Hi Jay and all,
Regarding point #5: Hollywood has a history of double standards. When Christian's were offended by The Last Temptation of Christ in 1988 Hollywood basically said "tough." Around that same time there was a movie that some Muslims found offensive and they pulled it from theaters.
No one in Hollywood suggested that two films by Jewish directors set in Nazi Germany, Steven Spielberg's "Schindler's List" or Roman Polanski's "The Pianist", were anti-German.
But if a film is made by a Catholic Christian, he is labeled anti-semetic... Even when the film is based on historical fact and shows Jews as BOTH heros and villians.
But I'm not really surprised because Jesus said that we would be persecuted for following him...and that belief in him would be a stumbling block and would divide many...even parents from children.
Joe Esterhaus, who wrote Basic Instinct, Flashdance, Fatal Attraction, and Showgirls says Hollywood runs on greed. The Passion Of The Christ has broken all kinds of records ie: $117 million in it's 5 days-more than all the other top 12 movies out right now COMBINED!; More pre-sold tickets than Star Wars-The Phantom Menace, the newest Harry Potter movie AND Lord Of The Rings COMBINED!; the biggest mid-week opening $ in movie history; the biggest February opening $ in history. So will Hollywood take notice of this conservative, spiritual audience and start making movies that reflect those values. Sadly, probably not...so we'll continue to get Will and Grace instead of AMAZING GRACE!!! : )
Mel Gibson invested 25 million $ of is own money...but he clearly will be rewarded many, many times over (30, 60, 100 fold). So if he allows God to lead him in his next film, he'll have nothing to worry about.
I need to apply all this to music...and invest my (far fewer) talents like Mel did!! : )