From: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com (aml-list-digest) To: aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: aml-list-digest V1 #922 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 Thursday, December 12 2002 Volume 01 : Number 922 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 12:03:09 EST From: Paynecabin@aol.com Subject: Re: [AML] Thomas Murphy Case I was talking with my stake president yesterday about entirely other stuff, and he made the observation that church leaders involved in a disciplinary action are constrained by strict confidentiality, to protect the person being disciplined. (If you need convincing of the mercy of that protection, try getting disciplined sometime.) The Person Being Disciplined isn't under that constraint. Anyone's version, then, of why the person is being disciplined is almost, by definition, incomplete. Often the least reliable source of information is the person being disciplined. My friend also observed that in his experience, invariably, the last thing to be admitted is the real problem. I don't know brother Murphy. I wouldn't presume to characterize his intentions with labels varying from "agenda" to "heart yearnings." I do know that at the various vigils, his high council won't show up, even though they are suddenly the new Persons Being Disciplined and might have a great desire to defend themselves. I believe the literary tie-in here is richly suggested by the implications of providing a soapbox at the vigil from which people can tell, in the words of the press release, "their truth." Not something so limp as their feelings, their hopes, or their mere opinions. My own small opinion on the "Lamanite" question (which question may or may not have much to do with the disciplinary proceedings--I don't know, you don't know, the readers of the press release will think they know, but they won't) is that the "Lamanite" box is probably too small to hold all the folks that most Mormons automatically put in it. Seems the Book of Mormon can still be true (by "true" I mean Sariah, Lamoni's father, Jesus, and Moroni actually having lived). And since, in that book, "Lamanite" sometimes meant "bad guys" and sometimes meant "good guys," we wrote the whole Scripture Scouts series on the Book of Mormon without even using the word. To me, whether or not someone is a "Lamanite" seems irrelevant to the challenge to obey the Savior. Maybe I would feel differently if I were similarly "cursed." (Oops, forgot. I am.) Marvin Payne __________________ Visit marvinpayne.com! "Come unto Christ, and lay hold on every good gift..." (From the last page of the Book of Mormon) - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 08 Dec 2002 22:46:42 -0600 From: "Kumiko" Subject: Re: [AML] Film-Adapted Mormon Authors [MOD: This is a compilation of several responses from Preston.] Thank you for writing! Neil LaBute has not written any books which have been adapted to film. But he HAS indeed written plays which have been adapted to film. "In the Company of Men", "Your Friends and Neighbors" and "The Shape of Things" were all based on his original plays. "bash" was taped and shown on cable, although in that form it wasn't quite a "movie" -- more of a filmed play. And, yes, it is true that number of LaBute's plays, including "bash", are available for purchase in printed form. I do not consider the adaptation of a stage play to film to be in the same category as the adaptation of a book to film, so that's not really what I was thinking of. When I proposed the question asking about any other Mormon authors whose works have been adapted to film it never even occurred to me to mention specifically that stage plays should be excluded from such a list. Preston wrote: >>Orson Scott Card has never had one of this books or stories adapted to film. Kim Madsen responded: >I could have sworn I saw a movie version of _Lost Boys_... >or am I completely insane? My memory is very fuzzy here... Sorry... There is no _Lost Boys_ movie. Perhaps you are thinking of M. Night Shamaylan's "The Sixth Sense." A truly excellent movie, but despite its similarities to _Lost Boys_, it is not an adaptation of that book. Card wrote that after seeing "The Sixth Sense" he realized its similarities to Lost Boys meant that HIS book could never be filmed. Apparently he changed his mind, because this year he sold the movie rights to _Lost Boys_ a major Hollywood studio. Marny Parkin wrote: >There is the _Dragonlance_ movie based very loosely in the world of the books by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. Good memory, Marny. Thanks for reminding about this! Although, to be completely accurate, rather than "movie" I would use the phrase "crime against humanity." The production you are referring to is fan-flick created at a science fiction convention. It is not distributed on video, a fact which demonstrates Weis and Hickman's mercy toward human beings everywhere. A few years ago there was a "Dungeons and Dragons" movie. Some people have wondered if that had something to do with Dragonlance. But according to the Dragonlance Movie FAQ, that movie was a completely original story and "had nothing to do with" Dragonlance. Preston wrote: >>Below are LDS/Mormon authors I am aware of whose works have already been >>adapted to film. Is anybody missing? barbara hume wrote: >Glenn Anderson had a movie called The Thanksgiving Promise, I think, that used to run over the holidays on TV. But I'm not sure whether it was an adaptation or an original screenplay. Good memory. But Glenn Anderson would not be considered an author whose writing had been adapted to film. Anderson was actually the screenwriter who wrote "The Thanksgiving Promise." That TV movie WAS an adaptation of a book: _Chester, I Love You_, written by Brent and Blaine Yorgason, two authors we did have on our list. Preston wrote: >Below are LDS/Mormon authors... whose works have already been >adapted to film... Is anybody missing? Linda Adams wrote: Yes, SAM TAYLOR, author of Flubber & The Absent-Minded Professor, at least. Quite right, Linda. Samuel W. Taylor is indeed the author of the short story ("A Situation of Gravity") which was adapted to the original Disney feature film "The Absent Minded