From: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com (aml-list-digest) To: aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: aml-list-digest V1 #838 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, September 24 2002 Volume 01 : Number 838 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 23 Sep 2002 15:21:50 -0500 From: "Preston" Subject: [AML] _Charly_ (Film) (Review) Thomas C. Baggaley, film composer and LDSFilm.com co-webmaster comments on "Jack Weyland's Charly": Some thoughts after seeing Charly: The lesson of this film compared to many of the other LDS-themed films we have seen is this: It all starts with a good, well-written story. True, this is an oft-repeated saying in the movie business, but it bears repeating. My advice to all aspiring LDS filmmakers is this: take a bunch of extra time and get the script absolutely right before you ever start to get ready for production. Charly is a well-established story with a long track record, and the difference shows. The whole audience laughed and cried throughout. There were no weak points in the story, no moments which didn't seem character driven. As a result, the excellent acting seemed even better, the music seemed all the more fitting, the whole film from the cinematography to the sound effects just seemed a thousand times more professional than it would have otherwise. In sum, it all starts with the script. If you have the right story and a very well-written, well-polished script, it will be that much easier to do everything else well, because everything will come naturally. Without that, you're fighting an uphill battle all the way. Fearless prediction: "Charly" will be the best-received of all LDS-themed films to date. Why? Because it gets LDS cinema right - the way it should be. It's been said that good science fiction is made up of good stories that happen to be set in space (or the future or whatever the sci-fi element is). "Charly" is a great story that happens to have LDS characters. True, their religious beliefs are an important part of who they are, just as it is for all of us, and these beliefs do play an important in the plot, simply because they are an important part of the characters. However, in the end, the story is character-driven, NOT religion-driven. Religion comes into play because of the who the characters are, not the other way around. Sean Means, of the Salt Lake Tribune, gave a bunch of advice to LDS filmmakers. The best thing he said is this: "Don't try to make the best LDS movie. Just try to make the best movie. The rest will sort itself out." That is why, in my opinion, "Charly" succeeds. It's simply a great movie that just happens to be an LDS movie. Walking away from the theater, I couldn't help but think that "Charly" by all rights should have been the first successful LDS Cinema film - nothing against "God's Army" of course. It just should have been made into a film long ago. That's how right they got it. - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 23 Sep 2002 20:10:23 -0600 From: katie@aros.net Subject: Re: [AML] Rachel Ann NUNES New Book I had also noticed this book a few days ago. I'd be interested in further comments from Rachel, if she's around. But I did notice that her website has been recently updated to include this new book. She says a few things about the switch in publishers, even. Her site is at www.rachelannnunes.com. - --Katie Parker - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 23 Sep 2002 20:26:05 -0700 From: "Kim Madsen" Subject: RE: [AML] Sept. 11 Tape Tony Markham "See if you can name that tune: ...Babylon the great is falling/All her towers will God o'erthrow..." Slightly misquoted, but the thought is intact. "Israel, Israel God is calling Calling thee from lands of woe Babylon the great is falling God shall all her towers o'erthrow. Come to Zion, come to Zion E're His floods of anger flow. Come to Zion, come to Zion, E're His floods of anger flow." Text by Richard Smythe. Music by Charles C. Converse. Cross referenced to D&C 133:7-16 However, I'm not sure that God overthrew the Twin Towers. More like he sits back quietly and lets his children slug it out until they are ready to listen to the gospel of peace. What atrocities are committed in the name of religions, gods, and credos. Kim Madsen - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 23 Sep 2002 19:30:59 -0700 From: "Jeff Needle" Subject: Re: [AML] Robert REMINI, _Joseph Smith_ (Review) He essentially saw Joseph Smith as the embodiment of everything that was transpiring in America at the time. He suggested we