on in the year in the UK. One of the main events will be 'Greenbelt Festival' at Cheltnham Race course. Its More of a conference than a fest (Like AVIT!). But if things go to plan, I will be collaborating with 1 or 2 electronica/D&B guys to put on a worship session smack bang in the middle of one of their club nights. (yes, us Christains go clubbing :cool: The guys DJing and running 'Rubiks Cube' on the Wed night(?) at the Med Bar at AVIT05 were all Christan).

I was the only VJ there last year, but Im really not too happy about replicating a nightclub & calling it a 'Christian' event JUST because there are mainly Christans there. With the use of a PA, mics, and projectors it free's the worshiper up from having to stay penned in behind the pews, and we can jump and shout as much as we like :)

As I was dancing at AVIT05 It dawned on me that its TOTALLY possible to 'meditate' (that's Bible jargon for 'think things over' ) on content shown on the screen while still FULLY dancing (I was only drinking water all night btw).

I guess the main sticking point for a non-believing VJ to be involved would be that the content/subject/knowledge contained in the visuals are AS important as what the pastor/teacher would say in a more traditional sermon, or AS important as what the worship band would choose to worship about during a time of worship. And I doubt that your average church would hand such a huge reponsibility over to a non-believer right?

Basically my plan is to have someone on the mic reading scripture, or even teaching, with anything from ambient music through to kick ass DnB going off in thanks to The Creator! And my visuals will emphisis/highlight/expand apon a bible verse, or to explain words and their origins, to explain the rich smbolisms that exist in the Scriptures that have largely been forgotten in the western Church.

It's funny, at the AVIT in Brighton at the discussion of 'The history of VJing, that turned oto a discussion of 'the future of VJing', it was mentioned (I dont know your name sorry) that the ideal setting for viewing a VJ performance would be. I cant remember the exact words said, but it was something allong the lines of: (a)Somewhere where everyone has a common interest, (b) A place where people can view the visuals without being distracted evey 5 seconds, and (c) a place where people can interact (sing/dance). Thats Church! :jump2:

btw, the 'non denominational' church is growing BIG TIME! Its just the old school traditional churches that are dying out. Their message is the same, just presented and expressed differently. Which means that VJ's are in demand and more so as time passes.

[alangeering]

"I doubt that your average church would hand such a huge reponsibility over to a non-believer right?"


This doesn't mean there aren't opportunities:

The guy/girl who runs the video on the night is like an editor, and he/she is the only one who needs to know the event's ethos and rules.

The editor/VJ can pick the clips he/she wants, even those made by people who do not share the same faith as himself/herself.

So the market is still totally open to content producers/creators.



Also, personally, I would employ a non-Christian VJ as part of a VJ team for a Christian event. Obviously they would have to be open enough to try to understand the faith.

[BlueRinse1]

I totally Agree Allgee, I was thinking more of being a resident VJ who is part of the leadership.

So yes, there is a market for all when it comes to DVD's especially. Of course anyone who can see the universal truths of love, beauty, justice, sacrifice etc, has just as much a say. I personally have and will continue to work with other artists who arnt commited Christains themselves. And I would have thought that anyone WANTING to be involved in such projects is probably a fellow seeker of truth in some way. I wouldnt want to stop anyone like that being involved in 'the journey' in this way either. But obviously all material will have to be selected and approved before an event, where as a believing VJ will be able/allowed to interact with the pastor, prayers, prophesies, songs etc, in the moment and with greater insight. = there is room for all at the inn :)

[beeple]

i think if Jesus was a VJ he'd totally kick ass. he'd be all like "wicka wicka wicka wicka woooow." and you'd be all like...damn VJesus, that totally ROCKED!!!

www.beeple.com