From: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com (aml-list-digest) To: aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: aml-list-digest V2 #103 Reply-To: aml-list Sender: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk aml-list-digest Tuesday, July 15 2003 Volume 02 : Number 103 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2003 19:01:25 EDT From: Derek1966@aol.com Subject: Re: [AML] GLBT In a message dated 7/11/03 04:42:56 PM, tmanning.eagle@sisna.com writes: << We could shorten the name The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to simply "Christ's Church" ("Mormon" works great too!). >> On another list I'm on, most people simply use CFKAM: Church Formerly Known As Mormon. John Perry Provo - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2003 22:06:30 -0600 From: "Thom Duncan" Subject: RE: [AML] GLBT Again, I agree that, in reality, there is no "they" for any minority. But how does one refer to people, then? This being a writing list, it seems a worthy concern. When I was a journalist for McGraw-Hill, we used the Chicago Manual of Style to tell us how to refer to people and organizations. It was amazingly detailed. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as opposed to the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, that sort of detail (one with hypen, the other without). I hate labels in real life but in some cases, it seems like we can't do without them. Thom Duncan - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2003 22:09:16 -0700 (PDT) From: Dallas Robbins Subject: Re: [AML] League of Utah Writers Conference Chris, I haven't been to a LUT get together before. What are they like. Workshop oriented? Lecture oriented? Etc? Dallas Robbins cloudhill@yahoo.com - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 12 Jul 2003 07:34:17 -0600 From: "D. Michael Martindale" Subject: Re: [AML] GLBT Clark Draney wrote: > Since you aren't "black" or "African-American" you don't get to choose, do > you? If I'm politically correct, that's true. Sad to say, I am not, and reserve the right to speak as I wish. At least I'm consistent. I also don't make a fuss if people use a term for me that's not politically correct. > (And, btw, neither are any of them "black.") Nor am I white (my tan's looking pretty good). But I don't care if someone calls me that. > Reasonableness doesn't > really enter the discussion if you are talking about respecting the > identity of a particular group. I am hesitant to discount reasonableness under any circumstances. > "Hard to deal with" is precisely the issue, it seems to me. We are not only > grappling with complex names, but with complex identity issues as well. > The mind-set that refuses to accept a difficult acronym merely because it > makes you uncomfortable or because it doesn't roll off your tongue nicely > seems to be part of the problem. I beg to differ. Seeing groups over individuals is the problem. As humans with limited intellect, we are obliged to categorize and speak in generalities just to handle the overwhelming complexity of the cosmos. But at all times we need to remember that we are speaking about abstracts that don't really exist. I have a high school buddy who is a GLBT (did I even get the order right? I'm not sure). Except as far as I'm concerned, he's no such thing. To me, he's Tom. When I talk about GLTB's or gays or "them" or whatever label I use, I'm not talking about Tom or anybody else. I'm talking about some abstract concept that is intended to approximate a group of individuals to facilitate communication. I wish we could all remember that communication is the end goal and realize that using bulky labels or constantly shifting them every few years only disrupts communication. Offensiveness is not in a word, it's in the attitude of the speaker of the word. Some older folk still use the word "colored." They mean absolutely no offense by it. That's just the label they're used to. So why invent offense where none is, just because someone hasn't kept up on the latest PC label? To me, THAT is the problem: finding offense anywhere and everywhere we can, instead of giving people the benefit of a doubt and showing Christian love to people who intended no offense. Whatever happened to "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me"? Are we a better society now that we've let words hurt us? Are we more tolerant because of it? I think we're less tolerant because of it. We've invented new ways to find offense and condemn each other, as if the old ways weren't more than enough. - -- D. Michael Martindale dmichael@wwno.com ================================== Check out Worldsmiths, the new online LDS writers group, at http://www.wwno.com/worldsmiths Sponsored by Worlds Without Number http://www.wwno.com ================================== - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 12 Jul 2003 00:39:15 -0600 From: "Jennifer Ellsworth" Subject: Re: [AML] GLBT > > If they wanted to use GLB, I could stand that. Why throw in transsexual > > anyway? A transsexual is nothing more than a gay or lesbian who feels so > > strongly about their sexual orientation that they make a permanent > > physical commitment to the lifestyle. > > D. Michael Martindale > >Are you being serious with that comment? I don't have any first hand >knowledge but I >suspect there's a lot more to it than that. > >Susan M I agree. Men who are gay and women who are lesbians are attracted to members of the same sex. Transsexuals wish to actually become a member of the opposite sex. Do all gay men wish to become women? Are masculinity and homosexuality mutually exclusive? If the above definition is correct, then it would make sense for two gay men in a relationship to both surgically become women in order to "make a permanent physical commitment to the lifestyle." At that point, they'd no longer be gay men, they'd be lesbian women, right? Nothing about the above definition makes sense to me. I think that it's iimportant to be careful about defining groups of people that we don't belong to. In the same way I don't appreciate non-Latter-Day Saints trying to define what it means to be LDS, I imagine that members of the GLBT community don't appreciate heterosexuals trying to define what it means to be part of their community. - -Jennifer Ellsworth - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 12 Jul 2003 07:14:16 -0600 From: "D. Michael Martindale" Subject: Re: [AML] GLBT Mary Aagard wrote: > And if you're so keen on labels that aren't tongue > twisters with too many syllables, why "D. Michael?" > Why not "D" or "Mike" or "El?" I'll answer to "D" or to "Michael," but rather than "El" I prefer "Jor-el." - -- D. Michael Martindale dmichael@wwno.com ================================== Check out Worldsmiths, the new online LDS writers group, at http://www.wwno.com/worldsmiths Sponsored by Worlds Without Number http://www.wwno.com ================================== - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 12 Jul 2003 10:01:00 -0600 From: "Eugene Woodbury" Subject: Re: [AML] GLBT > We could shorten the name The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to > simply "Christ's Church" ("Mormon" works great too!). Two syllables. Less > than the six syllables in Seventh-Day Adventists; the five syllables in > Confucianism, Presbyterian and Jehovah's Witness; the four in Greek > Orthodox, Judaism, and Hinduism; or the three in Protestant, Catholic, > Methodist, or agnostic and atheist. Two syllables wins out (or ties with > Bahai and Shinto). Then again, "gay" is only one syllable. Maybe we could > even out the score with something like "Marms" (for Mormons), or "Christ's". > Hmm. The point is not to see how reductionist one can become (I'm turning off my sense of humor solely for reasons of argumentation), but to settle on language that emphasizes ease of use while maximizing semantic information Seventh-day Adventists becomes Adventist, Catholic pronounced as two syllables, Jew, one, Hindu, two, etc.; "Christ's Church" is actually rather difficult to say. If we look simply at phonemes rather than syllables, LDS does trump Mormon. The problem with LDS is its sterility: without the given antecedent in close proximity nobody knows what it means. And if they do, it's simply a synonym for "Mormon." I believe that when the church first started down this particular road, it was suggested that the church could be referred to as The Church of Jesus Christ. Not a likely usage to be adopted, because of the lack of specificity. I remember driving through rural Ohio several years back and there was a different Church of Christ in every hamlet. Ultimately, though, and despite the best efforts of the French Academy, the culture picks the terms it prefers and discards the rest. Remember Ronald Reagan's "Star Wars" program? That started out as a derogatory reference. So it's not a good idea to pick terms with a low probability of being adopted because from the start you lose the ability to control your own "naming rights." But you also have to be flexible. Bill Buckley had an (in)famous riff on the subject a few decades back when he complained that he never knew what to call designated minority groups because as soon as he got comfortable with one term what was politically correct had changed to something else. Well, go with the flow, then. Speaking of which, I note that the so-called "white" majority apparently doesn't have much of a choice in deciding what it shall be called. One of the more interesting trends in American demographics is how once reviled minorities--the Irish, for example--are pressed into the bland center as soon as they are perceived to have achieved some sort of parity as a conglomeration, regardless of the status of individual members. Hey, I'm an Anglo-Celt American, thank you very much. Not that anybody's ever going to bother to recognize that distinction. And not that I care about it myself, frankly. And maybe that's how you know you no longer belong to a "minority": you don't care what people call you as long as they spell your name right. Eugene Woodbury - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 12 Jul 2003 10:19:14 -0600 From: Margaret Young Subject: RE: [AML] GLBT In the case of using "Black" over "African American" because the first has fewer syllables--well, that might be fine--IF those you're talking about/with happen to be okay with it. Many people of color (and that term has way more syllables than the others) prefer "African American" as a way to acknowledge their heritage. Some of my black friends do not use the term "black" and are offended by it--and you'd better know that I do not use it with them. Darius Gray is often asked what term he prefers. It's a question I would not enjoy myself. ("So, Margaret, do you prefer 'Carrot-top', 'red-head' 'Ginger' or just 'Hey you'? How about 'broad', 'b--ch', 'female', 'girl' or 'woman'"?) I would really resent either question after awhile, I'm sure. But I've heard Darius answer the "What shall we call you?" a number of times. His response: "Black or African American is fine. If you call me 'colored', you'd better start running." But his aunt used "colored" most frequently in recorded conversations I've heard. It was better than what preceded it (the ugly "n" word). Last Sunday, one of my Genesis friends strenuously objected to the use of "Negro" from the pulpit. She reminded me that "Negro" was a label from the Spanairds. Different times and different people will prefer different labels. I happen to like labels that imply a heritage and a culture and that are not simply meant to divide. ________________ Margaret Young 1027 JKHB English Department Brigham Young University Provo, UT 84602-6280 Tel: 801-422-4705 Fax: 801-422-0221 - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2003 09:20:33 -0600 (MDT) From: ben@parkinsonfamily.org Subject: [AML] RE: Bookbinding Here's a bit more on my bookbinding experiments. We've had pretty good success covering the front and back boards with art paper and using linen cloth on the spine. This allows us to use an inkjet printer to put lettering or a design on the front and back covers (we're still working on a way to get lettering on the spine). We got a matte cutter, and it cuts very well, even Davies board, without much trouble. It leaves about 9/32nds of an inch lip from where you place your ruler, so I just cut one straight edge in the board, trace the pages of the book on that, and then place the ruler right on the trace lines (with a little standardizing in case my pages aren't entirely square), and cut from that. Since the cover needs to be a little bigger than the pages anyway, the 9/32nds overhang works very well. We kept having problems with warping of the front and back covers, both with wheat paste and Elmer's glue. We thought this wouldn't be a problem when we moved to Davies board, but