Objectified is a feature-length documentary about our complex relationship with manufactured objects and, by extension, the people who design them. It’s a look at the creativity at work behind everything from toothbrushes to tech gadgets. It’s about the designers who re-examine, re-evaluate and re-invent our manufactured environment on a daily basis. It’s about personal expression, identity, consumerism, and sustainability.

Through vérité footage and in-depth conversations, the film documents the creative processes of some of the world’s most influential product designers, and looks at how the things they make impact our lives. What can we learn about who we are, and who we want to be, from the objects with which we surround ourselves?

In the documentary, they interview Dieter Rams, an industrial designer from Germany who is said to have influenced Jonathan Ive from Apple. Dieter shared his thoughts on what good design is and said:

• Good design should be innovative.
• Good design should make a product useful.
• Good design is aesthetic design.
• Good design will make a product understandable.
• Good design is honest.
• Good design is unobtrusive.
• Good design is long-lived.
• Good design is consistent in every detail.
• Good design is environmentally friendly.
• Last but not least, good design is as little design as possible.

These are some fantastic thoughts to consider as design things… from brochures and postcards to webpages and email campaigns. You can read more about Dieter Rams’ 10 principles for design here.

Objectified is well worth watching, just make sure you have a Moleskine handy to jot down some thoughts and ideas that may be sparked while you watch it. And, if you’re on Netflix, you can watch it instantly!

In today’s world that’s noisy with different voices, influencers rise above the rest and stand out. They take a stand. They set trends. They lead movements. They have a voice. They are leaders.

If you consider yourself to be a leader or a person of influence, do yourself a favor and take time to watch this short film “Influencers: How Trends & Creativity Become Contagious.”

INFLUENCERS is a short documentary that explores what it means to be an influencer and how trends and creativity become contagious today in music, fashion and entertainment.

The film attempts to understand the essence of influence, what makes a person influential without taking a statistical or metric approach.

Written and Directed by Paul Rojanathara and Davis Johnson, the film is a Polaroid snapshot of New York influential creatives (advertising, design, fashion and entertainment) who are shaping today’s pop culture.

“Influencers” belongs to the new generation of short films, webdocs, which combine the documentary style and the online experience.

I loved this film, it’s energy and creativity, and the message it brings. I think it has great implications for all of us, especially emerging leaders.

Be sure to check out the press kit, too. There’s some great content in there.

Did you love this as much as I did? Hang on, there’s more! An in-depth series will launch online November 17.

“I can’t stand your religious meetings.  I’m fed up with your conferences and conventions. I want nothing to do with your religion projects, your pretentious slogans and goals. I’m sick of your fund-raising schemes,  your public relations and image making. I’ve had all I can take of your noisy ego-music.  When was the last time you sang to me? Do you know what I want?  I want justice—oceans of it. I want fairness—rivers of it.  That’s what I want. That’s all I want.”

- Amos 5:21-24, The Message

I have no words [ that's rare ].

I’m just getting back from the movie theater after having my world absolutely rocked by what I just saw.

Two years ago when Hillsong United announced they were making a documentary I had no idea what to expect, and what I witnessed tonight without a doubt was one of the most beautiful, creative, compelling, thought-provoking pieces of art/cinema/story I’ve seen the Church create.

It played tonight only in theaters in the USA and Canada and will release soon in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. I was able to catch in the heart of downtown Chicago with some of my friends from Park and City Church.

We’re All in This Together is part-documentary, part-apologetic for social justice, a picture of a generation and the Church waking up to see that things aren’t right… and a challenge to do something about it.

It shows the journeys of Hillsong United across the globe, but more importantly the inward journey God took them through to begin to see the cultures and people of this world through His eyes. It includes footage taken from their travels around the globe and includes interviews with the United team and guests including Brother Andrew, Martin Smith [of Delirious], Gary Skinner, Zach Hunter, Jamie Tworkowski, and many others.

This movie is a call to the Church to wake up and see that maybe we’ve been missing the point.

Maybe that in us building what we’ve built, we’ve neglected the key thing God has called us to do. That maybe that in trying to communicate the Gospel we’ve complicated a very simple message: LOVE. That maybe in trying to advance the cause of Christ we’ve alienated people from seeing and hearing about Him and His love. It was a call for us to see the world how He sees it and to be the Church He’s called us to be… with open hands and hearts to demonstrate His love and compassion to our neighbors and to the world.