could better understand this period of history, a very broad subject, by looking at the life and career of Joseph Smith. You have a hardy individualism, some chaos with regard to religion, fiscal insecurity, a willingness to consider new ideas regardless of orthodoxy, etc. I'm not clear that he meant that there were any new things to be learned. But given the general lack of knowledge of our history, Remini thought he'd found the ideal way to illustrate the period by presenting the life of this one man. I don't know if I've answered your question. Please let me know. And thanks for the note. [Jeff Needle] - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Clark Goble" > Jeff, I'm intrigued and you left me wanting. If his thesis is that we > understand America by understanding Joseph Smith, what new does this offer > to our understanding of America? i.e. what is it about America we learn? > You seem to think he achieved his thesis, but I'm wondering about the > influence. Could you perhaps give your thoughts here? - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 23 Sep 2002 19:59:19 -0700 From: "Shelly Johnson-Choong" Subject: Re: [AML] "Religious Educator" Article on Creative Arts - -Eric wrote in part: >1) Teach students to overcome the handicaps their culture imposes on them, >to work actively to purge from their minds parochialism, I.e. cultural >practices likely to hold them back. ~But first I think we need to teach that there is a difference between culture and doctrine. So many people that I come across don't seem to understand that they are not one and the same. I think if students are made aware that the culture and the doctrine are different, it can become easier to overcome its impositions. Or better yet, teach them the difference so that they can improve the culture. Relatively speaking LDS culture is fairly young. We need bright, warm, energetic people to help shape, explore, and write about it. >3) Teach students to look at the world clearly, unsentimentally, frankly, >with as few preconceptions as possible, and to be unafraid of darkness and >misery and despair as subjects for art. ~Encourage them to volunteer for any type of social work program; crisis line, rape or domestic abuse center. >5) Teach students to be careful what contracts they sign and to stay on top >of their finances. This is especially true if they work in a Mormon >cultural setting, where crooks abound. ~Ahh, yes. But I think the deeper issue is to teach students to stand by their work. Several years ago I was at a critical junction in my publishing career, when I refused to sign a contract I knew I could not live with. At that time a very wise editor said, "Good for you, Shelly. You chose to stand by your work." It meant that I didn't publish for four years. It meant that I didn't know what would happen. But I managed to find my way. I think if we teach students to stand by their work, they will be less likely to be taken by crooked contracts and or crooked people...regardless of what religion they are. 6) Remind students that the principle of opposition in all things is the founding principle of art, and that art without conflict does not and cannot move anyone to do anything. ~One thing that I teach when I lecture is that there is no such thing as a love story. Stories are about conflict...without it, no story. Love isn't about conflict. There is no conflict in real love. That doesn't mean that real love isn't hard work though, and that can make for an interesting story, because work can often mean conflict. I realize I'm being general here, but one thing I really feel is necessary is to teach students that love isn't about jealousy, possessiveness, power, or manipulation. That might make a good story, and that's great! But it ain't love. 10) Teach students to learn their art form thoroughly, front and back, to see and hear and experience the best work by the best artists in their field, and especially to actively seek out the avant-garde. ~But also teach them to recognize bad art, and to learn from it as well. Badly written novels teach me as much as well written novels. It teaches me what not to do, and that's just as important as what to do. 11) Teach students to find inspiration not in abstractions, but in the careful and attentive observation of the world. ~In other words teach them to pay attention. Paying attention is the biggest part of art. I've been paying attention since I was fourteen, and I am grateful that I can write and find an outlet for all that I observe. But do you think this is something that can be taught? I think