it warped too. So we gave Yes glue a go, and it seems to have a lot of advantages. This is a glue you see for sale on bookbinding sites, so apparently somebody thinks it's suitable. You can spread it on a complete side of a piece of paper, and the paper won't curl a bit, nor does it discolor the other side. This makes an incredible difference--solves the problem entirely as near as I can tell. (If a paper won't curl when "wet," I don't see how a board will curl, and as yet none of ours have.) Yes glue works so well I'm considering going back to Matte board instead of Davies board. I can get that free from a place near our house that cuts mattes for framing and throws away the centers--the remaining pieces are big enough to bind a small book front and back. I figure if there's no warping, matte will be strong enough--people aren't cracking nuts with these things after all. The board mainly keeps the pages off the shelve and away from other books so they're less likely to wrinkle and tear. (Paris and others, what do you think of that theory?) This assumes that Yes glue doesn't have some hidden cost. Maybe it's acidic or goes brittle. Does anyone have experience with it or know how durable it is? Ben Parkinson - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2003 08:12:14 -0600 From: "Brown" Subject: Re: [AML] Nauvoo Theatrical Society (was: Dealing with Our Past) The Nauvoo Theatrical Society will be moving to the > Villa Theatre in Springville. And just for the record, the Browns are thrilled about it. They know how good the Nauvoo Theatrical society is! Cheers! Marilyn Brown - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2003 17:29:29 -0600 From: Subject: Re: [AML] ROWLING, J.K. _Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix_ (Review) I read it aloud to my family, and we finally finished it last week after several marathon reading sessions. Good thing it's summertime and there's no school. One of the things I love about the Harry Potter books is the characterization. Each character has a distinct personality. Most of them easily lend themselves to distinct voices when reading aloud. But how any given scene will turn out depends in large part on who's present. The insights and reactions of one character are not the same as those that another character may have. _Star Wars_ has a few standouts like Han Solo, but especially in Episode 2 I felt that the characters were really not so well defined. For instance, any "good guy" could have stood in for practically any other "good guy" in any scene. Same with the bad guys. There are a few exceptions, but the personalities of the characters don't come through to the hilt here as they do in the Harry Potter books. As far as LDS literature goes, Jack Weyland actually uses characterization very well in many instances, but then his characters change as they repent and they become standard "good guys." This is an oversimplification, but in so many cases in popular LDS literature, the same thing happens--Repentance makes a character lose his or her unique personality. Jana Reiss (?) in her interview in the latest _Irreantum_ says that we should work towards character-driven literature, rather than lesson-driven literature. I agree wholeheartedly, though I hasten to add that much of the LDS market likes lessons in their reading. My two cents worth. - --Katie Parker P.S. I thought Harry's romance was hilarious. Anything too serious or tender I wouldn't have felt right reading to my eight-year-old, because he simply wouldn't have "gotten" it. I think Rowling hit it right on as far as writing for her audience. - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2003 18:52:58 -0600 From: Ben Parkinson Subject: [AML] RE: Bookbinding At 09:20 AM 7/14/03 -0600, ben@parkinsonfamily.org wrote: >This assumes that Yes glue doesn't have some hidden cost. Maybe it's >acidic or goes brittle. Does anyone have experience with it or know how >durable it is? I spoke too soon. The cover boards of the book I put together with Yes glue also warped after it had been out from under the weights about 24 hours. Ben Parkinson - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2003 15:55:24 -0400 From: Irreantum2@cs.com Subject: [AML] FWD: Auditions for Joseph Smith VALID: July 14 - August 1, 2003=20 The SEARCH for JOSEPH continues... Please forward this message to anyone yo= u may know who might be interested. Thank you! =20 F.Y.I. Deseret Media Productions, a company owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of=20= Latter-day Saints, is producing a new film based on the life of the Prophet=20= Joseph Smith. We are currently casting the LEAD ROLE: JOSEPH SMITH, The Man:=20 Height: 6'0" or taller Age: Must be able to portray from 21 to 39 years old. (Actors should b= e in their mid-to-late twenties.) Build: Athletic, approximately 200-215 lbs. Complexion: Fair with Light eyes Character & Personality: Charismatic, Positive, Intelligent, Passionate, Wi= se beyond his years, Deeply Spiritual, Approachable, Fun-loving, Athletic, L= oves Children and people of All Ages, and others enjoy being around him. In= short, a very well-rounded human being. ALL OTHER ROLES for this film will be addressed at a future date. Due to the intensity of this highly demanding role, we are considering ONLY=20= seasoned actors with professional experience in theater and/or film. This w= ill be a S.A.G. affiliated production, although auditions are open to ALL ac= tors regardless union membership. As usual, preference will be given to mem= bers of the LDS faith although consideration will NOT be limited thereto. A= ctors of ALL faiths may apply. AUDITIONS are CURRENTLY taking place in New York and Los Angeles. Please co= ntact the appropriate Casting Director for an appointment AS SOON AS POSSIBL= E. (If you are LDS, please identify yourself as such when making your audit= ion appointment.) Jackie Burch 310-360-6861 (office) 310-360-9134 (fax) 8601 Wilshire Place Suite 1006 Beverly Hills, CA 90211=20 - Assistant: Tim Donner=20 =20 Elaine Huzzar 212-609-9383 (office) 646-214-7906 (fax) 451 Greenwich St. 7th floor=20 New York, NY 10013=20 =20 If you have any further questions, you may contact the Audiovisual Casting P= roducer:=20 e-mail: AVDcasting@ldschurch.org=20 Calls will be taken by: 1-800-453-3860, ext. 2-1965 =20 Thank you for your interest. =20 Alisa Anglesey AV Casting Producer =20 - ------------------------------------------------------- =20 