Feature Films by LDS/Mormon Filmmakers and Actors

Weekend of October 15, 2004

Weekend Box Office Report (U.S. Domestic Box Office Gross)

Report compiled by: LDSFilm.com

Edited by: Thomas C. Baggaley (http://www.baggaleymusic.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 % B.O. Theatrs
Rank LDS/Mormon Filmmaker/Actor  Total Gross Change  $/Thtr  Days
--- ---------------------------  ----------- ------ -------  ----
13  Napoleon Dynamite                883,817  -16%     619    129
    Jared Hess (writer/director)  40,371,730        $1,730
    Jerusha Hess
      (writer/costume designer)
    Jon Heder (1st billed star)
    Aaron Ruell (3rd billed star)
    Jeremy Coon (producer/editor)
    Sean Covel (producer)
    Chris Wyatt (producer)
    Munn Powell (cinematographer)
    Cory Lorenzen
      (production designer)
    Curt Jensen (art director)
    Tim Skousen, Brian Petersen
      (assistant directors)

38  The Notebook                      79,673  -20%     144    115
    Ryan Gosling                  80,640,867          $553
      (1st billed star)

40  Saints and Soldiers               58,357 +136%      37     73
    Ryan Little                      879,222        $1,577
     (director/producer/cinematographer)
    Adam Abel (producer)
    Brian Brough
     (assoc. producer/produc. manager)
    Wynn Hougaard (editor)
    J Bateman (composer)
    Matt Whitaker (screenwriter)
    Jennifer Buster (casting)
    Actors: Corbin Allred, Larry Bagby III,
      Kirby Heyborne, Lincoln Hoppe,
      Curt Dousett, Ben Gourley,
      Ethan Vincent, etc.

44  Bugs!                             53,501  N/A       28    584
    stars Papilio,                13,278,313        $1,910
      a Great Mormon butterfly

57  Benji: Off the Leash!             27,777 +361%     106     59
    Actors: Nick Whitaker,         3,785,401          $262
      Chris Kendrick, Duane Stephens,
      Neal Barth, Christy Summerhays,
      Lincoln Hoppe, Scott Wilkinson

58  Suspect Zero                      27,680 +1,363%    56     52
    Aaron Eckhart                  8,712,564          $494
      (1st billed star)

66  Baptists at Our Barbecue          21,645  -26%      13     10
    Christian Vuissa                  65,444        $1,665
     (director/producer/co-screenwriter)
    Matt Smith (producer)
    Robert Farrell Smith
     (producer/co-screenwriter/book)
    Brandon Christensen (cinematographer)
    Actors: Dan Merkley, Heather Beers,
      Frank Gerrish, Jan Broberg Felt,
   Duane Stephens, Steve Anderson

81  Galapagos                          9,601             2   1697
    Reed Smoot (cinematographer)  14,516,740        $4,800

90  Mean Creek                         8,609  -27%      23     59
    LDS lead character               579,112          $374

93  Riding Giants (documentary)        7,143  -13%      10    101
    Jeff Clark                     2,216,249          $459
      (featured LDS surfer)

98  The Young Black Stallion           4,691 +115%       1    290
    Reed Smoot (cinematographer)   6,534,392        $4,691

108 The Best Two Years                 1,601  -37%       3    241
    Scott S. Anderson              1,163,450          $534
      (writer/producer/director)
    Michael Flynn (producer)
    Fred C. Danneman (executive producer)
    Gordon Lonsdale (cinematographer)
    Wynn Hougaard (editor)
    Michael McLean (songwriter, music supervisor)
    Dave Sapp
      (line producer/1st A.D./unit production manager)
    Darin Anderson (production manager)
    Michael L. McDonough (sound editor)
    Rebecca Nibley (costume designer)
    Actors: K.C. Clyde, Kirby Heyborne,
      David Nibley, Cameron Hopkin,
      Scott Christopher, Michael Flynn

111 China: The Panda Adventure         1,030  +43%       1   1179
    Reed Smoot (cinematographer)   3,867,141        $1,030


"SAINTS AND SOLDIERS" MOVES UP THE RANKINGS - "Saints and Soldiers"
finished last weekend at $879,222, moving it up to the #8 spot among LDS
cinema films and passing the box office total for "Jack Weyland's
Charly" which grossed $813,685 during its theatrical run. Next up the
ladder is "Brigham City" at $905,073, a total which "Saints and
Soldiers" should easily pass sometime this week (if it hasn't already
done so). Projections still have "Saints and Soldiers" ending up
somewhere just short of $1.4 million when its box office run is over,
which would place it behind only "The Other Side of Heaven," "God's
Army" and "The Book of Mormon Movie" among LDS Cinema flicks.

