Director Ron Maxwell is best known for the epic Civil War films Gettysburg and Gods and Generals. Maxwell brings a depth of historical accuracy to his films that is a cut above the average Hollywood fare. His Civil War films, financed by media magnate Ted Turner, present a human face to the horrific struggles of the Civil War: a complex picture of a country divided by the passionate values held by either side. They also show the tragic loss of families and friends caught up in a war that tore relationships asunder. The films will long be remembered for their historical as well as their cinematic value. They would be a great supplement to any study of the Civil War, though parents should be cautioned that the violent war images nd use of mild profanity may make them unsuitable for younger children. Both films are currently available on video and DVD.

At the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival, I had the privilege of watching the world premiere of the extended director's cut of Gods and Generals, which focuses on the part that Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson played in the conflict. This touching prequel to Gettysburg starts with the beginning of the Civil War and portrays the unraveling of a nation as citizens and soldiers begin to take up arms against one another. The extended version is more than an hour longer than even the lengthy 219 minute theater version. Every scene is carefully crafted to add new dimensions to the study of the Civil War; yet every scene has a human face. This is more than a documentary; it is the compelling story of the greatest challenge that has ever faced our nation and its people.

Ron Maxwell came to the festival to teach two sessions on filmmaking and to offer words of wisdom to aspiring future filmmakers. His years of experience in the trenches of Hollywood make him well qualified to comment on the good-and the evil-in the world of filmmaking.

"Filmmaking not only connects people across continents," Maxwell commented in his opening remarks, "but also across time. What we do as filmmakers reaches back to those who came before us and forward to those yet unborn."

However, in his session on "Hollywood vs. History," Maxwell uttered dire warnings for aspiring filmmakers as well: "Hollywood is a good place to lose your soul," he said. "The surest way to know that you have lost it is when you don't even realize that it is gone. One day, you just wake up and realize that you are only working to support a lifestyle. Hollywood gets you through seduction."

"Most filmmakers, even secular filmmakers, start out with high ideals and aspirations," Maxwell explained. "Hollywood tells you-make our movie and then you can make the movie you want.' You need to learn to drown out the thunder of other voices."

"I have never made a film that I am ashamed of," Maxwell added, "but I have made some that I did not need to make. As a director, time is your most precious resource." He explained that directors typically spend several years on a single movie project. Some of his own films, such as a projected movie on the life of Joan of Arc, have been in the research stage for over ten years.

Ron Maxwell took time from his film festival schedule to sit down with me and discuss both his own work and the future of Christian filmmaking in this country.

TOS: Mr. Maxwell, you are probably best known for your wonderful Civil War films Gettysburg (1993) and Gods and Generals (2002). You seem to have a passion for the history of the Civil War. What developed that passion in your life?

Maxwell: I suppose I have to credit my daddy, who took my younger brother and me to historical sites when we were kids up in New Jersey. Most of those were sites dealing with colonial history or with the French and Indian War, but at an early age I developed a love for American history. I studied the Civil War and read about the Civil War. Then in 1978, I read Michael Shaara's novel The Killer Angels. Little did I know that it would be a life-changing event for me. Before I even finished reading it, I knew that I had to make it into a movie.

TOS: At the San Antonio Independent Film Festival, we were privileged to watch the world premiere of the complete extended director's cut version of Gods and Generals. Will this version be released to the public?

Maxwell: I expect that it someday will be. What you saw was an unfinished version. It still needs work on the color and CGI shots. At this point, it is a work in progress. When it is finished, I expect that it will go into release, but there are no specific plans at this time.

TOS: I understand that you hope to make another Civil War film entitled The Full Measure. Where does this project stand?

Maxwell: That is the third part in the trilogy. It goes from the Battle of Gettysburg to Appomattox. That has not been financed or scripted yet. It is still in development. I am still looking for financial backers for that project.

TOS: In Gods and Generals, you very effectively demonstrate the fervent religious faith of Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. What motivated you to include this aspect of his life in your presentation?

Maxwell: It was just telling the story with fidelity. You can't understand Jackson if you remove his faith from the equation. It was central to who he was. And it was just a way to show the man in his full humanity.

TOS: Are you yourself a Christian?

Maxwell: I am indeed. I was reared in the Lutheran faith from my childhood and am still a member of that church.

TOS: How do you envision the future of Christian filmmaking in this country?

Maxwell: I think you are on the eve of a renaissance, because for a long time Christian filmmakers subsumed their identity in a culture largely hostile to it. And there is no reason to do that really, if you look at the larger picture. All filmmakers-believers, nonbelievers, believers of other faiths-need to fully and openly express the things that are most important in their lives. In some respects, our faith is central to our lives.

So, if a filmmaker wants to make a film from a Christian perspective, as Mel Gibson did, about the story of Christ, why not? Christian filmmakers have nothing to be ashamed of-nothing to be bashful about. It doesn't mean that we can't be self-critical. I think when Christian filmmakers kind of come out of the closet, they can be self-critical. They can make films about the Inquisition, about the aberrations of the Christian church, about the Salem witch trials, which the enemies of Christianity would like to make a film about. Why can't Christians make films about these topics from a true perspective? Ours would not be a "let's knock it down" and "let's give examples of what is horrible about this faith" position like our enemies would give. We could present these topics from a real, reflective, authentic position like Martin Luther did.

TOS: You mentioned the Mel Gibson film. Has the commercial success of The Passion of the Christ affected the future of Christian filmmaking?

Maxwell: Unquestionably. I think it has emboldened Christian filmmakers to take on Christian themes in films and videos. I think some distributors will begin to think twice before they dismiss a subject designed to reach a Christian audience. One thing for sure, they know that there is a huge audience out there that has been neglected, to put it mildly.

TOS: What other projects are you currently working on?

Maxwell: I am currently in pre-production for a film that I am making for Mount Vernon on the life of George Washington. This will open the summer of '06. We are filming this winter and spring. This will be a 20-minute screen film rather like an IMAX film-in Panavision. And every day I put time into trying to find financing for the film I dream of making-a film on the life of Joan of Arc.

TOS: I know that you have worked with at least one homeschool student, Sam Phillips, in the making of Gods and Generals. How do you think that homeschoolers can impact the future of filmmaking in America?

Maxwell: Sam worked with me as an apprentice when he was about 15-16 years old. I think the more homeschoolers get involved in filmmaking, the better it will be. But the most important thing is for them to study the three Rs-reading, writing, and arithmatic-and history and language and literature. But if they have time, it would be great for them to run around with a digital camera, learning the craft.

TOS: What impression do you have of the homeschool movement in America?

Maxwell: I am very glad that the homeschool community is out there in general for the good of our own culture and the good of our country. I have seen that the standard of education is very high and very sound. If the Phillipses are any example of the homeschooling community, this is a very encouraging movement.

TOS: Mr. Maxwell, thank you for taking the time from your busy schedule to speak with us. We wish you great success on your future endeavors.

Amelia Harper is author of Literary Lessons from the Lord of the Rings and a contributor to the J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia. In November, she will be presenting a paper on "Worlds of Imagination in the Writings of Lewis and Tolkien" at a C.S. Lewis conference at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. Watch for her review of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, which will be posted on the TOS website at www.TheHomeschoolMagazine.com in early December.