Publisher

MOVIEGUIDE® was founded in 1985 by Dr. Ted Baehr, past president of the Episcopal Radio & Television Foundation and former director of the Television Center at the City University of New York. A graduate of high distinction in Comparative Literature from Dartmouth College, Dr. Baehr received his Juris Doctor from New York University School of Law, where he served as the editor of the NYU Law School Newspaper. MOVIEGUIDE® is affiliated with the Christian Film & Television Commission® ministry (CFTVC), also founded by Dr. Baehr, which is a non-profit ministry of Good News Communications, Inc. Both MOVIEGUIDE® and CFTVC are dedicated to redeeming the values of the entertainment industry, according to biblical principles, by influencing industry executives and artists and by informing and educating the public about the influence of the entertainment media and about how to train their families to become media-wise, so they can choose the good and reject the bad. MOVIEGUIDE® is more than just a magazine — it’s also a two-minute TV show, a two-minute and five-minute radio show, and an Internet resource available around the world and broadcast, cablecast and satellite-cast in more than 200 countries and territories. The magazine and Internet versions of MOVIEGUIDE® include news from the entertainment industry, insightful articles on trends and beliefs, and interviews with top filmmakers and actors such as Robert Duvall, Tom Hanks, Angelina Jolie, Bruce Willis, Lindsay Lohan, Jerry Bruckheimer, Johnny Depp, and Steven Spielberg. When we started in 1985, only 6% of the movies were aimed at families; by 2008, 45% of the movies released in theaters were aimed at families. Those family films grossed an average 200% better than movies aimed at the adult marketplace. Also in 1985, 81% of the movies were rated R, but since 2001, less than 40% of the major movies released theatrically were R-rated. In 2009, only two of the Top 25 grossing movies were R rated. Each year around Oscar time, MOVIEGUIDE® hosts its Annual Faith & Values Awards Gala and Report to the Entertainment Industry in Hollywood, where it rewards the best family-friendly movies and TV shows of the previous year, as well as the most moral and Christ-centered films for mature audiences. At the gala, our founder, Dr. Ted Baehr (who travels around the world talking to civic groups, churches and synagogues speaking about Hollywood and media wisdom) presents a statistical analysis based on MOVIEGUIDE® reviews. His analysis consistently shows studio executives and filmmakers that family-friendly content and even Christian-friendly or conservative content can significantly increase the profitability of their movies. Since the Gala started in 1993, the number of movies with morally uplifting, biblical and or positive Christian content has more than tripled and the number of R-rated movies in the Top 25 Movies at the Box Office has declined from about 12 per year to only two or three each year. Thus, all of MOVIEGUIDE®’s activities have led to a significant increase in the number of family-friendly and Christian-friendly movies over the past 21 years. Support from those concerned about objectionable content in the media remains absolutely vital to the ongoing work of this organization. Redeeming the values of the entertainment industry according to biblical principles means: 1. Know Before You Go 2. Monitor your child’s leisure time activities, including your older teenagers 3. Read and study the Word daily 4. Preach the Gospel 5. Disciple believers 6. Train your children in the Christian worldview and in Media Wisdom 7. Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness Do you know what your children are watching? For more information, please call 1-805-383-2000 or 1-888-248-6689. To make a donation, visit the “Protect your family” at the top or call 1-805-383-2000.

movieguide.com