“Whoever tells the best story shapes the world,” believes Gary Stratton, director of the B.A. in Christian Ministries program in the College of Adult & Professional Studies. To help Christian screen writers tell the “best story” and influence culture, Stratton recently became the CEO of Act One, an organization that prepares Christ followers to enter the secular entertainment industry.

Founded in 1999, Act One offers several options, including a newly reformatted, 14-month executive program that prepares people to become entertainment executives. Their writing program teaches gifted screen writers the craft of writing for secular entertainment. In addition, Act One offers two-day screenwriting workshops across the country on the creative, business, and ethical sides of the industry. Act One also reviews existing scripts and offers ongoing training for program graduates.

While committed to helping students transition into careers in secular entertainment, faculty in both program tracks primarily emphasize the student’s spiritual formation.

“Hollywood is a soul-deadening place,” Stratton says. “At Act One, we really emphasize the community. We have ongoing prayer meetings. Our faculty acts as spiritual mentors for our students. While our instructors vary theologically, they have in common a love for Jesus and a love for filmmaking.”

Act One has had many successes in the secular entertainment industry in its ten-year history. Alum have become writers and producers for major movie productions and prime time television programs. One of their former students even won an Emmy for his work on Intervention on A&E in 2004. Stratton believes a new film written and directed by a graduate, That Evening Sun starring Hal Holbrook, may be an Oscar contender this year.

“We need to bring to light the greatest story teller who ever lived, telling the greatest story ever told,” Stratton says. “If we do so, we will shape the world for Christ.”