From: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com (aml-list-digest) To: aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: aml-list-digest V2 #115 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 Wednesday, August 6 2003 Volume 02 : Number 115 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 4 Aug 2003 11:08:59 -0600 From: Christopher Bigelow Subject: [AML] (NY Times) Krakauer Review This is the best review of the book I've read yet: http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/03/books/review/03WRIGHTT.html?8bu (requires free registration, I think) - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Aug 2003 13:05:22 -0600 From: "Elizabeth Walters" Subject: Re: [AML] Val Kilmer and Joseph Smith Nothing against Val Kilmer, but I hope they don't cast him as Joseph Smith. I just can't see him in that role. It's almost as bad as the idea of Nicholas Cage playing Superman. Good actors, just not right for the part. - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Aug 2003 19:09:59 -0600 From: "Jacob Proffitt" Subject: RE: [AML] Review of Krakauer and Others in _Salon_ - ---Original Message From: Thom Duncan > > But they practice a form of Mormonism that used to > officially practiced in Utah. The idea that > polygamous wives are chattle didn't originate with the > modern fundamentalists. Some of the early brethren > believed and taught the same thing. Um, I must have missed that speech. Which brother was it that referred to his wife or wives as chattel? I can't say as I've ever heard anything of the kind. Jacob Proffitt - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Aug 2003 19:17:22 -0600 From: "Jacob Proffitt" Subject: RE: [AML] Review of Krakauer and Others in _Salon_ - ---Original Message From: Eugene Woodbury >=20 > > These fundamentalists are NOT Mormons, although they read our same=20 > > Scriptures. I wish people didn't connect the words=20 > fundamentalists and=20 > > Mormons in their minds. >=20 > Though, I assume that, according to the currently promoted=20 > usage of "Mormon," if a "fundamentalist" wished to claim=20 > membership in the "Mormon Church," we should have no=20 > objection. What outsider would not be confused by such hair-splitting? >=20 > At any rate, I think we should hesitate from demanding that=20 > others make distinctions that we do not make ourselves. We=20 > blandly refer to "Islam," for example, without bothering to=20 > draw lines between Sunni and Shia and Wahhabi and Sufi--lines=20 > that members of those sects draw as definitely as we do=20 > between Catholic and Protestant. >=20 > After all, for simple reasons of taxonomy, "Fundamentalist=20 > Mormons" must be to some degree Mormon; they certainly are=20 > not Baptist or Lutheran or Anglican. Nor is it by sheer=20 > chance that they happen to be practicing their particular=20 > brand of religion in Utah, and not in the hills of Appalachia. I think you'd have a stronger case for this if people would stop referring to us as the Mormon Church. If we were referred to as *a* Mormon Church, you might be able to make the Islam analogy. Islam is more readily compared to, say, Christian or Jewish as a descriptor for a broad tradition. Mormon is still singular and exclusively used to refer to the LDS church. People don't even call the RLDS church Mormon. I confess that I'm confused with what you mean by "currently promoted usage of 'Mormon'", though. I hadn't been aware of anyone promoting a new definition or usage for the term. Jacob Proffitt - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 04 Aug 2003 16:46:27 -0800 From: "John W. Redelfs" Subject: [AML] Fundamentalisma and Mormonism (was: Review of Krakauer) Thom Duncan, replying from the Web wrote: >But they practice a form of Mormonism that used to officially practiced in >Utah. I don't believe that anything resembling modern fundamentalism was ever practiced in the early Church. Religions evolve. Especially those based upon continuing revelation. And to suggest that modern fundamentalism and the religion of early Utah are the same is to suggest that the religion has remained frozen in time. Somehow I doubt it. I'll bet that a careful comparison between modern fundamentalism and Mormonism as it was practiced in the 19th Century Church would uncover many differences. John W. Redelfs gazelem@zionsbest.com =========================================== "There is no place in this work for those who believe only in the gospel of doom and gloom. The gospel is good news. It is a message of triumph." --Gordon B. Hinckley =========================================== All my opinions are tentative pending further data. --JWR - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Aug 2003 18:18:31 -0700 (PDT) From: "R.W. Rasband" Subject: [AML] Deseret News: Soap Actress Also Activist [MOD: I'm not sure this is really AML-List news--an LDS actress is also an= =20 activist on social issues, big deal--but what the hey, list volume is low=20 