The wisdom of Ernest Borgnine. Upon winning a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Screen Actors Guild, the legendary 94-year-old Oscar winner (for Marty in 1955) had this to say: “We are a privileged few who have been chosen to work in this field.” He added “I hope that we will never let our dedication to our craft
fail and that we will always give the best we possibly can to our
profession so people can enjoy us in later years.”
His advice to young actors: “Keep studying (and always be) watching people,
learning what life is about.”

His advice is well taken — and not just by actors. Too many people in the entertainment industry don’t seem to realize that it is a privilege to be working in the field of communicating ideas — and that with that privilege comes a sacred responsibility to communicate positive ideas that build people up with faith and hope and offer positive examples of the ultimate triumph of love, kindness, personal responsibility and forgiveness.
There is a value to storytelling that goes beyond the ridiculously exorbitant paychecks given to a few and the ego gratification of endless awards.

If anyone needs a reminder of how false, fragile and temporary industry success can be, The Wrap offers a poignant reminder of how industry execs can be up one day and down out the door the next. The show business site tells the story of one such executive who has been out of work for several years. He was once on top of the world and is now struggling to make ends meet. That, as they say, is life. But, the positive part of struggle, is that it can make a person more understanding and empathetic regarding the struggles of others.

Success in the media is not a birthright. It is a gift to be used, may I say, to glorify God and offer encouragement to His people.

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out
of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up
according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen
(Ephesians 4:29).

That said, here are three new movies in the offing that appear to follow that biblical advice:

There Be Dragons – Set in the early 1900’s,
amidst the turmoil of the Spanish Civil War, Dragons tells the story of two childhood friends who become
separated during the political conflict to find themselves on opposite sides as
war erupts. One becomes a priest, the other a soldier. Each will
struggle to find the power of forgiveness over the forces that tore their lives
and friendship apart. The $35-million film is directed by Roland Joffe (The Mission and The
Killing Fields) and is planned
for release in theaters worldwide on May 6, 2011. It is rated PG-13.

Deep in the Heart – Set
in Texas, Jon Gries stars in the true story of an alcoholic who turned
his life around and became a successful entrepreneur and put hundreds of
kids through college via his charitable donations. Val Kilmer plays the
“Christ-like figure” who helped him on his path to recovery. The
independent movie, which which reunites the two stars of 1985’s Real Genius,
is being directed by Christopher Cain (Young Guns). The film, which is
currently seeking a distributor, is co-produced by Scott Duthie who says
“Stories involving real-life inner struggles with positive moral messages always attract me.”

Me too.