From: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com (aml-list-digest) To: aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: aml-list-digest V2 #124 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 Monday, August 18 2003 Volume 02 : Number 124 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2003 15:00:13 -0700 (PDT) From: Mary Aagard Subject: [AML] Caffeinated Drinks (was: Box Office Report 8 Aug. 03) [MOD: This is vaguely related to being on-topic, I suppose, as it has to do with cultural perceptions both inside and outside the LDS community about what it means to be Mormon. But let's keep it at that, shall we? A sharing of perceptions, not a debate over doctrine/policy.] Eric Dixon wrote: > > I know it's a common perception for non-Mormons to > think we can't drink > caffeinated soda-pop, but is it really that common > within the church? I > wouldn't drink Coke when I was a little kid, and I > knew a couple of > students at BYU who wouldn't drink it, but as far as > I'm concerned it's a > myth that's been decidedly demolished. > If it is a myth, then why doesn't BYU sell caffeinated drinks? Mary Aagard __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2003 15:38:01 -0700 (PDT) From: Colin Douglas Subject: Re: [AML] Ken Starr Who is the "we" who had the name first? I lost the antecedent.---Colin Douglas Sam Brown wrote:Hello, Church of Christ is the modern heir of the Campbellites, who, far from being a Mormon splinter group, are in fact the source of the first anti-Mormon book, published shortly after the founding of the church, and written by Alexander Campbell, one of the more important American theologians of the 19th century. Starr belongs to that group. We had the name first, while they were the Disciples or the Campbellites, but we quickly gave up the name, they took it, and we mostly forgot about each other (though they continue to be avid Bible readers and know well how heretical Mormonism is vis-a-vis traditional Protestantism). [snip] - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2003 15:40:28 -0700 From: "Jongiorgi Enos" Subject: Re: [AML] Val Kilmer and Joseph Smith There is more to acting that looking the part. It's called ACTING. That's half (read: 90%) of the Church's problem when they cast Joseph Smith. They cast somebody who LOOKS the part. Nuff' said. Find me a descendant of JS who looks the part and is also both a professional actor and a proficiant actor (success doesn't mean you're good), and then he must also qualify in the marketing department: he must be enough of an identifyable name that it attracts audiences. In my survey so far, I haven't met a woman yet, my wife included, who didn't swoon just a little bit when I mentioned those two names. She particularly finds Viggo hunky. So these guys fit the bill. So what if the exactness of JS particulars doesn't fit. It's a movie. Anyway, we're a long way from casting RD's "Prophet" but the church is currently looking to cast Joseph for the film that will eventually replace "Testaments". Could be they're interested (as in the past) with a looker who maybe can't act so much. I'll pass your suggestion along to Alissa at Church Casting. Jon Enos - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2003 15:56:13 -0700 (PDT) From: Matthew Lee Subject: [AML] Perceptions of Error among Leaders [MOD: As a question of whether General Authorities do or don't make mistakes, and when, this is definitely off-topic for AML-List. However... There's an issue of cultural perceptions here, as Matthew points out, that is really very significant for Mormon letters. So: Let us NOT enter into a discussion of when, or whether, General Authorities and others make mistakes. However, I do invite list members to share their observations of the perceptions in this area among Church members--in a spirit of sharing, not debating. That can include experiences and statements--not so much from Church history, but what we've observed in our own wards. Think of it as research.] I must be missing something. When did General Authorities stop acknowledging that they make mistakes? I'm confident that if any General Authority were asked if he made mistakes he would respond with "Yes". I don't know of any scriptural promises that they will not make mistakes. Nor do I recall having ever read that an Apostle or any other General Authority has said they do not make mistakes. The Doctrine and Covenants records the errors and sins committed by a number of Church leaders including Joseph Smith. Not to far into The Book of Mormon the prophet Lehi is called to repentance. I've heard remarks made at General Conference by President Kimball and President Hinckley that they have been inspired by the conference talks and have personally resolved to do better. Certainly that indicates recognition of their faults. Beyond that I assume that from time to time General Authorities are reproved "with sharpness" (D&C 121:42) by their leaders. Just because it doesn't appear in the newspapers doesn't mean it doesn't happen. If it did make it to the press more often what good would that bring about? The revelations on the organization of the Church, as I understand them, reveal the power of quorums and councils and their ability to obtain the will of the Lord concerning His Church. Every revelation that affects any organized body of members must be sustained for the action to be of full force. Whether it is the sustaining of a Deacons Quorum President or the President of the Church. This is where the promises are, so in my mind whether or not General Authorities, when acting as individuals, make mistakes, in public or private, really has very little bearing on the stability of the Church. For me. But please help me understand where this idea of errorless General Authorities is coming from. As shocking as it sounds to me must be a prevalent thought for it to have made it past the moderators without comment. Matthew R. Lee - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2003 16:21:10 -0700 (PDT) From: "R.W. Rasband" Subject: [AML] DM News: Mormon Movie Madness Friday, August 15, 2003 =20 Mormon movie madness=20 By Nicole Warburton Deseret Morning News It started with one. In March 2000, Richard Dutcher's "God's Army" stormed Utah theater box offices, earning $88,584 in just three days. The film, which cost $300,000 to make, went on to gross a total of $2.6 million before going to video. This fall, six LDS-themed films are planned for theatrical release, and at least two more are scheduled for early next year. "The power of the niche market is very much at the forefront," said=20 Mary Jane Jones, of Excel Entertainment. "So far, we've done a good job of showing that there is a market for these niche films . . . films that speak to a specific audience." Excel's niche is movies, videos, audio CDs and other materials that are LDS-oriented =97 something the entertainment industry has noticed. "I think people take us seriously within the industry as a whole,"=20 said Jones. "The numbers speak for themselves." According ACNielsen EDI Inc. =97 a company that compiles box-office statistics =97 Excel ranked eighth in the nation for limited-release film distribution in 2002. Excel released "God's Army," "Brigham City," "The Other Side of Heaven" in fairly quick succession in 2000 and 2001, and "Charly" in 2002. Other films, including "Out of Step," "The Singles Ward" and "Handcart" were released in 2002, followed by "The R.M." in January of this year. Together, all those movies earned a total of $11 million, according to Jeff Simpson, president and CEO of Excel. He added that $9 million "has gone through (Excel's) doors." Though none of the later films has quite matched the millions earned by "God's Army" and "The Other Side of Heaven," there is no question that the market for Mormon movies is booming. A quick glance at www.ldsfilm.com, which follows movies made by and about LDS Church members, reveals more than 30 announced or rumored Mormon films. And the filmmakers themselves anticipate that 2003 will be a defining year for LDS cinema. =20 "This is the year that is really going to make the difference," said Ryan Little, director of "Saints and Soldiers," a World War II drama scheduled to open in Utah theaters in early 2004. (He also directed "Out of Step" and was director of photography on "The Singles Ward," "The R.M." and the upcoming "The Home Teachers.") "This is the year that's going to say, 'This genre has legs or this=20 genre needs to go away,' " Little said. He added a cautionary note, however. "I think that it's kind of neat that people are doing (LDS-oriented films). I think the danger is when everyone kind of gets excited and jumps on the wave and tries to create pictures. What happens is, you get a broad selection of quality level. . . . And, if LDS films do bad, or if a bunch of films come out consecutively that are poor quality or a bad story or a bad script or whatever, I wonder if the intended audience will say 'You know what, I think I've just had enough of that.'" "I think there are potentially eight or nine Mormon films coming out=20 between now and January," said Kurt Hale, director of "The Singles Ward,"=20 "The R.M." and "The Home Teachers," which opens Jan. 9. "So, I think this=20 year is going to be a very interesting year, because not all of them will be successful =97 and mine may be one of those." Hale added, "I have a feeling there's going to be some Mormon=20 independents that will be squeezed out pretty quick this year." Simpson =97 a former executive at Disney Studios =97 said he has been approached by most of the LDS filmmakers releasing films this fall. "I think, not just in Mormon movies, but in the whole movie business in general, you'll see some good performers and some bad performers. . . . With eight films, not everyone will perform as well as the others." And what's the quality level of the films he has seen so far? "I=20 have seen some of them and parts of others. . . . I think we'll see a maturing and a thinning all at the same time." For Simpson, that "maturing and thinning" is exciting. "It=20 ultimately comes down to if they're good, well-told and well-crafted," he=20 said. "That's the evolution that's exciting to watch." Meanwhile, the man who started it all is getting ready to make his=20 third film. Richard Dutcher, who directed and starred in "God's Army" and=20 "Brigham City," announced with Simpson in April 2001 that he would film a=20 biography of Joseph Smith, titled "The Prophet." But financing fell apart. Still, Dutcher is optimistic and says he is actively trying to pull together a budget for that film. "Hopefully I'll be shooting that this coming spring, and we'll be set," he said. "Some people have said ('The Prophet') is on the back burner, but that's not true, it's on the front burner. I have two front burners on my stove, so I can keep it on the front burner. And then, I'm=20 also working on a sequel to 'God's Army' that I hope to shoot within four=20 to five months." Dutcher has strong feelings about the genre he started and is also optimistic about the future of LDS films. "It's an exciting little genre, it really is," he said. "And I think people really don't understand how healthy it is. People feel too much anxiety about the poor films that come along." According to Dutcher, even bad films can be good for the Mormon-movie genre. "I think even if some film that's so poorly made that it's offensive to all of us comes out, I don't think even that is going to affect the market because there's just a pretty constant niche (audience) out there that will go see these films. And, I think that if a bad one comes along, they'll just forget about it, and it will make them want a good one even more." When a niche film does poorly at a theater, however, it makes it more difficult for the next film to get in, Dutcher added. "And that could be one thing that could be a challenge for us is, if a few films go out and do poorly =97 whether because they're poor films or because they're poorly marketed or whatever. Then that causes us to have to negotiate a little harder with the theatre