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Produced by Faith: Enjoy Real Success without Losing Your True Self, by DeVon Franklin
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Hollywood executive DeVon Franklin shows readers how to live and work their faith from nine to five, not just after quitting time.
STRAIGHT FROM HOLLYWOOD comes a dynamic business model for building a thriving career without compromising your faith. DeVon Franklin, vice president of production for Columbia Pictures, shares how being bold about his Christian faith while being driven and ambitious has actually worked in his favor to help him excel in a high-profile, fast-paced, competitive industry.
You are the movie. Produced by Faith parallels each step of the Hollywood filmmaking process with the faith-making process God uses to turn your career into a success. You will discover that it is possible to be both wildly successful and completely committed to God—and that you will be even more successful when you place your faith at the center of your career. You can unleash the power of your faith as your greatest professional advantage and use the compass of God’s Word to guide you to your true passion and purpose in life. In this informative, inspiring book, DeVon reveals the secrets to maintaining your faith while advancing in your career. Here he shows you:
* How to discover The Big Idea for your life
* How to take your career to the next level
* How to recognize the signs God sends you that indicate when it’s time to movein a new direction
* How to stand firm on your Christian principles without compromise
* How to work with people who don’t understand your beliefs
* How to choose a profession, industry, or company that is in tune with your purpose
DeVon says, “I know from my own experiences that if you will put your career in God’s hands and trust Him, you can’t account for all the ways He will bless you. When you step out in faith, He will open doors and bring you opportunities that will surpass even your wildest expectations. . . . If I have learned anything, it’s this: To get where you want to go, you’ve first got to become the person God wants you to be.”
- Sales Rank: #9706 in Books
- Brand: Franklin, Devon/ Vandehey, Tim (CON)
- Published on: 2012-06-05
- Released on: 2012-06-05
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 8.44" h x .80" w x 5.50" l, .50 pounds
- Binding: Paperback
- 256 pages
Review
"In the fifteen years I've known DeVon, he's lived his life the same way he makes his movies: with commitment, humility, and a work ethic that demands respect. I'm honored to have been a part of his journey from stellar intern to studio vice president--his story is one to be shared with anyone chasing a dream."--Will Smith
"DeVon Franklin is a remarkable man of infectious enthusiasm and a sterling example that one can navigate through the complexities of life, even the verisimilitude of Hollywood, with clarity, purpose, and integrity."--Angela Bassett
"Holding on to one's faith while pursuing a dream, especially in the entertainment business, is no small feat. DeVon demonstrates this possibility beautifully and without compromise. The themes of DeVon's book are great examples of how to pursue any career, not just within the movie business, and stay true to God."--Tyler Perry
"After reading DeVon Franklin's book, "Produced by Faith", I thought it would have been a great guide for my early life, but it's never too late for a book like this. "Produced by" Faith is a wonderful gift from an insightful, inspiring man."--Antwone Fisher
"It takes faith to step out from obscurity into the glaring lights of Hollywood particularly as a man of faith. Not only does DeVon Franklin detail his astonishing ascension to the top of his craft, he shares how he did it to the glory of God and to the delight of blockbuster audiences around the globe. This book is a must-read for anyone seeking to strike that quintessential balance between faith and function. Hollywood, like life, is a walk of faith."--Bishop T. D. Jakes
"His book is designed to show readers how to honor their faith and still succeed in their careers. Franklin is doing just that in Hollywood."--Mike Fleming, Deadline Hollywood
About the Author
DeVon Franklin was recently promoted to vice president of production for Columbia Pictures, a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment, making him one of the youngest individuals in that position in the industry. In addition to his entertainment industry pursuits, DeVon is also a Christian minister and motivational speaker. He travels from Los Angeles to Oakland at least one weekend each month to preach at Wings of Love Maranatha Ministries, where he is an ordained elder.
Excerpt. � Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
PREFACE
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
—Proverbs 3:5–6 NKJV
I was deep in the heart of Beijing, People’s Republic of China, in the summer of 2009. For the first time in my career, I was the lead studio executive on a feature film—the remake of The Karate Kid, starring Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith, son of actor Will Smith.
It’s important to understand that Beijing—the ancient capital of China—is huge. The urban area alone contains about 13 million residents; that’s four cities of Los Angeles. Beijing is also complex on a Byzantine scale, and with the producers, entire crew, and cast there, we had ventured far into some of the oldest parts of the city, into ancient neighborhoods called hutongs where the living style was more communal and we could find the character and feel we were looking for.
