EPISODE · Mar 11, 2026 · 56 MIN
EP 34: Igniting a Catholic Film Renaissance with Brian Shields
from The Engaged Parish Podcast · host eCatholic
In this episode, host Mike sits down with Brian Shields, a devoted husband and father of nine, and the founder of Lumen Entertainment and the Lumen Institute. Brian opens up about his early success as a young actor in Hollywood, including booking a role on the HBO series "From Earth to the Moon". Despite his outward success, Brian felt unfulfilled until a life-changing encounter with the Eucharist at a retreat shifted his entire perspective. This profound experience gave him the courage to walk away from a lead role on "Dawson's Creek" after realizing the script promoted immorality to teens. Today, Brian is dedicated to equipping the next generation of Catholic filmmakers. We discuss his mission at the Lumen Institute to train artists so they don't get chewed up by the secular industry, and why he believes we need a modern "Catholic Renaissance" modeled after the 1500s. Plus, get a sneak peek at his upcoming family comedy film, Race Car Monks, hitting theaters in the spring of 2027! Show Notes:Learn more about Brian's work and the Lumen Institute: lumen.tv Follow and support the upcoming film: racecarmonksmovie.com Discover how eCatholic can help your parish thrive online: eCatholic.com
What this episode covers
In this episode, host Mike sits down with Brian Shields, a devoted husband and father of nine, and the founder of Lumen Entertainment and the Lumen Institute. Brian opens up about his early success as a young actor in Hollywood, including booking a role on the HBO series "From Earth to the Moon". Despite his outward success, Brian felt unfulfilled until a life-changing encounter with the Eucharist at a retreat shifted his entire perspective. This profound experience gave him the courage to walk away from a lead role on "Dawson's Creek" after realizing the script promoted immorality to teens. Today, Brian is dedicated to equipping the next generation of Catholic filmmakers. We discuss his mission at the Lumen Institute to train artists so they don't get chewed up by the secular industry, and why he believes we need a modern "Catholic Renaissance" modeled after the 1500s. Plus, get a sneak peek at his upcoming family comedy film, Race Car Monks, hitting theaters in the spring of 2027! Show Notes:Learn more about Brian's work and the Lumen Institute: lumen.tv Follow and support the upcoming film: racecarmonksmovie.com Discover how eCatholic can help your parish thrive online: eCatholic.com
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EP 34: Igniting a Catholic Film Renaissance with Brian Shields
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