LAS VEGAS MERCURY: 4 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR LDS CINEMA "SAINTS AND SOLDIERS"
- See
http://www.lasvegasmercury.com/2004/MERC-Oct-14-Thu-2004/24962254.html

ARIZONA REPUBLIC REVIEW: 3 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR "SAINTS AND SOLDIER", A
GREAT FILM ABOUT RELIGIOUS QUESTIONS - See
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/preview/articles/1015saints15.h
tml

REGIONALIZED MAILING LISTS A HIT - There had already been plenty of
interest in LDSfilm.com's Regionalized Mailing Lists. Members,
especially outside of the state of Utah, seem to agree that these
mailing lists are a long-overdue way for those interested in LDS-made
films to find out when such films will be playing in their area with
plenty of warning so they can actually make it to the theaters. But
having one of LDSfilm.com's webmasters as film reviewer for Meridian
Magazine didn't hurt either. Thomas mentioned the regionalized mailing
lists at the end of his review posted today (Oct 22nd - see
http://www.meridianmagazine.com/arts/041022best2years.html) and the
response has been overwhelming. The jubilant film composer/critic/LDS
film proponent was heard to say, "It's great to see that there were many
others who felt the same as I did, that there needed to be a more
effective way to get the word out to members outside of Utah about these
films. If I were an LDS filmmaker trying to get an audience for my film,
I would make it my number one priority to see that these films are
announced on the appropriate LDSfilm.com Regionalized Mailing List a
month before the film opened in any theater anywhere. This can be a very
effective tool for increasing the size of audiences for LDS-made films.
And the best part is - we don't charge anything to announce your film.
How can you beat that? If you open in an area and the word hasn't been
spread via the regional mailing lists, you've really dropped the ball."

A good idea is a good idea, and we guess this was a good idea, because
no sooner had we announced our regionalized mailing list than (within
about a week) HaleStorm had put out an ad through Meridian Magazine
LISTING THE CITIES AND THEATERS "THE BEST TWO YEARS" WOULD BE PLAYING IN
FOR THE NEXT MONTH (or basically until the end of its theatrical run).
Taking this further, less than 24 hours after Thomas's article appeared
in Meridian Magazine this weekend, Excel Entertainment sent out an ad to
its mailing list that also LISTED THE UPCOMING CITIES AND THEATERS WHERE
"SAINTS AND SOLDIERS" WILL BE PLAYING FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS. Of
course, these early announcements are precisely the concept behind the
regionalized mailing lists. So why stick with LDSfilm.com? Because from
us you will get any released information about upcoming theaters from
BOTH HaleStorm and Excel, PLUS any other films made by LDS filmmakers
that might be distributed through a different channel. HaleStorm and
Excel are both going to stick with just the films each of them
distributes. (Perish the thought that they should help EACH OTHER out!)

BAGGALEY REVIEWS B2Y, "SOMEONE WAS WATCHING" AND LYDE FILMS - The
mention of the regionalized mailing lists came at the end of a rather
lengthy article in which Thomas touched on several recent video/DVD
releases, including "The Best Two Years." See
http://www.meridianmagazine.com/arts/041022best2years.html

NAPOLEON DYNAMITE BREAKS THE $40 MILLION MARK - Playing in "only" 619
theaters 129 days into its theatrical run, Napoleon Dynamite (that
fantastic film made for mere pennies - relatively speaking - by a team
of mostly BYU grads) is still a solid #13 nationally in the weekend box
office totals. We say "only" because at its height, it was playing in a
whole lot more theaters, but this is still an incredible run that
doesn't show many signs of slowing down. For comparison, the other fall
release independent "wonder film" that some thought might even
outperform ND (we're referring now to "Garden State") has dropped off
considerably, playing in only 301 theaters and falling to the #17 spot
having "only" grossed just over $25 million - and "Garden State" was
released 47 days AFTER "Napoleon Dynamite." ND obviously has better legs
than about any film out there, a testament to its ability to bring fans
back again and again to see it (kind of reminiscent of "The Singles
Ward" but on a much larger scale). The film's cultural influence
continues to astound observers as teens and 20-somethings have not only
picked up the title character's Mormon-influenced speech patterns, but
students are referencing the film in campaigns for student body offices
and homecoming and other assemblies across the country. Of course,
LDSfilm.com readers heard about this film LONG before the rest of the
nation did as we were trumpeting its virtues before "Napoleon Dynamite"
was ever produced.

LDS CINEMA FILM "BAPTISTS AT OUR BARBECUE" AT FORT LAUDERDALE FILM FEST,
OCT. 21-24 - From Oct. 21-24, the action shifts to the west. The Weston
8 Cinemas will screen films including the surprisingly touching and
clever romantic comedy 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover, the Mormon-themed
comedy Baptists at Our Barbecue and Terrorists, the directorial debut of
frequent Michael Moore collaborator Jay Martel.

EXCERPT FROM
http://www.southflorida.com/movies/sfl-lifilmfest13oct13,0,3030806.story
?coll=sfe-movies-headlines

"ENDER'S GAME" MOVIE NEWS - FAUX NEWS FLASH: Because of the long wait
for an "Ender's Game" movie, LDSFilm.com will be moving ahead with a
feature-length independent film adaptation of the popular book by Orson
Scott Card. LDS auteur wunderkind Geoffrey Card has signed on to helm,
and his talent will mean that the film's $4,000 budget will be all that
is needed to bring Card's classic novel to life. This is a un-authorized
production, but the DVD will be sold online. We are certain Orson Scott
Card would approve, particularly with the extraordinary Nick Whitaker
(Brigham City, Message in a Cell Phone, Benji: Off the Leash!) in the
title role, and LDS cinema superstar Kirby Heyborne co-starring as Mazer
Rakham. Caitlin E.J. Meyer will co-star as Petra.

We jest, of course. Bro. Card is the world's most zealous defender of
his own copyrights and intellectual property. I'd like to see a $4,000
version of "Ender's Game" as much as the next guy, but were I to even
hint at really attempting such a project I would be instantly overcome
by flesh-devouring rodents swarming out of Greensboro.

The actual news story is below. Not much is said about "Ender's Game,"
but at least it is still on the radar. Is Wolfgang Petersen going to
make a Poseidon Adventure remake BEFORE directing "Ender's Game"??
Arrr... I'd almost let McG take over rather than suffer these
interminable delays.