Getting cast, crew, and equipment there was a major undertaking, the shots were taking a long, long time to set up and complete, and as I stood there, we were running out of daylight.
Sunset is usually panic time for a film crew. Unless you’re shooting night scenes, you try to work in every last shot you can, using reflectors to capture every last bit of natural light. The crew was working as quickly as they could to maximize what was a very expensive day of production. But I had other concerns. I glanced at my watch, shot a look at the disappearing sun, and knew that even though I was the sole representative for Columbia Pictures on set, I had to leave.
I had no choice. That is, I didn’t give myself a choice.
Fortunately, the producers knew that I would be making my way back to the hotel. It wasn’t a surprise to anybody. I pulled one of the production assistants aside, told him I would be catching a taxi, left the production in the capable hands of the producers and director, and disappeared into the streets of Beijing. It was an act that might have been ridiculed if I hadn’t set a precedent years before and remained committed to it. Leaving set on the first movie you’re running—shooting halfway around the world—isn’t advisable if you want a long prosperous career in Hollywood.
But I didn’t lose my job.
In fact, my departure didn’t make a ripple in the day’s shoot. I was able to attend to something infinitely more important: keeping a promise to God that I made many years before.
I was born thirty-two years ago and raised as a Seventh-day Adventist. Among other things, that means I celebrate the Sabbath. So from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday, I unplug from my hectic life as a Columbia film executive. No work. I don’t check e-mail or roll calls. I break the fourth commandment of the movie business—Thou shalt never turn off thy BlackBerry—and turn off my BlackBerry.
The Sabbath is my time with the Lord, my time to unwind from the pressures of work, heal, and reflect on the many blessings in my life and the career path that has led me here. On Friday nights I study my Bible, pray, spend quiet hours in communion with God, and make plans with family for church and fellowship on Saturday.
Unless I happen to be in Beijing. In that case, I’ll read Scripture, watch the incredible metropolis slowly come to life, and pray that the dailies look good. Normally I would go to church, but in China most of the Christian churches are underground and I had no idea how to go about finding them. So I settled for reading the Bible and spending time in private communion with God—my own personal church in the midst of one of the world’s busiest cities.
The next morning, I decided that didn’t want to spend the entire Sabbath in my hotel room. I ended up going to a park right outside the Olympic Village where I could sit under God’s sky, watch the birds, listen to gospel music, and read the Word. As I was going through Romans, the idea came to me for this book. Just like that, clear as day.
* * *
YOU MAY FIND IT impossible that a Hollywood studio executive is also a devout Christian. But it’s not a contradiction. In reality, my business is not very different from your own. There are opportunities, politics, unspoken expectations, and a set of rules for advancement that are very different from the Lord’s rules. No matter what line of work you find yourself in, you may feel that being a Christian is holding you back. You may feel caught between a rock and a hard place. On one hand, if you don’t toe the company line and put your career first, can you still call yourself a company man or woman? On the other, if you ignore the Word and set aside the precepts of your faith when it’s convenient, can you still call yourself a Christian? Sometimes, it feels like we’re walking on a tightrope and below us there’s no net, just a big, dark abyss.
I’ve got great news. I’ve found that it is possible to put Christ first and have a thriving career. In fact, I believe it’s necessary. My favorite scripture is Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” God is our strength; his love, demonstrated through us, can move mountains and change hearts. Being a Christian is actually a competitive edge… provided that you place your faith first above even your professional aspirations. Even if in the past you’ve compromised and slid partway down that slippery slope, it’s still possible to find your way back. If I have learned anything, it’s this:
To get where you want to go, you first have
to become the person God wants you to be.
I know writing this book is definitely part of my journey to become who God wants me to be. Some would probably say I’m crazy. The common practice when you’re in business is that you write a book after you’ve either reached your goal and accumulated some power and prominence or left your industry altogether. I’m in neither place. I’m just like most of the people reading this book: still climbing the corporate ladder and/or right in the middle of my career pursuit. Yet I believe God has called me right now to share my unique experiences and this urgent message with you, so I must be obedient to his will.
