From: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com (aml-list-digest) To: aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: aml-list-digest V1 #259 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 Friday, February 16 2001 Volume 01 : Number 259 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2001 22:01:33 -0800 (PST) From: cratkinson Subject: Re: [AML] Mormon Films On Wed, 14 Feb 2001 07:47:03 -0700, Tyler Moulton wrote: Gerald Molen is producing it? Wow. He's produced a good portion of the blockbusters that have come along in the last 20 years! (Tootsie, The Color Purple, Rainman, Hook, Jurassic Park/Lost World, . . .) He's also a member of the Church and was born in Montana. I would be curious if anyone knows more about him. ~~~~~~~~~~ I know! Actually, I don't know much about him, except that he's the uncle of my friend Mark Swensen from Orem. Mark was living and working in Hollywood last time I got an update, and can be seen singing "I Am Woman" in the karoake scene in the movie _My Best Friend's Wedding_. (I am now six degrees of separation from just about anyone in Hollywood. I'm IN!) I've heard a lot about "Uncle Gerry" but haven't met him. I understand he's still active in the church and is Spielberg's right-hand-man. Boy, that wasn't very helpful, was it? I'll try to do better next time. - -Christine Atkinson _______________________________________________________ Send a cool gift with your E-Card http://www.bluemountain.com/giftcenter/ - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2001 23:59:19 -0700 From: "D. Michael Martindale" Subject: Re: [AML] Mormon Films Margaret Young wrote: > As a member of the Seventy, he thought it would be inappropriate to look > like he was somehow "selling" sacred things. His mission was and is > sacred to him. Don't you think it gets a little nervous-making when > GA's sell books? Not to me. But then I'm the type of person who reads the scripture correctly: "LOVE of money is the root of all evil," not, "Money is the root of all evil." I don't consider money evil. I consider money a tool to facilitate honest and legitimate trade so we don't have to drag a pig to the store to barter for eggs, bread and milk. "The laborer is worthy of his hire." If you did the work, you should be properly compensated. Just because people abuse something, doesn't mean the thing itself is evil. The publishing company is keeping the money. Why shouldn't the author? If he doesn't want to profit personally from writing about sacred things, he can donate it to fast offerings or something. But why just let the publishing (or filmmaking) company keep the windfall? What's sacred about that? Have them make the check out to the United Way or something if he doesn't want to look like he's profiting from sacred things. > I know John never did book > signings for either of his books--both of which I love, by the way. > Maybe I'll even mention that he was basically commanded to write _In the > Eye of the Storm_ by one of the Twelve. He complied. But don't you > think it'd look bad to go into a Deseret Book and have President > Hinckley signing copies of _Standing for Something_, then directing you > to the cash register? Hardly the same thing. Receiving just compensation is not the same thing as actively campaigning to inflate the profit. Not that I'd mind if President Hinckley signed my copy of his book. - -- 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 http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2001 01:07:09 -0600 From: Ronn Blankenship Subject: Re: [AML] (On Stage) BYU at ACTF At 00:46 14-02-01 -0700, you wrote: >Richard Johnson wrote: > > > The comment said that the language was beautiful but that the lack of > "modern" > > terminology--read profanity-- made it seem "somehow bowdlerized". If he > > would care to rephrase the play with some more 'contempory" terminology > > they would like to see a copy for the following year. > >When BYU cuts profanity from a play, that's considered censorship. Isn't >forcing a playwrite to use profanity when he doesn't want to, or his >play is rejected, as much a form of censorship? > >-- >D. Michael Martindale >dmichael@wwno.com And how about those writers who don't write profanity simply because they are not accustomed to using/hearing it often enough to know how to make it sound realistic? Are they going to offer correspondence classes in how to cuss? ;-) - -- Ronn! :) - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2001 01:10:51 -0600 From: Ronn Blankenship Subject: Re: [AML] Marilyn Brown Novel Award At 09:16 14-02-01 -0700, you wrote: > If your novel manuscript is ready, you could win the $1,000 Marilyn > Brown Unpublished Novel Award, which is administered by the Association > for Mormon Letters. Must it therefore be a "Mormon" novel (whatever that is)? - -- Ronn! :) - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2001 01:26:27 -0600 From: Ronn Blankenship Subject: Re: [AML] (On Stage) BYU at ACTF At 10:26 14-02-01 -0700, Eric Samuelsen wrote: >Student Play Number Three: > >The model for this play is Steve Martin's Picasso at the Lapin Agile, and >the way the play works is if you put, for example, Groucho Marx, Gloria >Steinem and Nixon in a bar together, hilarity will ensue. A favorite >comedic moment of such work is to have, say, Nixon, let slip an F bomb, >then clap his hands over his mouth amusingly. Someone on another list I'm subscribed to shared a URL for a website he had found that is billed as a "flame generator," IOW, one is supposed to run some ordinary text through it and have it come out offensive. Based on the before and after example he gave, pretty much all the site does is to insert that word (or a variant, such as its gerund) between every few words in the original text. I replied that I would have hoped for something more, not what most stand-up comics and Hollywood screenwriters seem to consider witty dialogue. However, the site might have a use after all -- let Eric's students run their plays through the "flame generator" site and re-submit them to see if that makes them live up (down) to the standards of the judges . . . ;-) - -- Ronn! :) - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2001 08:56:44 -0500 From: Richard Johnson Subject: Re: [AML] (On Stage) BYU at ACTF >>Richard Johnson wrote: >> >> > The comment said that the language was beautiful but that the lack of >> "modern" >> > terminology--read profanity-- made it seem "somehow bowdlerized". If he >> > would care to rephrase the play with some more 'contempory" terminology >> > they would like to see a copy for the following year. In view of Marianne's comment, I may have misinterpreted the critique that was given, but I didn't misquote it. If I hadn't retired right after this happened, I could give you a follow up on whether it was resubmitted and what happened. I suspect we may, one day, hear of the playwright- - a brilliant young man. Richard B. Johnson Husband, Father, Grandfather, Puppeteer, Playwright, Writer, Director, Actor, Thingmaker, Mormon, Person, Fool I sometimes think that the last persona is the most important http://www2.gasou.edu/commarts/puppet/ Georgia Southern University Puppet Theatre - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2001 07:20:07 -0700 From: Scott and Marny Parkin Subject: [AML] Request for Help: Road Show Odd question for you all-- Has anyone here written an LDS roadshow script, and would you be willing to send me a copy so that I could look at it and understand proper format, conventions, size, etc? I've been asked to help write the roadshow for my ward, and I have not the slightest idea how to produce a useful script. The easiest way to learn is always to see a successful example of the thing you're trying to emulate. Thanks. Scott Parkin [sparkin@airswitch.net] - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2001 08:01:25 -0700 From: "Eric R. Samuelsen" Subject: Re: [AML] YOUNG, _I Am Jane_ (Performance) A complaint about I Am Jane?!?!?! But . . . it's a celebration of the = remarkable life of one of our pioneer ancestors!?!?!? I mean, what could = possibly be more faith-promoting?!?!? I would very much like to hope that a complaint or two will be taken with = a grain of salt by the powers that be, who can sometimes be quite = reasonable.=20 Eric Samuelsen - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2001 09:25:55 -0700 From: Thom Duncan Subject: Re: [AML] (On Stage) BYU at ACTF Marianne Hales Harding wrote: > > Yes, plenty of young playwrights > use a lot of profanity in a misguided attempt to "push the envelope" I suspect it's a "depth" and significance issue rather than a profanity issue. Less talented writer may think that by throwing the f-word in every now and then makes their plays significant. But the mere absence of profanity doesn't necessarily mean a play is boring and juvenile. _The Straight Story_ should show once and for all that it is possible to make a popoular G-rated Hollywood movie. No dancing bears, no cartoon characters, just plain, honest, no pretensions of any kind -- just plain, ordinary story-telling with interesting characters and great acting. Thom - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2001 09:42:23 -0700 From: "Tyler Moulton" Subject: Re: [AML] (Writer's Angle) The Journey of _Prodigal Journey_ >>> Russ Asplund said: [Speaking of _Mr. Holland's Opus_ and _It's A Wonderful Life_] "They seem to say the only way to be a valuable human being is to give up = your dreams." _______ I confess to responding in the same way at times. I recall reading something once about "losing one's life" and thereby = finding it . . . and there is a fundamental Christian nobility in such = action. There was nothing wrong with George Bailey's wanderlust--his quest = for adventure is one of his most endearing traits--but there was something = very right and profound about setting it aside to save the Building and = Loan--and the good folk of Bedford Falls. Bonhoeffer's explanation of discipleship as the response to Christ's = invitation to "come and die" led him into, but not out of, the Nazi death = camps. And the lives of people like Amy Carmichael, Gandhi, or Mother = Theresa proclaim boldly that selflessness is the higher path. But I'm not convinced that giving up the gifts we've received is a = universal requirement of discipleship. Losing ourselves is. Setting aside = ambition is. Laying it all on the altar is. But sometimes what we place on = the altar is consecrated and entrusted back to us. The gifts we've = received are placed in our hands and hearts to serve Him who gave them, = and if we throw them away in a pious attempt to produce an "acceptable = sacrifice" we may find that we have discarded the very stones that were to = line our personal path of discipleship. I don't think it's about "finding a balance" at all. Balance is for = Buddhists and high-wire jugglers. The call of Christ is to give ourselves = completely. In that giving, all of life becomes devotion, whether we're at = a place of work or of worship, reading with children, or writing a sonata, = singing in the shower, or watching the weather. That's something I believe and am trying to learn. Tyler Moulton (who is way too balanced) - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2001 09:56:38 -0700 From: Margaret Young Subject: Re: [AML] YOUNG, _I Am Jane_ (Performance) I talked to my mother about it, and told her I suspected the complainer was in her age bracket. (That's age discrimination, of course.) Now, be aware that I heard no complaints at all after the show. There were people who said it had changed their lives, others who said, "This is inspired," and a BUNCH of others who said, "This show deserves a better stage!" (Talk to scheduling about that one. They were impossible to work with.) My honest reaction to the complaint--whatever it was: I think we're willing to tell our pioneer stories when we see how faithfully our ancestors endured persecution and natural calamities. But when it's US being the persecutors, we start getting nervous. Now, _Jane_ is not about how some Mormons lynched a black man, nor is it about how Jane didn't get all the temple blessings she asked for. It is about relentless faith--same subject as _Legacy_. The difference is that it's not anti-Mormons blocking the path; it's Mormons. One of the most difficult things we as a people ever do is face up to our own failings--past and present. The saddest thing of all about the complaint and its possible ramifications is that every black member of the cast has faced racism within the Church. For them to finally be able to tell this story and have a predominantly white audience applaud and even weep, suggests more than, "We did a good performance." It suggests, "We got through. They understand something of what it's been like for us." It's like taking a step towards Zion. [Margaret