chains in order to get the films in there. "And the reason why the doors were open after 'God's Army' was because it did extremely well. And so, the theatre chains are in the business of making money, so they wanted anything else that could bring in that kind of an audience, and so they were open to whatever came along and now they're getting a little more discriminating." However, Dutcher also feels that the market for LDS films can only improve. "I have absolutely no anxieties about the economic stability of this genre. Because there is enough of an audience there, if you make your films for the right price, if you don't overspend, then you're going to do well in that market. And, I think if it's an honest story, if it's very straight-forward, very honestly and sincerely told, then it will attract other people. "We'll just try to ignore the really bad movies and really celebrate the great ones, and 10 years from now maybe we'll have our own big studio, cranking out our own product with a lot of experienced filmmakers. . . . "We have this incredible potential to provide world cinema something that they don't already have =97 which is spiritual cinema." LDS-themed films SCHEDULED FOR FALL RELEASE "Suddenly Unexpected" (special screenings in Houston theaters) "The Work and the Story," Aug. 29 (limited digital-video screenings) "The Book of Mormon Movie, Vol. 1: The Journey," Sept. 12 "Day of Defense," Oct. 10 "Best Two Years," Oct. 10 "Pride and Prejudice," fall 2003 =20 SCHEDULED FOR WINTER 2004: "The Home Teachers," Jan. 9 "Saints and Soldiers," early 2004 ALSO "The Legend of Johnny Lingo," Aug. 29 Cost-to-gross earnings for LDS-themed films * Cost includes marketing costs; gross is U.S. box-office earnings "God's Army" (2000) =97 Cost: $300,000 =97 Gross: $2.6 million =20 "The Other Side of Heaven" (2001) =97 Cost: $7 million =97 Gross: $4.7 million *(Played theatrically in every state but Rhode Island and West=20 Virginia. Disney Home Video distributed on VHS and DVD.) =20 "Brigham City" (2001) =97 Cost: $900,000 =97 Gross: $905,073 =20 "The Singles Ward" (2002) =97 Cost: $500,000 =97 Gross: $1.25 million =20 "Handcart" (2002) =97 Cost: $300,000 =97 Gross: $98,666 =20 "Jack Weyland's Charly" (2002) =97 Cost: $950,000 =97 Gross: $813,685 =20 "Out of Step" (2002) =97 Cost: $700,000 =97 Gross: $80,000 =20 "The R.M." (2003) =97 Cost: $500,000 =97 Gross: $1.05 million to date E-MAIL: nwarburton@desnews.com =A9 2003 Deseret News Publishing Company =20 =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D R.W. Rasband Heber City, UT rrasband@yahoo.com __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2003 16:26:40 -0700 (PDT) From: "R.W. Rasband" Subject: [AML] DM News: Producers Noah > Friday, August 15, 2003 >=20 > Producers felt Noah was right for Nephi=20 > By Jody Genessy > Deseret Morning News > When the first motion-picture movie based on the Book of > Mormon=20 > comes out next month, some viewers might recognize the actor > playing=20 > Nephi. He was Secret Service Agent No. 2 in last year's TV movie > "The=20 > Brady Bunch in the White House" and was the bicycle messenger in > the=20 > Jackie Chan film "The Tuxedo." >=20 > Noah Danby >=20 > Then again, considering those films' performance, perhaps no > one=20 > will recognize him. > He's been Noah, too, but that wasn't an acting part. It's > his name =97=20 > Noah Danby. > Danby's resume also includes two stints on a Showtime > cable-TV=20 > series "Queer as Folk," which, as the title suggests, is centered > around=20 > gay life. Danby appeared =97 at times with zero clothing =97 as > "Tattoo" and=20 > "Captain Astro." > Not surprisingly, while those roles are included on his > personal Web=20 > site, www.noahdanby.com, you won't find them on his bio at=20 > www.bookofmormonmovie.com. > The "Book of Mormon Movie" filmmakers knew Danby had been in > "Queer=20 > as Folk" when he auditioned for the role of Nephi. They just > didn't know=20 > the extent of his role, according to marketing director Lisa > Rogers. And=20 > they didn't think it was a big deal anyway. > The 6-foot-3, 225-pound Toronto native impressed them so > much that=20 > they picked him out of a pool of 1,000 potential Nephis. > He's also among the minority of actors on the film who > aren't=20 > members of the LDS Church. > "We took his role very, very seriously," Rogers said. "We > needed to=20 > find someone who fit the bill to play Nephi, with all the > qualifications =97=20 > and he was perfect." > Rogers calls him a "gentle giant," and after seeing how hard > Danby=20 > worked on the film, how diligently he researched the character of > Nephi,=20 > and how well he played the part, the filmmakers firmly stand > behind their=20 > man. > "It breaks my heart to think people might talk trash about > him,"=20 > Rogers said. "He was wonderful. He did a great performance." > =20 >=20 >=20 >=20 > E-MAIL: jody@desnews.com > =20 >=20 >=20 >=20 >=20 >=20 > World & Nation + Utah + Sports + Business + Opinion + Front Page > =A9 2003 Deseret News Publishing Company >=20 - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2003 17:47:36 -0600 From: Christopher Bigelow Subject: [AML] (Des News) Several LDS film articles Three recent Des News articles on Mormon film: MORMON MOVIE MADNESS It started with one. In March 2000, Richard Dutcher's "God's Army" stormed Utah theater box offices, earning $88,584 in just three days. The film, which cost $300,000 to make, went on to gross a total of $2.6 million before going to video. http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/1%2C1249%2C510046951%2C00.html 'BOOK OF MORMON' COMING TO BIG SCREEN' Over the years, multitudes of LDS Church members have discussed and daydreamed - -- often during Sunday School -- about how somebody should make the Book of Mormon into a movie. http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/1%2C1249%2C510046961%2C00.html CHRIS HICKS: 'GOD'S ARMY' KICK-STARTED LDS 'GENRE' Since the Mormon movie movement was kick-started three years ago by Richard Dutcher's impressive -- and let's