The 63-year-old German filmmaker [Wolfgang Petersen] is already attached
as a producer for 2005 to a remake of The Poseidon Adventure and the
Reese Witherspoon project Whiteout, in which the actress plays a U.S.
Marshal tracking down a criminal in Antarctica as the sun gets ready to
set for six months, and has plans to direct for 2006 the long-awaited
adaptation of the Scott Orson Card's sci-fi novel Ender¸s Game. In that
tale, a six-year-old boy leaves his family and planet behind when the
Earth comes under attack by aliens.

EXCERPT FROM:
http://www.filmstew.com/Content/Article.asp?ContentID=9867&Pg=1

DESNEWS LETTER WRITER: 'BAPTISTS AT OUR BARBECUE' UNDERRATED: FUNNIEST
MOVIE I HAVE SEEN IN A LONG TIME! - See
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,595098285,00.html

BYU DAILY UNIVERSE: BAPTISTS AT OUR BARBECUE JOINS RANKS OF LDS CINEMA
FLICKS - See http://newsnet.byu.edu/story.cfm/52846

LDS FILM "BAPTISTS AT OUR BARBECUE" AT FT. LAUDERDALE INT'L FILM FEST IN
FLORIDA: REVIEW OF "BAPTISTS" - This article contains two reviews, one
for LDS Cinema film "Baptists at Our Barbecue" and one for another movie
I know nothing about, and it has nothing to do with LDS filmmakers.

See
http://www.southflorida.com/movies/sfl-shfliff22oct22,0,388603.story?col
l=sfe-movies-headlines

OREGON VISITOR SURPRISED TO LEARN OF BAPTISTS AT OUR BARBECUE PLUS OTHER
LDS FILMS (IS HEATHER BAPTIST??) - This is an entertaining article, from
an Oregon newspaper. What I especially thought was funny was where the
writer states that "Tartan" in "Baptists at Our Barbecue" meets a pretty
Baptist girl (Heather Beers). Of course... if you're familiar with the
book or the movie, you know that Heather Beers character "Charity" is
NOT a Baptist, she is a Latter-day Saint. This is one of the best things
about this movie. If it had been made in Hollywood, it would have
followed the same formula that has been followed by 99 PERCENT OF ALL
MOVIES ABOUT TWO CULTURES IN CONFLICT: The cross-cultural romance. But
this was FAR more interesting simply because it was different, and more
believable. The Tartan/Charity romance is wonderful to watch, and it
avoids the tortuous, worn-out sentiments and cliches that it would have
subjected viewers to if Charity had been a Baptist.

But all, in all, the following is a very good article, and one has to
forgive the writer for not realizing that "Baptists" has an original
story apart from the almost inescapable Hollywood formula. This article
also mentions other upcoming LDS Cinema flicks. It's an interesting
truly outsider perspective.

See
http://www.dailyvanguard.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/10/21/41778175bfd2
4

PROLIFIC, AMAZINGLY SUCCESSFUL LDS FILMMAKER JOHN LYDE BEGINS FILMING
YOUTH OF ZION - John "The Little Engine That Could" Lyde has begin
principle photography on yet another film, just one of many that is
already budgeted and planned right now.

This "Youth of Zion" series features multiple episodes, each focusing on
values from the "For the Strength of the Youth" manual.

The first episode is about "Honesty". The story a young man and woman
who go on a rock climbing trip. The young man falls and he and the young
woman he is with are trapped in a canyon. No one knows where they are
and we learn that the young woman lied to her parents about where she
went.  

Rachel Emmers stars in this new Lyde film. (Sister Emmers is the star of
Richard Dutcher's upcoming "God's Army 2", and also had roles in "Out of
Step" and "Sons of Provo"). Co-starring with Emmers is veteran actor
Michael Flynn (WB's "Everwood", Laban in "The Book of Mormon Movie, Vol.
1", mission president in "The Best Two Years") and Sally Hale (Will
Swenson's mom, she's been in HaleStorm movies). 

Lyde has tapped two of Utah's top young film crewmen - Paul Green and
Dave Skousen -- to be his key crew guys on this film. You can be sure it
will hit LDS Christian bookstores and general Christian bookstores
before long.

Lyde was doing much of his casting through LDSFilm.com, so some of you
reading may be in this one.

John Lyde's previous films are too numerous to list here, but they
include "The Collectors", "Hoops", "Mariah's Prayer", "Dear John", "The
Field is White", "In the Service of God" and "Missionary: Impossible."

Lyde kind of looks like "X-Men" director Bryan Singer, but Lyde is much
younger and more talented.

FILMMAKER/COMIC BOOK ARTIST MIKE ALLRED'S BOOK OF MORMON COMIC BOOK TO
HIT SHELVES - Guys, you in the film world who do NOT know who Mike
Allred is... Let me just point out that he is a VERY hot, VERY popular
artist, known for his critically acclaimed and best-selling work on
series such as "Madman" and "X-Static." He's also a Latter-day Saint,
and his "Golden Plates" comic book has been much talked about in the
comic book world. He's also working with Robert Rodriguez ("Spy Kids")
on a big budget "Madman" film. Allred has already appeared in films and
made smaller-budgeted science fiction/comic book adaptation films.

