“God: The Producer and Director”

By Tom Taffel

Christian Science Sentinel

June 19, 1971

Volume 73,     Number 25

There were almost too many reasons why I couldn’t make a motion picture for Pan American World Airways.  I was a college student without financial backing, technical training, or practical experience.

And yet, the project seemed right.  As I silenced human will—what I wanted and how I thought it should be done – I was able to listen for the Christ, Truth and to follow the Father’s guidance.  I began by selecting a partner with whom I would produce, direct, film, edit and sound-track our senior thesis.  However, he soon dropped of school, leaving me high and dry, apparently without means for fulfilling the financial and moral commitment to complete the film.

Since I’d never handled a motion picture camera before, and only forty-four days remained before I was committed to begin filming at Kennedy International Airport, my professor was rather pessimistic.  His doubts concerning the successful outcome of the film compelled to reexamine my motives in undertaking such a project as well as my abilities.

I began to reason in Christian Science that man’s ability is infinite.  Mind, God, is all-knowing, and man, God’s expression, is not necessarily dependent upon time, skill, or acquired experience.  As Job said,” He performeth the thing that is appointed for me.”(1)   My motive to glorify God would call forth the right ideas necessary to complete my goal—right ideas that were exciting, dynamic, challenging, and fun

In response to the discouraging argument of failure, I was reassured to know that a right idea includes within itself every means necessary to bring it to fruition, the strength, divine guidance, and “follow through” to bring about its own perfect fulfillment.  This line of reasoning enabled me to visualize the film’s completion although it was still in the very stages of planning.

It was necessary to practice with the equipment prior to the actual filming at the airport. However, far less film was run through the camera than what might have been thought desirable.  During this learning period many mistakes were made.  I knew that these mistakes must not be repeated, but could be turned into lessons to be profited from.  Error, trying to justify itself, would have had me believe there was a reason for a given mistake, that I should be grateful it happened when it did rather than at a more crucial period.

It was reassuring to know that although evil sometimes comes to us in the disguise of good, true good never comes to us in the disguise of evil.  Error was then seen to be foundationless, having no more validity, cause, or purpose than a mathematical mistake.  Instead of discussing, analyzing, and debating the many problems evidently threatening the film’s success, I tried to uncover those truths which errors were trying to hide.  A statement by Mrs. Eddy instantly nullified any claim of error: “The devotion  of thought to an honest achievement makes the achievement possible.”(2

My incredulous professor and friends looked on in absolute amazement as the project unfolded: Pan Am gave me the use of an airborne Boeing 707 Jet Clipper for four hours with unlimited use of equipment and personnel, the Federal Aviation Administration permitted me into government restricted areas, and film manufacturers donated thousands of feet of film and processing.

Over five hundred hours were spent on the film while I carried a full academic schedule.  Furthermore, the president of the college requested the film for special showings at the university, the State University of New York purchased three copies, and the film won honorable mention in an international film festival and was reviewed in a national photographic publication.  Pan Am reimbursed me in full, for which I was most grateful.  Since it was an academic project, I normally would have had to pay the entire expense myself.  Shortly thereafter the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare in Washington, District of Columbia, requested the film, and it was sold to the United States Government.

Two lines from the Christian Science Hymnal best summarize the accomplishment

His is the power by which we act,

His be the glory too. (3)

(1) Job 23:14;  (2) Science and Health, p. 199; (3) Hymn No. 354.