This message isn’t a lofty idea or a fading thought, it’s our calling. It’s what God commanded us to do. I think we’ve just been overwhelmed with the task or felt paralyzed by our own sense of insignificance to do something… but I think this film is going to serve as wake-up call to the Church to see the role God is calling us to play.

Social justice is such a fad right now. Celebrities are talking about, politicians are standing up for it, and everywhere you look people are behind some kind of cause. But this isn’t something new, it’s been God’s heart for humanity all along. God has called us to stand for justice… to speak for those who have no voice… to bring freedom to those who are captive… to care for the orphans and the widows… to care for the sick, the poor and the elderly… to right that which is wrong. That’s the ultimate expression of what it means to love our neighbor as ourself.

This movie was not about Hillsong United… it was about all of us.

About midway through the movie I busted out my phone and started Tweeting what I could get from the movie… this was the first time I’ve ever taken notes during a movie! But, I knew there were so many people who couldn’t be there that need to hear this… so, I’ll shut up with my reflections… here you go…

• Maybe the human race [ for possessions, fame, power ] isn’t meant to be a race at all.
• The deepest human need is to know who you are.
• Loneliness is one of the most extreme forms of poverty.
• This moment is the moment we have to do something.
• Too often we dwell in the past or focus too much on the future that we miss this moment.
• The future will be written by the way we respond to moment that’s in front of us.
• We all share the same moment.
• If what happens inside the four walls of the church doesn’t make a difference in the streets that people travel to get there, then maybe we are missing the point.
• We’ve trained ourselves to look past the needs.
• Injustice and indifference walk together hand-in-hand.
• Ignorance isn’t just sleeping through the fire, it’s really just fanning the flame.
• Our generation has lost the meaning of the word love.
• Love has been reduced to define what makes us feel good.
• Love has become all about us.
• At the core of who we are, every single human being craves the same thing… love.
• Jesus is the ultimate expression of God’s love to humanity.
• The message is simple… love.
• The Church and Christians have messed up the message.
• We’ve complicated and misconstrued it.
• Jesus didn’t die to give us religion, He died to give us love.
• Our weakness is a place for God to show His strength.
• God’s picture for the Church for us to be the light to the world around us.
• Isaiah 58:9-10 - ”If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,  then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.”
• The church does not exist to meet our personal needs, the church exists to meet the needs of the world around us.
• For too long the Church has made a big deal about the small things, and a small deal about the big things.
• Preaching does not come from the pulpit, it comes from the people of God living their lives out for Him – Brother Andrew
• We don’t just attend church, we are the church.
• The church exists for those outside of it.
• The greatest use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.
• Talk is cheap, put feet to your vision.
• If we want to make history, we have to remember history is ultimately His Story.
• If we want to make history, we need find our place in His Story.
• The love of God cannot be measured but it can be demonstrated.
• Jesus is found in unexpected places.
• We need to preach the Gospel with our actions.
• We’ve made a dangerous division between what’s sacred and what’s secular; nothing is secular, everything belongs to God.
• If you are not a part of the solution, you are a part of the problem.
• God’s work must be our own work.
• What we are not, He is.
• We are all in this together.
• These three things remain… faith, hope and love.
• The greatest of these is love.

So where do you go from here?

Well, Hillsong United has created a new website, www.i-heart.org. The site focuses on 20 of the top causes they see in the world and seeks to connect people with ideas to solutions and create a network of people around the globe who can work together to combat injustice. I’m still exploring the site but I think it’s a pretty sweet idea.

This started and ended in the Church…

The thing that stood out to me most about this movie was that this all came out of one local church and a handful of people who are passionate for God and honoring Him with their gifts, talents and creativity. There wasn’t a huge studio or massive amounts of money backing this, it was literally a group of young people who wanted to make a difference and did something. Throughout the entire movie they kept going back to the local church and the importance it plays in making all of this happen. Immense props go to Hillsong Church, Brian and Bobbie Houston, Joel Houston and the entire team at Hillsong… what you guys are doing is changing the world. You are all seriously an incredible example of a Church that is creating culture and empowering the next generation to live out all that God has created them to be. I’m so in awe of what God is doing through them and their obedience to God’s call.

Closing Thoughts…

If you missed it… I’m sorry. Hopefully there will be an encore presentation — or maybe it will find it’s way to DVD soon. Regardless, find a way to see it.

