2008 Woodie Awards
The Church Office uses humor and wit to identify problems within the church
By: Megan Bradberry
Issue date: 4/4/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Megan Bradberry
Staff Writer
NBC's sitcom The Office has been nominated for multiple Emmys, received the 2006 Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series and has inspired North Greenville junior youth ministry student, Colton Guffey, to bring the concept to the church.
"The fact that I've grown up in church, worked in a church for two years as a student pastor, and I know how much humor there is in a church, I know the stupid things we do as Christians that need to be brought out," said Guffey.
The idea for The Church Office surfaced over breakfast back in October of 2006. "I asked [Matthew] Martinez, 'what if we took the idea of The Office and put it into the church?' I kept thinking about it and finally wrote the first draft of the first script, which took only 30 minutes to write," said Guffey.
Four episodes have been completed and Guffey is the in process of writing the fifth episode.
The Church Office is filmed as a mini series that is about a church that needs help finding the true meaning of church and ministry. The style of the show is a "mockumentary," which is fictional show filmed like a documentary. With the exception of the incoming pastor, the staff is new to the "nuts and bolts" of church office work.
"There is entirely too much humor in a church office, as is," said Guffey. "The reason for that is because we as Christians can sometimes be idiots. This is a good way for us to show how we, as well as other people, as Christians can act and how the world sees us. How we can act can turn people away from Christianity because of how we portray ourselves as 'holier than thou' and knowing everything. The show addresses many typical stereotypes and faults that Christians can sometimes demonstrate. The show's purpose is not to make fun of Christians but to bring out the stupid things that we can sometimes fall into. This show is how the world, at times, sees 'church.' Hopefully, this will help open our eyes."
"The trick about this is to make sure that everyone knows that we are not making fun of the church," said Matthew Martinez, senior theater.
The Church Office is a creative outlet for writers like Guffey and Martinez to express concerns they have about the church. "This isn't just us trying to make something and putting the word church in there so its fine," said Guffey. "We are not bashing the church or making fun of Christians."
"We want to cause a positive change instead of a negative criticism. Laughter is the best way to get the point across," said Martinez. "The church is the body and they laughter is the body's best medicine."
The show is based on the BBC and NBC versions of The Office, but the characters and situations are all made up by the team that makes this show happen. The Church Office is written by Guffey, Martinez, Ben Porch, junior theater; Daniel Jordan, junior theater; and David Holland, junior theater. The cast is made up of Matt Huff, sophomore English; Lydia Campbell, junior theater; Britney Teie, senior theater; Johnny Geggis, sophomore business administration; Holland, Jordan, Porch, Martinez, Guffey and appearances by other North Greenville students.
"Whoever writes gets to direct," said Martinez. "It's a group effort."
"The best part," said Guffey, "is writing, working with the cast, and having fun when shooting. I like just seeing what they do to improvise for their character."
"I guess my favorite part of the series is shooting and the crazy times between the shots," said Martinez.
Guffey's goal for the series is to have 20 episodes for one season. "Depending on school, scheduling, and who is around, I'd like to have a season of at least 10," said Guffey.
The first episode portrays the pastor's first day at a church. He comes in only to realize how much guidance the church is in need of. The premiere of
The Church Office is Monday, April 9 at 9:30 p.m. in classroom M-10 in Turner
Chapel.
More information on The Church Office can be found online on their MySpace site, www.myspace.com/thechurchoffice, and on Facebook.
Staff Writer
NBC's sitcom The Office has been nominated for multiple Emmys, received the 2006 Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series and has inspired North Greenville junior youth ministry student, Colton Guffey, to bring the concept to the church.
"The fact that I've grown up in church, worked in a church for two years as a student pastor, and I know how much humor there is in a church, I know the stupid things we do as Christians that need to be brought out," said Guffey.
The idea for The Church Office surfaced over breakfast back in October of 2006. "I asked [Matthew] Martinez, 'what if we took the idea of The Office and put it into the church?' I kept thinking about it and finally wrote the first draft of the first script, which took only 30 minutes to write," said Guffey.
Four episodes have been completed and Guffey is the in process of writing the fifth episode.
The Church Office is filmed as a mini series that is about a church that needs help finding the true meaning of church and ministry. The style of the show is a "mockumentary," which is fictional show filmed like a documentary. With the exception of the incoming pastor, the staff is new to the "nuts and bolts" of church office work.
"There is entirely too much humor in a church office, as is," said Guffey. "The reason for that is because we as Christians can sometimes be idiots. This is a good way for us to show how we, as well as other people, as Christians can act and how the world sees us. How we can act can turn people away from Christianity because of how we portray ourselves as 'holier than thou' and knowing everything. The show addresses many typical stereotypes and faults that Christians can sometimes demonstrate. The show's purpose is not to make fun of Christians but to bring out the stupid things that we can sometimes fall into. This show is how the world, at times, sees 'church.' Hopefully, this will help open our eyes."
"The trick about this is to make sure that everyone knows that we are not making fun of the church," said Matthew Martinez, senior theater.
The Church Office is a creative outlet for writers like Guffey and Martinez to express concerns they have about the church. "This isn't just us trying to make something and putting the word church in there so its fine," said Guffey. "We are not bashing the church or making fun of Christians."
"We want to cause a positive change instead of a negative criticism. Laughter is the best way to get the point across," said Martinez. "The church is the body and they laughter is the body's best medicine."
The show is based on the BBC and NBC versions of The Office, but the characters and situations are all made up by the team that makes this show happen. The Church Office is written by Guffey, Martinez, Ben Porch, junior theater; Daniel Jordan, junior theater; and David Holland, junior theater. The cast is made up of Matt Huff, sophomore English; Lydia Campbell, junior theater; Britney Teie, senior theater; Johnny Geggis, sophomore business administration; Holland, Jordan, Porch, Martinez, Guffey and appearances by other North Greenville students.
"Whoever writes gets to direct," said Martinez. "It's a group effort."
"The best part," said Guffey, "is writing, working with the cast, and having fun when shooting. I like just seeing what they do to improvise for their character."
"I guess my favorite part of the series is shooting and the crazy times between the shots," said Martinez.
Guffey's goal for the series is to have 20 episodes for one season. "Depending on school, scheduling, and who is around, I'd like to have a season of at least 10," said Guffey.
The first episode portrays the pastor's first day at a church. He comes in only to realize how much guidance the church is in need of. The premiere of
The Church Office is Monday, April 9 at 9:30 p.m. in classroom M-10 in Turner
Chapel.
More information on The Church Office can be found online on their MySpace site, www.myspace.com/thechurchoffice, and on Facebook.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
jay forsythe
posted 4/06/07 @ 12:33 AM EST
Doug Fields and Saddleback Church is already doing this. You may want to check on copyrights.
Colton Guffey
posted 4/10/07 @ 9:55 PM EST
Hey man,
Just wondering where you got this information because I would like to check this out. I like Doug Fields but there shouldn't be any problems with Copyright!
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