by Tyler Adams
Ever since I was a kid, I have been enthralled by movies. I remember watching a father clown fish braving the entire ocean to find his son, a prince leading his slaves into an exodus, and a dead girl being brought back to life with a kiss. Though I did not fully understand the significance of these movies, I was nonetheless being taught the values of family, leadership, and the power of love. The movies did not have to say what they were teaching me; they were showing me through their characters, actions, and symbols - their visuals. Working on the documentary, “Your Kingdom Come,” I have begun to have a better appreciation of what we see on our screens and also a better understanding of my own story.
There’s a rule out there about storytelling that says, “show, don’t tell.” Of course, in videos, people typically talk, but for the most part, movies don’t have to explain things as the story progresses. As director Andrew Stanton stated during his 2012 Ted Talk, “The audience actually wants to work for their meal. They just don’t want to know that they’re doing that.” He advises storytellers to give audiences two plus two but to not give them four. The audience will figure it out and will feel more satisfied while doing so. He should know because, as a director and producer at Pixar, he’s done this many times. In fact, he and the Pixar team do this sometimes without a single word of dialogue. Up has one of the most precious love stories never spoken, and people fell in love with the mainly mute Wall-E without him having to say a word. This isn’t a new way of storytelling. It’s been used for centuries.
I always pictured the stories of Jesus taking place in colorless structures, sand-filled lands, and hot climates - but my interpretations were completely wrong. Israel is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to, filled with gorgeous green scenery, painted lilies on the valleys, and landscapes straight out of Peter Jackson’s imagination. Bethlehem wasn't some dusty old town. It was a mountain that was covered with abundant plant life with a fantastic view of the valley below. Mt. Tabor is a lovely sight to behold from both below and on top of the mountain. Seriously, I fell in love with the land, from the Sea of Galilee to the Jezreel Valley. And by going to these places, I can then picture the stories of Jesus. Sitting atop the flowing fields on the Mount of Beatitudes, getting crowded in the tight alleyways of Jerusalem, getting winded going up Mt. Tabor — I was walking where Jesus walked. Suddenly, the stories came alive in me. His words made more sense.
With this documentary, I hope other people experience the same revelation. By seeing the scenery, the symbols, the actual locations, people won’t just be told Jesus went to the Jordan River; they’ll see it. They won’t just hear about the shepherd’s meeting and angel in the field; they’ll see the field. They won’t just hear a story — they can see it in front of them, just like the cave painters of yore, and the painters, sculptors, and filmmakers after them. You see, by using these visuals to tell the stories found in the Gospels, we’re inviting people to journey with us. Even though the viewers can’t necessarily physically go to Israel, the images on the screen, like any good motion picture, will capture the minds of those who watch it and they will be transported into the tale being told.
Why are visuals in storytelling important? Because the pictures are the living, breathing part of the story. Everything else is context. Without images, we would just have words. How can we possibly fathom Jesus as a shepherd without seeing the care and attention a shepherd gives to each member of his flock? How can we imagine a city on a hill without seeing the complexity and majesty of one atop a mountain? How can we tell about the love of Christ without showing love to others? Let’s not just tell people about the story of God. Let’s show them.