This movie wrecked me [and all of my friends] in a good way. On the way out of the theater one of my friends said, “Wow, who wants to be normal? Not me!”

I think that sums it up.

The need is huge, but we serve a great, big God… and we’re not alone.

We’re all in this together.

Well, I did, but I didn’t… because out of the countless books I owned as a child, for some reason or another my parents didn’t buy it for me. So I guess I was just envious of all of my friends that had a copy of it for themselves.

Anyway, when I first heard they were going to do a film adaptation of the childhood classic the first thing that came to my mind was, “How?”

Well, they did it.

The movie is absolutely breathtaking and profound… the imagery, visual storytelling, creativity, whimsy, soundtrack… it all combines for a magical experience that will take you back to your childhood and speak some profound truths about life, friendship, identity, and family.

Have you seen it yet? What was your take?

Hillsong United’s feature length movie, The I-Heart Revolution: We’re All in This Together is hitting hundreds of theaters across the USA for one night only on Wednesday, November 4.

The night will feature the full-length movie as well as worship with Hillsong United LIVE from Sydney.

This is going to be an absolutely EPIC night you do not want to miss.

Click here to see a list of theaters and check out the I-Heart site for details and information and get your tickets today!

(This coming from a guy who hasn’t been in one since high school.)

I think my/our generation is confused when it comes understanding what love really is. While music and movies paint a rosy picture of “finding the one” and living happily ever after, the reality is that nearly half of our families have been split apart by divorce… and the way we look at relationships and love has been tainted as a result.

They say that you can see questions our culture is asking through the art it creates… movies, music, literature… and over the past few years I feel like there have been a few movies that are clearly articulating some profound questions we’re asking when it comes to love and relationships.

(500) Days of Summer is one of them.

Being a hopeless romantic (and a dude) it was interesting that this movie which would appear to have all of the trappings of a classic “chick flick,” is actually more about the story from the guy’s perspective. It focuses more on his emotions, feelings, highs and lows, and his experience of battling with the questions he’s asking of himself, his purpose and relationships.

I loved this movie for many reasons but here’s a few…

• It’s real. Plain and simple. I felt awkward in the awkward moments. I felt the emotions of the characters. It wasn’t a pretty package, it was painfully real.
• Actors were fantastic. I’ll be honest, I’ve had a crush on Zooey Deschanel since I saw her in Elf. And Joseph Gordon-Levitt? I don’t think I’ve seen him since 3rd Rock From the Sun, oh yeah… I went there. (French Stewart, anyone?) Anyway… I digress. They were a winning combo had a great thing going on screen.
• The soundtrack is phenomenal. Regina Spektor, Feist, Simon & Garfunkle. How can you go wrong?
• It was creative storytelling. The way they told the story was sooooooo creative. It wasn’t start to finish, it was non-linear and all over the place. They so creatively unfolded the story and characters. Pay attention to details if you go to see it.
• There’s a few surprises. (SPOILER ALERT, SPOILER ALERT… like a breakout scene from a musical. Hilarious!)
• Cinematography, although I’m not an expert, was great. They did some creative stuff, like a split screen between “expectations” and “reality” that I think is painfully real for a lot of us.

Bottom line… this movie, more than others I’ve seen, really does articulate the confusing mess that is love and relationships in our modern context. Full of

I was having dinner with some friends recently and one of them said sometimes you have to “give up your right to the bow”… meaning you can’t always package things nicely. Sometimes things have to be left undone… messy, incomplete… and too often I think movies present a pretty package… but (500) Days of Summer really tells it how it is… and I’ll let you see it for yourself to see how it wraps up!

It’s official, Hillsong United’s full-length movie, We’re All in This Together, is going hit theatres in the USA for one night only in November.

The film has been years in the making and will be for the Church what Call + Response was for everyone else.

The movie is part of a movement started by Hillsong United called the I Heart Revolution.

I-HEART is a movement of people helping people – showing the love of God in practical ways, wherever need exists. Right here, real soon, you’ll find an online community with the sole purpose of offline action – sharing ideas, being inspired, shoulder to shoulder, part of the solution – transforming local initiatives into a collaborative global impact. But in the meantime, let’s take time to look beyond ourselves and truly see others…Their worth, their needs, their future. Because it’s together that we love… and think… and act. As one, I-HEART.