See http://tv.ksl.com/index.php?nid=5&sid=127769

OTHER SIDE OF HEAVEN DIRECTOR JOINS THE DIALOGUE: INTERVIEW W/BRO. DAVIS
ABOUT STATE OF LDS FILMS - Be sure to read this article on the Meridian
Magazine website. Bro. Davis has the distinction of having directed the
top-grossing LDS Cinema film of all time. For you youngsters out there,
"The Other Side of Heaven" is NOT about a CDC rapid response
epidemiologist who falls in love with a free-spirited, sometimes clumsy
European princess. It IS about Elder John H. Groberg's real-life
adventures as a missionary in Tonga.

See http://www.meridianmagazine.com/arts/041015Mitch.html and
http://www.meridianmagazine.com/arts/041018Mitch2.html

KEN HARRIS' NEW MERIDIAN ARTICLE: OUR DUTY AS FILMMAKERS TO WORK FROM
WITHIN - See http://www.ldsmag.com/arts/041021filmmakers.html

WSU EDITORIAL: NON-LDS PEOPLE ARE TOO STUPID TO UNDERSTAND THE HUMOR IN
OUR MOVIES - See
http://www.wsusignpost.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/02/27/403ec7a6b841c

POWERFUL FILM: TICKETS SOLD OUT TO BRITISH LDS FILMMAKERS' NEW THRILLER
FILM POWERLESS - Festival organizers were forced to move the World
Premiere of Powerless to a bigger venue when tickets for the 20th
November showing sold out in the first week! "We are totally over the
moon!" said Bethany Wilkins, who stars in the film "To sell out in the
first week is astounding, thank goodness there is a larger venue to move
the film to!".

Director Matt Daniels has praised festival organisers for their prompt
action, "The festival team have been fantastic! As soon as the film sold
out they switched to the larger venue to make sure no one was
disappointed."

Powerless is set to be a big event at the festival attracting attention
from all over the UK and abroad.

NOW FILMING: MADE-IN-U.K. LDS ROMANTIC COMEDY STARRING LDS CINEMA'S
SIMMERING SUPERSTAR JAELAN PETRIE - We are pleased to announce that we
begin production for 'Mind the Gap' (Working Title) on Monday, September
27th here in London, England. We would like you to make the announcement
on Monday the 27th on your internet service 'LDSfilm'. I've included the
press release from our website, and would like you to highlight the 3
LDS people who are working on the film.

Tyler Ford - Producer/Director Tyler is a London Film School graduate
with a MA in Film-making, this is his first feature film. He received
his undergraduate degree from the University of Utah. He is a native of
Sandy, UT.

Jaelan Petrie - Producer/Carson Wells Jaelan studied at the American
Academy of Dramatic Arts in Hollywood, CA. This will be his 5th feature
film as an actor, and first feature film as producer. He received his
undergraduate degree from Brigham Young University. He is a native of
Cardston, Alberta, Canada.

Alan Hawkshaw - Film Composer Alan is well known for working with Cliff
Richard, Dusty Springfield, Barbra Streisand, Tom Jones, and Olivia
Newton John. Alan has composed a string of classic television themes
including Grange Hill, The New Statesman, Channel Four News, the
award-winning series Love Hurts (BAFTA Nominee) and the famous theme for
Countdown, the first program shown on Channel 4 (BBC). He achieved the
Ivor Novello award for Best Film Score for The Silent Witness in 1979,
and was awarded Best Arrangement by the American Academy of Arts and
Sciences for Olivia Newton-John's 'I Honestly Love You'.

Principle photography will be Sept. 27th - Oct. 30th, 2004 on location
in London and the Scottish Highlands.

Press Release:

Ford Films is currently in pre-production planning for Mind The Gap, an
LDS feature film, being made at 3 Mills Studios in London, England.

For immediate release:

London, England, September 27th, 2004

Ford Films is pleased to announce the feature film debut of London-based
film-maker Tyler Ford. The feature film, MIND THE GAP (working title),
is a light-hearted romance about a Mormon Montana cowboy who, while
living and working abroad, discovers himself and true love halfway
around the world.

The film is about Carson Wells, a Montana cowboy who is 30, unmarried
and living abroad in London. A fish out of water, he works for a high
powered beef company and is dating a beautiful, British girl named Lucy.
Everything seems to be going well for him there in the Big Smoke. When
Carson decides to settle for their relationship and ask her grandfather,
Mr. Armstrong, for her hand in marriage, the reply from grandfather is
that Carson must first find a husband for Lucy's older sister. Whilst
finding the older sister, Gemma, a potential mate, his life changes
forever as he discovers true love and resolves issues in his own
personal life.

Pre-production on the film is already well in full swing with production
offices located at 3 Mills Studios (Tim Burton's new film The Corpse
Bride, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, 28 Days Later, Topsy Turvy)
in east London. Principle photography is anticipated to begin September
27th in London, continuing through October, and finishing on location in
the Scottish Highlands.

Ford has already assembled a production team for the film, which
includes Line Producer Peter Manoogian (The Midas Kid - Paramount
Pictures, National Lampoon - Showtime Network, The Howling, Fool¸s
Gold), Director of Photography Gareth Pritchard (Experiment, In a Day,
The Monkey Painter) and Casting Director Lucy Jenkins, a member of the
C.D.G. (CastingDirector¸s Guild). Award winning British composer Alan
Hawkshaw (Best Arrangement - I Honestly Love You sung by Olivia
Newton-John) has agreed to compose the musical score.