Professor" (1961), which in turn spawned a sequel, "Son of Flubber" (1963). These were the 4th and 6th highest-grossing films in America in the year they were released. Recently Disney's "Flubber" (1997) was a remake of "The Absent-Minded Professor." Taylor is credited in all of these movies, which have grossed a total of more than $140,000,000 at the North American box office. There was also a TV movie based on Taylor's story, also called "The Absent-Minded Professor." The movie "The Man Who Returned to Life" (1942) was also based on a story that Taylor wrote. I forgot to include Taylor because I have him listed on my "screenwriters" list rather than my "authors" list. Although movies based on his short story were the most successful and best-known productions, Taylor had more movies and TV show episodes made based on screenplays he wrote. Taylor wrote the screenplays for "Bait" (1954) and "Man with My Face" (1951). One of the TV shows he wrote for was "Alfred Hitchcock Presents." Preston Hunter - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 09:20:05 -0700 From: Marny Parkin Subject: Re: [AML] Film-Adapted Mormon Authors I guess I was thinking of the Dungeons & Dragons movie. Oops. D&D was still partially created by Tracy, so you may want to include it anyway. Apparently, there was also an animated series in the early eighties also based on D&D. Have fun. It looks like you've done a lot of work on your LDS film site. Marny - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 10:14:26 -0700 From: margaret young Subject: [AML] Re: New DB Policy Gae Lyn Henderson said: This is what I'm really angry about. Here is Margaret Young one of Mormondom's finest writers whom Deseret Book refuses to carry. That is terrible. That is something we should sign a petition about and write an AML protest over. The problem with the censoring mindset is that it may overlook a substantive message about life and morality because it is too busy looking at details that seem to offend. Evaluating the merit of a text takes time, thought, study, prayer. Many times one doesn't know whether a book was worth reading until some digestion time has passed. Any kind of measuring stick (even if it is whether or not evil gets clearly punished) is extremely limited in scope and so I argue--just plain absurd. Actually, I just wanted to reprint those kind things Gae Lyn said about me. (She is one of my favorite people and did a brilliant analysis of _Salvador_ years ago.) In all seriousness, though, I need to stand up for Deseret Book. I don't believe they've ever officially banned something I've written, but have chosen not to carry it. And in all honesty, I understand the decision. Much of my writing does NOT target Deseret Book's audience, but a much smaller group (such as the AML list). I don't have a problem with that. I know, as John Bennion knows from his own experience, that sales of books I've done with Signature will be pretty scanty. It's okay. I have had some personal communication with Sheri Dew on this line (confidential--sorry) and have let her know that DB's not carrying _Heresies of Nature_ is NOT an issue with me. It truly isn't. _Heresies_ has references to a goddess ("Buffalo Woman") which many would consider pagan; deals with polygamy; contains adultery, and has some swearing. If I were Sheri Dew, knowing the target audience for Deseret Book, I would not carry _Heresies of Nature_. (Incidentally, my husband did not like that title, thinking that the use of "Heresies" in conjunction with Signature Books would suggest something really bad. He wanted the original title, _Dear Stone_. And, while I'm thinking of it, reading that _Joyful Noise_ has been badly attended [hoping we Youngs can help that by bringing our whole family], I should mention that _Dear Stone_ (the play version of _Heresies_) did not attract huge crowds. Bruce, however, who had such a personal connection to it, saw it nearly every night, and usually came home with the words, "I love that play." He loved it maybe not so much for its brilliance, but for its acknowledgement of a story he knew so well. In that instance, the story happened to involve a version of his sister. Other playgoers, who wrote me notes or spoke to me, usually shared an experience of dealing with a loved one who had been incapacitated. The play spoke to them in ways it would not speak to others. They could tell, I hope, that I actually knew their story, because I had lived a portion of it. But that doesn't mean that Deseret Book should carry _Heresies of Nature_. The reality is that MUCH of Deseret Book's audience would not respond well to it. This will sound terribly arrogant, but I'll say it anyway: Those who enjoy Anita Stansfield, whose books sell far more than anything I've ever done or likely will do, would NOT like _Heresies_, and my short story collections would have them up in arms. I agree with GaeLyn that readers need to work a little to allow literature to do its job, but we do need to be patient with those who are involved in other efforts than understanding literature. Gae Lyn is an extremely bright woman--and an English professor to boot. All of us who teach English or theater have a set of students who presumably are ready to delve into good writing--even if it has swear words. That does NOT hold for most of Deseret Book's patrons. And it's okay. I have said before how grateful I am that Gerald Lund made Church history accessible to my non-reading sister-in-law. That was nigh unto miraculous. I find fault with his writing, but he got my sister-in-law to read the whole series. She fits into the DB target audience. So do many English majors. I'll tell you what I do have a problem with: "Christian" bookstores that carry _Godmakers_. I went into one of those stores last month in Seattle with Darius's sister (a non-denominational minister) and saw some wonderful titles about raising children up unto Christ, etc. And then there is a video cover picturing a stern man who looks like he just killed a goat standing in a sacred pose (a prayer pose used by Christians in antiquity and also used in the temple) flanked by two people in full temple robes. The presence of that video was, to me, utterly offensive. What on earth is a