From: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com (aml-list-digest) To: aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: aml-list-digest V1 #957 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, January 28 2003 Volume 01 : Number 957 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 24 Jan 2003 19:07:20 -0700 From: Marny Parkin Subject: [AML] Writing Contest at LTU&E I'm forwarding the rules to the DragonComet Writing contest, in conjunction with the science fiction sympoisum at BYU (Feb. 13-15) for those who are interested. Marny Parkin Announcing the DragonComet Writing Contest for LTUE XXI - Deadline for entries is February 1, 2003. ENTER NOW!!! The contest is divided into four categories: 1. School age writers (7th - 12th grade at contest deadline) 2. Young school age writers (5th - 6th grade at contest deadline) 3. Adults 18+ writing for young adult audiences 4. Adults 18+ writing for adult audiences There is no entrance fee. Only one entry is allowed per person per category. No simultaneous or previously published entries will be accepted. Deadline for entries is Feb 1, 2003 Stories should be science fiction or fantasy in nature and no more than 20,000 words (10,000 words for younger age entries). No graphic sex, language, or violence, please. Entries should be typed, double-spaced, 12-point font that is easily readable. Proofread your story before entering. Only the title should appear on the story itself. Please include a cover sheet with your name, address, contact info, category you are entering, and signature with a short statement that you understand the rules and the work is your own original, unpublished work. If you are under 18, please also have your parent or guardian sign the sheet as well giving you permission to enter. Each page of the manuscript should include the story title and a page number. The judges decision is final. DragonComet does not retain any rights to any entries. Include a SASE large enough for your manuscript if you want it returned. Winners will be announced at Life, the Universe, & Everything XXI at BYU on Feb. 15, 2003. Winners will also be notified by mail if they cannot attend. Mail your entry to: DragonComet Writing Contest Attn: Jenna Eatough E120 BNSN BYU Provo, UT 84602 For the latest about Life, the Universe, and Everything, see http://humanities.byu.edu/ltue - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 24 Jan 2003 22:19:45 -0700 From: Christopher Bigelow Subject: RE: [AML] LaBute Story Collection Sorry, this was a bit forwarded verbatim from a publishing deal reporting service I subscribe to. All we know is what's there: who sold the collection (an agent at Wm Morris) and who bought it (publisher Grove/Atlantic). - -----Original Message----- Chris, could you decipher this? maybe i've been working too hard today but i can't really make sense of the last part of your post. you seem to be informing us that LaBute is coming out with a collection of short fiction. what is it called? who publishes it? any further info? - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 25 Jan 2003 00:48:36 -0700 From: "J. Scott Bronson" Subject: Re: [AML] Slate Commentary on CleanFlicks Lawsuit On Wed, 22 Jan 2003 13:58:25 -0600 (CST) Rich Hammett writes: > Any of you prima donna creators have any comments? :) All creators are prima donnas? Okay. Here's this creator's comment: If you plan on making money off of something I created, then I will licence you to present MY work the way I created it. To do otherwise would constitute fraud. If you merely want to own a copy of my creation for your own personal use, do whatever the hell you want with it -- the copy ain't mine, you paid for it, it's YOURS. But if you alter it in any way, don't say that it's MINE, and you better darn well not earn a living off of it. If you don't like my art the way I made it, then don't buy it. Make your own. J. Scott Bronson, PD - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 25 Jan 2003 05:45:00 -0800 From: Jeff Needle Subject: Re: [AML] Misquoting Better to have been quoted, and lost, than never to have been quoted at all? This has happened to me in the past. Of course, I'm not a celebrity like you , but I did have some face time in the academic press more than 20 years ago when I set up what became the largest, and most comprehensive, microcomputer lab in California. Several journals came by to see it, took pictures (back in my bearded, long-hair days), and it was all great sport for a while. There were several misquotes in the stories. Can't remember exactly what they were, but they delighted all of my co-workers. - ---------------- Jeff Needle jeff.needle@general.com - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 25 Jan 2003 05:46:38 -0800 From: Jeff Needle Subject: Re: [AML] Val Kilmer News Kilmer is a Christian Scientists. I'm on a CS list where this subject has been discussed at length. To say the least, they're rather disappointed that he has taken this role. At 05:12 PM 1/22/2003 -0700, you wrote: >In the current Entertainment Weekly, Kilmer talks about his movie >_Wonderland_ coming out this summer. It's based on the infamous porn star >John Holmes. "I'm not playing a porn star," Kilmer says. "I'm playing a guy >who USED to be a porn star." - ---------------- Jeff Needle jeff.needle@general.com - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 25 Jan 2003 08:49:14 -0700 From: "Thom Duncan" Subject: RE: [AML] Why Not PG? >-----Original Message----- >From: owner-aml-list@lists.xmission.com >[mailto:owner-aml-list@lists.