For actors who are unfamiliar with the background of Joseph Smith, following= are a few informative web-sites for your perusal: http://www.pbs.org/americanprophet/joseph-smith.html=20 http://www.mormon.org/learn/0,8672,941-1,00.html=20 http://www.lds.org/library/display/0,4945,104-1-3-1,FF.html=20 http://www.lds-mormon.com/joseph_smith.shtml=20 =20 =20 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------= - -- This message may contain confidential information, and is intended only for=20= the use of the individual(s) to whom it is addressed. - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2003 23:15:43 -0500 From: "webmaster" Subject: [AML] Box Office Report July 4 03 Feature Films by LDS/Mormon Filmmakers and Actors Weekend Box Office Report (U.S. Domestic Box Office Gross) Weekend of July 4, 2003 Report compiled by: LDSFilm.com [If table below doesn't line up properly, try looking at them with a mono-spaced font, such as Courier - Ed.] Natl Film Title Weekend Gross Rank LDS/Mormon Filmmaker/Actor Total Gross Theaters Days - --- ----------------------------- ----------- ----- ---- 10 2 Fast 2 Furious 2,641,820 1,779 31 Paul Walker (lead actor) 119,437,965 35 Wrong Turn 95,104 138 38 Eliza Dushku (lead actor) 14,317,804 53 Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure 27,430 10 878 Scott Swofford (producer) 14,905,303 Reed Smoot (cinematographer) Sam Cardon (composer) Stephen L. Johnson (editor) 73 Cirque du Soleil: Journey of Man 12,087 3 1151 Reed Smoot (cinematographer) 15,329,697 82 The Core 8,665 29 101 Aaron Eckhart (lead actor) 31,111,260 90 China: The Panda Adventure 5,715 4 710 Reed Smoot (cinematographer) 3,178,089 93 The R.M. 4,938 8 157 Kurt Hale (writer/director) 1,017,192 John E. Moyer (writer) Dave Hunter (producer) Cody Hale (composer) Ryan Little (cinematographer) Actors: Kirby Heyborne, Will Swenson, Britani Bateman, Tracy Ann Evans Merrill Dodge, Michael Birkeland, Maren Ord, Leroy Te'o, Curt Dousett Wally Joyner, etc. 96 Cremaster 3 3,893 2 73 Mathew Barney 310,182 (writer/producer/director/actor) TOPS AT THE BOX OFFICE: The movie in the country on our chart this weekend was "2 Fast 2 Furious," which stars Mormon actor Paul Walker in the top-billed role. In its 5th weekend of release, it grossed $2.6 million at the box office, putting it in the tenth spot nationwide. Its take on the following Wednesday brought it to a total U.S. box office gross of $120,626,780, nudging it just a few thousand past the $120,620,254 total posted by "Mulan" (1998), which featured Latter-day Saint singer Donny Osmond as the singing voice of the lead male character. This makes "2 Fast 2 Furious" the 5th highest-grossing movie on our list of films starring Latter-day Saint/Mormon actors, behind only "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" ($185 mil., starring Moroni Olsen as the Magic Mirror), "True Lies," ($146 mil., Eliza Dushku), "The Fast and the Furious" ($144.5 mil., Paul Walker) and "Erin Brockovich" ($125.5 mil, Aaron Eckhart). But "2 Fast 2 Furious" has not yet run out of gas. It will easly surpass "Erin Brockovich," and could climb even higher. As predicted, "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines" topped the box office, taking in $72,387,461 by the end of its extended 4th of July weekend. Like the remaining movies in the nation's top 10 this weekend, this one was not made by Latter-day Saint filmmakers in above-the-line roles. But there are some interesting points to note. "T3" was directed by Jonathan Mostow, who in May of 2002 was tapped by Universal to direct a feature film version of Latter-day Saint novelist Orson Scott Card's novel "Lost Boys." Of all of Card's novels, this is the only one which features contemporary Latter-day Saints as the main characters. However, part of the contract that Universal made with Card was that Mostow's adaptation feature generically religious characters, not Latter-day Saints. This is because Card will not be writing the screenplay himself, and he did not want a non-Latter-day Saint writer getting the details wrong and thus making the movie unbelievable. Latter-day Saint special effects wizard Dan Carter received an Academy Award for his work on "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" (1991). Bob Williams, the director of the popular "Saturday's Warrior" video, did special effects work for the first "Terminator" movie. Director James Cameron directed the first two Terminator movies, but did not return for "T3." Although not a Latter-day Saint, Cameron owes the beginning of his career as a filmmaker to a group of Latter-day Saint dentists in California who were the investors in his first film. Cameron worked closely with Orson Scott Card when Card wrote the novel version of Cameron's undersea movie "The Abyss." Number 2 at the box office was the new release "Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde," which grossed $38,507,400 over the extended weekend. The movie was filmed partially in Utah, including at the Utah state capitol building. A number of Latter-day Saint actors including Coz Green ("The R.M.", "The Wooden Bowl"), Jerry Tracy and Junior Case ("Missy") had bit parts in the movie. Latter-day Saint and/or Utahn crew members also worked on the film. At #2 was "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, in its second weekend. As far as I know, we had nothing to do with that critical flop. At #4 was the "Finding Nemo," in its 6th weekend. This is one of the year's big hits at the box office, and also one of the best reviewed movies of the year. It is the latest release from Pixar Animation Studios, which was founded by Steve Jobs and Latter-day Saint computer graphics innovator Edwin Catmull. At #4 nationwide was "The Hulk," climbing to $117 million in its 3rd weekend of release. "The Hulk" was filmed in Utah and utilized many local crew members. Latter-day Saint artist James Carson was an illustrator for the movie. Rounding out the nation's top 10 this weekend are "Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas," "28 Days Later," "The Italian Job," "Bruce Almighty" and the aforementioned "2 Fast 2 Furious." * * * * * * * * BRIGHAM YOUNG FEATURE FILM TO BE RELEASED ON DVD: BYU's newspaper the Daily Universe published a detailed article about the Twentieth Century Fox big budget feature film "Brigham Young: Frontiersman," and its upcoming release on DVD. James D'Arc, the curator of the Motion