purportedly Christian bookstore doing selling material which denigrates another's choice of faith? I can understand Baptist churches wanting their ministers to know the Baptist mainline on Mormons, but selling such garbage to the general Baptist public is simply unChristian. [Margaret Young] - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 10:20:27 -0700 From: "Brown" Subject: Re: [AML] Film-Adapted Mormon Authors LDS/Mormon authors I am aware of whose works have already been > >adapted to film. Is anybody missing? I'm back on briefly! Have you included Doug Stewart with WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS or does that qualify? - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 10:22:43 -0700 From: "Brown" Subject: Re: [AML] Filling Our Minds . I think if there is ANYTHING of good report, then that piece of > art is worth a thining LDS person's time. I am a great proponent also of "thining" by reading ANYTHING of good report rather than eating all those Christmas cookies! (Marilyn Brown couldn't resist! Thank you, Thom) - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 10:30:02 -0800 From: "gtaggart" Subject: RE: [AML] Thomas Murphy Case Thanks you Bro. Bigelow for forwarding the notice of Bro. Murphy's problems with the church. Otherwise, I fear I may have missed out on the news. The announcement is interesting on many levels. For example, I think the announcement of Murphy's "scheduled excommunication," "EXCOMMUNICATION," "threatened . . . excommunication," "disciplinary council," "almost certain excommunication," "excommunic[ation]," is interesting on the "level" of word choice. Allow me to illustrate: The announcement of the press release (kind of a press release for a press release, I suppose) begins, "You and your partners, family, friends and contacts are cordially invited to a candle light vigil and rally in support of Thomas Murphy, who is scheduled for excommunication from the LDS Church on Sunday December 8th at 7:00 p.m Pacific Time. . . . At the Salt Lake rally we will have a "soap box" from which people may people may speak their truth." Note the word choice, "excommunication." Proper word choice would have been "disciplinary council" since that is all that was "scheduled." However, that word choice apparently didn't fit the propangandistic agenda of Steven Clark and Kathy Worthington, Murphy's publicists. In addition, the word choices of "soap box" is not only inappropriate--how many "soapboxes" do you know that cost $8.1 million dollars?--it's incorrect. The word, not words, is soapbox. The announcement continues, "We are inviting Native Americans and Polynesians to express themselves on the racial implications of being labeled "Lamanites." The vigil and rally will be conducted peacefully and with dignity." Note here that the writers use the words "peacefully" and "dignity" with no sense of irony. Having seen photographs of the Salt Lake Temple rally--how convenient, by the way, for the Church they protest to have provided them a $8.1 million dollar "soapbox," but I digress--I ask myself how "dignified" is it to stand in front of said church's holy temple and ridicule that same church's scriptures with a hand-painted signs that read, "And it came to pass, that no DNA was found throughout the land," ""We thank thee O God for a mayor to guide us in these latter-days in the Rocky of our salvation," and "You can't excommunicate facts"? Makes one yearn for Conference weekends when all we have to confront are signs telling us we're going to hell and such. (Photo courtesy of the Deseret News, the self-same church's lackey mouthpiece--see below.) (As a side note, please note the careless use of the word "facts." Murphy has presented no "facts" to support his arguments. He has presented the inferences and conclusions he has drawn from the research of others in conjunction with his own reading of the offending text. These are not "facts" in the sense of being beyond reasonable dispute.) To continue, the press release itself begins, "THOMAS MURPHY MORMON EXCOMMUNICATION SUPPORT RALLY, SLC Salt Lake City - - On Sunday December 8, 2002, at 7 p.m., there will be a rally and candlelight vigil in Salt Lake City in support of a Washington state man who is being threatened with excommunication from the Mormon Church." Note here the contradictory word choice: The man, Thomas Murphy, is "being threatened with excommunication." Which is it? Well, as we find out later from the actual events, he's now only threatened with a fireside chat or two with his stake president. "The rally will be held on the Main Street plaza in downtown Salt Lake. Thomas Murphy, chairman of the anthropology department at Edmonds Community College in Lynnwood, Washington, and a member of the Mormon church, will face a church "disciplinary council" - and almost certain excommunication - at 7 p.m. on the December 8th in Lynnwood." Two things here: First, note the use of the word "chairman" as the title of a man who, the press release states, feels that the Book of Mormon's claim that the American Indians are descendants of the Lamanites is "racially insulting and racially damaging." So only the Church must be PC? Next, note the confusion: What is going to happen to this man? Excommunication? Disciplinary Council? The writers need to make up their minds. "Murphy has taken a scholarly and scientific look at Book of Mormon stories about "Lamanites" being cursed by God with a dark skin." Once again, it appears that the writers are being careless in their word choice. Murphy's paper is little more than a review of the current scientific literature on DNA and an appeal to authorities 30 years old--Michael Coe's Dialogue piece from 1973, for example. In the essay posted on Mormon Scriptures.com, there is no evidence that Murphy did any original research into the issues he has written about. Is that "scholarly" and "scientific"? I guess it sounds better than "research paper." "He has published his findings and is requesting the LDS Church to officially open a serious dialog on these two issues." Published? Where? The press release gives one location to find Murphy's research, http://www.mormonchallenge.com. Oddly, Bro. Murphy has chosen an openly anti-Mormon Web site to ask