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Tony Markham >up against you, the places you had to put your hand. I can't >get over the the way she had her arms wrapped around you. It >was sinful, sinful, and it's driving me crazy." The senior >companion said, "Elder, I let go of that girl down when we got >to her car. I suggest you do the same." This is similar to a technique LDS actos use. I know I do, and as I've talked with other LDS actors over the years, I find that those who are serious about keeping their covenants have come up with similar techniques. Upon first moving to Utah, I was cast in a play as the romantic lead (ah, those days are gone ). There was a kissing scene with the leading lady who was, to say the least, hot. I was thirty, she was nineteen. I will tell all right now that, when lip came to lip, there was fire there, at least for me. I mean, I'm a hetero, and kissing a good looking young woman affected me. At the end of the day, however, I went home to my wife and kids, and left the love scene on the stage. It's wrong, of course, for a married man to kiss another woman. Outside the context of the play, it would be a sin. But I "let go" at the end of the day. Thom Duncan - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 25 Jan 2003 09:13:12 -0700 From: "Thom Duncan" Subject: RE: [AML] Singles Ward I've produced perhaps twenty or thirty plays (many of my own) over my lifetime and I've learned something early on that has helped me over the years. You can't please everybody. Pure and simple. In 1999, my musical PROPHET was excoriated by Eric Snider. Eric Samuelsen wrote a more favorable review. People in my ward who had seen mentioned my play as positively affecting their testimonies about Joseph. I agree with Richard. You don't call up the reviewer who slashes you to bits and complain about it, you just do better next time. Little children can't take criticism without crying. Immature artists may react similarly to negative reviews. The old-timers have learned how to let citicism fall off them while just plugging along. Thom - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 25 Jan 2003 09:15:53 -0700 From: "Thom Duncan" Subject: RE: [AML] Singles Ward >If Scorcese were >to critique Spielberg=92s work, I=92m certain it would be both >constructive and respectful=96or if he found nothing of value, >then he would exercise restraint and, perhaps, not say >anything. I wonder what Scorcese would say about Spieberg's 1942. Thom Duncan - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 25 Jan 2003 09:22:42 -0700 From: "Thom Duncan" Subject: RE: [AML] R-Rated Movies >added later in. It's "not real" - but the sex, nudity and >swearing are real. The sex is only real in x-rated movies, simulated in all others. The nudity can be real but, well, enhanced via light, angles, or body doubles. No one looks as good naked in real life as they do in movies, even movie stars. The swearing is real but well, they're only words, with only the power we chose to give them. Thom - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 25 Jan 2003 09:26:35 -0700 From: "Thom Duncan" Subject: RE: [AML] Singles Ward and The Way We're Wired [MOD: Usually, I try to limit one person to three or four posts per day. In this case, I'm making an exception since this is an upcoming theatrical event announcement.] > >Thom, for the forgetful among us, will you re-post dates and >times for that >play? Thanks. > >barbara hume Opens January 30. Runs Thursday, Friday, and Saturday through March 1. Curtain time: 7:30 PM. Thom Duncan - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 25 Jan 2003 20:54:14 -0600 From: "Kumiko" Subject: [AML] Re: Nominations for AML Awards How can there be a nominations or an award given for Screenplay? If by this is meant a screenplay aspect of a produced film (such as is done with other film awards, Academy, Golden Globe, etc.), then this fact should be specified. But if what is meant by this is an unproduced screenplay, then I'm not sure how this could be a category, because unproduced screenplays have not made publicly available. Preston Hunter www.ldsfilm.com - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 25 Jan 2003 14:02:08 -0700 From: Melissa Proffitt Subject: [AML] Nominations for AML Awards (Revised) [MOD: This represents a revised version of the call for nominations sent out earlier.] ********************************************************** ASSOCIATION FOR MORMON LETTERS 2002 AWARDS CALL FOR NOMINATIONS Every year, the AML presents awards for outstanding literary works that promote excellence in Mormon letters. Beginning this year, in an effort = to consider as many works as possible, the AML is calling for nominations = from our members and from the AML-List. We ask that you submit the names of eligible titles in the following categories: Novel Picture Book Young Adult/Middle Grade =46ilm Drama Screenplay Devotional Literature Essays and Criticism Poetry And what is an eligible entry? 