say it, surprising -- one-two punch, "God's Army" and "Brigham City," it's caused much more than a snowball effect. It's an avalanche. http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/1%2C1249%2C510046953%2C00.html PRODUCERS FELT NOAH WAS RIGHT FOR NEPHI http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/1%2C1249%2C510046962%2C00.html Plus a bonus article reflecting Des News's attempt to cover Sunstone but with a positive spin: LDS INTELLECTUALS TELL WHY THEY DON'T STRAY http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/1%2C1249%2C510047152%2C00.html - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2003 16:50:17 -0700 (PDT) From: "R.W. Rasband" Subject: [AML] DM News: Book of Mormon Coming To Big Screen Friday, August 15, 2003 'Book of Mormon' coming to big screen'=20 By Jody Genessy Deseret Morning News Over the years, multitudes of LDS Church members have discussed and daydreamed =97 often during Sunday School =97 about how= somebody should make the Book of Mormon into a movie. Legend even has it that "Ten Commandments" filmmaker Cecil B. DeMille wanted to direct it. Verily, verily, the oft-fantasized film =97 arguably the most common topic of idle Mormon conversation this side of BYU football =97 has finally come to pass. Nephi, Lehi, Ishmael and Laban and their epic adventures can=20 be seen on the silver screen next month in a multimillion-dollar motion picture titled "The Book of Mormon Movie, Volume 1: The Journey." Filmmaker Gary Rogers' vision of First and Second Nephi =97 the first two books of the Book of Mormon, which is scripture to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (and what a journal review considers one of "20 Books That Changed America") =97 has been shot on high-definition video, with a musical score composed by Robert C. Bowden, former associate conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Rogers has also employed a pioneering ticket-proselytizing plan and, in a touch of showmanship that DeMille would have appreciated, will have camels at Jordan Commons for the world premiere on Sept. 12, the day the film begins its Utah run in several theaters. (Idaho movie houses will start playing it the following week.) That much is certain =97 and the fact that The Osmonds will not be singing a pop version of the primary song "Book of Mormon Stories" on the soundtrack, a la "Singles Ward." But for the rest of the world, it's a wait-and-maybe-see situation. The movie's production company, Mormon Movies, brainstormed a barnstorming way to offer the film to far-reaching audiences while also=20 protecting its relatively low budget from being gobbled up by costly outside distribution: If you buy it, they will come. Outside of Utah and Idaho, Mormon Movies is pre-selling tickets at $7.50 a pop (for all ages) on its Web site at www.bookofmormonmovie.com. Any area in the world will get a local screening for at least one week if about 1,000 tickets are presold. The staff is banking on a couple of Mormon stereotypes to play out =97 that the word-of-mouth Relief Society grapevine method works and that people will buy in bulk. "We hope it works," said Lisa Rogers, director of marketing, who also plays a role as Laban's evil wife. "We've just had such an=20 overwhelming response, and it's like, how do we get this movie out to all the people who want to see it? We'll take it wherever we've got the support." Cynics might scoff, but a Utah-based film-buyer believes it's worth trying. After all, the movie's primary target audience is 11 million LDS members who are spread far and wide. "They're just using the Braille method, feeling their way through. Basically, it's just a feeler with some teeth," said David Sharp, whose Film Service Theater Group has booked the movie into the Scera Theater in Orem and several others along the Wasatch Front. "I've never seen any other studio, independent or major, do exactly this approach in the market place," Sharp said. "These people are selling this film themselves and they have no experience of any kind. This is more reassurance for them than anything. It certainly isn't unreasonable." Mormon Movies hopes each potential moviegoer will put his money where his mouse is. And the movie's Web site has been swamped, receiving more than 3 million hits last month. And they're not just coming from Utah County, either. E-mails pour in daily from such far-flung regions as Fukuoka, Japan; Lesotho, South Africa; Burgdorf, Switzerland; and El Salvador. "We've gotten them from everywhere," Rogers said. You'd think it was the first "Star Wars" movie =97 or maybe "God's Army, Part Deux" =97 based on the response from one South American country. "I don't know what's going on in Brazil," Rogers mused. "About every other e-mail comes from Brazil. Sao Paulo is going nuts." There will be prints dubbed into Portuguese and Spanish for international viewers, as well as language options on the DVD when it is released after the theatrical run. Ideally, director Gary Rogers hopes to produce up to nine volumes of "Book of Mormon Movies" over the next seven years. That, however, depends on how well the first one is received. "Obviously if this one tanks, there won't be anymore," said Lisa Rogers, who's also the director's daughter. "People have waited their whole lives to see this movie. They can't wait to see it. We hope they enjoy it. We think it's a beautiful film and are proud and excited about it." This is also a case of the filmmakers saying they hope you actually like the book better than the movie. "We want it to inspire them to actually go back and read the book," she said. "We think it could open a lot of doors." Preferably theater doors first, of course. =20 E-MAIL: jody@desnews.com =A9 2003 Deseret News Publishing Company =20 =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D R.W. Rasband Heber City, UT rrasband@yahoo.com __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2003 17:02:17 -0700 (PDT) From: "R.W. Rasband" Subject: [AML] DM News: "God's Army" Kick-Started LDS "Genre" Friday, August 15, 2003 'God's