A celebration of the publication of “In a New Light - Spirituality and the Media Arts" by Ron Austin

On occasion of the publication by New City Press of Ron Austin’s “In a New Light – Spirituality and the Media Arts”, a book presentation was held last April 20th at Loyola Marymount University (“LMU”) in Los Angeles.

The event was organized by the Focolare Movement and the Department of Theological Studies of the above-mentioned university. Austin, the author, was present along with a panel of 3 experts: Cecilia Gonzalez-Andrieu, Assistant Professor of Theological Studies at LMU; Gabriel Meyer, journalist and writer; and Paul Wolff, screenwriter and lecturer at the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts. Austin’s brilliant remarks underlined the spiritual principles (being in the present moment, affirming the mistery of the other, and transforming conflict) underlying the art of film, exploring a spiritual foundation for creative film work, seeking ways to find common ground on which to build creative relationships. Austin, who refers to Chiara Lubich’s charism on various occasions throughout his book, quoted some excerpts from Lubich’s “The Cry,” in order to develop and illustrate his thesis. His presentation was followed by a very lively discussion among the members of the panel and with the audience, about 80 people, most of them involved in the field of Film and Media as well as some students. It was quite noteworthy to have a conversation among this great mix of screenwriters and practitioners of the media arts, of theologians and people involved in religious and spiritual matters, all interested in the art form of film, reflecting upon how film and theology, how art and spirituality come together.