Young] - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2001 11:11:39 -0700 From: "Brown" Subject: [AML] Beatrice Sparks (was: Flashbacks) Thank you, Lu Ann. Is she still in Utah? Marilyn - ----- Original Message ----- > Marilyn, > I met Beatrice Sparks at NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English) > convention last Novemeber in Denver. She seems somewhat frail, but is still > writing. She spoke and did autograph sessions at the conference regarding her > newest book. > Lu Ann Staheli - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2001 11:19:11 -0700 From: "Brown" Subject: Re: [AML] Introductions: Amy G. Chamberlain Great to have you aboard, Amy! Only (Carol Quist wouldn't like this = because she's with Sunstone) what about doing your article for = IRREANTUM? Do you know about IRREANTUM? Just throwing it out. The study = about women sounds fascinating. I don't know if the IRREANTUM staff is = interested, but I am. Marilyn Brown ----- Original Message -----=20 I'm working on the rough outline of an article exploring how this = online community of Mormon women functions, and I'm thinking of Sunstone = or something similar for a possible vehicle. - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2001 11:23:16 -0700 From: "Brown" Subject: Re: [AML] Marilyn Brown Novel Award [MOD: A compilation of three posts by Marilyn replying to various queries about the contest.] Yes, absolutely! Hooray! This is the year. July 1 is the date, and if you come to the Annual Meeeting (provided you are not living in Maine) we'll give you a list of the rules. Rules are simple. Prepare ms like a book--both sides of paper, bound with a comb binding. Mail with SASE if you want it back. NO IDENTIFICATION on the ms. (You can put your address on front upper left only). Include a SEALED envelope with the title only on the outside, and your name, address, phone and title on the inside. There will be three judges. Good luck! Marilyn Brown - -------------------------------- LuAnn, I am sorry, but we are just considering "adult-oriented" novels. For one thing, I know nothing about the juvenile market, and it's like a different world to me. Sorry. However, the novel doesn't have to be LDS exactly. The parameters are that it should cover as many of these three as possible: 1) by a Mormon, 2) about Mormons, or 3) for a Mormon audience. Thanks so much for asking! Marilyn - --------------------------------- Ronn, look at the reply I made to LuAnn. As many as possible of these parameters: 1) by a Mormon, 2) about Mormons or 3) for a Mormon audience. It does NOT have to be a Mormon novel. But it does have to reach for ideals. That's at my own personal insistance. Thanks for asking. Marilyn Brown - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2001 11:19:11 -0700 From: "Brown" Subject: Re: [AML] Introductions: Amy G. Chamberlain (Resend) [MOD: I understand that this came through with funky characters for many of you, so I'm resending it. Please let me know if this version is odd for any of you.] This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - ------=_NextPart_000_0090_01C09741.1EE0EEE0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Great to have you aboard, Amy! Only (Carol Quist wouldn't like this = because she's with Sunstone) what about doing your article for = IRREANTUM? Do you know about IRREANTUM? Just throwing it out. The study = about women sounds fascinating. I don't know if the IRREANTUM staff is = interested, but I am. Marilyn Brown ----- Original Message -----=20 From: Amy Chamberlain=20 To: Mormon Arts List=20 Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2001 3:31 PM Subject: [AML] Introductions: Amy G. Chamberlain Hi, all. I'm a newbie and here are my stats. My name is Amy G. (Giauque) Chamberlain. I grew up mostly in Provo and = did the BYU thing (and therefore recognize many of the names in the AML = Living Room). I got my M.A. in English from BYU in 1995. I served a = mission to Kobe, Japan in 92-93 and lived for a year in York, England in = 95-96 while working on a Ph.D. (did a whole lot of playing and traveling = as well). I'm now living in Taylorsville Utah with husband Peter and = baby Christopher. I work half-heartedly but diligently as a tech writer, = and whole-heartedly as an English instructor for the BYU Extension in = SLC.=20 So do I write? Lots of stuff. I've had a satirical short story = circulate on the internet, which was a fun phenomenon to watch, but I've = never tried to publish. Why? Because I am a COWARD. I am, however, = valiantly chipping away at said cowardice and may one day overcome it = completely. I am a big fan of Mormon writing as well, and fancy myself a = good cheerleader to my writing-inclined friends. =20 Current project: I was involved in an LDS email list about a year ago = and found the list's dynamics fascinating. I became interested in how = these people--mainly women--resolved conflict, what they viewed as = irrefutable authority, and how they dealt with maverick opinions. The = structure of this online community struck me as worthy of study and = analysis.=20 I'm working on the rough outline of an article exploring how this = online community of Mormon women functions, and I'm thinking of Sunstone = or something similar for a possible vehicle. I'm wondering if any of you = have recommendations for books or articles that relate to this topic and = that would give me some useful theoretical background on this subject. = Are there other studies of online communities that are particularly = worth reading, for example? How about studies of authority or conflict = resolution within the church? =20 If anyone's interested, I'd love to have your feedback--positive or = negative--on any stage of this project. Whaddaya think? Be brutally = honest; I can handle it (childbirth has made me tough). =20 Thanks in advance, Amy=20 amyc@xmission.com =20 - ------=_NextPart_000_0090_01C09741.1EE0EEE0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Great to have you aboard, Amy! Only = (Carol Quist=20 wouldn't like this because she's with Sunstone) what about doing your = article=20 for IRREANTUM? Do you know about IRREANTUM? Just throwing it out. The = study=20 about women sounds fascinating. I don't know if the IRREANTUM staff is=20 interested, but I am. Marilyn Brown
----- Original Message -----
From:=20 Amy = Chamberlain=20
To: Mormon Arts List
Sent: Tuesday, February 13, = 2001 3:31=20 PM
Subject: [AML] Introductions: = Amy G.=20 Chamberlain