Army' kick-started LDS 'genre'=20 By Chris Hicks Deseret Morning News Since the Mormon movie movement was kick-started three years ago by Richard Dutcher's impressive =97 and let's say it, surprising = =97 one-two punch, "God's Army" and "Brigham City," it's caused much more than a snowball effect. It's an avalanche. The number of films about Mormons by Mormon filmmakers has grown to several a year =97 and this year, most of them are bunched together over the next couple of months. That's either good news or bad news, depending on your perspective. It's always good news when independent filmmakers manage to get their pictures on the big screen. Many independents still never quite get that far. But there's also the danger of these films canceling each other out. The audience simply may not be big enough to support so many all at once or in tandem, especially since they'll be in competition with Hollywood's serious-minded, end-of-the-year Oscar-contenders. Then there's the issue of quality. So far, the law of diminishing=20 returns has been in effect. If none of the upcoming films are any better than the majority that have followed Dutcher's, this entire genre . . . if that's the word . . . could be in trouble. And those who indiscriminately heap praise and support on all of these movies do the filmmakers no favors. What's the incentive to improve if all you hear is that your work is great? Hence, "Singles Ward" is followed by "The RM." And soon, "Home Teachers." And next year, "Church Ball." These aren't movies; they're road shows with money. But all of this is subjective, of course. One man's "Citizen Kane" is another man's "Caddyshack." Which makes me wonder what Dutcher might do next. It's a shame his biographical film of Joseph Smith fell apart, but he apparently has a couple of scripts ready to go, and he's on the verge of making a third film fairly quickly. Hopefully, the Joseph Smith project will be resurrected down the road. When Dutcher started "God's Army" in 1999, he called me from Los Angeles to introduce himself and tell me what he was up to. He got my attention because I have a strong interest in Mormon characters in motion pictures. The idea that we might soon see a movie to counteract such derisive Hollywood depictions of Mormons as the hypocritical FBI boss in "Donnie Brasco" or the naive twit police detective in "Goodbye Lover" (or=20 subsequent shady characters in "One Night at McCool's" and "Ocean's 11")=20 filled me with hope. But also with dread. Back then, I didn't know Dutcher or what he was capable of, and I am often on the receiving end of calls or e-mail from hopeful filmmakers who want to be the Mormon Steven Spielberg. I enjoyed speaking with Dutcher, but I wasn't sure I'd ever hear from =97 or of =97 him again. So imagine my surprise when, a few months later, he sent me a VHS copy of the film's trailer. It's hard to tell anything from a trailer, but I remember saying to=20 our film critic Jeff Vice, "I'm glad you're doing the movies these days." Suffice it to say I was happy to eat crow when "God's Army" proved to be well-made, entertaining, humorous and quite moving. Hollywood wisdom has it that a "sophomore slump," or failed second=20 film, follows most filmmakers whose first film hits it big (relatively speaking, of course). Dutcher proved that theory wrong as well. "Brigham City" didn't have the financial success of "God's Army," but it won critical kudos, and some national reviews were better than he received for "God's Army." Let's hope that third film comes soon. After all, Dutcher remains the only "name-brand" Mormon filmmaker among the current crop. Whatever he does next, all eyes inside and outside the Mormon movie industry will be on him. E-MAIL: hicks@desnews.com =A9 2003 Deseret News Publishing Company =20 =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D R.W. Rasband Heber City, UT rrasband@yahoo.com __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2003 23:05:11 -0700 From: "Kathy Tyner" Subject: Re: [AML] Dutcher on KRAKUER, _Under the Banner of Heaven_ Thom, If Krakauer is so certain that Mormonism's roots have a great deal to do with the Laffertys becoming violent fundamentalists who commit murder-Then I would still assert he needed to look into Joseph's familial roots, The First Vision, and the Lafferty's boyhoods and their experiences as adolescents to grasp how, and why he asserts their Mormonism brought them to that point where they were capable of such acts. I'd be curious to know what you base your assertion of the high incidence of spouse abuse in the Church on. I'm not saying you're wrong, but I'd like a source, please. My own anecdotal experience is that I've not often known of physical abuse among the Saints, but more of situations where the husband or parents exert severe emotional pressure or mental abuse on their spouse or children. And do use the "I'm the Priesthood holder" admonition to justify it. One of our friends has an ex-husband that would not let the kids eat their breakfast cereal at the table because the crunching distrubed him. He would not let his wife read her scriptures in bed as that was a lazy and improper way to read them-they should be read sitting up straight, in a chair. Unrighteous dominion all the way. No surprise he's on his fifth wife, with unfortunately, four temple divorces behind him. He would definitely be an interesting character in a book or play. And I don't usually look on spouse abuse coming from a simmering cauldron in a particular human being waiting to boil over. I see it more as a desperately inadequate, insecure human being acting out in a tough, or violent way to assert control and help them tamp down the anxiety, and fear they are harboring. The anger is an excuse. They will use any excuse they can think up in most cases. The other spouse could be near perfect and these individuals would find something to criticize, some way to project their negative feelings about themselves anywhere but inward. If this is what you mean by simmering, than I'm more likely to agree. Kathy Tyner