the Church to change its views. In point of fact, there are others; for example, you can also access the site through http://www.saintsalive.com/newsletters/sept-oct2002/oct.2002nl.htm, Ed Decker's Web site (You do remember Ed, don't you? The producer of The God Makers? The movie that the National Council of Christians and Jews denounced as "making extensive use of 'half-truth', faulty generalizations, erroneous interpretations, and sensationalism. It is not reflective of the genuine spirit of the Mormon faith." Odd that this "scholar" would keep such company.) The press release continues, "The LDS Church has chosen to excommunicate Murphy for challenging current church teachings." Again, we find the press release writers confused. Now the LDS Church has chosen to excommunicate Murphy. Our writers apparently have chosen to emulate Fawn Brodie and become mind readers. To continue, "People at the rally will peacefully march, hold a candlelight vigil and demonstrate on the sidewalks of "A little bit of Paris", the Main Street Plaza between the LDS Temple and the Church Plaza . . ." I take it back. The writers do have a sense of irony. They are also enjoying rubbing the Church's face in its legal problems over the $8.1 million dollar "soapbox." But do the writers sense the deeper irony that no Church, and few people, I would argue, would pay $8.1 million to provide a special location for people to who carry signs that ridicule the "owner" of the "soapbox"? The release continues, "Ironically, litigation between the LDS Church and Salt Lake City over this section of Main Street regarding "freedom of speech" is currently under appeal to U.S. Supreme Court." And if proof was lacking, here it is in print: The writers use the word "ironically." They also have chosen to reduce a complex issue to a bumper sticker, ignoring that the dispute is possibly more about property rights and contract law than it is about free speech. And finally, "Last weeks AP article by Patty Henetz made most major newspapers around the country with the exception of the Deseret News in Salt Lake City. It even made the online news at BYU-Idaho. Mr. Murphy was on the Dave Ross show at KIRO 710 (Seattle) December 2nd and is scheduled for several more radio and television interviews. Here are some additional recent news stories from the Canada Post and The Herald (Everett, WA). http://www.nationalpost.com/search/site/story.asp?id=7231EB7D-2DCB-4F8E- 9066 - -215C08D16255 http://www.heraldnet.com/Stories/02/12/3/16181878.cfm" Wonder how this all happened? Spontaneous combustion? Note the disappointment in the writers' voice that their public relations blitzkrieg failed to convince The Deseret News to buy the party's line, though it did later take advantage of the photo op on the $8.1 million dollar "soapbox." Greg Taggart - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 10:33:05 -0700 From: "Kim Madsen" Subject: RE: [AML] Joyful Noise at Center Street Theatre (Daily Herald) Only one sad thing about this article and the posting on the list--there is no information on how to get tickets or where the theater is located (address), or what the dates of the run are. The article convinced me to want to see it...but now I have to track down how, when, where... Kim Madsen - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 12:47:10 EST From: Paynecabin@aol.com Subject: [AML] Book of Mormon Movie I want to post this before I am not cast in the Book of Mormon movie, so it won't seem like sour grapes or something. I had a very revealing experience as I was invited to the final call-back audition for this film a couple of mornings back. (The casting director knows me, and wanted to give them at least one "real world" option for Lehi.) I had read here, with great interest, discussions about the kind of movie people might expect to be made by people who were advertising for "must be physically attractive" actors. Eric Samuelsen and others were incensed (all right, annoyingly bemused) by the sexist, glamorist, and superficialist implications. They raised questions these filmmakers had better ask of themselves, or suffer the consequences! Well, my observation is that these filmmakers wouldn't understand the questions. They're nice, faithful, people who want to make the next Ten Commandments. (They would never understand how appalling the last Ten Commandments was.) The discussion was fun here, but doesn't include them. Doesn't touch them. They might be below it, they might be above it--for sure, they're outside it. Should they feel threatened by that notion, or should we? Believe me, they won't. In the audition, when I used entirely different words in the scenes, did they think it was because I hadn't memorized the right ones? Do they think I'll get it right when the camera rolls? I don't know. I couln't make theirs work. This could be a problem. If I am not cast, it will be because I wasn't beautiful. Or that someone told them I wrote that they wouldn't comprehend Eric Samuelsen. (Or, of course, that I don't act well enough--but that would not be the first reason.) If I am cast, I will be grateful to take the money and run. But before running, I will try my best to make real (if not attractive) my little corner of the movie. I have enough vision for that. They have enough to make a whole movie. Marvin Payne __________________ Visit marvinpayne.com! "Come unto Christ, and lay hold on every good gift..." (From the last page of the Book of Mormon) - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 11:00:48 -0700 From: "Eric Russell" Subject: [AML] Scripture as Literature (was: Filling Our Minds) >I for one am getting tired of hearing the justification for writing certain >things based on the argument that they're in the scriptures that way. > >Annette Lyon I'm still not convinced of where the fallacy is in the argument. I don't think anybody claims to be writting scripture when they imitate the Bible's themes or conventions in their own work. In 1794 Matthew Lewis published The Monk. The story is about a pious Monk who is visited by the devil and very slowly gives into greater and greater sin until he gives his soul to the devil to save his life and then the devil leaves him to suffer and die slowly. The story