it can to some extent, but I also think that a person has to have a drive to pay attention. I'm not explaining this very well. But I think some people are driven to pay attention and understand while others are happy to skim along life's surface. If you're driven to pay attention, learning the "how-to" of it is a blessing. If you're happy to skim along the surface, the skills can still be learned, but not with the same results. Some people resent having to pay attention. But then I doubt those individuals would be seeking out an artist's life. So, maybe that's a moot point. Thanks for reading. Shelly (Johnson-Choong) http://shellyjohnsonchoong.com - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 23 Sep 2002 23:06:27 -0400 From: "Debra L Brown" Subject: Re: [AML] Destroying Art you know, its at times like these that I realllllly hate having the name Debbie....Brown that is, not Dallas or Cleveland, and certainly not SLC - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ivan Angus Wolfe" > and as long as they have valid, well-thought out reasons (and the work isn't > blatantly porn like Debbie does whatever town) I have no problems. - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 23 Sep 2002 22:25:35 -0600 From: Melissa Proffitt Subject: Re: [AML] "Religious Educator" Article on Creative Arts On Sat, 21 Sep 2002 13:35:01 -0600 (MDT), Ivan Angus Wolfe wrote: >> 5) Teach students to be careful what contracts they sign and to stay = on =3D >> top of their finances. This is especially true if they work in a = Mormon =3D >> cultural setting, where crooks abound. > >Yep - all of us Mormons are evil crooks, ready to screw each other at = the least >excuse. I don't buy this argument because there are crooks anywhere - = most song >and pome sharks aren't LDS and they are the most dangerous ways. = Singling out >Mormons as especially ready to be dishonest seems quite odd to me - = there are >crooks everywhere. I think what Eric is referring to here is the tendency Mormons sometimes have to assume that because someone shares their religion, they are by default trustworthy. Not that Mormons are more or less likely to be dishonest than anyone else, but that those crooks who *are* Mormon often trade on the reputation our religion has. In the specific instance of artists and contracts, it is particularly important to remember that contracts and legal documents are a safeguard not to be neglected just because your business partner, or the record company president, or the editor accepting your book for publication, is a member of your ward. So= I would read this as the exact opposite: There are crooks in Mormonville, = and you can't tell who they are by looking at them. To use an oft-quoted example, the temple changing room lockers have locks on them. Melissa Proffitt - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 24 Sep 2002 00:39:10 -0600 From: "D. Michael Martindale" Subject: Re: [AML] Advice for LDS Cinema (SL Tribune) Andrew Hall wrote: > > Free Advice to Help LDS Filmmakers Avoid Sophomore Slump > > BY SEAN P. MEANS > The best thing you can do for your > movie is to rewrite the script a few times, polish it until it > gleams. Here's the beauty part: Rethinking your script, if you > do it before you start production, doesn't cost you a dime. > Assemble a professional crew. Alas, some LDS-themed > movies I have seen were missing that certain something -- like a > focus puller or a decent sound mix. Ah, where was Sean P. Means and his advice when _Singles Ward_ was being made? - -- 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: Tue, 24 Sep 2002 10:11:14 -0600 (MDT) From: Fred C Pinnegar Subject: Re: [AML] Destroying Art FRED'S RESPONSE: > > I don't really want to get into a discussion of pornography eithe= r, so if > it is > > a sticking point I will withdraw the case and simply reassert the= fact > that > > decent people have in the past and should today remove and destro= y those > parts > > of their personal art collection which they find offensive to the > spiritual > > climate they want in their life and in their home. >=20 >=20 > I, for one, would not call that censorship but personal choice. [[[I have been talking about personal choice all along. It was= =20 someone else who introduced the idea of censorship.]]] >=20 > And I don't see that your scriptural examples give any authorizatio= n to the > act of public censorship. They only show that those attempts were = made, not > they were necessarily the right thing to do.=20 [[[The examples I cited are in direct response to Eric=92s asser= tion =20 that decent people don=92t ever destroy art.