Ford is a new-comer to the film industry but not to film-making. A
graduate of the London Film School (which boasts the likes of Michael
Mann, Mike Leigh, and Roger Pratt, BSC) with a Masters in Film-making,
he has made a number of shorts and documentaries and believes he has
surrounded himself with the right people to help this project succeed.
With the talent he has on board already, it seems he's headed in that
direction.

The first film to be made in England about Mormons was, Trapped by the
Mormons, a silent, black-and-white film made in 1922, about a missionary
who hypnotizes and lures the young maidens of a small English village
back to Salt Lake City. Banned in the U.S. on its original release, the
film was followed by the sequel Married to a Mormon. ½I think the title
really says it all, and not surprisingly, 82 years later people still
believe strange things about Mormons, such as we practice polygamy...
which we don't…, Ford observes. ½It¸s time to improve the image of the
Latter-Day Saint Church in Europe, and I believe this film has the
potential to start that process.…

Ford, who is originally from Sandy, Utah, USA (which is just south of
Salt Lake City) is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints, and feels his film has some distinct differences from other LDS
films that have been (and will be) made. For example, the film will be
made entirely in England and the UK. ½Hollywood looks to England for
great acting talent, stunning cinematography, beautiful scenery, and
well made films. There is no reason why Mormon film-makers shouldn¸t
either.… Secondly, all of the principle cast is from or lives in the UK.
½English actors are very disciplined and talentedS¯ they come from a
rich background of tradition and artistry.…

½Making a film for LDS audiences has been a dream of mine for quite some
time. Hopefully, this film has enough universal ideas, characters, and
situations that it also transcends to all other audiences. Film is the
most powerful medium for story telling, and to have MIND THE GAP being
filmed in LondonS¯ is a once in a lifetime opportunity for me. Everyone
working on the project is from a different country and brings their
country¸s film strengths with themS¯ sound is from Germany,
cinematographer from Wales, actors from England, focus puller from
Scotland, producers from Canada, the US, and India. It¸s exciting to
bring them all together for the production.… Ford plans to premier the
film in London and then release it in the United States in an area
referred to as the Inter-Mountain West (Idaho, Utah, Wyoming,
California, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada).

For more information on this feature production, please visit the
website www.fordfilms.com or www.mindthegapmovie.com , the official
websites for Ford Films.

UTAH STATE GRANT: MONEY FOR MOYER'S "MOBSTERS AND MORMONS" - See
http://www.sltrib.com/business/ci_2429174

SUITS ON THE LOOSE COMING TO THEATERS IN 2005: MOST DANGEROUS LDS CINEMA
MOVIE EVER MADE! - See http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0405357/plotsummary

NAUVOO TURNED INTO MOVIE SET: JOSEPH SMITH BIOPIC FILMED FOR LEGACY
THEATER - See
http://www.dailygate.com/articles/2004/10/19/news/news3.txt

PROFILE OF ALEXANDER CARROLL, STAR OF LDS CINEMA PERIOD ROMANCE "THE
WORK AND THE GLORY" - See
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=13191143&BRD=2053&PAG=461&dept
_id=398174&rfi=6

MOVIE TRAILER FOR BRO. TUCKER DANSIE'S NEW FILM NOW ONLINE - Bro. Dansie
did casting partially through LDSFilm.com, so some of you may be IN this
film.

The all-star cast includes Bro. Levi Larsen, who was one of the stars of
Christian Vuissa's "Unfolding," T.C. Christensen's "A Pioneer Miracle"
and the new Church "First Vision" remake: "The Restoration." Dansie's
new film also stars Lisa Higbee from "The Singles Ward" and Bro. Joshua
Tenney, who I'm assuming is the same actor that starred in the family
film "Solo" (1984) and Disney's "The Velveteen Rabbit" with Marie
Osmond, not to mention the new Alma & Abish musical from the "Liken the
Scriptures" folks.

The trailer for the short film ½Quitters… is now available to view
on-line along with some other supplemental materials about the cast,
crew & some behind the scenes photos/info from the shoot. If you have a
minute, jump on-line & take a look!

http://www.9by9projects.com/quitters

-Tucker T Dansie
Writer/director ½Quitters…

LDS SHORT FILM AT 2004 PALM SPRINGS INT'L FEST: 'SAINT DOG' (TO MISH OR
NOT TO MISH, WHITHER THE GIRL) - See
http://www.thedesertsun.com/events/short_film_fest/2004/longprogram.shtm
l

HEIMERDINGER'S "PASSAGE TO ZARAHEMLA" LOOKING AT WINTER 2006 RELEASE -
Passage to Zarahemla: Popular author Chris Heimerdinger is planning a
feature film about contemporary characters mingling with Book of Mormon
characters in a southern Utah setting. He has completed filming the
opening scene of the movie on 35mm and is presently using it to promote
the movie to investors; his website sells the screenplay for the
full-length movie and the novel version of the story was released in LDS
bookstores in Oct. '03. At present (Oct. '04) fundraising is nearing
completion. Heimerdinger plans to direct the movie himself, and also
compose at least some of the pop tunes for the musical soundtrack; he
will also have a supporting role on screen; proposed budget: $625,000;
plans are for the movie to go into production in the spring of 2005 and
be released in theatres in the winter of '06.

THREE COIN PRODUCTIONS TO PRODUCE LDS MUSIC FEST DVD - December 4, 2004
at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, 10 of the top LDS recording artists
will join in one of the largest LDS music events ever.  Three Coin
Productions has been tapped to produce the DVD of the festival.  The DVD
will include performances from top LDS artists, such as Jericho Road,
Ryan Shupe, and Julie DeAzevedo.  Many of these artists have had
significant contributions to recent LDS Cinema.  For additional
information about the DVD send an email to
info@....