right now... Thanks to R.W. for forwarding this and other items to the= list.] Soap star's other role? She's activist in Utah=20 By Sharon Haddock Deseret Morning News HIGHLAND =97 Anne Sward Hansen has always been passionate. Whether it's in her role as gutsy head nurse Lyla Montgomery Peretti on the daytime drama "As the World Turns" or as a frontline activist trying to stop urban sprawl, she's not afraid to fight. She speaks up. She centers on fine detail and she doesn't give up. "The first time I saw a kid toss a kitten down a storm drain, this=20 shy little girl became an activist," Hansen said, looking reflectively out the window of her Utah County home. "I had to say something." She figures she was about 6 years old then, not sure what she'd=20 become but certain that she'd do something about injustices. Today, years later =97 a true actress never tells her age =97 Hansen= is attempting to manage two full-time careers, that of a stage, screen and=20 television star and that of a full-fledged activist. She's trying to help her American Indian friends keep what she believes is dangerous nuclear waste off reservation land. She's working to ensure funding for tribal colleges. She's fighting a local development that will put a road right next to her home. As president of the Screen Actors Guild in Utah, she's trying to=20 resolve what she sees as inequities in right-to-work states like Utah =97=20 inequities that she claims restrict contract actors from working while=20 non-union actors enjoy union benefits. She's been at the forefront of battles to keep gravel pits out of Utah County communities and to curb cutting up open space into housing developments. She's worked to save manatees in Florida and to rescue wild animals kept as pets in southern California. "I've gone broke doing this, but I do all this because I love this=20 country and I believe in democracy," Hansen said. "For me, it is just immoral not to do something. With the Native Americans, I know that a lot=20 of Goshute lives are at stake." Sometimes, she admits, the stress of trying to keep a hand in both=20 worlds is high, especially when she's also a wife and a mother and an LDS celebrity in a Hollywood world. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Hansen came to Utah after she met and married a man who came from a pioneer-stock LDS family. She was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in New York in 1981, one year before she joined the daytime drama, where she was a regular cast member and singing star from 1981 to 1995. On the show, her character, Lyla Montgomery, came to the fictional city of Oakdale with two children, one the illegitimate daughter of Dr. John Dixon. She fell in love with Dr. Bob Hughes =97 but, true to soap-opera form, the relationship was doomed =97 and she finally married a much younger man on the show, Dr. Casey Peretti. Peretti, of course, died of a rare and incurable illness, but not before Lyla became pregnant with baby Katie. The baby was actually Hansen's real-life child. Hansen received special permission to bring the baby to the set and=20 onto the show, where she played the part of Katie for six years. Hansen said while soaps are filled with scandal-ridden stories,=20 during the time she played the colorful matriarch of the Montgomery clan,=20 storylines centered more on family issues and less on sensationalistic plotlines. She was generally comfortable with her character, although being LDS sometimes complicated things on the set. "Oh, it was extremely difficult," she said. "I'd come to a honeymoon=20 scene or something in the script and I'd have to say, 'Oh, I can't do=20 this.' To the producers' credit, when I was there, they were very=20 understanding." Hansen still frequents Los Angeles and New York to do movie and=20 television work but generally shies away from the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. "I really have no status," Hansen says without guile. "People generally don't know (I'm an actress), and I don't use it. A lot of people think I'm an attorney." That could be because Hansen =97 when taking the role of a=20 social-issue advocate =97 is articulate when she's making her case. = =20 =20 And Hansen knows she can command an audience. Lyla Montgomery Peretti is now a recurring character on "As the World Turns," which takes Hansen back to the show every 12 to 18 months,=20 most recently on the Christmas 2000 show, where she asked her stage=20 daughter's illegal alien husband not to break her heart. Hansen is bemused when people refer to her as "Lyla Montgomery." Although she keeps track of cast members, she says she rarely watches the show. "I didn't even know Bob (Hughes) was in a coma," she said, laughing. "I'd better call him."