The message? During my time in the film industry, I have put my faith front and center for everyone to see. It’s my experience that people handle the intersection of faith and career in one of two ways. Some conceal their beliefs at the workplace, dumping their Christian principles on the kitchen table like a spare set of keys when they leave the house in the morning. Others refuse the command to be “in the world but not of the world” and work only in environments run by and for other Christians.
Both approaches are problematic. If we lock our faith in the closet from nine to five because we’re afraid of ridicule or questions about our loyalty, what governs our choices in climbing the career ladder? Will we lie, cheat others, or stab people in the back, then go home at the end of the day and put on our “I’m a Christian” clothes again? Plenty of people do exactly that because they fear that if they go public with their faith at work, they will be perceived as weak, divisive, or unwilling to do whatever it takes to succeed. But if we make such a choice, what does that say about our faith?
On the other hand, as believers we sometimes shun the secular world and limit our job prospects to a select group of potential employers or industries that we believe will be Christian friendly. But by doing so, we can lock ourselves in an echo chamber of ideas and beliefs just like our own, so we never really stretch or grow. Sometimes, we come to regard the world outside our bubble as the enemy.
When some Christians learn that I’ve worked in entertainment for over ten years, I can feel them take a mental step backward, as if they feel I’m sleeping with the enemy. I’m not offended; to many Christians, Hollywood is a modern-day Sodom and Gomorrah. This business is probably the last place most people expect to find a young Christian visibly and vocally expressing his faith while progressing in his career. But the truth is that not only has relying on my faith not harmed my career prospects, it has actually enhanced them.
Thrilling opportunities to work with the most dynamic people in the world have come my way precisely because I have been uncompromising about my Christian principles and making service to God the centerpiece of my work. Over the course of my career I have developed a set of guiding principles that I live by:
Note
-
God’s will has priority over mine.
-
Commit to the process of success that God has planned for me, no matter how long it takes.
-
God has the authority to put my ambition in check.
-
Strive to let the love of Christ be apparent in everything I do.
-
Do not allow sin to reside in any area of my life. If I allow it, I understand it will limit my ability to receive God’s full blessings.
-
Do everything in my power to bring God’s purpose for my life to fruition (faith without works is dead).
-
Don’t take shortcuts; if I want to be true to my beliefs, then shortcuts do not exist.
-
Remember on the down days to never give up on myself and the dreams God has given me.
I base every career decision, big and small, on these precepts. That’s not an easy thing to do. There is a lot of temptation in every business from finance to academia to take the quick and easy path to success—to violate our values for promotion or because no one will ever know. I’ve felt pressure on numerous occasions to abandon my commitment to Christ, but then I remember the words of Jesus when he asked, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?”
I can truly say there is nothing in this world worth giving up what I believe in.
I’m amazed at the number of people of all faiths I’ve met who don’t understand that their faith is not an obstacle to fulfilling their dreams but the path to them. They don’t understand the power that a total commitment to God grants them.
I spent a great deal of time not long ago with a young aspiring actor who talked about his career struggles: going to auditions, trying to get in to see casting directors, exhausting himself, not knowing what to do, going to church to try to hook up with this or that individual. I listened for a while and then said, “Where do you think God is in all of this? Have you prayed and looked for where he is leading you in your aspiration?”
He hadn’t.
He was a Christian, but it never occurred to him that God had a place in his career pursuits.
I know from many of my own experiences that if you put your career in God’s hands and trust him, you can’t account for all the ways he will bless you. But you have to take that leap of faith, and even if you consider yourself a believer, that can be the hardest part. God’s love is unconditional, but we need the faith to silence our own voice and listen to his. Then we can really hear what he’s been trying to tell us about our careers all along.
I’ve written Produced by Faith to help you make that leap of faith. By sharing my story and my testimony of how my faith has actually been the greatest asset in my advancement, I hope to inspire you to take a new view of God’s role in your career. At the end of the day, you don’t have to choose between your faith and your work. Faith and works are two sides of the same coin.
� 2011 Devon Franklin
Most helpful customer reviews
64 of 66 people found the following review helpful.
Put God in the Director's Chair of Your Career
By Peggy Bowes
Full disclosure: I received a complimentary review copy of this book but was under no obligation to give it a favorable review. As a freelance writer, I receive a lot of books to review, and I was initially going to pass on this one due to a very busy schedule. I put it away in a stack of books, but I kept receiving signs that I should read it. I'm so glad I did because I couldn't put this book down.
