Films for Cellphones

New Media Today:

In the December 20, 2006 issue of the Wall Street Journal, Peter Grant writes about how filmmakers face some big challenges in developing content for delivery on tiny cellphone displays. He describes how the the American entertainment industry, a world leader in movie and TV production, is now taking the lead in developing video content for mobile devices, the so-called third screen. He continues that "it's not surprising that early efforts at mobile video have some of the same irreverent, sometimes racy, qualities of YouTube. Amp'd Mobile, the wireless service that originally produced "Lil' Bush," has rolled out a number of sophomoric shows like "Swing Shift," in which a former producer of "The Howard Stern Show" gets people to do disgusting things.

The Challenge:

Pope Benedict in his message for 2006 World Day of Social Communications, said that with the proper focus, mass media can be used as a tool to foster the dignity of the human person and promote truth and peace. He also called on members of the media to be responsible, seeking and transmitting “what is the ultimate foundation and meaning of human, personal and social existence…In this way the media can contribute constructively to the propagation of all that is good and true.”

The Pope warned against the industry becoming “self-serving or solely profit-driven” saying that there can be a tendency in the media that engenders “a kind of monoculture that dims creative genius, deflates the subtlety of complex thought and undervalues the specificity of cultural practices and the particularity of religious belief.”

The Encouragement:

Mary said:

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
for he has looked upon his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
and has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.”