=20 E-mail: haddoc@desnews.com =A9 2003 Deseret News Publishing Company =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D R.W. Rasband Heber City, UT rrasband@yahoo.com __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Aug 2003 19:01:20 -0700 (PDT) From: "R.W. Rasband" Subject: [AML] Deseret News: Hope Misfired at BYU in '87 (R.W. Rasband says: I mostly disagree with the opinions expressed in this piece, but it's an interesting reminder of an amusing incident in BYU/Utah history) Friday, August 1, 2003 Hope misfired at BYU in '87=20 By Alf Pratte=20 =20 News of the death of legendary comedian Bob Hope reminds us all of=20 the contribution he made nearly two decades ago during a=20 less-than-successful evening at Provo's Freedom Festival. For nearly 50,000 flustered residents who heard him tell a string of off-color jokes at the Stadium of Fire event July 4, 1987, Hope will not only be remembered as one of the country's premiere comedians but will be=20 recalled as the one comic who helped establish what "community standards"=20 mean. "Community standards" is a legal term that says even though the=20 courts have ruled that most vile language and imagery is protected under a stretched First Amendment, there is still a small sanctuary where local communities can maintain higher standards from the language and images used as a staple in television, movies, popular recordings and comedy. That was the hang-up that Hope ran smack into when he launched into one of his famous sexist, girl-ogling monologues that have proved so rollicking in major urban centers and for lonely armed forces personnel deprived of their families and the opposite sex. Although Hope was warned beforehand by promoter Alan Osmond that his Utah audience had higher expectations than the 100 or so audiences he played before each year, he apparently forgot that not everybody appreciates comedy that is sexist and suggestive. Instead of selecting a different repertoire from the estimated 7 million jokes he had access to, Hope launched into a rapid-fire series of blue belly laughs. It went over like a lead balloon before the family-oriented audience expecting something more becoming from a much-loved jester. For just a few moments in his brilliant career in vaudeville, radio, TV and the movies, Hope was hopeless. As one who happened to be in the stadium the day, I was somewhat perplexed but equally fascinated at what transpired in the huge stadium. Much of the audience appeared dumbstruck. Although there were a few titters and some polite applause at first, the more Hope giggled over backsides, bosoms, bedrooms and other bawdy jokes, the quieter it got. Even though I do not consider myself a spoilsport, I was concerned for a wonderful wit making more of a fool of himself than he deserved. Hope was not obscene, pornographic or even lewd. But if your mother or sister were there to hear his double entendres, they might have reached for soap to bathe his mouth. I sensed a community struggling to keep its yardstick above those dictated by New York or Hollywood. I was delighted our town did not give Hope a cat call. I was even prouder there was little sniggering, giggling or laughing. After Hope's debacle, Lynn D. Wardle of BYU's law school told me=20 that the awkwardness, disappointment and discomfort many felt over much of Hope's monologue underscored a fact of life overlooked in the age of national media and homogenized entertainment. "Bob Hope is a national entertainer," Wardle noted. "He set his dialogue or monologue for a national audience. Sometimes he's considered a little risque. In other communities he was considered boring. At the very least, Hope's visit helped draw attention to the issue of local standards." Unfortunately, my impression based on the far cruder language and=20 images assaulting our ears and eyes through converged, corporate media today is that Hope's comments would not be greeted with the same silence as 16 years ago. Indeed, in the wake of the new breed of leering eyes and dirty mouths symbolized in the formulas of Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, David Letterman as well as the other guests they expose, Hope's comments would appear innocuous. As tame as the past was, however, I will always be thankful I was at Cougar Stadium the night Hope told his blue jokes to a red-faced audience who forgot to laugh. As Molly McGee used to tell her hapless husband, Fibber, on their freewheeling radio program, "It ain't funny, McGee." For his many contributions to wit and comedy as well as to business, golf, and at times, even national morale, Hope and others of his generation and exposure must be honored and appreciated for their contributions to our culture. But in thanking them for the memories we must not forget how some have sometimes contributed to the indelicacy, sexism, rudeness, coarseness and crudity of our language and images and helped lower the bar of national standards. =20 =20 =20 Alf Pratte serves as a special assistant to the president of BYU/Hawaii. =A9 2003 Deseret News Publishing Company =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D R.W. Rasband Heber City, UT rrasband@yahoo.com __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 