Tickets and information for the event can be found at www.ldsfest.com

TABERNACLE CHOIR FILM AND INTERNATIONAL MUSIC AT WASHINGTON D.C. TEMPLE
- See http://www.meridianmagazine.com/churchupdate/041018chiorfilm.html

LDS SISTERS STARRING IN UPCOMING SEASON OF TV'S "AMAZING RACE" - See
http://www.sltrib.com/themix/ci_2427325

RETURNED MISSIONARY STARS ON BRAVO'S "SEARCH FOR AMERICA'S MOST GORGEOUS
MALE MODEL" - See
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/19/arts/television/19heff.html

NEW GLOWING REVIEW OF "BRIGHAM CITY" FROM A NON-LDS REVIEWER WHO
APPRECIATES ITS RELIGIOUS CONTENT - See
http://www.badmovieplanet.com/unknownmovies/reviews/rev431.html

ELDER OSMOND IN U.K: I'M HERE TO PROMOTE MY HEAVENLY FATHER, NOT MY
FATHER'S NEW CD - See
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=14775431&method=full&sitei
d=89488&headline=i-m-over-here-to-promote-my-heavenly-father---not-my-da
d-s-new-cd-name_page.html

LABUTE SOUNDS OFF: DETAILED NEW INTERVIEW WITH LDS FILMMAKER NEIL
LABUTE, INCL. RELATIONSHIP W/CHURCH, WIFE, KIDS - Well... Here is yet
another interview with Bro. Neil LaBute. Do NOT read this interview if
you don't want to read details of his status in the Church, his
marriage, his relationship with his kids, etc. Because it's all there.

"This is an appropriate scene-setter for an interview with the bad boy
of American letters. LaBute is, after all, the clean-living,
church-going Mormon playwright whose dark, dangerous and often
scabrously funny front-line dispatches from the tortuous depths of the
male psyche have earned him...

...One reviewer accused LaBute of displaying "a failure of compassion
that makes the flesh creep". Another alleged he had written the
psychological equivalent of a snuff movie. And all this from a
practising Mormon."

EXCERPT FROM http://www.theherald.co.uk/features/25964.html and
http://www.theherald.co.uk/features/25964-print.shtml

JAMES REDFORD'S DIRECTORIAL DEBUT HITS THEATERS - James Redford is the
son of Latter-day Saint scholar and documentarian Lola van Wagenen and
non-LDS actor/director Robert Redford.

See http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,595098247,00.html

DESNEWS REVIEW OF JAMES REDFORD'S FEATURE FILM DIRECTORIAL DEBUT "SPIN"
- See http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,595098257,00.html

SLTRIBUNE: 3 OUT OF 4 STARS FOR JAMES REDFORD'S "SPIN" - See
http://www.sltrib.com/themix/ci_2427413

MOUNTAIN MEADOWS MASSACRE DOCU. AT HEARTLAND FILM FESTIVAL - See
http://www.indystar.com/articles/7/186626-7277-062.html

DESNEWS' CHRIS HICKS EDITORIAL: CHRISTOPHER REEVE NOTED FOR LIFE,
"SUPERMAN, "SOMEWHERE IN TIME" - Chris Hicks takes time to point out the
now-departed non-LDS actor Christopher Reeve's most popular movie
outside his "Superman" films: "Somewhere in Time," in which Reeves goes
back in time to meet the Mormon-based actress he has fallen in love
with. Jane Seymour's character was based entirely on real-life Mormon
actress Maude Adams, one of the nation's most popular stage actresses
during the first decades of the Twentieth Century.

Hicks also notes "Deathtrap," which I've seen as well, and it really is
quite entertaining. Reeves and Michael Caine play a gay couple who plot
to murder Reeve's wife and also plot to murder each other.

"There is one other film he'll be remembered for, however. "Somewhere in
Time," a fantasy about a lovesick writer who literally wills himself
into the past to woo Jane Seymour. The film was a box-office bomb, but
it gained an enormous audience on video and developed a large following.
Reeve and co-star Jane Seymour were both quite surprised at the film's
afterlife and often commented in interviews that it was the biggest
unacknowledged hit of their respective film careers. But despite the
popularity of "Somewhere in Time" and the enormous success of
"Superman," there seems to be little question that Reeve will be
remembered for his non-show biz legacy, the tireless and inspiring work
that came after his accident as a spokesman for spinal-cord research and
the disabled. It's a legacy to be proud of."

EXCERPT FROM http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,595098249,00.html

DESNEWS EDITORIAL: TURNING BACK THE CLOCK ON TELEVISION - See
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,595098562,00.html

CLEARPLAY: LDS FILM CONTENT FILTERING COMPANY'S LEGISLATION BEFORE U.S.
CONGRESS - See http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,595098454,00.html

LDS FILM CONTENT-FILTERING COMPANY OFFERING CLEAN MUSIC ONLINE - Teraci,
who also owns Family Flix, a DVD/VHS movie editing company that sells
edited versions of popular movies, is also planning on launching another
iTunes-type site, www.safemp3.com, that will allow users to download
"clean" versions of popular songs.

"The site will have lyric offensive-free music available for
downloading," Teraci said. "We will have thousands and thousands of
songs and there won't be any language or offensiveness in it."