The concept was first introduced through the I Heart Revolution CD + DVD from Hillsong United last year and the movie will serve as a springboard for a broader global movement that is going to be launched by Hillsong United and Hillsong Church.

On the I-Heart blog, Hillsong United frontman Joel Houston shared,

I-Heart is part apologetic, part documentary, part call to action, the film is a story made up of many stories, told by many voices, no individual voice any more or any less important than any other, yet every voice working together to ultimately tell the ONE story – A story that involves everyONE; that seeks to capture our collective and idiosyncratic purpose in ONE.

And so… WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER will officially be launched this November. We’re taking it into cinemas for ONE night only – our prayer; that the Church across the earth would rally together and do whatever it takes to see as many people as possible gather at the same time in cinemas everywhere and be stirred and inspired by the message of Christ, to ultimately work closer together in seeing the real needs of humanity collide with a love that can only be found in God who by definition – IS Love.

W.A.I.T.T. isn’t for a second about Hillsong UNITED.. It doesn’t serve to document the music and the adventurous nature of travel, nor has it been designed even to quench our thirst to be entertained.. This is a ultimately about YOU -  It’s about all of us.. And so our hope is that we would ALL get behind it..  We never had a big budget.. No corporate sponsorship or professional help.. It has been pulled together by a small team of incredibly selfless and dedicated people who have tirelessly given of themselves and persevered to make it a reality.. And our prayer is that we all as individuals would play our part and take it upon ourselves to see as many of our friends, youth, churches mobilised to be a part of this event.. It has the potential to be HUGE!!

More details including locations + theaters will be posted soon, and I will of course post them when I find out more.

Joel’s closing comments on the blog were:

I don’t know where this is all headed.. But I’m convinced, that if we all choose to play our part and continue to work together in loving God and loving others with everything, that there is no end to what we can see established for the Kingdom and the glory of God in our lifetime.

I couldn’t agree more.

Stay tuned.

But for real… it was a great movie. And you can quote me on that.

I remember watching Julia Child on PBS as a kid growing up, don’t ask me why. And, I also remember the infamous Saturday Night Live skits.

She’s an icon.

But, I guess I never thought about how she got her start and became so good at French cooking. Sometimes we don’t think about that kind of stuff… people’s backstories. Oftentimes we just see the success and not the journey and obstacles people had to face that got them there, which is in most cases more significant.

So, the movie is partly her story and the story of Julie Powell, a girl who was living in NYC in 2002 who decided to blog her way through all of Julia Child’s recipes in the span of a year and blogged the entire journey as a creative outlet.

The movie parallels both of their stories…  two women who were essentially bored who found a passion for cooking that was life-giving to them. They found life in their creativity. Their passion gave them joy when life around them was boring and at times incredibly difficult.

Being the geek that I am, one of the parts that I found most fascinating about the movie, other than learning the story of Julia Child’s rise to fame, was to see how much blogging has developed and shaped our culture in recent years.

In 2002, it was still a rather novel thing and it’s interesting to see and hear about Julie’s journey of understanding the blogging world.

But back to the movie… the thing that stuck out the most to me was the importance of finding something you are passionate about and pursuing it. There will definitely be some letdowns along the way, but if you go for it and count the cost, you can do some really significant things as you pursue your passions.

I heard someone once say whatever you are passionate about is often key to your calling.

Julie and Julia were passionate about cooking (and eating!)…  one changed the way people cooked and the other changed her life and got a great book (and movie) out of it.

So anyway, if you want to be inspired you should see it. I think there were some really redeeming lessons to learn about life, passion, and even marriage in this story.

And, I think Meryl Streep deserves an Oscar for her performance in this movie. She was brilliant.

What are you passionate about? What are you willing to overcome obstacles for?

Find out what “it” is and go for it.

I think this is the movie I’m looking forward to seeing the most in 2009…

Learn more here

Seriously, you need to add this movie to your list of movies to see.

I went to see Slumdog Millionaire this week and it is absolutely one of the best movies I’ve seen in a long time.

It’s beautiful. The story. The characters. The cinematography. The soundtrack.

It’s simply great story-telling. And the message of the movie is powerful.

Set in India, this movie follows the journey of a ‘slumdog’ named Jamal, and his journey from the slums of Mumbai to being an unlikely contestant on the show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.”

I won’t tell much more.

Just go.

See it for yourself.