05 Aug 2003 00:23:09 -0500 From: "Preston Hunter" Subject: [AML] Box Office Report 18 July 03 Feature Films by LDS/Mormon Filmmakers and Actors Weekend Box Office Report (U.S. Domestic Box Office Gross) Weekend of July 18, 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 - --- ----------------------------- ----------- ----- ---- 17 2 Fast 2 Furious 790,020 650 45 Paul Walker (lead actor) 124,028,375 29 Wrong Turn 135,930 111 52 Eliza Dushku (lead actor) 14,872,646 48 Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure 36,176 9 892 Scott Swofford (producer) 14,988,449 Reed Smoot (cinematographer) Sam Cardon (composer) Stephen L. Johnson (editor) 55 Cremaster Cycle 23,348 4 87 Mathew Barney 357,749 (writer/producer/director/actor) 61 Cirque du Soleil: Journey of Man 14,215 4 1165 Reed Smoot (cinematographer) 15,397,333 75 China: The Panda Adventure 4,843 3 724 Reed Smoot (cinematographer) 3,272,136 89 The R.M. 2,532 4 171 Kurt Hale (writer/director) 1,031,755 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. QUIET WEEK ON THE NUMBERS FRONT - It's a quiet week on the numbers front. "The R.M." is yet to move into California and other states and is still chugging along in the dollar theaters. August 29th seems to be the day when things are really going to finally start moving. Both "The Legend of Johnny Lingo" and "The Work and the Story" are scheduled to be released that day. "The Book of Mormon Movie, Vol. 1: The Journey" will follow a couple of weeks later. For now, we just scratch around for things to write about... I took my family to a dollar movie last night (Monday) and "The R.M." was still sold out for its prime-time showing. Spotted at the theater -- legendary "Tennis Shoes" author Chris Heimerdinger, the director of the documentary "Lehi's Land of Ancient Inheritance." I believe he was there to see "The R.M." (We saw "Holes" which has no LDS connection that we know of, but is still a very fun movie - highly recommended.) OH YEAH, I GUESS THERE ARE THE EMMY'S TOO LATTER-DAY SAINTS/UTAHNS RECEIVE EMMY NOMINATIONS - The nominations for the 55th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards were announced today (17 July 2003) by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences from the Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre, North Hollywood, California. These awards cover the period of June 1, 2002 through May 31, 2003. A number of Utahns and Latter-day Saints received nominations. Daryn Reid Goodall, a Latter-day Saint who was born and raised in Utah, received an Emmy nomination for Oustanding Art Direction For A Variety Or Music Program for his work as art director on FOX's "MADtv." He shared the nomination with production designer John Sabato and art director D. Martyn Bookwalter. Goodall also competes in the Oustanding Art Direction For A Variety Or Music Program category with the 75th Annual Academy Awards, "Cedric the Entertainer Presents" and The 45th Annual Grammy Awards. Another Utahn who received an Emmy nomination this year was non-Latter-day Saint actor James Woods. Woods, a native of Vernal, Utah was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie. Woods received the nomination for his starring role as New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani in the USA cable movie "Rudy: The Rudy Giuliani Story." Woods competes for the award with Paul Newman (who received a BAFTA nomination in 1971 for playing Mormon outlaw Butch Cassidy). Newman was nominated for his role in "Our Town" on Showtime. The other nominees in this category are William H. Macy ("Door to Door"), Brad Garrett ("Gleason") and Tom Wilkinson ("Normal"). Donny and Marie Osmond, who were previously nominated for an Emmy for their talk show, star in one of the TV commercials nominated for the Outstanding Commercial Award. The Pepsi Twist commercial titled "The Osbournes" was nominated in this category. The ad was produced by Hungry Man production company for the BBDO ad agency of New York. In the ad Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne are frustrated by their two quirky children Kelly and Jack, but then are even more horrified when the kids rip off masks to reveal that they are actually Donny and Marie Osmond. The Osmonds' commercial competes with "Angry Chicken" (Nike Footwear), "Fish" (PBS promo), "Sheens" (VISA) and "Squares" (Volkswagen Beetle). Finally, the Utah-filmed WB television series "Everwood" received a nomination for Outstanding Main Title Theme Music. The series is produced by Everwood Utah, Inc. in association with and distributed by Warner Bros. Television. The nomination went to composer Blake Neely. "Everwood," which features a number of Latter-day Saints and Utahns in recurring roles, competes in this category with NBC's "Boomtown," ABC's "Miracles," USA Network's "Monk" and a Showtime series featuring Penn and Teller. * * * * * * * * * NEW "BRIGHAM YOUNG" DVD DRAWS CROWDS - See Carole Mikita's report at