Orange County, CA - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2003 10:04:45 -0500 From: "Thom Duncan, replying from the Web" Subject: [AML] Mormonism, Art, and Evil (was: Box Office Report 8 Aug. 03) - --- Original Message --- From: "Eric D. Dixon" >And this could be an interesting question to discuss: What is it about >success in Hollywood that drives actors to distance themselves from the >church? It doesn't always happen, but we have ready examples in Ryan >Gosling, Paul Walker, Eliza Dushku, Matthew Modine, Aaron Eckhart (?), >Jewel Kilcher, etc. Is there a level of secular artistic success that makes >church membership particularly perilous? Did the entertainment industry >even have anything to do with their departure from activity, or would it >likely have happened in another profession as well? This is indeed an interesting question, though I think the real question is: What is it about Mormonism that makes in incompatible with the Arts? Our religion tends toward the centered moral universe where everything has an answer and the answer is almost always, "pray and live the commandments." Hollywood is anything but centered. It is an open society where one can simultaneously explore the anquish of a child molester trying to go straight at the same time that another film maker explores the importance of religion in the life of Hindu familyh in England. Most films will ultimately take a moral position ("drugs are bad," "tolerance is good") but not without flirting along the way with graphic scenes of the exact evil they ultimately reject. Mormonism is uncomfortable with the details of sin. No one gets up in testimony meeting and confesses their adultery and then gives details about what happened. Add to that the near constant barrage from those in authority about the evils of the media and what's a poor Mormon to think should they find themselves talented enough to want to pursue the field? I have dealt with the "guilt" of being an actor since I joined the Chruch. I was taught not to swear but is it okay to do that in a play? I shouldn't kiss another woman romantically other than my wife, but does that still hold true on the stage? Even though everyone knows I'm probably not really drinking whiskey on the stage, is it okay to pretend as though I am? It may not actually be a sin to cross-dress (though it is in Mormon Doctrine as I recall) but if I wear a dress on stage, what does that mean? I can't think of two more incompatible things than modern Mormonism and modern art. It's a wonder there are any active LDS folks, to tell the truth. But there are. Thom Duncan - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2003 10:17:20 -0500 From: "Thom Duncan, replying from the Web" Subject: Re: [AML] Ken Starr The Church of Christ also preached a Restoration. They too believed that the ancient church had veered away from the original. Sydney Rigdon and Parley P. Pratt were one-time members of the church. Mormonism differed in its ideas about restored authority and extra-biblical scripture. So both churches can be considered fruits of the Restoration movement. In that same movement, and breakoffs from Mormonism, are the Church of Christ (Temple Lot), the Church of Christ (with the Elijah Message), and the Community of Christ (RLDS). Not to mention a plethora of smaller groups (the Bickertonites, frex) in and around Independence. Thom Duncan - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2003 08:57:06 -0600 From: Elizabeth Walters Subject: Re: [AML] Val Kilmer and Joseph Smith Some actors not mentioned yet: Matthew Mcaunahey (I don't know how to spell his name) although I think Richard pretty much ruled him out when he said he didn't want people to see Joseph Smith and say "Hey there's EDTV!" Heath Ledger: If he can brush up his accent and comb his hair, he'd make an ideal young Joseph Smith. Hayden Christensen: I don't care what other people think. I think this kid is a good actor even in Star Wars. He can dye his hair auburn and you'll have another young JS prospect. Although he is one tall dude. Paul Walker: Isn't this guy LDS anyway? He definitely has that charismatic look to him. Just polish his rough edges a little and we might be on to something. Christian Bale: His hair would need work, but he definitely has the acting chops to lose himself in the character. He's been in all kinds of roles. Billy Cudrup: Another hair project, but this guy is one of the most underrated actors in Hollywood. He's got the face for it. Is he JS? I don't know, but I like his acting. I think Kevin Cosnter would've been good if only he wasn't so old now. But there are some prospects out there if they're looking for a hollywood leading man for the role. If they're looking for talented unknowns, there are plenty of those out there too. Here's hoping the casting of Joseph Smith comes easier than the mess that is the casting of Superman. 5 years, several screenwriters and 3 directors later they still can't get that project off the ground and these are guys with a major studio backing them with $100+ million at their disposal. - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2003 10:40:08 -0700 (PDT) From: William Morris Subject: [AML] Dale W. NELSON, _A Latter-day Saint Perspective on the Lost Tribes_ (Review) Dale W. Nelson _The Migrations, Alliances, and Power of Israel in Western Europe and Central Asia: A Latter-day Saint Perspective on the Lost Tribes_ Sharpspear Press (Orem, Utah), 2001 Softcover, 236 pages ISBN: 0-9717027-0-5 Price? Note: Fred Pinnegar, AML-list member and the man behind Sharpspear Press, invited me to review this book after reading my AML-list review of Clay McConkie's _The Ten Lost Tribes: A People of Destiny_. While I do not intend to make comparisons between the two books, which contain sharply contrasting views on the Lost Tribes of Israel, I intend to approach this review with the same rigor and skeptical eye. PREFACE: In his biographical preface to _The Migrations, etc._, Dale W. Nelson quotes heavily from Hugh Nibley's 1971 _New Era_ article "The Day of the