is profoundly moral, including powerful lessons about the way we justify sin and the ways sin is masked by apparent virtue, among many others. However, the Monk fornicates, murders and then rapes. None of these scenes are gratuitous, they take up about a single paragraph each, and yet despite the fact that they are all portrayed in an extremely negative manner and the Monk is clearly punished for his sins, it was banned in England simply because they existed. Lewis was aware of the criticism he would receive and included a clever passage within. At one point a mother talks about the Bible and how awful it is. She says that "no reading more improper could be permitted a young woman." After going on about its evils she allows her 16 year old daughter only a carefully edited version of the Bible. The above passage was probably blasphemous in 1794 England, but extremely effective. If we read about it in the Bible, why can't we read the same thing outside of it? Does the Bible have an exemption on using certain "unethical" storytelling devices because it's holy? I'm thinking the scriptures are not the exception but the example. They set the standard for what good literature can be. Whether narrative prose, poetry, or the dipiction of sin, the scriptures are the prototype for effective storytelling. I think their example is best heeded in any case. Eric Russell _________________________________________________________________ Protect your PC - get McAfee.com VirusScan Online http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963 - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 10:12:54 -0800 (PST) From: r talley Subject: Re: [AML] Thomas Murphy Case How very sad for anyone that would consider attending such a vigil. It's not my place, or anyone else's, to question a disciplinary council. To organize such a vigil says that there are many who are struggling with their testimonies and we should seek to build them up by supporting our leaders, after all we've covenanted to do so. BTW, it's none of our business why someone is having a church court and none of us are privy to the circumstances that brought about such a court. And, those who make such decisions do not do so lightly. Why would anyone support the writings of a man who makes such assertions? If the leaders feel his assertions tear down the work of the Lord then why would anyone want to defend them? It's all about testimony, I guess. Rebecca Talley __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 13:56:18 -0700 From: Barbara Hume Subject: Re: [AML] Joyful Noise at Center Street Theatre (Daily Herald) >OREM -- In 1998, Tim Slover's brilliant new play "Joyful Noise" was so >well-received that Brigham Young University staged two sell-out >productions of it within the same calendar year. > >Now, a scant four years later, a perfectly good production of it >languishes at Orem's Center Street Theatre, seen by barely more than a >handful of people at a time. Congratulations, Thom and Scott and everybody, for earning this great review! I look forward to seeing it quite soon. I can see now that I shoulda bought season tickets. barbara hume - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 08:13:49 -0500 From: Richard Johnson Subject: RE: [AML] Filling Our Minds >Charles Metten, formerly of BYU Theatre, used to say that Midnight >Cowboy was essentially a moral movie despite its subject matter because >the ending justifies all the slop we have to walk through on the way >there. I think if there is ANYTHING of good report, then that piece of >art is worth a thining LDS person's time. > >Thom The mention of _Midnight Cowboy_ in this context brought back the memory of one of the many small epiphanies in my life. Some thirty or forty years ago, I was attending a convention of the now defunct National Theatre Association in New York City when, after a panel, those of us on the panel were discussing the topic further -energetically - and somehow the topic of Midnight Cowboy came up. I mentioned that I had never seen the movie, and didn't intend to having been disgusted by the trailers and the whole concept of frequently inserted nudity into movies which distracted from the plot line etc. Everyone from the panel was shocked that I hadn't seen the movie. Someone mentioned that it was still playing in a little second-run movie house on 42nd street and I was instantly "kidnapped" by the group and taken to see the film. The theatre was perfect for the film; it was dank, dingy and smelled of urine. I watched the movie, and left, so moved by the film that I was very nearly in tears. I had an entirely new sense of the "X-R-etc." ratings in movies and have not paid much attention to movie ratings since. It was an exceptional experience. Richard B. Johnson, (djdick@PuppenRich.com) Husband, Father, Grandfather, Puppeteer, Playwright, Writer, Director, Actor, Thingmaker, Mormon, Person, Fool. I sometimes think that the last persona is the most important http://www.PuppenRich.com - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 23:03:18 -0700 From: "Eric D. Snider" Subject: RE: [AML] Joyful Noise at Center Street Theatre (Daily Herald) >Only one sad thing about this article and the posting on the list--there is >no information on how to get tickets or where the theater is located >(address), or what the dates of the run are. The article convinced me to >want to see it...but now I have to track down how, when, where... A box with the information ran with the story in the paper, but apparently didn't make it to the online version, which is where the posting apparently came from. The theater is at 50 W. Center St., Orem. The phone number is 225-3800. Eric D. Snider - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 10 Dec 2002 15:45:21 -0600 From: pdhunter@wt.net Subject: [AML] Box Office Report Dec. 7 02 Feature Films by LDS/Mormon Filmmakers and Actors Weekend Box Office Report (U.S. Domestic Box Office Gross) Weekend of December 7, 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 - --- ----------------------------- ----------- ----- ---- 6 The Santa Clause 2 5,327,205 2,356 38 Ken Daurio (screenwriter) 120,141,388 Cinco Paul (screenwriter) 35 Punch-Drunk Love 78,478 103 59 Actors/characters: 17,719,378 