Picture Archives in the Harold B. Lee Library Special Collections, did his thesis on this movie. D'Arc was instrumental in persuading Fox Home Entertainment to release the title on DVD. D'Arc prepared the supplemental materials on the DVD himself. The film had a big impact on changing perceptions of Latter-day Saints. Previous Hollywood films had portrayed Latter-day Saints in stereotypical ways, or were outright anti-Mormon (akin to being anti-Semitic). But "Brigham Young" featured a far more realistic, balanced and even sympathetic portrayal of the Latter-day Saint pioneers and the leaders of the Church. "Brigham Young" can be purchased on DVD or video from LDS Video Store (http://www.ldsvideostore.com). The article is at: http://newsnet.byu.edu/story.cfm/44876 UPCOMING DUTCHER FILM: The official website for "The Eleventh Hour" has been greatly expanded and improved. This is the site for a new documentary about blacks in the Church, to be directed by Richard Dutcher, writer/director/star of "God's Army" and "Brigham City." Here is some text from the website at: http://www.the11thhourlaborers.org/ [QUOTE] We have begun pre-production of an engaging documentary, The Eleventh Hour: Blacks in the Mormon Church. Production is set to begin this summer. Return to this website for updates, photos, and other information. Our teaser is now available for viewing. Now you can be a part of ths wonderful project about the individual testimonies that helped many join and stay active in the Mormon Church for all these years. Donations are being accepted through The Edification Foundation, a National Heritage Foundation. The Edification Foundation, a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, supports activities and organizations that edify, educate, and entertain. Please make donations here. [END QUOTE] RISING SUPERSTAR: ERIC ARTELL: Latter-day Saint actor Eric Artell is one of the top stars of the soon-to-be-released feature film "The Work and the Story." He had the lead role in the docudrama video "Joseph F. Smith," part of "The Modern Prophets" series from Living Scriptures, Inc. Artell has started a new improv troupe and school called C&E Improv Factory. You can check out the beginnings of their website at www.ImprovFactory.com. You can also see a bunch of photos and film clips about Artell at his official website: http://www.eric-artell.com/ LDS WAR MOVIE CHANGES NAME: The title of the upcoming Latter-day Saint-themed feature film "The Saints of War" has been changed to "Saints and Soldiers." The film, set in World War II, is directed by Ryan Little ("Out of Step", "The Last Good War") and is expected to seriously rock. LDS PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVAL IN NAUVOO: [From a press release] A great summer of Latter-day Saint musicians are lined up to appear in the 2003 Performing Arts Festival of Nauvoo (please see www.nauvooarts.com). Last week Fiddlesticks (recent Pearl Award winners) appeared there. The festival also includes many other Pearl Award winners (Stephanie Smith performed last week) and well-known artists (Micheal McLean, Marvin Goldstein, etc.). Nothing like this festival has been organized in the past east of the Mississippi. The festival gives visitors to Nauvoo a great opportunity to hear and see their favorite LDS artists live. For more information, contact Kenton Walker, Nauvoo Family Inn & Suites. Website: www.nauvoonet.com. See www.nauvooarts.com for a list of artists and dates! EAT, DRINK AND GET MARRIED CASTING is nearly complete, with most of the parts filled but not yet announced. But actors for some key parts are still being sought. The film's director, Christian Vuissa, has said that many familiar faces will be starring in supporting roles, and has assured us that we will be very pleased with the casting. Vuissa's previous film "Roots & Wings" won many acting awards at film festivals, and his newest film "Unfolding" features absolutely amazing performances. So we fully expect to be impressed by "Eat, Drink and Get Married," which is the soon-to-be-filmed big screen adaptation of Robert Farrell Smith's comedic Latter-day Saint-themed novel "Baptists At Our Barbecue." RELEASE DATE ANNOUNCED FOR ROGERS' NEPHI MOVIE: The release date for Gary Rogers' feature film adaptation of 1st and 2nd Nephi, titled "The Book of Mormon Movie, Volume 1: The Journey," has been announced as September 12th, 2003. A special premiere screening (by invitation only) will take place on September 10th. ORCHESTRATING THE BOOK OF MORMON: Three Latter-day Saint composers worked feverishly this past week to orchestrate composer Robert Bowden's score for Gary Rogers' upcoming "Book of Mormon Movie, Vol. 1: The Journey." The team which prepared Bowden's score for recording in Prague comprised Aaron Merrill ("The Touch", "Jack Weyland's Charly"), Thomas C. Baggaley (whose credits include "Unfolding"; "The Land of Nephi") and Kurt Bestor (whose numerous credits include The Light of the World; Christmas Mission; Rigoletto; and Innovators). LINGO RELEASED: The rumor is that the feature film "The Legend of Johnny Lingo" will be opening Labor Day Weekend in about 100 theaters. This movie was Steven Ramirez, a Latter-day Saint filmmaker who is best know as the editor for "The Other Side of Heaven." It was produced by Directed Latter-day Saint movie producers "John Garbett" and "Gerald R. Molen." The "Johnny Lingo" story is a huge cultural phenomenon among Latter-day Saints, having been popularized in the Church-produced video "Johny Lingo," directed by Wetzel O. Whitaker in 1969. But the story does not actually have any Latter-day Saint characters and should reach a broad audience, not just Latter-day Saints familiar with the story. A lone Caucasian appeared the 1969 version, but virtually ever character in this new feature film is Polynesian. The new screenplay was written by critically acclaimed Polynesian screenwriter Riwia Brown. LATTER DAYS OPENS MAJOR GLBT FILM FEST: The feature film "Latter Days," about a promiscuous GLBT party who seduces a Latter-day Saint missionary, was the headliner film which opened up the Philadelphia International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival on 10 July 2003. The film is the directorial debut of C. Jay Cox, best known as the screenwriter who wrote last year's hit movie "Sweet Home Alabama." "Latter Days" features Latter-day Saint main characters but was not made by Latter-day Saint actors