=20 Are you arguing that Moses was wrong to destroy the golden calf= ; that the groves should not have been uprooted and the idols destroyed; that th= e books of Master Mahan should have been preserved, and that Joseph Smith was no= t acting within the law when he ordered the destruction of the Nauvoo Exposito= r?]]] The Old Testament has Lot's > daughters getting their father drunk and then having sex with him. = Are we > therefore to assume that because there is no condemnation of this a= ct that > incest is okay? [[[What does lot=92s incest have to do with this discussion? I a= m talking about aesthetics, and all of my examples are focused on aesthetic iss= ues. ]]] >=20 > The Old Testament lived under different laws than we do today. For = one > thing, they didn't have the constitution that allowed for freedom o= f > expression of even ideas the majority of people may find offensive. [[[No one said anything about violating anyone=92s constitutiona= l rights. Eric said decent people don=92t ever destroy art, and I gave historic= al examples of them doing it.]]]=20 >=20 > IMO, what may or may not have been acceptable with regard to offens= ive > documents in the Old Testament times is absolutely irrelevant in th= is New > Dispensation where individual rights are supreme.=20 [[[Are you asserting here that the old testament is not part of = the LDS canon and that it has no relevance for us today?=20 IMO, the scriptures have all kinds of useful things to say about aest= hetics, and they are totally relevant to our time, especially in this New Dispens= ation where individual rights are so supreme that they take precedence over God i= n the minds of some people. We are talking about personal decisions to purge our own personal art collections. ]]] Don't forget, they also sacrificed animals back then. [[[Indeed, I won=92t forget that they sacrificed animals back th= en, and that there was a spiritual aesthetics involved in the act.]]]=20 >=20 > Thom >=20 >=20 >=20 Regards, Fred - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 24 Sep 2002 10:43:52 -0600 From: margaret young Subject: [AML] re: Tree-of-Life Stone I'd be real careful about using "Stela #5" from Izapa as "proof positive" of the Book of Mormon's veracity. The truth is, you have to stretch your imagination quite a bit to come up with corroborating interpretations of the images in that particular stela, and most interpretations ignore the actual cultural bases. Garth Norman is probably the most knowledgeable person on that particular site and stela. But I'd handle it with care. A lot of BoM "archaeolgists" have more enthusiasm than information. I personally trust John Sorenson and Bruce Warren as knowledgeable. I tend to be skeptical of most others. [Margaret Young] - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 24 Sep 2002 10:59:30 -0600 (MDT) From: Fred C Pinnegar Subject: Re: [AML] "Religious Educator" Article on Creative Arts FRED'S REPLY > Okay, so what I do for a living is teach young LDS people who want = careers =3D > in the creative arts. So here's this helpful list designed to help= me do =3D > that. And a lot of it is nice, vague, warm fuzzy stuff about teach= ing =3D > students some fundamental gospel principles, which, of course, we a= ll =3D > could use a refresher course in. =3D20 >=20 > But here's what such a list seems to be missing. [[[Here=92s what Eric=92s list seems to be missing]]] >=20 > 1) Teach students to overcome the handicaps their culture imposes o= n them, =3D > to work actively to purge from their minds parochialism, i.e. cultu= ral =3D > practices likely to hold them back. [[[Or conversely, how does their culture enable them to advance,= despite its perceived parochialism, in ways that other cultures can=92t]]] > 2) Teach students that inspiration is well and good, but that dogge= d =3D > determination, hard work, and an utter willingness to rethink proje= cts win =3D > out in the long run. [[[So what is the role of inspiration in the life of the LDS arti= st? I like to see BYU professors talk a little about the positive role of the go= spel in aesthetic matters every once in a while. The sarcastic tone of =93nic= e, vague, warm fuzzy stuff=94 seems to suggest that there is something wrong wi= th teaching students fundamental gospel principles. Given the rhetorical context = of the CES Seminary class, rather than Eric=92s university level =93career=92s i= n the creative arts=94 classes. the message given to the kids seemed appropriate]]] > 3) Teach students to look at the world