http://tv.ksl.com/index.php?nid=3D5&sid=3D38608 BLUE COLLAR ACTOR ON SALE - "Blue Collar Actor," the first feature-length release from New Jersey-based production company Liahona Films, is now on sale. The movie, which features significant amounts of autobiographical elements, was written and directed by Latter-day Saint filmmaker Jeff Profitt. Profitt stars in the title role. Profitt's real-life wife stars as his character's wife. There are some really very intriguing production photos and stills posted on the website: http://www.liahonafilms.com/BlueCollarActor.html I haven't seen "Blue Collar Actor" yet, but I'll let you know what I think after I do... It's certainly something a little different as far as independent films from Latter-day Saint filmmakers go... Distinguished by, among other things, its place of origin. LDS-themed feature films have taken place in New York City ("Out of Step", "Jack Weyland's Charly"), but even most of the New York scenes were actually filmed in Utah. "Blue Collar Actor" was made entirely in New Jersey. LEGEND OF JOHNNY LINGO GRAPHICS - Graphics and stills from "Legend of Johnny Lingo", which premiers in theaters on Labor Day weekend: http://www.ldsfilm.com/pm/JohnnyLingoLegendBIG.jpg * * * * * * * * * FILMING HAS BEGUN ON "THE HOME TEACHERS"/BROUGH TO A.D. - Press Release: HaleStorm Entertainment is pleased to announce they have begun principle photography on their third feature film, The Home Teachers. Shooting began on Monday July 14 in Provo. For additional information: Jed Ivie (801) 362-9063 Plus - HaleStorm Entertainment has announced that Brian A. Brough will be the unit production manager and first assistant director for their upcoming feature film "The Home Teachers," which is now being filmed in Utah County. Brough previously served as the A.D. (assistant director) for the Latter-day Saint-themed feature films "Brigham City" and "Out of Step." Brough is also the producer of the upcoming Ryan Little feature film "Saints and Soldiers." He produced the direct-to-video instructional video "Road to Riches" (starring Marvin Payne), and such BYU student films as "Freedom on the Water" (starring Lincoln Hoppe), "In Time of Need" (starring Lincoln Hoppe and Ruth Hale) and "The Last Good War" (starring Hoppe). Brough was also the production manager for HaleStorm's most recent release, "The R.M." The key people behind "The Home Teachers" are largely the same people who made "The Singles Ward" and "The R.M." Returning to their previous positions: Director: Kurt Hale Producer: Dave Hunter Screenwriter: John E. Moyer and Kurt Hale D.P.: Ryan Little The most significant new face who will have a big part in the movie is Jeff Birk, who stars in the lead role. Birk only had a bit part in "The Singles Ward," so he was not an above-the-line fixture in any previous HaleStorm release. Birk's co-star is Michael Birkelund, who was one of the stars of "The Singles Ward" and also had a supporting role in "The R.M." * * * * * * * * * SEE PRODUCTION PHOTOS FROM "THE HOME TEACHERS" - Here are about 6 production photos from the filming of "The Home Teachers", starring Jeff Birk and Michael Birkelund, directed by Kurt Hale: http://www.johnmoyer.net/hometeacherspage.htm EVANS IN "LIKEN" - LDSFilm.com has learned that Latter-day Saint actress Tracy Ann Evans, best known for playing Kirby Heyborne's mom in "The R.M.", is also featured in the upcoming direct-to-video musical version of the Nephi and Lehi story from the Book of Mormon, "Liken the Scriptures" (2003). DONNY ON CARTOON NETWORK THIS WEEK - Cartoon Network: Christmas in July posted by joshualane - July 20 2003 - 5:27pm Sun, Sand and Santa: CHRISTMAS IN JULY Heats Up Cartoon Network Lineup The Grinch, Scooby-Doo, Fred Flintstone and Johnny Bravo Gather for a Premature Holiday Celebration on Friday, July 25 at 8 p.m. (ET, PT) 9:30 p.m.: A Johnny Bravo Christmas- The pumped-up prima donna forgets to mail his letter to Santa Claus, so he goes on a wacky adventure to deliver it to the North Pole in time. Along the way to Santa's lair, Johnny seeks help from Donny Osmond in making (his own) spirits bright. MCDONALD'S NEW CD - Covenant is pleased to present a collection of beautifully arranged hymns by acclaimed pianist Marshall McDonald. Each of these favorites, masterfully performed by this talented musician, will invite a spirit of peace to your home and add to your listening enjoyment. This album is destined to be a favorite addition to your Sunday listening library. Songs include: I Am a Child of God, Did You Think to Pray, Be Still My Soul, Lead Kindly Light, Joseph Smith's First Prayer, How Great the Wisdom and the Love, Sweet Hour of Prayer, Where Can I Turn for Peace, As the Dew From Heaven Distilling, I Need Thee Every Hour, O Home Beloved, Jesus the Very Thought of Thee. Marshall McDonald is a 25-year-old pianist and composer from Salt Lake City, Utah. Marshall's first CD, Sunday Morning Light was nominated for two Pearl awards and won