or filmmakers. The movie stars Wesley A. Ramsey, Steve Sandvoss, Jacqueline Bisset, Mary Kay Place, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Amber Benson. Sandvoss and Gordon-Levitt play the Latter-day Saint missionaries in the center of the story. Here is Scott Cranin's description of the movie from the film festival website: [QUOTE] Match a hunky repressed Mormon missionary and a LA party boy, sensual sex and knowing humor, and the result is a crowd-pleasing World Premiere Opening Night that we are especially proud to present. Christian (Wesley A. Ramsey) is a handsome, vapid young man who flits from guy to guy without much of a thought in his pretty little head. All his co-workers at Lila's restaurant expect only the latest bedroom report from him. So when his roommate Julie (Rebekah Johnson) discovers that the gorgeous group of young men who moved in next door are Mormon missionaries, they take a bet on whether Christian can bed one of them. Christian quickly moves in for the kill, identifying Elder Aaron Davis (Steve Sandvoss) as a repressed homo - and quite a sexy one at that. Their initial encounters have a charged sexual tension, but fear of the devil keeps Aaron's libido at bay. When the two are alone together, Aaron's Mormon missionary roommates interrupt, spot their brother as a homo and send him back in shame to his Idaho hometown and embarrassed parents. We can't tell you what happens next because we're not going to ruin this romantic drama for you, but C. Jay Cox is a Hollywood screenwriter with all that entails. His work on Sweet Home Alabama which included a great gay character, brought kudos, but this is clearly his project of love. All of the acting is first-rate, including the two charismatic leads, Amber Benson as Christian's co-worker, Mary Kay Place as Aaron's stern mother and Jacqueline Bisset as Christian's restaurant boss who harbors her own secrets. It's a grand gay screen romance with large-scale emotions. [END QUOTE] LIKEN THE SCRIPTURES (BOOK OF MORMON MUSICAL): News about the upcoming first video in the "Liken the Scriptures", a series of live-action musical adaptations of stories from the Book of Mormon... We have heard from a highly-placed source from deep within One South Studios in Pasadena that the first episode in the series will be titled "I Will Go and Do," and that the cast turned in phenomenal performances. One of the stars of "Liken the Scriptures" is Larry Bagby. He is one of the main stars of the upcoming Latter-day Saint-themed epic World War II film "Saints and Soldiers". He also appeared in "God's Army" and "Invasion Earth" and other films. But he is probably best known for his regular role as "Larry," Buffy's high school football player friend on the FOX TV show "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." The cast also includes Merrill Dodge (who played Kirby Heyborne's dad in "The R.M.") and Joy Gardner (lead actress from "Testaments of One Fold and One Shepherd", also appeared in "The Singles Ward"). The first volume is now in the editing stage, and the first video/DVD is slated for a Fall 2003 release. A trailer for the video can be viewed online at: http://www.likenthescriptures.com CARMEN NOT IN CINDERELLA: The rumors that Carmen Rasmusen might be in the upcoming Disney feature film "Cinderella Story," or even star in the title role, appear to be totally unfounded. It looks like somebody was just feeding false data to IMDb.com. The are quite a few checks and balances and precautions taken by the website so that this can not happen, but it does happen. Currently the site also lists other bogus credits for her, including an appearance on a few TV series years before she was even on "American Idol." The site also has her listed as appearing in upcoming movies "Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, "Vanity Fair" and "The Swedish Job," all probably not at all true. The one film role that IS known to be correct is Carmen's role as "Charlotte" in the upcoming Latter-day Saint-themed feature film "Pride and Prejudice," based on the Jane Austen novel. Carmen has already filmed her scenes for this film, and photographs and articles about her doing so have appeared in multiple Utah newspapers. NEW BENJI MOVIE FILMED IN UTAH: "Benji Returns: Rags to Riches," a new feature film Benji movie was filmed recently in Kaysville, Utah. Non-LDS director Joe Camp, the director of the previous "Benji" movie, directed this one as well. Scenes were also filmed in Payson, Morgan, Ogden and Salt Lake City. Numerous Latter-day Saint actors star in the movie, including the lead actor, Nick Whitaker. Others include Christopher E. Kendrick, Lincoln Hoppe, Christy Summerhays, and Duane V. Stephens. The movie will be released in theaters in 2004. NEW HANDCART REVIEW: Meridian Magazine published a detailed review of "Handcart," the latest Latter-day Saint-themed feature film to be released on video and DVD. The review was written by film composer (and LDSFilm.com co-webmaster) Thomas C. Baggaley. Baggaley also reviewed the recently released T.C. Christensen film "A Pioneer Miracle." The reviews can be found at: http://www.meridianmagazine.com/arts/030704movie.html ANGELS IN AMERICA: The miniseries adaptation of Kushner's Pulitzer Prize-winning play "Angels in America" will premiere on HBO in December 2003. The station has recently begun playing teaser commercials for the miniseries, which stars Al Pacino, Meryl Streep, Emma Thompson, Mary-Louise Parker, James Cromwell. The play is about Latter-day Saint and GLBT characters (and one of the central characters who is both) living in New York City. HELPING MARTHA STEWART: The Deseret News published a detailed article about Latter-day Saint cooking expert Tara Bench and her contributions to Martha Stewart's TV show: http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,510038371,00.html? LATTER-DAY SAINT WHO RESISTED NAZIS: The Deseret News published a detailed article about Karl-Heinz Schnibbe, a German-born Latter-day Saint who heroically resisted Nazism during World War II. Schnibbe, who was 17 at the time, worked closely with fellow Church member Helmuth Hubener. Their story is told in Latter-day Saint filmmaker Matt Whitaker's documentary "Truth & Conviction: The Helmuth Hubener Story," which was shown at the Sundance Film Festival this year. The article about Schnibbe, who now spends his time as a temple worker in Utah, is at: http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,510037219,00.html HATCH: The Deseret News published a detailed profile about Orrin Hatch, a high-ranking Latter-day Saint senator in the U.S. senate and also a successful songwriter whose songs have been featured in the movies "Stuart Little 2," "Rat Race" and "Joshua." The article is at: http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,510037850,00.html? BYU FILM STUDENTS IN NYC WITH ELLIS: The Daily Universe published an article about a trip that the Theater and Film students took to New York City, facilitated by one of their instructors, Latter-day Saint production designer Doug Ellis. Ellis worked for many years in New York, in theater, film and television. He is best known as the former production designer for the popular TV series "Spin City," and the Latter-day Saint-themed feature films "Out of Step" (2002) and "The R.M." (2003). The article is at: http://newsnet.byu.edu/story.cfm/44850 FRANK GERRISH, THE RAT: The July 6, 2003 issue of the Ogden Standard-Examiner published a detailed article about Latter-day Saint actor Frank Gerrish and his popular role as a nicotine-addicted lab rat in a TV ad campaign produced by the state of Utah using tobacco tax money. Gerrish is best known to film audiences as the construction foreman in "Brigham City," but he has appeared in over 40 films. The article points out that Gerrish has never smoked in his personal life, but has learned about smoking and accepted his role as an anti-smoking activist. Children throughout the state recognize him for his role as a rat. Smoking is bad, and people who smoke are bad and generally less trustworthy and more selfish than people who do not smoke. FAWSON GRADUATES: Dr. E. Curtis Fawson, beloved by all as the president of the independent Latter-day Saint-oriented Southern Virginia University, passed away at the age of 60 due to complications following a recent surgery for gastrointestinal blockages and colon cancer, which he had been battling since November 2002. Fawson was not actually a filmmaker or actor, but he was one of the stars of the promotional film "A Light on a Hill: Southern Virginia University" (2002). FLETCHER/THOMAS HIGHS SCHOOL MEDIA PROGRAM: The Deseret News published a detailed article about a high school educational program for learning about media production. The program was created by Latter-day Saint filmmakers Darrin Fletcher and Chet Thomas. Fletcher and Thomas, who have worked on dozens of Hollywood feature films, recently won the top prize at the 2002 LDS Film Festival for their short film "Simplicity." HEIMERDINGER SINGS: Popular Latter-day Saint novelist and Chris Heimerdinger (the director of the documentary "Lehi and the Land of First Inheritance") has posted a song he wrote and performed for his proposed movie "Summer of the Nephite," which he plans to direct. You can listen to a clip from the song here: http://www.cheimerdinger.com/summer/songclip.asp Text from website about the song: [QUOTE] The following is a two-minute sample clip from the song "Fly Free." (The song itself is three times that long). This song will be featured in the upcoming movie to be directed by Chris Heimerdinger called "Summer of the Nephite," based on his novel. This is Chris' first effort, both as a songwriter and as a singer. According to Chris: "This is a love song between Kerra, a modern girl, 17 years old, and a Nephite warrior from a kind of parallel universe. These two meet in a mysterious wooded hollow in southern Utah. The song bounced around in my mind for at least seven months before Tom Hopkins and I put it together. The way I described it to Tom was a mixture of Celtic, Cajun, and American Indian. I hope you enjoy the result." [END QUOTE] Vocals: Chris Heimerdinger and Katherine Nelson Words and Music: Chris Heimerdinger Arrangement and Guitars: Tom Hopkins * * * * * * * * LIAHONA FILMS RELEASE: Latter-day Saint filmmaker Jeff Profitt, a resident of New Jersey, and his production company Liahona Films announced that its first feature length production "Blue Collar Actor" will be released on video July 22nd. For more information on "Blue Collar Actor" check out www.BlueCollarActor.com. The website has many interesting production photos and a movie trailer. From these, it looks like a low-budget, but earnest and worthwhile film. It also looks VERY autobiographical. Here is the official press release from the site: [QUOTE] In July of 2003 Liahona Films, an independent motion picture and television production company, will release its first feature film "Blue Collar Actor". The film is directed by and stars actor/director Jeff Profitt whose pervious work includes music videos, commercials, and short films. "Blue Collar Actor" is a film about a man named Kevin Anderson who dreams of becoming an actor. However, after high school marries his high school sweet heart and stars a family. He decides that becoming an actor was only a dream and not a reality. Then years later, after getting bored with his average blue-collar life, he decides that maybe he should give his dream a try. Kevin talks to his wife (played by Profitt's real life wife Catherine) about chasing his dream. At first she doesn't think it's such a good idea but after pondering the idea, Kevin's wife decides that he should give it a shot and so Kevin sets out to fulfill his dream. The film will be available on video at www.BlueCollarActor.com. A promotional tour has also been scheduled this summer for the film, information about the tour as well as the trailer for the film will be available at the website. This film contains No Violence, No Fowl Language, and No Sexual Content. This film is primarily geared for a general audience. [END QUOTE] * * * * * * * * TOP-BILLED STARS OF ROGERS' BOOK OF MORMON MOVIE: Here are the eight actors actually listed on the poster for "The Book of Mormon Movie, Volume 1: The Journey," which is posted on the movie's official website: Noah Danby Bryce Chamberlain Mark Gollaher Jan Broberg Felt Cragun Foulger Jacque Gray Kirby Heyborne Michael Flynn All of these actors and roles have previously been announced, of course, but before now we did not know who would receive billing on the poster (a very important thing) and what their order would be. Danby, in the lead role as Nephi, is not a Latter-day Saint. The other seven actors Latter-day Saints. Of the 7 Latter-day Saint actors, only two have previously received poster billing. Although