clearly, unsentimentally, fr= ankly, =3D > with as few preconceptions as possible, and to be unafraid of darkn= ess and =3D > misery and despair as subjects for art. [[[Ok, but I=92m not yet ready to throw out the preconception th= at the Restoration means something]]] > 4) Teach students that they are children of a culture that's frankl= y =3D > pretty hostile to art and that will hold them back if they let it. [[[And yet despite all that hostility the culture has produced s= ome pretty good stuff.]]] > 5) Teach students to be careful what contracts they sign and to sta= y on =3D > top of their finances. This is especially true if they work in a M= ormon =3D > cultural setting, where crooks abound. [[[True enough, or as Polonius puts it, to thy own self be true.= On this same line we might also talk about aesthetic dishonesty in which apos= tates make a living exploiting their anger at and disaffection from the restored= gospel.]]] > 6) Remind students that the principle of opposition in all things i= s the =3D > founding principle of art, and that art without conflict does not a= nd =3D > cannot move anyone to do anything. [[[True. The element of tension in the work is essential, but I = am surprised at how frequently apostasy is seen in the LDS art community= as the only possible avenue for it.]]] > 7) Teach students to be unafraid, to take chances, to not worry abo= ut what =3D > the neighbors or bishop or their parents will think, but express as= =3D > honestly as possible their own perceptions regarding life. [[[So what happens if an artist=92s honest perceptions are disho= nest? Or that the only truth they can see, despite all evidence to the contrary, is= the void? [[[Don=92t worry about neighbors? What the community has to say = seems to be essential. The artist has a role in helping the community see and fee= l, but the community also has a role in being a corrective to the artist=92s bar= baric yarp. [[[Don=92t worry about the bishop=92s opinion? Last time I check= ed his subtitle was still =93judge in israel.=94=20 [[[Don=92t worry about parent=92s opinion? How does that square = with the concept of honoring them?]]] > 8) Teach students to read voraciously, to experience vicariously wh= at they =3D > can't experience personally. [[[True enough. Most budding artists are woefully ignorant of al= l art but their own.]]] > 9) Encourage students to grow a thick skin, to discount criticism f= rom =3D > those unqualified to give it, but to value deeply the most scathing= =3D > criticism from peers. [[[True enough, but I put the aphorism this way: give less offen= se to others and be offended less by others. It would be interesting to see= more LDS artists finding a way to be a part of the LDS community instead of di= saffected =66rom it and inactive. There is no power in that whatsoever.]]] > 10) Teach students to learn their art form thoroughly, front and ba= ck, to =3D > see and hear and experience the best work by the best artists in th= eir =3D > field, and especially to actively seek out the avant-garde. [[[Of course, just because it is new doesn=92t mean that it is g= ood or that it will have a lasting influence. Also, this quest for the avant-gard= e sounds painfully like the latter-day curse of itching ears described in 2 Ti= mothy 4:3]]]=20 > 11) Teach students to find inspiration not in abstractions, but in = the =3D > careful and attentive observation of the world. > 12) Teach students to how to find the balance between doing what yo= u need =3D > to for money, and doing what you have to for love. >=20 > Eric Samuelsen >=20 >=20 REGARDS FRED - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 24 Sep 2002 13:19:24 -0400 From: "robert lauer" Subject: Re: [AML] Robert REMINI, _Joseph Smith_ (Review) Regarding Robert V. Remini's book JOSEPH SMITH, Jeff Needle reports: >As a historian, Remini has taken the remarkable position >that 1) Joseph Smith is the "most important reformer and >innovator in American religious history" -- a claim that may be >disputed by Christian Scientists and Seventh-day Adventists, for >example; and 2) we can understand our history better if we >understand Joseph Smith. This latter argument is somewhat other >than what I'm accustomed to reading. Mostly, we read that we can >understand Joseph Smith by understanding history. Here we have >the opposite, and it makes for a fascinating thesis. I can't wait to get my hands on this book! My return to the Church came about when I started to understand the philosophy upon which the United States was founded--a philosophy that no known civilization in the past