the Covenant Award of Excellence for the best-selling CD of the year 2000. Marshall was also nominated for "Best New Artist of the Year" in the year 2000. In 2001 Marshall released his second CD His Light Divine and composed a film score to Because Sunday is Special, an animated video that teaches the importance of the Sabbath day. A WORD REGARDING SCHEDULING - During the spring, only one LDS-themed film was released - "The R.M." Last fall, "Charly" and "Handcart" were both released. The last we heard, this fall, six LDS-themed films are expected to be released, including Gary Rogers' "Book of Mormon Movie, Vol. 1: The Journey," "Saints and Soldiers," "Suddenly Unexpected," "The Work and the Story," "Day of Defense" and "Pride and Prejudice." Sounds like a log-jam! I only know of four LDS-themed films that are right now contemplating a Spring 2004 release - and who knows if all four of those will even be made. (We don't even include Jerry Molen's "The Legend of Johnny Lingo" since that one does not have specifically LDS characters, but is still certain to attract a large portion of the LDS theater-going audience.) Okay, we can talk about the glut of films and if the market can possibly support all of these films, but I'd rather focus on a little-talked-about point when it comes to theatrical releases of LDS-themed films. Why does it seem that lately producers of LDS-themed films favor a fall release over a spring one? Now, I'm not saying that filmmakers should get ambitious and shoot for a late-May, early-June release. That would be suicide. And obviously, there are forces at work that seem to favor films being completed in the fall, such as the favorable shooting weather in spring and summer. But there are several reasons that to me would favor taking a few more months on postproduction or just plain holding a completed film and releasing it in the spring. The first issue is the window of opportunity for an independent film to appear in theaters. There are basically two windows - one in the fall, between the summer blockbusters and the holiday Hollywood releases, and one in the late winter/early spring, after the holidays and prior to the beginning of the summer blockbuster season. A film that opens in the fall must open in September, maybe late August at the earliest. By Thanksgiving, first-run venues will be difficult to find. In other words, this is essentially a three-month window. The spring window is much longer. An independent film can open in January - competing against potentially Oscar-nominated films that opened in Los Angeles just in time to be considered (but most LDS theatergoers will pass on many of these anyway, as they are often rated R) and a bunch of garbage films that Hollywood didn't think could handle the holiday competition. Then, the window of opportunity for an independent film extends clear until the beginning of May - when the summer blockbusters start to come out. That's at least 4 months, maybe even 4 1/2. It just makes sense to take advantage of the bigger window. Secondly, LDS-themed films historically have done better during the spring months. The best month to have your film going strong? Actually, historically, it's April (for a number of reasons, most of them obvious). The worst month (historically) for LDS-themed films? November. Now, obviously, there are a number of things that can affect the historical numbers including which films have been released when and how many other LDS-themed films were playing at the same time (competition). We'll keep an eye on it and see if these trends change, since we at this point do have a rather small data pool (7 films that have reported box office gross totals). But it's still something to consider. Note: To accompany this post, Thomas has produced detailed graphs based on the actual weekly box office/theater number/etc. data for all of the films in the data set. These charts will be uploaded tonight to replace the charts at http://www.ldsfilm.com/compare/AllLDSCinemacompared.htm. Thomas also intends to update this charts on a weekly basis as new film data becomes available. * * * * * * * * * PROJECT GREENLIGHT'S DAGEN MERRILL - Meridian Magazine has a great full-length article written by Academy Award-winning Latter-day Saint filmmaker Kieth Merrill about this son Dagen Merrill, who was recently featured in the HBO TV series as one of the 3 finalist directors in the Project Greenlight competition, in which thousands of directors competed for a chance to direct a feature film produced by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. The article is here, and it is a must-read: http://www.meridianmagazine.com/arts/030716hollywood.html CASTING "VOICE FROM THE DUST" (BOOK OF MORMON MOVIE) - Here is a lengthy article by Latter-day Saint director Peter Johnson about casting parts for characters playing "Church icons," i.e., figures from Church history or the Book of Mormon. Here are the parts Johnson will be casting for his upcoming