Saving Society’s “Disposable” Kids: Filmmaker Brian Ivie Discusses “The Drop Box”

[Valin]

Patheos:

Tony Rossi

February 25, 2015

 

On June 20, 2011, USC filmmaking student Brian Ivie was eating his breakfast cereal and reading the Los Angeles Times when he came across a story titled “South Korean Pastor Tends an Unwanted Flock.” It shared the actions of Pastor Jong-rak Lee, who had built a drop box for unwanted babies into his home and church.

 

The reason was that many babies born disabled or to single mothers in Seoul, South Korea, were simply abandoned on the streets to die because the culture often views these things as shameful. With a heart full of love for these children, Pastor Lee and his wife started taking them in, finding them homes, and even adopting 18 themselves. To date, over 600 babies have been saved because of Pastor Lee’s efforts.

 

Though Brian had never considered making a documentary, he felt that this was a story that cried out to be told to the world. During an interview on “Christopher Closeup” about his film “The Drop Box,” he said, “I grew up making movies in my neighborhood about being in a battle – and it seemed like [Pastor Lee] was in a battle. It felt so real that it made everything in my life seem fake. I decided I need to go chase that down and find out where all the courage came from.”

 

(Snip)