EXCERPT FROM http://www.macnewsworld.com/story/37390.html

Soderbergh's "Traffic" adapted for LDS audiences - See
http://www.startupjournal.com/ideas/services/20020720-buckman.html

LDS OUTLAW, FILM CHARACTER BUTCH CASSIDY IN THE NEWS AGAIN - See
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=13143666&BRD=2303&PAG=461&dept
_id=478976&rfi=6

ROSWELL EPISODE SET IN UTAH: SOME LDS REFERENCES - Just for fun... not
really news... Remember the TV series "Roswell" (which I SWEAR was
significantly inspired by Mormon science fiction author Zenna
Henderson's "People" stories)... Here's an entire episode set in Utah
with some LDS references.

27. UTAH ROADSIDE-BILLBOARD

A billboard is illuminated: "Mormon LifeŠFamily Values; A Family
Valued." Michael stands under the billboard speaking into a cellphone
and looking around for an alien key.

28. EXT. SHERIFF'S STATION

The Jetta screeches to a stop in a handicapped parking spot and Maria
emerges and half walks/ half runs toward the entrance. Maria: Why can't
these people ever get in trouble anywhere decent. Like Tahoe or New
Orleans, or Graceland (Elvis alert ) No Utah, Mormons and mountains.

EXCERPT FROM: www.angelfire.com/super/gsroswell/spoilers.html

EPISODE OF "STARGATE-SG1" SET IN UTAH, PLUS OTHER - There's also an
episode of "Stargate-SG1" that was set in Utah. There are lots of alien
artifacts in Utah, you know. There were a few Utah episodes of
"X-Files," not to mention an episode of Spielberg's miniseries
"Taken"... I could go on. A lot of people think that aliens come to Utah
because they are drawn to the spirituality of the Latter-day Saints and
their emphasis on ethical living. That's true with some aliens. But many
of them are simply hoping to meet Donny Osmond.

Adherents.com has a list of 299 science fiction films, novels and
stories with LDS characters or references, and/or Utah settings or
references: http://www.adherents.com/lit/sf_lds.html

MORE LDS REFERENCES IN THE MOVIES CATALOGUED - As always, none of our
pages are to be considered a recommendation to watch the movie. Some of
these movies are filled with violence and vulgar language, in case you
are wondering. We catalog these occurrences for our research, but we
sometimes don't even watch the whole movie ourselves. New pages:

The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996 - R) -
http://www.ldsfilm.com/movies/LongKissGoodnight.html
Traffic (2000 - R) - http://www.ldsfilm.com/movies/Traffic.html
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1983 - R) -
http://www.ldsfilm.com/movies/MeaningOfLife.html
Donnie Brasco (1997 - R) -
http://www.ldsfilm.com/movies/DonnieBrasco.html

LDS CHARACTERS NEW DIRECT-TO-VIDEO FEATURE: DANCING WITH GAIA - See
http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0407713/plotsummary

PAUL GIAMATTI: LDS? - See
http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0442/musto.php [Yes, we know Thomas
Haden Church is only joking here.]

SEEKING INFO ABOUT HOW TO CONTACT CLINT CARPENTER OR ANYBODY WITH COPY
OF THE BYU STUDENT FILM "ISCARIOT" (2001) - An LDSFilm.com reader who
worked on the film "Iscariot" while at BYU is looking to find a copy of
the film. Director Clint Carpenter may still be in L.A. working on
"Smallville" (I don't know for sure). Does anybody know where to find a
copy of "Iscariot," or how to contact Clint Carpenter?

Clint Carpenter
Latter-day Saint. Born circa 1977. Grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Moved to
Lindon, Utah, in 1996. Lives in Glendale, California with his wife, film
school graduate Yvonne Carpenter. Graduate from film school at Brigham
Young University (BYU). Majored in media arts, with an emphasis on
directing. Director of the short film "Iscariot" (2001), starring
Richard J. Clifford as the Biblical Judas. Assistant director of the
award-winning short film "The Wrong Brother" (2000), available on video.
Currently working as the script coordinator in Los Angeles for the WB TV
series "Smallville," about Clark Kent as a teenager before becoming
Superman. Carpenter is also the co-writer of the new "Smallville" DC
Comics book premiered March 19, 2003. Before working for "Smallville,"
Carpenter worked as an unpaid intern at some production companies. In
January 2001, Clint began as an intern for Spyglass Entertainment (which
has produced such movies as "The Sixth Sense" and "Shanghai Knights").
He then interned for George Clooney and Steven Soderbergh's production
company, Section Eight. After that he interned for "Smallville" for four
months before he was offered a paying job as a writers' assistant.

WHILE LDS COLLEGE INVITES NON-LDS LIBERAL, A NON-LDS UNIVERSITY IN
FLORIDA CANCELS LDS LIBERAL - There have been a number of articles in
various newspapers about this topic, but I haven't been following it
very closely because Sister Williams is not a filmmaker. But I find it
interesting that now, at the very time an LDS college is inviting a
controversial, liberal, non-LDS filmmaker (Michael Moore) to speak and
withstanding pressure from those who disagree with him, a non-LDS
university in Florida has CANCELLED the appearance of a liberal
Latter-day Saint speaker. Sister Terry Tempest Williams is one of the
most famous Latter-day Saint writers in the world, and has prominence
and respect among U.S. and worldwide intelligentsia beyond anything that
most Church members are even remotely aware of.