David Stevens, Nathan Stevens, Michael D. Stevens, Jim Smooth Stevens (James Smooth) 61 Cirque du Soleil: Journey of Man 19,472 7 948 Reed Smoot (cinematographer) 14,460,947 65 Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure 12,779 9 668 Scott Swofford (producer) 13,701,738 Reed Smoot (cinematographer) Sam Cardon (composer) Stephen L. Johnson (film editor) 75 Jack Weyland's Charly 6,433 11 73 Adam Anderegg (director) 548,490 Jack Weyland (book author) Janine Gilbert (screenwriter) Lance Williams (producer) Micah Merrill (producer, film editor) Tip Boxell (co-producer) Bengt Jan Jonsson (cinematographer) Aaron Merrill (composer) Actors: Heather Beers, Jeremy Elliott, Adam Johnson, Jackie Winterrose Fullmer, Diana Dunkley, Gary Neilson, Lisa McCammon, Randy King, Bernie Diamond, etc. 84 Galapagos 3,835 5 1137 Reed Smoot (cinematographer) 13,850,267 85 China: The Panda Adventure 3,821 4 500 Reed Smoot (cinematographer) 2,967,652 93 Ziggy Stardust & Spiders from Mars 2,164 1 152 Mick Ronson (2nd billed actor) 127,820 101 Mark Twain's America 3D 352 1 1620 Alan Williams (composer) 2,290,125 "OUT OF STEP" DVD NOW ON SALE: We found the "Out of Step" DVD at Deseret Book this weekend. The cover looks essentially like the movie posters. Really the only new addition to the DVD cover are the words "Featuring the music of Jericho Road". DVD Special Features Behind the Scenes Documentary Director's / Screen Writer's Commentary Chapter Selection Motion Menu DVD ROM Deleted Scenes And more HANDCART ON TOUR (from Press Releases from Ampersand Films) - - It is time to get the handcart rolling (no pun intended) as the feature film "Handcart" moves to other locations across the nation between January 10 and the end of April. Currently, the only place you can see the film is in Rexburg, Idaho. The film has been held purposefully so that it can be ready for new locations and because during the holiday season it is difficult to find venues anyway. Most recent numbers indicate that Handcart has grossed $70,000 in a short run in Utah on 17 screens. It has performed best in St. George, the Scera in Orem, and Cardston, Canada. Handcart will probably return to Utah at a later date, but as there are only 20 prints to move around, and more people OUT of Utah are asking for it, it will be a while. The following cities are scheduled for a January 10th release: Safford, Arizona - All-Star Cinemas Page, Arizona - The Mesa Theater Idaho Falls, Idaho - The Paramount Merced, California - (theater still pending) Las Vegas, Nevada - (theater still pending) The filmmakers hope to finish in 100 theaters by April. HANDCART DVD - No date has been set for a DVD release of "Handcart", but the filmmakers are promoting the DVD already, saying they feel it is going to be incredible. Director Kels Goodman and his team have gone back to the drawing board and are working on a very full Handcart DVD Special Edition, with a new cut of the film to be offered on DVD and VHS. A VERY SINGLES CHRISTMAS - "A Very Singles Christmas" is a Christmas-flavored CD done similarly to the "Singles Ward" CD. It can be ordered here: http://www.ldsliving.com/details.asp?prodid=284&cat=2077&pat h= Interestingly enough, actor Kirby Heyborne, the star of the upcoming feature film "The R.M." and one of the co-stars of "The Singles Ward," sings a track on the new "A Very Singles Christmas" CD. You can listen to samples from all the tracks online at the URL given below. Let me point out that this is a much more mellow CD than "The Singles Ward" soundtrack. Nobody is doing anything along the lines of "When Grandpa Comes to Town"... It's actually something very appropriate for Christmas... not at all headbanger stuff. These are songs you wouldn't be surprised to hear at a fireside. - P.H. Tracks: "Joy to the World" Majestic "Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful" The Sugarland Run "Silent Night" Jamen Brooks "Once Within a Lowly Stable" Maya Shore "Away in a Manger" Hale and Cath "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" Jerrytown "O Little Town of Bethlehem" Ponchillo "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" Becky Jean Williams "With Wondering Awe" The Debra Fotheringham Band "Far, Far Away on Judea's Plains" Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband "The First Noel" Sofina "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" Clay "Stille Nacht" Sunfall Festival "O Holy Night" The Rockmatics "I Believe in Santa Claus" Kirby Heyborne AMAZON SCREENING IN SAN JOSE - There is a special one-time-only screening of Amazon. This is the last of three IMAX Adventure Traveler Series events, co-developed with the Commonwealth Club Silicon Valley. The screening will be at The Tech Museum of Innovation, 201 S. Market St., San Jose, in the New Venture Hall and Hackworth Imax Dome Theater on Wednesday, December 11th from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. There will be complimentary hors d'oeuvres at the start of the evening. The IMAX film will show once after a brief presentation starting at 6:30 p.m. Prices: $20 for Tech Members or Commonwealth Club members, $25 for non-members. $10.00 for Students or Seniors (65+) For this event, we will be letting kids 12 and under in for Free. Register online at http://www.commonwealthclub.org/sv.html#amazon or call 1-800-847-7730, or call Kara Iwahashi at 408/351-3479. NEW LABUTE ARTICLE - A new Australian newspaper interview with Latter-day Saint filmmaker Neil LaBute includes illuminating excerpts, including: "LaBute, a devout Mormon, has paid spiritually for his art. After his Bash: Latter-Day Plays appeared on Showtime two years ago, the Mormon church was mortified by LaBute's portrayals of Mormons committing murder. The elders barred him from taking the sacrament and voting on church matters. LaBute, who lives in a Chicago suburb with his wife, Lisa, and two children, can still attend church, but the welcome mat seems slippery. 'More than just not writing about Mormons, they don't want me writing about anything that isn't uplifting or enlightening, and I'm having more trouble doing that,' he says. 