had ever articulated. From a secular point of view, I think that Joseph Smith gave the world the philosophic premises of Americanism in theological form. Two weeks ago I finished an excellent book entitled WITHOUT GOD, WITHOUT CREED: THE HISTORY OF UNBELIEF IN AMERICA. This book documents the rise of Deism in the 1700's, how it spawned the Great Awakening and the Evangelical movement, and how these movements eventually led to agnosticism and atheism as socially acceptable alternatives to religion. According to this book, it was the traditional monotheistic concept of one all-powerful, all-knowing, incomprehensible God that was responsible for America's eventual acceptance of unbelief. It is my contention that in rejecting the traditional concept of God--the object of traditional worship--Joseph Smith was the ONLY religious leader in our nation's history bold enough to establish a truly American theology. The most influential Founding Fathers were deists--not Christian theists. Deisism while still holding on to the idea of a God, acceptance the supremacy of existence; if there was a God, He was bound by natural law. After the American revolution only about 10-15% of Americans claimed ANY affiliation with organized religion; thus there was a Second Great Awakening--the frantic attempt by clergy, who were fast losing all influence in their communities, to get Americans back into churches. The Palmyra revivals that effected the Smiths were part of this movement, and the message of the First Vision was a decisive stance AGAINST this movement. From it's inception, Mormonism was a rebellion AGAINST Evangelical Christianity and a theological defense of American philosophy. The Prophet's radical teachings about the nature of God (and Gods), the potential divinity of humans and the supremacy of existence and natural law over both Gods and humans is nothing less than a Deistic theology; it is, in fact, the ONLY Deistic theology to ever be articulated and systematized. Therefore, I agree with the above author's contention that in understanding Joseph Smith and Mormon theology--particularly it's most radical departures from Christian orthodoxy--one can better understand the philosophic premises upon which the American republic was founded. ROB. LAUER _________________________________________________________________ Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 24 Sep 2002 13:19:52 -0500 From: "Preston" Subject: [AML] Box Office Report Sept. 20 02 Feature Films by LDS/Mormon Filmmakers and Actors Weekend Box Office Report (U.S. Domestic Box Office Gross) Weekend of September 20, 2002 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 - --- ----------------------------- ----------- ----- ---- 12 City by the Sea 1,978,445 2150 17 Eliza Dushku (actress) 20,209,428 22 Master of Disguise 322,302 663 52 Perry Andelin Blake (director) 39,200,907 24 Possession 296,400 416 38 Neil LaBute (director) 9,670,175 Aaron Eckhart (lead male actor) 35 Minority Report 143,871 272 94 Gerald Molen (producer) 131,552,004 43 The Divine Secrets of the 74,505 155 108 Ya-Ya Sisterhood 69,471,140 58 The Singles Ward 28,054 22 234 Kurt Hale (writer/director) 1,195,097 John E. Moyer (writer) Dave Hunter (producer) Cody Hale (composer) Ryan Little (cinematographer) Actors: Will Swenson, Connie Young, Daryn Tufts, Kirby Heyborne, Michael Birkeland, Robert Swenson, Wally Joyner, Lincoln Hoppe, Gretchen Whalley, Sedra Santos, etc. 70 The Believer 19,048 10 129 Ryan Gosling (actor) 377,884 71 ESPN's Ultimate X 17,029 16 136 Reed Smoot (cinematographer) 4,152,329 80 Cirque du Soleil: Journey of Man 12,242 8 871 Reed Smoot (cinematographer) 13,991,616 89 Galapagos 6,209 4 1060 Reed Smoot (cinematographer) 13,708,722 95 China: The Panda Adventure 4,934 4 423 Reed Smoot (cinematographer) 2,849,575 105 Little Secrets 2,364 12 31 Blair Treu (director/producer) 405,182 Brian Sullivan (cinematographer) Sam Cardon (composer) Jerry Stayner (film editor) Actors: Jan Broberg Felt, Rick Macy, Tayva Patch, Caitlin E.J. Meyer, etc. 112 The Other Side of Heaven 1,798 5 283 Mitch Davis (writer/director) 4,711,000 John H. Groberg (author/character) Gerald Molen, John Garbett (producers) 124 Ziggy Stardust & Spiders from Mars 833 1 75 Mick Ronson (2nd billed actor) 100,034 128 Mark Twain's America 3D 468 1 1543 Alan Williams (composer) 2,268,845 LDSFILM.COM ANNOUNCES A NEW NETWORKING RESOURCE FOR LDS FILMMAKERS: LDSFilm.com has partnered with a new website for LDS filmmakers - The LDS Film Insider (a website created by David Strong) - to provide a networking resource specifically for