1. It should be by, for, or about Mormons and the Mormon experience, whatever that might mean. We are particularly interested in works by = Mormon authors, but will not exclude stories by people of other faiths or of = none so long as the connection to Mormon letters is explicit and illuminative. 2. It must have been published during the calendar year 2002. We would prefer that you suggest titles which you believe might be = deserving of the award, but please don't omit something just because you think its literary qualities aren't highbrow enough. All titles will be considered during this stage. Please send your nominations to Melissa@Proffitt.com with the subject = line "Award Nomination." Include the title, the author, the category, and if necessary where the work in question might be found (particularly for essays, criticism, and poetry). You are also welcome to post suggestions= to this list for discussion. The deadline for nominations is February 1, = 2003. Melissa Proffitt AML Secretary - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 25 Jan 2003 12:46:37 -0700 From: "Jacob Proffitt" Subject: [AML] re: Slate Commentary on CleanFlicks Lawsuit I was going to mention Clean Play, actually. There was a big write-up = in the most recent Forbes and I found it fascinating. I think it is pretty clear (but not indisputable) that Clean Play isn't violating copyright = so it will be interesting to see how this plays out in the courts. What Clean Play does is it has created software that you can download ($80 a year = is the figure I heard to subscribe--unlimited download as far as I could = tell) that knows for each DVD what parts to silence and/or skip. So the = software plays the DVD and if you have the "guide" for that DVD it will skip = forward or silence the naughty bits. Thing is, since it isn't adding anything = of its own, the studios suing them (at least three are) are going to have a tough time claiming they are selling "derivative works". They aren't selling altered versions of *anything*, they're selling an ancillary enhancement--one that can be likened to a reviewer telling where you = should fast forward your VCR. Until recently, Clean Play only worked in PCs because of the software requirement. Their latest product though, is a DVD player with the core software built in that is sold with a couple hundred "guides" installed. And frankly, lawsuits aside, I think the artistic purists will lose out = to the executives who will eventually get their hands on some numbers that = will show that release of this product will actually increase sales and = rentals of their movies... Jacob Proffitt - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 25 Jan 2003 12:46:37 -0700 From: "Jacob Proffitt" Subject: RE: [AML] Singles Ward - ---Original Message From: David Dayton >=20 > In response to Richard Dutcher=3D92s vitriolic critique of > The Singles Ward, I think it is rather baffling how > certain individuals in our community have gone out of > their way to lambaste the film. I don=3D92t see what this > accomplishes. Is it for the constructive betterment > of LDS cinema? If it isn=3D92t, what=3D92s the point? If > Scorcese were to critique Spielberg=3D92s work, I=3D92m > certain it would be both constructive and > respectful=3D96or if he found nothing of value, then he > would exercise restraint and, perhaps, not say > anything. Although Kieth Merrill=3D92s comments about the > film in his Meridian Magazine article had the same > smug and condescending tone, at least he had the > pretense of being constructively critical. For all I jumped on John Charles early last year for a critical paper, = it's probably important that I try to explain why what I said then is qualitatively different from what David has said here. Because I = disagree with David rather strenuously. I think it is, well, unwise to take this tack for a number of reasons--the most important of which is that you = can't be expected to improve much if people are only giving you half of the feedback you need. In any work you produce, you'll do some things right = and you'll do some things wrong and you'll do a lot of things that are = neither. If you want to improve, you'd better be able to accurately identify = which is which. I jumped on John Charles because I thought his criticism invalid--not because I thought he shouldn't be talking bad about one of our own. So while I sympathize with those who have to hear in such detail what = others dislike about their work, my assumption is that they are serious about = that work and thus they should hear what others have to say about it. I = mean, if you aren't serious about your craft, then you have no business charging people money to come see it. "Singles Ward" was put in movie theaters = that unabashedly charged people money to see it. If someone can't take = feedback for their production, next time they should make it a road show and send = out the invitations through their local stake leadership. And frankly, in the LDS community, people are typically very careful to = make sure their comments are addressed to the art and not to the individual. Sure, it feels like burning lava in your veins when you are the target, = but we're really a very courteous lot with a good will and feelings even in = our criticism. If we let that good will prevent us from speaking truth, = though, then we'll lose the strength that good will has to offer us by putting = it in the service of unworthy goals (i.e. mediocrity for the sake of pride). > The funny thing is I didn=3D92t really care for The > Singles=3D92 Ward either. The humor was broad and obvious. > Some people like that kind of thing, some don=3D92t. I > don=3D92t expect a lot of maturity out of a genre in its > nascent stages (if LDS cinema really is a genre). I > just find it interesting that so many have taken > offense to this relatively harmless and > inconsequential film. It doesn=3D92t pretend to be > something it=3D92s not. Should anyone be shocked that a > romantic comedy doesn=3D92t have verisimilitude? =3D20 I thought that the points being made were that it wasn't terribly funny = and that it undermined its own point in telling its story. To me, the = charge that "it isn't funny" is a perfectly reasonable thing to mention when discussing something claiming to be comedy. And you only really want to undermine your own story if you're doing satire. If "Singles Ward" was supposed to be satire, I missed that message entirely (which would make = it a failure at satire as well--er, at least with what little I've seen of it = in promos and from reviews and such). > Maybe we could learn a lesson from the Jewish > community about teamwork and boosting each other up > (see The Jewish Phenomenon: Seven Keys to the Enduring > Wealth of a People by Steven Silbiger). They seem to > have done well in Hollywood. And they critique each other mercilessly. And in forums as targeted as = our AML. Ever heard Jews talk about their culture? They can bicker like = Divas sharing a stage sometimes. That's why they can also express sincere = support and why they produce some of the best philosophy, artistic vision, and = moral insight of our culture today. We would do well to learn how to support = each other so well--through honesty and being able to learn what we need to = from people who are sincerely trying to help. Jacob Proffitt - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 28 Jan 2003 01:07:56 -0500 From: RichardDutcher@aol.com Subject: Re: [AML] Singles Ward In a message dated 1/23/2003 8:41:12 PM Eastern Standard Time,= innes_fairbain@hotmail.com writes: > I think the appearance of Richard Dutcher in particular validated it in= some=20 > people's eyes. I was wondering after I saw it why he did=20 > it. My question=20 > to Richard Dutcher: didn't you read the script? There=B4s an interesting story here. I did read the script. The director= asked me to read it several weeks before filming began. He said he wanted= my constructive criticism, which I was glad to give (free of charge). Interestingly, when he called me to get a report, and when I started to very= gently reveal some serious problems with the screenplay, it seemed that he= couldn=B4t get off the phone quickly enough. I was confused at the time. Believe me, the criticism was very constructive= and very gently delivered, but it was clear that he didn=B4t want to hear= it. I wondered if he merely wanted a pat on the back and a "Way to go, my= man! Good job!" I agreed to do the cameo, hoping that some of my suggestions had been= incorporated into the screenplay. Also, I was passing through a very= supportive period. I wanted to help any LDS filmmaker make a movie. I= wanted everyone to do well. (I still do. Honestly.) And I genuinely liked= the director and the producer. Later, the director asked me to view an edit of the film. Again, I agreed. I= was surprised to see that none of my previous criticism had made any= difference in the movie. Some of my suggestions, granted, were expressions= of my personal preferences. So those were understandably disposable. My= other suggestions had more to do with universally accepted principles of= simple story structure and character development. So I once again delivered very constructive and friendly criticism of the= work (including a repeat of my previous suggestions). I offered to sit in,= free of charge, and make some editing changes that I thought would= dramatically improve the film. I suggested a few days of re-shoots. I was also present a few days later after a screening with several other LDS= movie folk. I spoke very little, but listened to their suggestions. Some= were very