I also think she is a mild-mannered, reasoned, honest,
non-confrontational speaker and writer. It just seems bizarre to me that
Sis. Williams would stir up controversy and that there would be pressure
to have her appearance cancelled. I'm sure if she was invited to at UVSC
there wouldn't be any complaint at all. Partially that's because she is
less prominently in the news than Michael Moore. Also, she wouldn't be
met with protests because she is a Latter-day Saint (although not a
completely conventional one, I realize that).

I also think Williams is harder to classify in purely partisan terms. In
fact, I'm certain that when most people think of "Terry Tempest
Williams," the word "liberal" is NOT one of the first things that comes
to mind. It's like labeling Abraham Lincoln a "conservative Republican."
Well, yes. But one thinks first of other phrases, like "freed the
slaves", "civil war", "assassinated," "16th president." Sister Williams
is not first and foremost a political pundit. She is a "naturalist
writer", and an "environmentalist activist," but these aren't partisan
issues, and Williams descriptions of Ütah's wilderness doesn't fall into
a Democrat or Republican camp.

Okay, most people I think would just say "Let Sister Williams speak,
whatever her views. That's one of the functions of a university. If an
LDS college can let Michael Moore speak, why can't a Florida university
let Terry Tempest Williams speak?"

Fine. But here's the thing, even if you think that a university should
NOT be inviting half-baked crackpots (not that I'm accusing anybody of
being such), Sister Williams does NOT fall into that category. She isn't
out stumping for any political candidate. She hasn't made a film that
millions have watched. She's an author. How many of her books do you
own? How many times have you seen them in the front window of a book
store? Sadly, she has not one hundredth the voice that Michael Moore
does. She's a talented writer, but she labors in a largely post-literate
land.

Furthermore... you can check out what she wrote that is the cause of her
cancellation: Pages 17 to 19 of her latest book, The Open Space of
Democracy. This is a book being read by the Florida university's
students as a common reader. It is not some sort of leftist political
screed. I think that no matter who you are, no matter how conservative
you are, if you actually read this you'll think to yourself, "She's
getting cancelled for this? Why???" Most state universities don't
hesitate to invite Bush-bashers to speak. But Williams isn't even that.
Williams' books are available at your local library and book store. Take
a look at them, read every word, and you'll be baffled that Williams has
somehow been classified as a Bush-basher, too controversial to bring to
university students.

MOST non-LDS state colleges, almost without exception, are relatively
close-minded compared to LDS colleges (and, yes, UVSC is an LDS state
college) because of their knee jerk slash-and-burn fear of conservative,
spiritual and religious thought. But here's a rare and odd case of a
state college somehow being more close-minded than an LDS college
through bizarre, unfounded fear of a "liberal" speaker.

If all liberals in America were like Terry Tempest Williams this would
be a far better country, indeed.]

See http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/ci_2429380

SCALPED TICKETS TO FILMMAKER MICHAEL MOORE'S APPEARANCE AT LDS COLLEGE
GO FOR $100+ - See
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,595098735,00.html

LETTER TO EDITOR: SHOW UVSC BOTH LDS-MADE "FAHRENHYPE 9/11" AND MICHAEL
MOORE'S "FAHRENHEIT 9/11" - See
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,595098336,00.html

SALT LAKE CITY WEEKLY: TV/RADIO HOST SEAN HANNITY IS A FUTURE LDS
APOSTLE - See http://www.slweekly.com/editorial/2004/priv_2004-10-14.cfm


DESNEWS OPED: $40,000 TOO MUCH TO PAY ANYBODY TO SPEAK AT UVSC - See
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,595099306,00.html

UTAH REP. CHRIS CANNON SHOWS LDS-MADE "FAHRENHYPE 9/11" DOCUMENTARY -
See http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,595099307,00.html

AT UVSC: MICHAEL MOORE LIKENS HIMSELF TO LDS APOSTLE J. GOLDEN KIMBALL -
"Can I say damn here?" he asked at one point. "Hey, I learned it from J.
Golden Kimball."

Kimball was an LDS authority around the turn of the century, known for
his colorful language.

Excerpt from
http://www.harktheherald.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=artic
le&sid=37896&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

MICHAEL MOORE PRAISES RETURNED MISSIONARIES (VOGEL, ET AL) WHO STOOD UP
FOR HIM AND LET HIM SPEAK AT UVSC - See
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,595099811,00.html

MOORE'S VISIT TO LDS COLLEGE MAKES HEADLINES NATIONWIDE: MOORE: "THE
WHOLE COUNTRY LOVES THE MORMONS!" - Michael Moore told the audience at
LDS state college UVSC "The whole country loves the Mormons!" Judging
from their reaction, Mormons love Michael back.

Associated Press carried the story, which was published in newspapers
around the nation.]

See
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/10/21/1098316763150.html?oneclick
=true

MORMON-JEWISH ACTRESS ROSEANNE OPENS FOR MOORE; MINOR PROTESTS AT
MICHAEL MOORE'S UVSC VISIT - See http://www.sltrib.com/ci_2428069

BRIEF NOTE FROM JOE PUENTE: THANK YOU FOR DISCUSSION; PLANNING FILM
PROJECT ABOUT RATINGS SYSTEM - I would like to thank everyone who has
contributed their comments in this discussion about the rating system
and would be very interested to hear more of what you have to say.
Particularly experiences and discussion you may have had with other
members on the subject. I have decided to start a project (not sure what
form it will take, as of yet) dealing with the system, how its used and
how it's perceived.

Send your comments directly to me at ldsfilm@...

Thanks again.

-Joe