AUTHOR

Stephen Eckelberry

Filmmaker who splits his time between Los Angeles and Florida.

A Birthday Tribute: What L. Ron Hubbard Means to Me

This relief from stress and pain—this hope for a better life—that is L. Ron Hubbard’s legacy.

Thoughts on July Fourth, From This Lutheran Catholic Jewish Episcopalian Scientologist

This is no glitch, no coincidence, no afterthought. Religious freedom was built into our nation from the get-go.

David Miscavige—Master Builder

Mr. Miscavige is a professional, works long hours and his perseverance and attention to detail are legendary.

Remembering Kissir and Tsemik at Hazeem’s House, This Ramadan

I put these religious labels on Boon, Kofi, and Avi now, but back then, the subject never came up. They were just my friends.

The Arolsen Holocaust Archives—A New Book Awakens Both Our Sense of Beauty & Responsibility

These photographs are proof of what happens when bigotry, fanaticism and blind obedience go unchecked.

Muslim Representation in Media: Is Three Dimensions Too Much to Ask?

The Muslim Public Affairs Council Hollywood Bureau held its media awards ceremony on March 20. It was a straightforward affair, shot on a simple stage intercut with livestreams from the homes of the awardees—a far cry from the Golden Globes held a few weeks earlier, but more meaningful to me.

“Murder Among the Mormons” Spoiler Alert: It Wasn’t the Mormons

It’s tempting as a filmmaker to go for the low-hanging fruit—to play on people’s fears of the “out” group and reinforce those stereotypes to get some more clicks. But it’s unacceptable.

A Kindred “Soul”—New Animated Film Finds Spiritual Common Ground

The big question is: how did the filmmakers navigate the minefield of religious dogma when it comes to the representation of what a soul is, and what happens before and after life in the “meat suit,” as one of the characters puts it?

Celluloid, Cigarettes and Religion

It was the early 90s and we were sitting in a dingy film editing room in Encino, California. I looked over at Steve, who’d just asked me the question. He was a fellow film editor; we’d both met earlier that day when our boss, Fima, had pointed to stacks of film reels and told us in his thick Russian-Yiddish accent, “We have three film to cut, I don’t care who cuts which one.”

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