DeVon Franklin has written many compelling reasons why placing your career in God's hands will actually give you a competitive edge in business. The book is well-organized and easy to read. Franklin parallels a typical career path with the making of a Hollywood movie. As he educates the reader on the fascinating process of filmmaking, he weaves in his personal faith journey and how it led to his success in an industry that does not exactly promote a Christian atmosphere. He also includes frequent Scripture references, showing how his faith is truly grounded in the Word of God.
Mr. Franklin had to overcome very difficult circumstances to achieve success. His father died when he was a young boy, and his mother raised him and his two brothers as a single mom who was on welfare at one point. It was during this time that DeVon turned to his church and the Word of God for comfort. He also found a type of therapy in watching movies, which led to his career in Hollywood.
Franklin never backs down on his faith, even to the point of not working on the Sabbath despite tremendous pressure to be available at all times. He views his work as serving God and his neighbor, even if it's as humble as copying, filing and answering the phone. He gently guides the reader to trust in God and to see that God wants you to be happy and successful in your career. Franklin also shows the reality of difficult circumstances and how faith and trust in God in times of difficulty can help you learn skills and lessons that will lead to later success.
Even though the book describes a Hollywood executive's career path, the advice can apply to people of all professions. Franklin quotes Martin Luther King, Jr. in a particularly relevant quote:
"If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, `Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.'"
I have already begun applying Mr. Franklin's advice to my own career and am reaping the benefits of viewing my work in writing as well as the humble and mundane duties of wife and mother as a vocation and part of God's plan.
I highly recommend this book!
52 of 53 people found the following review helpful.
A splendid meditation on work and faith
By AustinVince
I was fortunate enough to get a pre-publication copy of this book through a friend in the media, and initially I was skeptical. I'm not a religious believer and this is a book steeped in the Christian faith of its author. Then I started reading it, and I was struck not only by Mr. Franklin's candor but his wisdom. He and his co-author, Mr. Vandahey, have done a marvelous job of weaving the story of a developing life into the metaphor of a film in the various stages of production and distribution; it's a brilliant literary conceit. But more than that, they have produced a warm, human, hopeful book about faith that also works for people who don't share the author's faith. This is a book that anyone with a career should read, because we all face the same questions Mr. Franklin has faced? How much of myself do I surrender to climb the ladder? Do I have to compromise my values to be a success? Can I dedicate myself to my work and still be a good person, or is selling out the only choice? Believe me, if DeVon Franklin has been able to walk the straight and narrow road in Hollywood, of all places, we can all do it. I am not a Christian, and I loved this book. I can't recommend it highly enough.
28 of 31 people found the following review helpful.
Added to the list of Inspirational Classics
By Natasha M. Dixon
Very rarely does a book come along that can truly help give you direction for your life. The last book I read that seemed to do this was The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale. Today I can add another book to the list of such greats. Produced By Faith: Enjoying Real Success Without Losing Your True Self by DeVon Franklin is a guide for living your life fully without compartmentalizing or compromising any aspect of yourself.
Produced By Faith parallels the steps of producing a film with the reader's life. It is divided into two sections, development and production. At first glance the table of contents seems impersonal: What's the Big Idea, Selling It, Writing the Script, Getting Notes, Development Hell, God's Budget and Production Schedule, It's All About Casting, and God's Green Light. However, these chapters do more than just tell you what goes into producing a movie. They guide you through the most important production you will ever be involved in, your life.
Produced By Faith is a very personal book that encourages the reader to review how they have been doing life. It gives practical steps to help you through the process. At the end of each chapter there is a list of questions that everyone should ask themselves at some point in their career; Making this more than just another stagnant book that goes on the shelf after its read. It has somewhat of a workbook or reference book quality, with a very conversational style. There is also a transparent quality to this book, because of the personal accounts of Mr. Franklin's experience that have been weaved throughout. He gives insight into his journey from intern to Vice President at Sony Pictures.
This book comes from a faith based perspective, but it is also a practical guide for those who may not be believers; going as far as to say it is a good beginner's manual for someone interested in producing alone. This is a book that should be handed out at airports, train stations, and bus stations to every bright eyed and bushy tailed artist coming to make it in Hollywood. At the same time it is a great read everyone, in any line of work, can enjoy and implement. When you finish reading this book you will have a renewed faith; faith in God, faith in yourself, and faith in the unlimited possibilities for your life.
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