'I have no agenda about writing for Mormons, and I haven't written a Mormon character since . . . That may come to more of a head down the road.' Askedif he was rethinking his affiliation, he answers, 'I don't question my faith at all. I question my place in the church.'" See the full article at: http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/12/06/1038950192592.h tml LABUTE IN SUNDANCE - Neil LaBute's new movie "Shape of Things" is one of the most anticipated feature films premiering at the Sundance Film Festival, which will take place Jan. 16th-26th. The festival was founded by Latter-day Saint filmmaker Sterling van Wagenen (a long-time BYU professor, now at the University of Central Florida in Orlando). "Shape" is the big screen adaptation of his successful stage play. "The Shape of Things" is not in competition at Sundance. LaBute previously won the Filmmakers Trophy award at Sundance for "In the Company of Men." This movie was also a big screen adaptation of a play written by him, a play he first staged at Brigham Young University. For the stage version, LaBute received the Association for Mormon Letters Award for Drama. MORE SUNDANCE - "The United States of Leland", starring Latter-day Saint actor Ryan Gosling in title role as a sensitive juvenile who kills an autistic child, will premier at Sundance Film Festival in Jan. 2003. Gosling last year earned awards and rave reviews at Sundance for his turn as an Orthodox Jewish Nazi in the controversial feature film "The Believer." "The United States of Leland" will be in competition this year at Sundance. Acclaimed actress Salma Hayek ("Frida"), marks her directorial debut at this year's Sundance with her new movie "The Maldonado Miracle," which will be part of the American Showcase. The movie was filmed entirely in Utah, and a number of the cast and crew are Utahns and/or Latter-day Saints. One of the main cast members is Latter-day Saint actor Frank Gerrish, recently seen as the construction foreman in Richard Dutcher's "Brigham City", as the cab driver in T.C. Christensen's "Bug Off!" and as the deli owner in Mark Goodman's "Someone Was Watching." Salt Lake native Dennis Saylor, a Utah-based actor, also has a part. Utahn Lawane Cole was the costume designer for "Maldonado." Mormon director Matthew Barney's art film "Cremaster III" will be shown. This is the 5th installment in Barney's Cremaster series, following Cremaster 4 (1994), Cremaster 1 (1995), Cremaster 5 (1997), and Cremaster 2 (1999). (Yeah, they're not in order. We know.) Although not a Churchgoer, Barney has featured a number of Latter-day Saint images and motifs in his Cremaster movies, including the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, beehives, and historical Latter-day Saints. Barney, incidentally, is the father of Academy Award-nominated songwriter Bjork's baby Isadora, who was born in September 2002. "The Same River Twice," a documentary by Robb Moss, will be competing at Sundance this year. The documentary should not be confused with "Same River Twice", a 1996 feature film directed by Scott Featherstone, made by an all-LDS cast and crew. FLY BOYS FLY - Here's a great web page on an actor's website with 18 photographs from the production of "Fly Boys." "Fly Boys," now in production, is the upcoming theatrical debut of Latter-day Saint director Rocco Devilliers, the director of "Only Once" and "Pure Race." http://www.bigfrank.tv/Fly Boys/Fly Boys.htm UPCOMING FEATURE FILM SHOOT IN UTAH: THE GENESIS PROJECT - Frank E. Johnson (one of the chief directors of the TV series "Touched by an Angel") will be directing a feature film in Utah next spring. Title: The Genesis Project. DONNY SINGS IN LAND BEFORE TIME IX - Donny Osmond sings the closing credits song in the 9th installment in the "Land Before Time" animated movie series. The original theatrically-released "Land Before Time" was directed by Latter-day Saint animation legend Don Bluth. Numbers 2, 3, and 4 were produced and directed by Roy Allen Smith (a native of Cedar City, Utah), and have grossed over $300 million as videos. The song is titled "No One Has to be Alone." In other news, Donny's newest album is titled "Somewhere in Time." The title is unintentionally ironic. There was a movie "Somewhere in Time," starring Christopher Reeve, in which Jane Seymour played a character based on the actress Maude Adams. Adams was a nationally beloved stage actress, the most famous Latter-day Saint entertainer in her time, just as Donny has been (and probably still is) the world's most famous Latter-day Saint entertainer of his time. LDS AMERICAN IDOL - Steve Dunford, a returned missionary from Springville, Utah, stars in the 2nd season of the popular prime time series "American Idol." The new season premiers in January 2003. MCCRACKEN AND THE USED - Bert McCracken, a non-churchgoing Latter-day Saint from Orem, Utah, is a singer with the rock group "The Used." He has been seen on the MTV reality TV show "The Osbournes" -- as the boyfriend of Ozzy's daughter Kelly -- and written up recently in Rolling Stone. SUDDENLY UNEXPECTED COMPOSER - Brian Satterwhite (non-LDS) is the composer of the upcoming Latter-day Saint-themed feature film "Suddenly Unexpected." It is not the first time the Texas-based composer has worked with Church members. He recently scored the short film "Still," starring Latter-day Saint actress Alaina Kalanj. MISS LETTIE AND ME - Don't miss the TV movie "Miss Lettie and Me". It will premier on Sunday, December 8th at 8:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific Standard Time. Encores will be that night at 10:00 p.m. and again at midnight, on Wednesday, Dec 11th at 9:00 p.m., Saturday December 14th at 10:00 p.m., Sunday December 15th, at 4:00 p.m. and again at midnight, and Saturday, December 21st at 12:30 p.m. The family-friendly movie features a musical score by Latter-day Saint composer Alan Williams. WORK AND THE STORY MUSIC - Thomas C. Baggaley (LDSFilm.com correspondent who studied under Jerry Goldsmith) and Marden Pond ("The Shadow of Light") are scheduled to begin working next week on the film score for the upcoming feature film "The Work and the Story," starring Richard Dutcher. Baggaley is currently finishing an underscore for the opening segment of Chris Heimerdinger's "Summer of the Nephites", which will be used to attract investors for the proposed