different than mine, and some were very good suggestions. All the= criticism was given in the kindest and most supportive tone. And all the= criticism seemed to focus on the same very serious problems. I watched as the director nodded in agreement, acknowledged the movie=B4s= shortcomings, and even took notes on a pad of paper. I did not get to see the movie again until it opened. I was absolutely= dumbfounded to see that, as far as I could tell, the filmmakers had= incorporated none of the suggestions. None of them. From anyone. They knew they had a seriously flawed film and, rather than fix it, they= released it unimproved. They put forth no apparent effort to address the= problems. This I don=B4t understand at all. In fact, in my eyes, it is an unforgivable= artistic sin. And maybe this explains some of my rancor. Although, after seeing the final= product, I expressed my opinion of the movie quite freely with the= filmmakers, but I bridled my passion and tried not to publicly denounce the= movie until after it had run its course. I didn't want the producers= accusing me of hurting their box office. But, as all of you know, the dam burst recently and out came that AML= review. I partially agree with some on the list who feel I should have= softened the punch (but I already tried that!) Abd once I got started on= that review, I just couldn't stop. It was so liberating (and a heck of a= lot of fun)to finally express my opinions regarding this movie. I have asked myself several times over the past week or so whether I should= have written it, and whether I need to repent of this impulsive act. I'm= still not sure. However, I am sure of one thing: the guys who made "Singles Ward" do not= listen to gentle, constructive criticism. They graciously receive the= praise of their following, but they lash out at any criticism. I hoped that maybe my sharp words would make a difference. That they would= finally pay attention. But they didn't. They treated my criticism the same as they treated Kieth= Merrill=B4s, Sean Means=B4, and Eric Snider=B4s. They wrote emails and made= phone calls, trying to convince me how mean and wrong I am. Whatever. It gives me no hope that their work will improve. And, unlike Eric= Samuelsen, I will not write any critique or review of "The R.M."=20 What would be the point? The filmmakers aren't listening. Richard Dutcher - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 27 Jan 2003 23:45:45 -0700 From: "J. Scott Bronson" Subject: Re: [AML] Singles Ward and The Way We're Wired [MOD: I am hoping that someone will, when the play actually opens, send a complete announcement to AML-List, including the official description of the play, run times, cost, how and where to contact for tickets, etc.] On Sat, 25 Jan 2003 09:26:35 -0700 "Thom Duncan" writes: > >Thom, for the forgetful among us, will you re-post dates and > >times for that play? Thanks. > Opens January 30. Runs Thursday, Friday, and Saturday through March 1. > Curtain time: 7:30 PM. Uh ... Thom? Mondays too, remember? Duh. scott - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 28 Jan 2003 08:41:58 -0700 From: "J. Scott Bronson" Subject: Re: [AML] Nominations for AML Awards (Revised) On Sat, 25 Jan 2003 14:02:08 -0700 Melissa Proffitt writes: > ASSOCIATION FOR MORMON LETTERS > 2002 AWARDS > CALL FOR NOMINATIONS > Drama Hancock County by Tim Slover Yellow China Bell by LeeAnne Hill Adams Wake Me When It's Over by Melissa Leilani Larson All produced at BYU during the 2002 calendar year. scott bronson - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 25 Jan 2003 17:06:40 -0700 From: Barbara Hume Subject: [AML] Mormon Apologetics Jeff Needle wrote: "I earnestly believe that the Church has a responsibility for educating the membership beyond the current level of engagement. While fine materials are issued on a regular basis, they often lack the kind of depth needed to counter the claims of Mormonism's detractors. In my review of "Echoes and Evidences of the Book of Mormon," published by FARMS, I made the point that the time has come for the membership to go beyond "testimony" and fully engage the issue of apologetics." I love this concept. I think. I certainly agree that we need materials that give us more substance, more depth, more room for discussion, more probing and thought-provoking questions. And I think many Mormons, especially in areas where they form a despised or scorned minority, need help with a confident defense of their beliefs. I just don't want to find myself in the "Bible-bashing" type of confrontations I experienced so often as a Protestant. barbara hume - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 25 Jan 2003 19:04:07 -0800 From: "gtaggart" Subject: [AML] Book of Mormon and DNA [MOD: Note that an extended discussion of this DNA issue is not really on-topic for AML-List. I include this announcement as a courtesy. If anyone, on the other hand, wants to take up literary topics that connect to this but are centrally related to Mormon letters, that would certainly be appropriate...] For