Amateur." It's an interesting move on his part -- and one that typifies the entire preface. Nelson is not an academic. By telling his life story and intellectual history, he seeks to establish his credentials for writing this work. The point of Nibley's article, and the guiding force behind the work, is the idea that a well-read, intellectually curious LDS amateur theologian-historian can see patterns in world history that the academic mainstream can't. This premise is central to Nibley's work itself -- and Nelson's book has some of the same strengths and weaknesses as Nibley's, namely a maddening amount of details, hints here and there, all of which serve to provide evidence of an over-all pattern, the pattern being a manifestation of the work of the Lord and a series of causalities that lead to proof of the restoration of the gospel. I think it's a fascinating Mormon phenomenon, this idea of the Mormon amateur, and one that could lend itself to some powerful, complex works of narrative fiction. STRUCTURE AND STYLE: The work consists of 11 chapters. It proceeds somewhat chronologically, beginning with the founding and then scattering of Israel. The chapters average around 15 pages and cover a lot of ground. The writing is straightforward -- very serviceable -- and it is mercifully free of academic jargon. It can be hard to follow at times because of the profusion of names (there's like 30+ tribes mentioned throughout the book - -- from the Massagetae to the Sogdians) and the jumps in time as Nelson traces the history of each tribe and its offshoots (or conquerors). Nelson acknowledges this difficulty, though, and usually does a good job of reminding the reader who's who, and, more importantly, showing how these tribes fit into the overall scheme of dispersing Israel throughout Europe and Central Asia. There are a few weird instances where the writing changes register and becomes more casual. My favorite is where, in discussing the attributes of the various tribes of Israel, Nelson mentions that members of the tribe of Ephraim can, according to Brigham Young, often be "unruly," and then writes, "ask any bishop about the difficulty of governing Ephraimites." These moments are rare, though, and I didn't find them distracting. In fact, they seem like the sort quirks that one would find in the work of an amateur. But I could seem them puzzling other readers. In sum: the book is dense, but readable. The one criticism I do have is the maps -- there aren't enough. What's more, the maps that are in the book are poorly reproduced. I would have been able to follow the movements of all the tribes mentioned much more easily if there had been better maps, charts and perhaps also a graphically represented timeline. This is a book that cries out for a more graphical representation of many of its ideas. SOURCES: Since I'm not familiar with the body of work that Nelson relies on in his book, I can't really evaluate his sources. However, I was pleased to see that his bibliography is extensive and contains modern scholarly works as well as some older ones. This is important because much of the amateur scholarly work I've come across in Mormondon relies mainly on the (obviously) heavily-biased historical work done by Christian historians in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Nelson's book isn't free of such bias (for instance, he seems to accept the idea that many members of European royalty are indeed descendents of Israel), but even so, he's very good about being careful about what claims can definitely be made and what ones can only be hinted at. In fact, the one failing in Nelson's interaction with his sources, is that he quotes from them quite heavily, often at some length. This is to be expected with this type of work -- the author, after all, isn't doing primary research, but instead synthesizing the research of others; however, I think that Nelson could have worked a little harder at integrating his sources into his narrative. MAJOR PREMISES: Among Latter-day Saints, there are two basic views on the Lost Tribes. The first subscribes to a literal reading of scripture and suggests that a large portion of the Lost Tribes are still living as an intact, independent group. This is the theory that Clay McConkie subscribes to, as did many of the early leaders of the Church [although McConkie puts a unique spin on it -- see my review of his book for details]. The second is the dispersionist view. This point of view calls for a more figurative reading of the scriptures and suggests that the Lost Tribes were dispersed throughout the other peoples of the world, especially in Central Asia and Western Europe. Nelson, naturally, subscribes to this view. But he takes it a step further by seeking to identify the exact groups that might have contained or been influenced by members of the Lost Tribes. Nelson believes that the Cimmerians, Scythians, Goths, Getae, Alans, Cossacks, Armenians, Sogdians and other tribes (see the book for a full list) were all of Israelite heritage -- either in full or in part (i.e. members of the Lost Tribes were integrated into or heavily influenced other tribes). The evidence he gives for this ranges from root tribal names (Saka is a key one), to Israelitish names of tribal leaders, to the wearing of conical shaped hats. Part of the difficulty for both Nelson and mainstream academics is that many of these tribes didn't leave very much evidence and documentation. I cannot evaluate whether he is spot on in all cases, but at the very least it seems reasonable to suggest from the evidence he gives and the fact of all the migrations and invasions of various tribes from Central Asia into Eastern and Western Europe (especially during the history of the Roman empire and its fall) that at least some of these tribes were of Hebrew origin. Perhaps of more importance to Latter-day Saints, Nelson shows how the values of these tribes, especially those of political independence and religious freedom, helped shape the nations of Europe, eventually leading to a climate that would allow for the