movie: Mormon, age 74 Moroni, age 32 Nephi, must be able to play 16 through 24 Lehi, 45 Laman, 23 Lemuel, 21 Sariah, 41 Sam, 19 Laban, 40 Zoram, 30 Ishmael, 50 Here is the link to the article at Meridian Magazine: http://www.ldsmag.com/arts/030721casting.html ARTICLE ABOUT T.C. CHRISTENSEN - There's a great, in-depth article in the Daily Universe about Latter-day Saint director of photography and sometime director T.C. Christensen. I'm assuming that everyone who receives this message already knows who T.C. is, but if you don't... Well, I can guarantee you've seen his work. A lot. The article mentions T.C.'s upcoming movie, the feature film adaptation of "Saturday's Warrior." See the article at: http://newsnet.byu.edu/story.cfm/45046 NEW CREMASTER REVIEW - See http://www.oregonlive.com/entertainment/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/entertainm ent/1058357483275640.xml for a new review of LDS filmmaker Matthew Barney's Cremaster Cycle. ARTICLE ABOUT ARNOLD FRIBERG, ARTIST FOR TEN COMMMANDMENTS/BOOK OF MORMON - See http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Jul/07172003/utah/76034.asp DE AZEVEDO, NO NOT THAT DE AZEVEDO OR THAT ONE EITHER - Hey, check out Rachel de Azevedo Coleman in the 3-volume video series she produced and stars in: "Signing Time." Rachel has a great voice, a unique sound with songs and musical scores written by Lex de Azevedo himself (her dad). Similar in some ways to her sister Julie de Azevedo, but different. These things are everywhere: Target, Walmart, LDS Video Store, Amazon.com. My kids have been watching these, and they're just crazy for them. They're running around the house making sentences in sign language. ARTICLE ABOUT LDS ACTOR RUSSELL ROWLAND - See http://www.timesdispatch.com/flair/MGB9LTLT7ID.html * * * * * * * * * AUDITIONS BEING HELD FOR 'JOSEPH SMITH' ROLE Auditions Being Held for 'Joseph Smith' Role (Salt Lake City, Utah) -- July 15, 2003 Deseret Media Productions, a company owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is producing a new film based on the life of the Prophet Joseph Smith. We are currently casting the LEAD ROLE: JOSEPH SMITH, The Man: - -Height: 6'0" or taller - -Age Must be able to portray from 21 to 39 years old. (Actors should be in their mid-to-late twenties.) - -Build: Athletic, approximately 200-215 lbs. - -Complexion: Fair with Light eyes Character and Personality: Charismatic, Positive, Intelligent, Passionate, Wise beyond his years, Deeply Spiritual, Approachable, Fun-loving, Athletic, Loves 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 seasoned actors with professional experience in theater and/or film. This will be a S.A.G. affiliated production, although auditions are open to ALL actors regardless union membership. As usual, preference will be given to members of the LDS faith although consideration will NOT be limited thereto. Actors of ALL faiths may apply. AUDITIONS are CURRENTLY taking place in New York and Los Angeles. Please contact the appropriate Casting Director for an appointment AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. (If you are LDS, please identify yourself as such when making your audition appointment.) Jackie Burch 310-360-6861 (office) 310-360-9134 (fax) 8601 Wilshire Place Suite 1006 Beverly Hills, CA 90211 Assistant: Tim Donner Elaine Huzzar 212-609-9383 (office) 646-214-7906 (fax) 451 Greenwich St. 7th floor New York, NY 10013 If you have any further questions, you may contact the Audiovisual Casting Producer: e-mail: AVDcasting@ldschurch.org Calls will be taken by: 1-800-453-3860, ext. 2-1965 * * * * * * * * * BOOK OF MORMON ON DVD/VIDEO - Covenant Communications will release the following product in October: Scriptures on DVD/VHS Book of Mormon on DVD Great blessings are promised to individuals and families as they study the Book of Mormon. Now, for the first time on convenient DVD, you can listen to the word-for-word narration of this sacred book while you follow along with the highlighted text on your television screen. Listen and watch while exercising, working around the house, or relaxing as a family. Studying the scriptures has never been easier. Other DVD features include: * Gospel Doctrine reading assignments -- a special menu helps you study the specific chapters for each Sunday School lesson. * Reading calculator -- this chart helps you see how soon you will finish the Book of Mormon by studying for a specified number of minutes each day. * Interactive menu systems--quickly navigate to any book or chapter with the click of your remote. * Bonus audio talk -- includes the classic talk by President Ezra Taft Benson, "The Book of Mormon Is the Word of God." * Over 25 hours of Dolby Digital Stereo Audio narrated by Rex Campbell. * Randomized Play option for a different chapter each day. 3 DVD set will have SRP of $39.95 5 VHS set will have SRP of $34.95 * * * * * * * * * JOHNNY LINGO A CHANGE OF PACE: "The Legend of Johnny Lingo" bears many similarities to