Co-Directors of the BIBLE ON FILM plan an important scene. Left, Dr. Alexander Arkat, President of ALEXARK & NORSIM, INC.; and Robert H. Bemiller, President of CHRISTIAN MISSION FILMS.
Dramatic scene from the motion picture THE EXODUS, where Moses lifts the rod and the Red Sea waters are parted. Film is from the BIBLE ON FILM series by Christian Mission Films.
Two brothers started in a garage to produce The Celluloid Bible T 'HE idea of placing the entire Bible on motion picture film through a process of art animation-illustration ori ginated back in 1945 with Robert H. Bemiller, a suc cessful animator with 23 years experience in major ani mation studios. It occurred to Bob that animation could be reverent, “A sacred thing used for the Glory of God.” A Family Affair. Bob presented the idea to his family and, joined by his brothers, Ted and Richard, along with other members of the family, they formed Christian Films with the objective of placing the complete Bible in the motion picture medium.
and sound. A technique of limited animation is used in telling the stories; i. e. the animation camera pans and trucks on art work to give a feeling, of motion. Special effects animation is used in areas of the pictures for fire, lightning, reflections, etc. Narration, with music back ground, is direct from the Bible, making the film ac ceptable to all religious groups who use the Bible. The Bemillers state that the films have effectively been used in Sunday School, Christian Day School, Youth Groups, and Adult Meetings, because the art presentation of the scriptures gives them a wide age appeal. Another technique the group is giving is to provide churches with a full evening program consisting of an explanation of the animation techniques used in pro ducing their films, a showing of a specific film, and finally a sermon related to the film shown. The program has been successfully used in churches of several dif ferent denominations. A lot of work and a lot of time are ahead before the Bemillers achieve their goal of placing the entire Bible on film. It is a big project but one which the Bemillers feel is well worth the effort for the glory of the Lord. Richard T. Bemiller handles the sound track reading and editing for Christian Mission Films in Southern California.
The first studio, a back yard garage, was fitted with second-hand equipment they bought and borrowed, and work on their first animation-illustration motion picture, The Creation, was begun. Under limited conditions, The Creation was four years in production, but the Bemillers thought it was worthwhile time “ dedicated to the Lord.” The Bemiller’s faith was rewarded when The Creation was enthusiastically received by pastors and church groups wherever it was shown. Recognition for Christian Mission Films was established. In 1953, the next animated Christian film was started in production. Rev. Paul Edwards, with the audio-visual department of the Southern California Baptist Convention, had designed the characters for a true life experience, in animation, about a boy called “ Cotton,” and Christian Mission Films now cooperated with the convention to animate this new approach to a Christian film. Entitled The High Room, the film was completed in 1954 and released by Cathedral Films of Burbank, California. Now, with additional technical equipment, Christian Mission Films again moved into larger quarters and planned to move ahead full speed on their original project of placing the entire Bible on film. In cooperation with Dr. Alexander Arkat, President of Alexark & Norsim, Inc., arrangements were made to utilize Dr. Arkat’s large library of original Bible art work to complete the Bible On Film. Dr. Arkat and Bob Bemiller became co-directors of the project. To date, nine films have been completed in the series. Titles are: The Creation, Abraham Man of Faith, Abra ham and Isaac, Isaac and Jacob, Jacob, Jacob and Joseph, Joseph the Servant, Joseph the Ruler, and The Exodus. In production now are Moses and the Commandments and Moses and the Tabernacle. Running 12l/f> minutes each, the films are 16MM, color 12
THE KING'S BUSINESS
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