Reflective Report: Clobbered by the Bible
6th April 2026
The Brief: Reflective Report (500 Words): A critical evaluation of the creative process, including: Justification for the chosen platforms and mediums. Analysis of the targeted audience and engagement strategies. Reflection on storytelling techniques and ethical considerations. Key lessons learned during the project.
The Creative Journey
This project went through a real transformation before it became the three-part YouTube series Clobbered by the Bible, complete with a personal introduction video. My starting point was a set of short TikTok videos tackling the biblical “Clobber Passages” in the fast, funny style of creators like B. Dylan Hollis. But the more I worked on it, the more I realised that quick comedy and complex, sensitive theology don’t always make easy partners. The TikTok plan would have required about ten videos and I felt, the joke was too thin and the format couldn’t do justice to the subject. So I changed course.
The TikTok experiments weren’t wasted though. I used them to explore AI video creation tools, and the results are up on my blog if you’re curious. They remain a useful record of where I started.
Platform and Medium
Moving from TikTok to YouTube was a deliberate choice, both creatively and ethically. YouTube gave me the space to tell the story properly, in a longer documentary-style format where each chapter could breathe. I also felt a real responsibility to the people who might be watching -those recovering from religious trauma deserve more than a punchline.
The production side was a steep climb. I’d planned a simple studio setup but ended up mixing location filming with green screen work at ARU, which pushed me well outside my comfort zone. Learning to edit a multi-chapter project in CapCut Pro was genuinely hard, but it raised the quality of the final videos in ways I’m proud of. I’m also part way through an Adobe Premiere Pro course, so the learning continues.
Audience and Engagement
If I’m honest, the audience question came fairly late in the process. The real driver was personal: a deep conviction that if we are all made in the image of God, then there is no room for excluding people on the basis of sexuality or gender identity. Full stop.
That said, I know who I’m making this for. Spiritual exiles. LGBTQ+ Christians. Ex-vangelicals. People who still carry a hunger for spirituality have been hurt by the church. My approach is warm rather than confrontational. Everyone who reads a Bible passage is making a choice about interpretation, and mine is a generous one that includes rather than excludes. Opening the series with my own story, as my tutor Loren suggested, helps build trust quickly and sets the right tone for everything that follows.
Storytelling and Ethics
The series follows a clear arc: the wound of weaponised scripture, the historical context behind passages that have been misused for centuries, and finally a hopeful, inclusive resolution. Looking back, I could have included trigger warnings for religious trauma, and I’d do that differently next time.
What I Learned
This module taught me that humour and compassion can share a space, but compassion has to come first. Slowing down, mastering new tools, and finding my authentic voice produced something I’m genuinely proud of. I started after Christmas wondering if I could pull this off at all. I know now that I can.
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