director Steven Ramirez's previous feature work: He was the editor of "The Other Side of Heaven," also produced by Molen and Garbett, and also filmed entirely in New Zealand and Raratonga. "Heaven" was based on the memoirs of a Latter-day Saint apostle, recalling his mission in Tonga. "Lingo" is based on a story set in Polynesia, a story popularized by a Latter-day Saint-made film (although the story has no actual Latter-day Saint characters.) Both the G-rated "Lingo" and the PG-rated "Heaven" are a change of pace from Ramirez's previous feature film. He was the screen writer of the award-winning direct-to-video movie "Killers." Here is some additional info about "Killers," from the movie's official website: [QUOTE] Award-winning, cult film KILLERS will premiere at the Hermosa Beach Film Festival on Saturday, September 12 at 10pm. The festival serves as a launching pad for the film's September 22 home video release. KILLERS, produced by The Asylum, will be available through all major video stores including Blockbuster, Hollywood Video and Tower Records. A highly stylized action-thriller, KILLERS won Best Picture at the UK International Festival of Fantastic Films and played this summer at special midnight showings, alongside Quentin Tarantino's THE BEYOND. KILLERS, a frightening journey into Man's primal soul, follows a rich girl out for a thrill who becomes trapped in an abandoned warehouse. Hunted by five brutal killers, she is forced to undergo a horrifying metamorphosis in order to survive. The film stars Kim Little from the top-ten rated television series DIAGNOSIS MURDER and Chris Maleki of MELROSE PLACE. Also starring are David Jean-Thomas from CITY OF ANGELS and Frankie Ray who plays the vampire leader in this summer's number one action-horror film, BLADE. [END QUOTE] - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 05 Aug 2003 21:05:05 -0400 From: "Amelia Parkin" Subject: [AML] Mormonism, Fundamentalism, and Polygamy at Borders i just found these two blurbs interesting. they came from the latest edition of the Borders Arts & Letters Vital Non-Fiction newsletter. the newsletter begins with this blurb: "When Elizabeth Smart was abducted last summer, many Americans -- and people around the world -- found themselves transfixed by the case. When she was recovered, those following the case learned that she had been taken as a "sister wife" by an apostate Mormon committed to the principle of polygamy. This is not the first time in recent years that polygamy has been in the news. In 2001, Mormon fundamentalist Tom Green, was sentenced to 5 years in prison on charges of bigamy and failure to support his family -- a family which includes 5 "wives" and 33 children. In 2002, he was sentenced to life in prison for charges stemming from his union with a woman who was 13-years-old when they wed. While polygamy was renounced by the Church of Latter Day Saints more than a hundred years ago, it was a doctrine vital to the faith in its early years, and it remains important to many believers who practice what they consider to be "authentic" Mormonism. Some estimates suggest that 30,000 Utah residents are engaged in "plural marriage." In her elegantly powerful new memoir, Predators, Prey, and Other Kinfolk, Dorothy Allred Solomon offers a thoughtful, intimate vision of life inside the world of plural marriage. Solomon was 28th of 48 children fathered by Rulon Allred, a fundamentalist leader and secret polygamist, and one of the figures profiled in Jon Krakauer's latest book, Under the Banner of Heaven, in which he explores a grisly murder prompted by religious mania." at a later point in the newsletter, it offers this on krakauer's new book: "Jon Krakauer, the author who so compellingly explored physical extremity in Into the Wild and Into Thin Air, turns his attention to spiritual extremism in this fascinating portrait of contemporary fundamentalism. Under the Banner of Heaven combines historical insights with a bone-chilling narrative of "divinely inspired" murder and unyielding faith. Read an excerpt from this riveting work of investigation, which was already causing a furor even before publication." note that in the description of krakauer's book, mormonism is not mentioned. of course, with all the hype that the book has received, i doubt there are many who would receive this newsletter and not know it has to do with fundamentalist mormonism. i also found the first blurb interesting in the distinctions it draws as to what kind of mormonism these various people practice. "apostate mormon." "mormon fundamentalist." and "'authentic' mormonism." and of course the almost-but-not-quite-right nod to the church's wishes to be known as the church of jesus christ of latter-day saints. just thought i'd send this on to all of you. amelia _________________________________________________________________ Help STOP SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ End of aml-list-digest V2 #115 ******************************