those interested in an informed response to Thomas Murphy's DNA argument, I just read that BYU's Institute for the Preservation of Ancient Religious Texts is sponsoring a talk by Dr. Michael Whiting, Assistant Professor of Molecular Systematics in BYU's Biology Department on the subject at 11:30 AM on Wednesday, January 29th in the First Floor Auditorium of the Harold B. Lee Library. There will be a panel discussion afterward. Greg Taggart - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 25 Jan 2003 22:07:29 -0500 From: RichardDutcher@aol.com Subject: Re: [AML] Singles Ward In a message dated 1/23/2003 12:16:56 PM Eastern Standard Time,= lizwalters@mail.sisna.com writes: > Just curious, are there any LDS films that have come out in=20 > the=20 > last couple of years that you've liked besides your own? Yes. I liked "Out of Step" and I liked "The Other Side of Heaven." In fact,= I didn=B4t realize how much I liked "Other Side of Heaven" until after I= had seen "Singles Ward" and "Handcart." There are even parts of "Charly"= that I liked, especially Heather Beers' performance. "Like" is the operative word here. I didn't "love" any of them (and surely= you can't fault me for loving my own films). The only LDS film so far that= I have truly despised is "Singles Ward."=20 One thing I think we all need to remember is that these movies have been= first films for most of the directors. My first movie, "Girl Crazy" was= garbage. I like to think I've grown a bit as a filmmaker. I have great faith that the other directors will grow as well. If we give= them honest and frank criticism, and if they listen. Richard Dutcher - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 25 Jan 2003 20:30:31 -0900 From: Stephen Carter Subject: RE: [AML] Why Not PG? I just barely read read a story (I think it was in a book called The Essential Zen) about two young Zen Buddhist monks who went through exactly the same experience as the one Tony related below. The only detail that was different were that she was stuck at a mudpuddle. Weird, weird, weird. Perhaps this is an experience that a great many young celibates (at least temporarily) go through. Stephen Carter Fairbanks, Alaska There's this great based-on-a-true-event story about the two missionaries out hiking on their P day. Far up on the trail they find a young woman who has sprained her ankle. It's remote and this is the only other person they've seen all day so it is unlikely that anybody else will come along to help. The woman is limping along using a branch as a crutch, but she is obviously in great pain and it's miles to the trail head parking lot. The senior companion offers to carry her to her car and she gratefully accepts. Days later the junior companion explodes, "Elder! How could you put yourself into such close contact with that hiker? The way she was pressed up against you, the places you had to put your hand. I can't get over the the way she had her arms wrapped around you. It was sinful, sinful, and it's driving me crazy." The senior companion said, "Elder, I let go of that girl down when we got to her car. I suggest you do the same." - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 26 Jan 2003 21:12:40 -0600 From: Linda Adams Subject: Re: [AML] Singles Ward At 11:16 AM 1/23/03, you wrote: >Just curious, are there any LDS films that have come out in the >last couple of years that you've liked besides your own? I'll say that I've only liked Richard's films. But I've only seen his. I suppose it's not a fair evaluation since I've skipped "Other Side of Heaven" and "Singles Ward," mainly because they're not rentable out here in Missouri, and I don't want to invest more than the rental fee. Linda Linda Adams adamszoo@sprintmail.com http://home.sprintmail.com/~adamszoo/linda - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 27 Jan 2003 08:37:33 -0700 From: James Wilson Subject: Re: [AML] Misquoting I've been quoted by a newspaper twice, and in both cases they put almost exactly the opposite of what I said in quotation marks. It didn't fit the spin the reporters wanted. Since I am of little importance in the world and the stories were mere fluff, I learned a valuable lesson. Never trust what a newspaper says, not even when it uses quotes. I only read opinion now, because the slant is open. [James Wilson] - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 27 Jan 2003 08:57:51 -0700 From: James Wilson Subject: [AML] Nicholas Nickelby I had the chance to see _Nicholas Nickleby_ this weekend. It's only playing in one theater in the Phoenix area and it took some doing to see it but I certainly am glad I took the trouble. I'm not a Dickens fan, though I've tried many times to be--too many people that I respect love him, and I can't stand anything I've read except _David Copperfield_ and _A Christmas Carol_. I haven't read this one, but the movie was a breath of fresh air. I see lots of movies and have become heartily sick of anti-heroes. It seems like every other movie spends half its ninety minutes proving how the "humanity" the