keynote speakers

ROBERT K. JOHNSTON
B.A. (History) Stanford, B.D. Fuller Theological Seminary, Ph.D. (Religion—Theology and Culture) Duke University

Robert is Professor of Theology and Culture at Fuller Theological Seminary where he teaches students how Christians can best engage movies, popular culture, and contemporary fiction. He is a past President of the American Theological Society, and a former provost at both North Park University and Fuller.

His latest books include: Reframing Theology and Film: New Focus for an Emerging Discipline (Baker Academic, 2007, editor), Reel Spirituality, 2nd ed. (Baker Academic: 2000, 2006), Useless Beauty: Ecclesiastes Through the Lens of Contemporary Film (Baker Academic: 2004), and Life Is Not Work/Work Is Not Life; Simple Reminders for Finding Balance in a 24/7 World (Wildcat Canyon Press: 2001).

He is the co-editor of the New International Bible Commentary series, Old Testament (Hendrickson Press), as well as co-editor for the Engaging Culture and Cultural Exegesis series for Baker Academic.

He is the founding co-director of the Reel Spirituality Institute which hosts an annual film conference for filmmakers and church leaders, and on the executive committee of the City of Angels Film Festival.

Find out more about Robert here.

KEYNOTES FOR 2008

• Cinema Divina
In this presentation Rob Johnston, a professor of theology and film at Fuller Theological Seminary, will consider how we as Christians might deepen our faith while reflecting on movies at the Cineplex by making use of practices first used by Christians in their readings of Scripture during the medieval period.  What help might we receive in our movie-viewing from these wider spiritual practices still in use today, as we seek to let “secular” movies deepen both our faith and our practice?

• Morality Bytes
Why are Hollywood movies increasingly interested in ethical issues (cf. recent Academy Award nominees)?   Can we use the rating system for judging a film ethically?   How can we distinguish between a movie’s “raw data” and its “meaning”?   How might we describe the ethical power of film? Such questions will be explored using the award winning The Sea Inside (d. Amenabar, 2004) as an extended case study.

• Rob will also be invovled in the film discussion panel on Saturday August 30.

register now! • Register securely online here using your credit card. • Download a pdf brochure here (coming soon). • Request one or more printed brochures (coming soon). pricing Early Bird (Before July 17) — $75 per day, $130 whole conference Group Early Bird (5 or more people) — $65 per day, $110 whole conference Normal Price (after July 17) — $85 per day, $145 whole conference Groups (5 or more people) — $75 per day, $130 whole conference Optional Dinner, Friday August 29 — $25 per person