Director’s Statement

     3:16 is a parable that illustrates God’s love for His people. Based on the Christian belief that God allowed His only son to die so the world might live, the film puts on the screen the pain a parent may experience in giving her son’s life for a cause. I imagine that the shortest way to explain the message is to quote a common phrase: “God love’s you this much.”

The format of miniDV was artistically chosen to help the audience connect with the story and characters. A world-wide plague with a single child as the only salvation is a lot to digest in less than twenty minutes. MiniDV is a format that many people shoot their home movies on. The imperfections of this medium are commonly known, and as they appear in the film, help move the audience into the film. 

     I believe that satisfaction is not always immediate. The term “instantly gratifying,” which should only be used to describe a cup of coffee, and anything with a shelf life should not be a factor in personal happiness. I believe that anything worth having is worth a scar or two. These are all factors in 3:16. Sometimes, all too often perhaps, life gets worse before it gets better. Life is about the strength to make it past the hardships. Abbie and Dean experience a hardship no one should have to endure, but they persevere. Growth, regardless of whether it’s physical, emotional, or spiritual, has a tendency to be painful. However, 3:16 is not meant to be condemning. The promise of hope at the end illustrates that good things come out of bad experiences and, while it may not be immediately recognizable, you will be stronger because of them.

     Ultimately, my artistic objective for 3:16 was to communicate to the audience that God suffered through the same emotional journey as Abbie and Dean out of love and in order to be reconciled with his people. Take it or leave it, but God loves you. So find strength in adversity, trust in the Lord, and please, enjoy my film.

~ Jason Durdon