rise of the Reformation and the eventual restoration of the Gospel. He also explores the important role these tribes had in combating the spread of the Roman Empire, and of Islam and Zoroastrianism into Europe. In addition, Nelson explores the possibility that people of the blood of Israel (especially tribes who lived along the spice rout) contributed to the development of Islam and Buddhism. The evidence for this may not be completely convincing, but it makes for interesting reading and is a good reminder for someone like me who is quite hazy on pre-Medieval European history of how much intercourse there was between East and West prior to the rise of Christianity and Islam. BONUS PREMISE: Nelson quotes Nibley in his preface, and in turn Nibley contributes a quote to the back cover: "Your notes are valuable vademecum .... It is just the sort of outline everyone should have .... I had dinner the other night with missionaries from Mongolia -- Mormon missionaries. A few years ago I would have said you were fantasizing about the Church spreading into the vast reaches of Central Asia, and it is still hard for me to realize -- my Sogdian has never been very fluid." [Note: vademecum = a book made for ready reference, i.e. a manual -- I had to look it up.] I'm not sure if this quote is a compliment or not. I mean, I would hate for my life's work to be referred to as merely "notes," but the reference to Central Asia and Sogdian points to one of the more exciting things about this work, and to something that is explicitly Mormon. Nelson believes that Buddhists and Muslims will only join the Church in great numbers if they receive scripture of their own. He references the Savior's "other sheep" remarks to the Nephites and Lamanites at the time of his visitation as well as the LDS belief that the Lost Tribes will bring their own scriptures with them. And he even suggests that the Christ may have visited the Chorasmians and Sogidans, two tribes who lived in present-day Bashkortostan, Tatarstan, Kazakhstan and the Ukraine. I won't go into the evidence, but these two groups had a written language similar to Aramaic, were fiercely independent, refusing to convert to Buddhism or Zoroastrianism, were quite civilized, and had a Savior legend similar to the Quetzalcoatl myth. Nelson reasons that the qualities of these tribes make them the most likely to be the origin of additional scripture and to have been visited by Christ. While I was serving my mission in Romania, my companion and I visited a man who had worked in Kazakhstan as part of a Warsaw Pact exchange. He told us a little about the country and showed us postcards and a coffee table book that showcased the region. Afterwards my companion and I excitedly discussed the possibility that this country, which seemed to be one of the few last unknown places in the world, was a likely place to find members of the Lost Tribes. I've since developed a more sanguine view of things, but Nelson raises some intriguing questions that are quite exciting from an LDS perspective. He writes: "The scriptures which they [the Hebrews of Central Asia] wrote, which we understand are yet to come forth, are not just an interesting literary artifact, rather they will be tremendously important to helping the people in the spiritually frozen 'north' [Europe] to a proper understanding of their Israelite genealogy and heritage" (211). In this modern world of instantaneous communication and widespread skepticism, it's hard to believe that another modern scripture could come forth in the same manner as the Book of Mormon. I don't know the Lord's plans or timing for this whole additional scripture thing, but if works were to come forth in the same manner as, say, the Dead Sea scrolls, works that testified in some way or another of Christ, then I hope that they could have the same power and impact on me and on others as the Book of Mormon has. It's exciting to think about even if the evidence is limited. CONCLUSION: While it has its flaws, I would recommend _The Migrations, etc._, (perhaps a shorter title would've been wise) to any Mormon with a serious interest in theology and history. I fear that other readers won't gain much from it. The Mormon market still could use a book that explains the various Lost Tribes theories present in Mormonism in a clear, well-written way. Nelson does a pretty good job of explaining his theories and the research behind them, but as amateurs are wont, he gets a little wrapped up in his sources and in details. While it's true that he readily admits this and asks for the reader's patience, I'm not going to leave him completely off the hook for his faults. Too often, the world of Mormon arts and letters asks its consumers to tolerate its amateurism. Don't get me wrong -- Nelson is a very good amateur with reasonable ideas. But rather than cloak himself in amateurism, I would have preferred to see him approach his subject matter with a little more rigor and attention to the demands of the Mormon audience. POSTSCRIPT: As I mention in my introduction, I'm fascinated by the Nibley phenomenon of reconstructing history, of gathering the hints here and there of the gospel throughout the ages, of the tiny moments and manifestations of God's plan (as well as the corruption or derailing of it). Some academics have criticized Nibley's approach. That's a matter for the historians to take up. For the purposes of Mormon fiction and art, I think that it'd be fascinating to see this idea of the amateur seeking out hidden hints treated as a character in narrative fiction. And parallel to that, to take some of these hints and patterns and use them as the basis for speculative (in the purest sense of the word) fiction. Who wants to write a novel about the Sogdians? Who is willing to write a play about the discovery of 'other' scripture? There's some great material waiting to be plumbed, appropriated, reshaped and fictionalized. ~~William Morris Oakland, CA __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ End of aml-list-digest V2 #124 ******************************