her role is much smaller than that of the two male leads in "God's Army," Jacque Gray was the third-billed actor in the film. Kirby Heyborne had the 4th-billed role in "The Singles Ward" and the top-billed starring role in "The R.M." He also receives poster billing in "The Work and the Story," which will debut in theaters a few weeks before "The Book of Mormon Movie." So his part in the film as Nephi's younger and funnier brother Sam will be his 4th poster-billed movie role. He was also the star of the independent film "Social Suicide," but like most films made by University of Utah students, this never had a theatrical release. Heyborne is the top-billed star of the upcoming, already filmed movie "The Best Two Years of My Life" and will receive poster billing in the upcoming, already filmed movie "Saints and Soldiers," a total of 6 major movie roles for him. Bryce Chamberlain, who has the 2nd billed role as Lehi, is a veteran actor with numerous film, TV and stage credits, but this is his first poster-billed role. He previously had a small part in "The R.M." and he has a supporting role in the yet-to-be-released "Day of Defense." He was the lead actor in the original version of the Church film "Man's Search for Happiness." He has also had major roles in a few independent films and PBS specials. This is the first major film role for Mark Gollaher, who has the 3rd billed role as Laman. Jan Broberg Felt has been in a ton of feature films, video releases and TV movies made in Utah. But her fourth billed role as Nephi's mother Sariah is her first true poster-billed role for a theatrical release. She had the 3rd-billed role in "Message in a Cell Phone" (a video release), a major role in "Bug Off" (video release), and the 6th-billed role in the theatrically released feature film "Little Secrets" as the mother of the lead character. It was a major part, and even required her to give birth on screen (discreetly), but only the top 4 actors were actually listed on the poster. Cragun Foulger, who has the 5th-billed role as Nephi's brother Lemuel, has never had a major film role befoe. The biggest thing he has done previously was provide the voice of Joseph Smith in a Temple Square Visitor's Center film. Finally, Michael Flynn has been in over feature films and TV movies, and he has a regular role on the TV series "Everwood." But he has never before had a major part in a film. His 8th-billed role as Laban is his first big part in a movie, and his first poster-billed role. * * * * * * * * FRIBERG LECTURE IN LOGAN: [Press Release] Arnold Friberg Is coming to do an art show and lecture at Paint Utah Art School & Gallery Monday, July 14 2003 at 2:00 PM in Logan Utah Mr. Friberg was nominated for an Academy Award for his work in designing the costumes, sets, props, mood, lighting, special effects etc....in short "The Look" of the Cecil B. DeMille motion picture "The Ten Commandments." We will be showing the film in the historic Ellen Eccles Theater, one of the places the film originally showed, when it opened in 1956. The Artist (now nearly 90 years old) will be here, with the original large paintings and other works, he did for the motion picture. This is a very rare opportunity to view these paintings and meet this great American artist, who will talk about his life and share insight into how and why he has created his art. Mr. Friberg has also achieved world acclaim for his great works of art like; "The Prayer at Valley Forge" a painting that depicts George Washington in prayer next to his horse. Note: A print of this painting was recently personally presented by the artist to President Bush. Many also know him for the paintings he created to illustrate the Book of Mormon. He is a member of the R.S.A (Royal Society of Arts) And has spent time living in Buckingham Palace while painting official portraits of members of the Royal family. He has also done many paintings of the Canadian Mounties. And is the only American who has been made an honorary member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The list of accomplishments goes on and on, For more detailed information check out: www.fribergfineart.com The lecture is at 2:00 PM, on the 14th and is brought to you by "Paint Utah Art School & Gallery" at 7:00 PM on the 14th Mr. Friberg will personally introduce a showing of "The Ten Commandments" to be shown on the big screen at the Eccles theater. A repeat showing of the movie will be Friday, July 18th at 1:00 PM again with introduction by Mr. Friberg. The movie showings are sponsored by "Utah Festival Opera" tickets are available now by calling the EET BOX OFFICE at: 435 752-0026 ex 14 The 2:00 PM lecture is reserve seating, prices are $8.50, $11.50 and $13.50 The movie tickets are general admission, price is $6.00 Call me for more information: Paint Utah Michael Bingham 435 750-5066 www.PaintUtah.com mbingham@paintutah.com * * * * * * * * LEGALLY BLONDE 2 SHILLS FOR ANIMAL RIGHTS NUTJOBS: [EDITORIAL CONTENT ALERT: Do not read the following:] About the new movie "Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde": Yes, it was filmed partially in Utah, and features some Latter-day Saint actors in small parts (extras, really). But that's no reason to see it. RottenTomatoes.com gives it just a 42% positive review rating out of 85 reviews counted. And the whole movie is about Elle Wood (Reese Witherspoon) championing the cause of Animal Rights?!? Cute idea... uber-blonde who doesn't fit in to the Washington scene winning the city over with her ditzy blonde ways in the name of a cause important to her... But Animal Rights? (Not animal rights, lower case, which is something everybody should support, but Animal Rights, capitalized, the extremist religious movement which essentially hates human beings.) She might as well be in favor of Nazism or eugenics or something. She wants to ban all animal testing. I'm sure everybody suffering from cancer or M.S. or Alzheimer's or any number of other diseases will appreciate her efforts to end medical research. A more accurate portrayal of Animal Rights can be found in the new movie "28 Days Later," in which Animal Rights extremists release experimental lab monkeys into London -- monkeys which spread a virus that effectively kills or drives insane the entire population of England. Peter Singer would be proud. - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ End of aml-list-digest V2 #103 ******************************