LDS people in the film industry. The site, located at www.lomaxgroup.com/ldsinsider, is now ready to go live. The webmasters of this new site are asking the film community to visit and give them feedback. The goal of the site is to have an interactive place for LDS filmmakers to visit and share their needs and services with other LDS filmmakers. There is no cost to add info or to view the site. Industry members can add themselves to the Ad Board - this is the place to list your services or your talents. The Job Board is where filmmakers can post job listings for their productions or browse the jobs or needs available. There will soon be a Project Collaboration section where filmmakers can get together and develop projects. The site is meant to be interactive and it is fully database backed and automated. Check it out and add yourself to the Ad Board so others can see what you have to offer. LONG-AWAITED RELEASE: "Jack Weyland's Charly" is scheduled to be released in Utah and Southern Idaho this coming weekend. The film, which is being distributed by Excel Entertainment, the same company which has distributed most of the major LDS-themed pictures including "God's Army", "Brigham City" and "The Other Side of Heaven" will then open in other theaters in Boise, Phoenix and Tucson on October 11th - which is also the day that the next LDS-themed feature film, "Handcart" is scheduled to be released on 20 theaters in Utah, Idaho, Arizona and Nevada. A nationwide release - similar to the one "The Other Side of Heaven" received - is expected to occur after Christmas to avoid competing with Hollywood's usual holiday blockbusters, including the next Harry Potter film and the second film from the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. PREMIERE: The official premiere for "Charly" will actually be this Thursday at Jordan Commons Theaters in Sandy, Utah. There will be live music performances at Jordan Commons that day, and at the center of the party will be a 90-foot ferris wheel which will be set up in the Jordan Commons parking lot - - very fitting if you are familiar with the story. Tickets to the premiere showing are $20 which includes a ferris wheel ride and popcorn, or you can just ride the ferris wheel for $2 per person per ride (or for free if you have a receipt from Deseret Book for the purchase of Jack Weyland's book). Proceeds will benefit an 8-month-old little girl named Emily Heaps who was born with a condition called SCID (Severe Combined Immunodeficiency) meaning she was born without an immune system. Those interested can contact the Jordan Commons Customer Service Desk (801-304-4577) or check out the web site at http://www.charlythemovie.com. VOLUNTEER: Volunteers needed for the Second Annual LDS Film Festival in preparation for and at the festival itself in October in Provo. Contact Christian Vuissa at vuissa@hotmail.com INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY: Need Male Lead Actor to appear in a major motion picture. (Actor living in Utah preferred). Must be between 20-25 years old, at least 6 ft., muscular-athletic build, handsome, exceptional talent. For more info and to arrange an audition, call Gary Rogers at 801-557-3515 DN ON SACRED STONE: An article in the Deseret News which talks about the documentary can be read here: http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,405032022,00.html? HUNTER ON LDS FILM: The current issue of the print magazine LDS Living features an in-depth article about the LDS-themed film genre. LDSFilm.com webmaster, Preston Hunter, is quoted extensively. MISSIONARY FLICK: According to a sidebar in the LDS Living article, Scott S. Anderson is working on a feature film based on the true story of 4 missionaries in Holland, titled "The Best Two Years of My Life." Anderson is listed as director, with prolific Utah character actor Michael Flynn as producer. "The Best Two Years of My Life" was a musical that Anderson wrote and starred in a few years ago, which was filed and released on video (available in LDS bookstores). The original musical also starred Duane Tuft, Steven S. Sater, J. Dean Anderson and Alan Waterman. WIN A FREE COPY OF FILM COMPOSER THOMAS BAGGALEY'S NEW CD "SPIRIT OF THE SABBATH": New polls are online at http://www.ldsfilm.com/polls.html. you can predict what the box office gross for "Jack Weyland's Charly" will be, in an anonymous poll. PLUS: You can also email this site a prediction at ldsfilm@baggaleymusic.com. The person whose guess is closest to Charly's actual box office gross as reported on the first weekend box office report of February