feature-length film to be released a few months after Heimerdinger's book by the same title. ADD BAGGALEY CD - Film composer Thomas C. Baggaley's CD release "Spirit of the Sabbath: Music that Uplifts and Inspires" has been available at Deseret Book for some time now, and has finally been listed on the DeseretBook.com web site. The picture of the CD's cover and description of the CD are not yet on the order page, but should be there soon. In the meantime, if you've been waiting for the CD to be available outside of Utah, that day is finally here. "Spirit of the Sabbath" can be ordered at http://deseretbook.com/store/product?product_id=100054113 Baggaley has been signing copies of the CD at various stores along the Wasatch Front and is next scheduled to appear at the Deseret Book stores in the Cottonwood Mall and Sugar House (both in the Salt Lake area) on December 21st. LDS FILM FESTIVAL SEEKS SPONSORS - Matthew Fackrell, co-founder of the Eclipse Film Festival, has become a major board member of the LDS Film Festival as the rapidly growing event plans for its 3rd year. Excellent opportunities for corporate sponsors (at all levels of $) are now available for next year's LDS Film Festival. The 2002 event attracted over 1500 attendees and a major cross-section of the Who's Who among Utah and/or Latter-day Saint filmmakers. LYDE TO FILM THE COLLECTORS - Director John Lyde ("The Field is White") is set to begin filming on the feature-length film "The Collectors," early in 2003. This fresh s.f. approach to the martial arts action genre has Kels Goodman (director of "Handcart") as its Director of Photography. DUTCHER DIRECTOR'S WORKSHOP - Richard Dutcher will be teaching a master class at the AND ACTION Actor's Studio on Saturday, January 18th from 1:00 to 4:00 PM. More information, including registration instructions can be found at http://www.actionacting.com/masterclass.htm. See also http://www.actionacting.com/ for other classes and opportunities. LAND OF NEPHI DOCUMENTARY PLANNED - David C. Asay, the producer of "Lehi's Land of First Inheritance" and "In Search of Ancient Cumorah", is now in pre-production on a new documentary: "The Land of Nephi." Filming begins in Guatemala on 26 December 2002. An early summer 2003 release on video is planned. ALAIN KALANJ STARS - Here is some information written by Joe O'Connell about the upcoming feature film "Screen Door Jesus," starring Latter-day Saint actress Alaina Kalanj in the lead role. Kalanj, a member of the Dallas 1st Ward, most recently appeared in "Serving Sara," starring Matthew Perry. Her most recent calling was as a nursery teacher. [QUOTE] Joining a remake of "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" in production at the Austin Film Society's Austin Studios is "Screen Door Jesus," which began filming Thursday and continues for 23 days at the former Mueller airport and other locations including downtown Lockhart. Based on 10 short stories written by East Texas native Christopher Cook, "Screen Door Jesus" tells how religion impacts the lives of small-town people diverse in race and social class, said line producer Tom Herod. The stories are woven together a la Robert Altman films like "Short Cuts" and "Nashville." The title tale is based on the time an image of Jesus was said to have appeared on the screen door of a house in Port Neches. The response was so bizarre, so commercial and so massive, the owner took the screen door off and hid it. "It's poignant and funny with eccentric characters you'll find in a small East Texas town,"Herod said. "I've been in this business for a while, and this is a film worth being made. It has a point to make, (is) fun to watch and funny." Kirk Davis is directing and adapted the stories for the screen, Sam Adelman, who worked on "The Legend of Bagger Vance," is producer-editor, and Dan Stoloff is director of photography, but much of the rest of the crew and cast is homegrown. Audiences may recognize veteran western actor Buck Taylor for roles in everything from "Gunsmoke" to Will Smith's version of "Wild, Wild West." Texas native Anjanette Comer also comes to the production with a long list of credits, including death-loving Aimee Thanatogenous in the 1965 comic masterpiece of the funeral industry (which amazingly remains out of print), "The Loved One." "Screen Door Jesus" is an interesting anomaly itself, with Cook's book publisher, Host Publications of Austin, financing production at a budget of under $3 million. [END QUOTE] SCRIPTS REQUESTED - Here is some information for those of you who e-mail us about your scripts. Cheyenne at Lucid Dream Entertainment has asked to get the word out that her Director of Development is looking for scripts for film and television. (From a release from Lucid Dream Entertainment) - - Lucid Dream Entertainment is looking for scripts for both film and TV. Lucid Dream Entertainment is a production company which has exclusive right with the largest film studio in Taiwan. We are currently looking for scripts in all genres. Scripts must have a female lead or supporting role in the 20 to 30 age range, with a budget of one million dollars or less. Financing is in place. Please submit a log line and or short synopsis (as text within the email, NOT as an attachment) to Julia at luciddreams999@hotmail.com GANGS OF NEW YORK - James Cruze, a Mormon director whose more than 60 films include the classic pioneer film "Covered Wagon" (1923), was also the director of "The Gangs of New York" (1938). "Gangs" starred Alan Baxter, Charles Bickford, Maurice Cass, Ann Dvorak and Jonathan Hale. "The Gangs of New York" should NOT be confused with a similarly-titled film, "Gangs of New York" (minus the word 'The'), which will be released this month, and was directed by Catholic director Martin Scorsese and stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz. TAKE A POLL, HELP A FILM STUDENT - Trevor Hill is a young Latter-day Saint film student who is completing his thesis about LDS film. He would like as many people as possible to complete a brief survey about the subject. The survey can be found at: http://www.aumfilm.org/lds_film_survey.html - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ End of aml-list-digest V1 #922 ******************************