not-really-heroic not-really-pro-tagonist character. There are plenty of rotten bounders in the world but I do get tired of reading, seeing, and hearing that there's nothing but. Cynicism I detest, since it is so wholly dishonest, and the blindness that is taken for gospel these days makes me just a little tiny bit angry. The hero (not protagonist) and namesake of _Nicholas Nickleby_ is a plain good character. Whenever there's a chance to be courageous or cowardly, he takes the courageous route. He does what's right no matter the cost, and it does cost. His uncle and enemy, played wonderfully by Christopher Plummer, is a plain-dealing villain, stupidly cynical and cruel. The kid who plays Nicholas is Charlie Hunnam, is somebody I've never heard of, but I will be keeping my eye out for him from now on. Anne Hathaway is in it as well, and pretty much every part is well done. The main attraction is that the good guys win essentially by persevering. I could go on for quite some time but I'm going to limit myself because I just got off a twelve hour shift and am scarcely able to see the screen in front of me. In books, movies, plays, and every other kind of media, it's become exception is to have a hero in the story. I hope exceptions like this movie become more frequent. I'm human enough already, plenty of weaknesses and faults. I don't want to root around in somebody else's wickedness. I'd rather be inspired. [James Wilson] - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 27 Jan 2003 10:04:14 -0700 From: Christopher Bigelow Subject: RE: [AML] Singles Ward I too found Richard D.'s review of Singles Ward a little overdone (mainly with that comment about genocide at the end), but on the other hand I am glad he didn't pull any punches. I got a little more enjoyment out of the movie than he did, but not much, and those moments were definitely outnumbered by uncomfortable, disappointed, appalled moments. I think we naturally slip into such deep cultural complancency as Mormons that it's refreshing when someone calls a spade a spade. I've heard so many Mormons comment that we shouldn't be critical of each other, which is definitely true in some areas of life, but not in commercial cultural creations. So thanks for not pussyfooting around, Richard, and for being willing to let the chips fall where they may. (Hmmm, what other cliches could I use in this post?) Chris Bigelow - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 27 Jan 2003 10:16:26 -0700 From: Christopher Bigelow Subject: RE: [AML] Singles Ward And Richard Dutcher certainly isn't immune from criticism either. John Charles Duffy took Brigham City to task at last year's AML meeting (his paper was later published in Irreantum, along with a response from Scott Parkin), and the upcoming AML meeting includes a paper titled "The Tragedy of Brigham City: How a Film about Morality Becomes Immoral," by Michael Minch, UVSC philosophy faculty. (For more info on the upcoming meeting, including a complete agenda and PayPal preregistration links, see www.aml-online.org.) Fortunately for Richard, these assessments are at a rather high philosophical level rather than at the level of shoddy, botched filmmaking. Chris Bigelow - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 27 Jan 2003 10:33:16 -0700 From: "Robby Nichols" Subject: Re: [AML] Nominations for AML Awards The deadline is almost here. We should submit some. Thanks! - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 27 Jan 2003 12:58:35 -0700 (MST) From: Melanie Dahlin Subject: Re: [AML] Singles Ward I suppose I should have some criticism of Singles Ward, but I don't. Quite frankly, I went to see it expecting nothing but entertainment. I admit it, occasionally I like some mindless entertainment. I think I just committed a literary/film sin by admitting to this weakness, but there you have it. When I feel hampered by stress and demands, I enjoy something that makes me laugh at the silliness of life. I find movies like Singles Ward a breath of fresh air. Granted, it could use improvement, but I applaud the efforts! [Melanie Dahlin] - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 26 Jan 2003 08:37:20 -0700 From: "Paris Anderson" Subject: Re: [AML] Paris ANDERSON, _Claire: A Mormon Girl_ (Review) [MOD: This post is a compilation of two responses by Paris.] Wow . . . thank you, Harlow. If anyone is interested in the books--this review is better. Thanks For that bit about my hands, Harlow. I need it. Paris Anderson Harlow Clark Wrote: The world of Claire, and Seth Jackson, and Tough Luck, and of Anderson's memoir, "On Growing Up Tough," (Irreantum 3:2, Summer 2001) makes me want more, such as the republication of _Waiting for the Flash_. Actually, there has been some talk of republication. I have rewritten the manuscript, written a personal essay to go along with the book. The publisher has several other projects going, so I'm going to have to be patient. Paris Anderson - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ End of aml-list-digest V1 #957 ******************************