will receive a free "Spirit of the Sabbath" CD by film composer (and ldsfilm.com co-webmaster) Thomas C. Baggaley. More importantly, the winner will have bragging rights as the genre's top box office predictor. Get your guesses in quickly, because we'll stop taking predictions on September 27th once the film is playing in theaters. MORE POLLS: Two OTHER polls (no prizes, however) are online: Vote for which leading man or leading lady from an LDS-themed feature film you would most like to see in a lead role in a new movie. Among the leading men, choose from Michael Buster, Richard Dutcher, Jeremy Elliott, Rick Macy, Jaelan Petrie or Will Swenson. Among the leading ladies, choose from Stephanie Albach, Heather Beers, Alison Akin Clark, Joy Gardner, Jacque Gray, Carrie Morgan or Connie Young. - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 24 Sep 2002 13:41:49 -0500 From: "Preston" Subject: [AML] LDS-Directed Movie Rankings (Reviewer Responses) "In the Company of Men", "Alan and Naomi" and "Anastasia" ranked the best LDS-directed feature films of the last 2 decades. "Brigham City" ranked 8th. Over 800 movie reviews have been compiled to provide a mathematical snapshot of reviewers' responses to movies directed by Latter-day Saint and/or Mormon directors. Title Director Grade RT.c Combined - ----- -------- ----- - ---- -------- In the Company of Men Neil LaBute 82.3 95% 88.7 Alan and Naomi Sterling Van Wagenen 65.0 100% 82.5 Anastasia Don Bluth 73.6 91% 82.3 Nurse Betty Neil LaBute 75.2 80% 77.6 The Land Before Time Don Bluth 63.1 86% 74.6 Your Friends & Neighbors Neil LaBute 69.8 79% 74.4 An American Tail Don Bluth 69.4 75% 72.2 Brigham City Richard Dutcher 68.8 75% 71.9 The Fox and the Hound Richard Rich 64.5 75% 69.8 Lewis & Clark: The Great Journey West Bruce Neibaur 68.8 66% 67.4 Possession Neil LaBute 67.9 62% 65.0 Out of Step Ryan Little 63.8 63.8 Little Secrets Blair Treu 60.7 63% 61.9 Mysteries of Egypt Bruce Neibaur 71.3 50% 60.7 Permanent Midnight David Veloz 61.2 57% 59.1 The Swan Princess Richard Rich 60.1 57% 58.6 God's Army Richard Dutcher 60.7 56% 58.4 The Singles Ward Kurt Hale 65.1 50% 57.6 Titan A.E. Don Bluth 62.0 49% 55.5 All Dogs Go to Heaven Don Bluth 50.8 60% 55.4 The Black Cauldron Richard Rich 67.3 43% 55.2 Silent Night, Deadly Night Charles E. Sellier 40.4 40% 40.2 The Other Side of Heaven Mitch Davis 55.0 25% 40.0 Thumbelina Don Bluth 44.7 20% 32.4 A Troll in Central Park Don Bluth 39.3 25% 32.2 The Pebble and the Penguin Don Bluth 42.2 17% 29.6 The King and I Richard Rich 36.0 13% 24.5 The Trumpet and the Swan Richard Rich 38.0 10% 24.0 - -------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------- [sub-tables] RT.c = RottenTomatoes.com rating: percentage of positive reviews Film Title Pos Neg % Pos - ------------------------------------------- Alan and Naomi 1 0 100% In the Company of Men 21 1 95% Anastasia 20 2 91% The Land Before Time 6 1 86% Nurse Betty 83 21 80% Your Friends and Neighbors 26 7 79% Brigham City 15 5 75% An American Tail 6 2 75% The Fox and the Hound 6 2 75% Lewis & Clark 2 1 66% Little Secrets 26 15 63% Possession 75 46 62% All Dogs Go To Heaven 3 2 60% Permanent Midnight 20 15 57% The Swan Princess 4 3 57% God's Army 5 4 56% The Singles Ward 3 3 50% Mysteries of Egypt 2 2 50% Titan A.E. 47 49 49% The Black Cauldron 3 4 43% Silent Night, Deadly Night 2 3 40% The Other Side of Heaven 9 27 25% A Troll in Central Park 1 3 25% Thumbelina 1 4 20% The Pebble and the Penguin 1 5 17% The King and I 2 13 13% The Trumpet of the Swan 4 35 10% Averaged numerical grades. Star ratings, letter grades, other scores, have here been standardized to a 1 to 100 scale and averaged. # of Avg. Title Reviews Grade - ------------------------------------------- In the Company of Men 29 82.3 Nurse Betty 95 75.2 Anastasia 39 73.6 Mysteries of Egypt 7 71.3 Your Friends & Neighbors 36 69.8 An American Tail 8 69.4 Brigham City 27 68.8 Lewis & Clark 6 68.8 Possession 58 67.9 The Black Cauldron 7 67.3 The Singles Ward 14 65 Alan and Naomi 6 65 The Fox and the Hound 8 64.5 Out of Step 5 63.8 The Land Before Time 10 63.1 Titan A.E. 78 62 Permanent Midnight 32 61.2 Little Secrets 46 60.7 God's Army 21 60.7 The Swan Princess 7 60.1 The Other Side of Heaven 54 55 All Dogs Go to Heaven 5 50.8 Thumbelina 11 44.7 The Pebble and the Penguin 6 42.2 Silent Night, Deadly Night 5 40.4 A Troll in Central Park 4 39.3 The Trumpet and the Swan 22 38 The King and I 21 36 The Master of Disguise 69 23.2 - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ End of aml-list-digest V1 #838 ******************************