Hi, all. I'm a newbie and here are my = stats.
 
My name is Amy G. (Giauque) = Chamberlain. I grew=20 up mostly in Provo and did the BYU thing (and therefore recognize many = of the=20 names in the AML Living Room). I got my M.A. in English from BYU in = 1995. I=20 served a mission to Kobe, Japan in 92-93 and lived for a year in York, = England=20 in 95-96 while working on a Ph.D. (did a whole lot of playing and = traveling as=20 well). I'm now living in Taylorsville Utah with husband Peter and baby = Christopher. I work half-heartedly but diligently as a tech writer, = and=20 whole-heartedly as an English instructor for the BYU Extension in SLC. =
 
So do I write? Lots of stuff. I've = had a=20 satirical short story circulate on the internet, which was a fun = phenomenon to=20 watch, but I've never tried to publish. Why? Because I am a = COWARD. I am,=20 however, valiantly chipping away at said cowardice and may one = day=20 overcome it completely. I am a big fan of Mormon writing as well,=20 and fancy myself a good cheerleader to my writing-inclined=20 friends.
 
Current project: I was involved = in an LDS=20 email list about a year ago and found the list's dynamics fascinating. = I=20 became interested in how these people--mainly women--resolved=20 conflict, what they viewed as irrefutable authority, and how they = dealt=20 with maverick opinions. The structure of this online=20 community struck me as worthy = of study and=20 analysis.
 
I'm working on the rough outline of = an article=20 exploring how this online community of Mormon women functions, and I'm = thinking of Sunstone or something similar for a possible = vehicle. I'm=20 wondering if any of you have recommendations for books or articles = that relate=20 to this topic and that would give me some useful theoretical = background on=20 this subject. Are there other studies of online communities that are=20 particularly worth reading, for example? How about studies of = authority or=20 conflict resolution within the church?
 
If anyone's interested, I'd love to = have your=20 feedback--positive or negative--on any stage of this=20 project. Whaddaya think? Be brutally honest; I can handle it = (childbirth=20 has made me tough).
 
Thanks in advance,
 
Amy 
amyc@xmission.com
 
 
 
 
 
- ------=_NextPart_000_0090_01C09741.1EE0EEE0-- - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ End of aml-list-digest V1 #259 ******************************