Personal Cinema or How I Made a Movie

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Personal Cinema or How I Made a Movie
by Craig Lofgreen

This letter is written in response to Keith Merrill’s Meridian Magazine article entitled Go Make a Movie. Walk to Survival, will premier at the Salt Lake City Film Festival, August 2002. It will also be screened at the West Yellowstone Film Festival in September 2002.

I am an architect. I don’t watch TV. I rarely go to the movies. So why would someone like me ever consider making a movie? The simple answer is that while I like to watch movies, I very much dislike the garbage that many movies contain. It irks me that a good story line can be ruined by a few vulgar images or by the misuse of certain words. So I decided that rather than just sit around and complain, I would do something about it. Perhaps it is a bit quixotic to think that an obscure, ordinary guy could have an impact on an entire industry, but I felt strongly that I had to try.

As those of you who have unusual hobbies or who have embarked on some wild mid-life adventure can understand, deciding to make a movie has generated a fair amount of curious comments: “Movie? What ever for?” Or “Isn’t it kind of an expensive hobby?” My favorite was a statement my mother-in-law made to my wife, “So, are you OK with Craig’s, you know, his movie thing?” And of course there is the unspoken comment, “But I thought he was good member of the church…”

I think that there is a perception, especially among the LDS, that moviemaking is a social aberration for non-mainstream eccentrics on the fringe of church activity. I think we tend to lump all moviemakers together with the stereotypical foul- mouthed, cigar smoking, girl chasing, Hollywood movie tycoon. Perhaps in too many cases this image is justified. But members of the church should know a lot about misapplied stereotypes and learn from our own history to see good where it exists.

And the good is out there. The sudden flurry of movies made by and for Mormons has given those of us who enjoy uplifting and engaging movies an alternative source of good entertainment. The number of film festivals (such as the Salt Lake Film Festival) that accept only family friendly films is rising. The digital tools available to aspiring moviemakers is empowering creative and passionate people to add to the selection. This same digital technology is also giving us alternative methods for distributing clean content to like-minded people.

Kieth Merrill, in his article Go Make a Movie, mentioned some of these digital tools. But I wonder if the average reader understands just how significant these advances in technology really are and just how easy and inexpensive it is to make a movie. I’d like to share my experience with you as an illustration of how one ordinary guy made a movie.

t all began in 1974 when I was 14. I had just finished the book Walk to Survival by DJ Arneson. It follows the three-day journey of 14-year-old Palmer Updike and his three siblings as they struggle to survive a frozen mountain wilderness and the plane crash that has killed their parents. It also follows the more painful emotional journey of Palmer as he learns the truth about his father and ultimately about himself.

The story had a profound impact on me. It seemed as if the story had been written just for me. Palmer’s thoughts were my thoughts. His doubts and worries were mine. His experience of discovering that his father was imperfect paralleled my own. In the end, Palmer’s reconciliation with his father’s failings helped me forgive my own father for his.

Fast forward 26 years to the year 2000. As an imperfect father with a 14-year-old son of my own, I began to see Palmer’s experience from a different perspective. Images from the book began to invade my thoughts and I had the sudden and strong impression that I should call the book’s author and ask for the rights to make it into a movie. A quick Internet search and phone call put me in touch with him. He was actually quite thrilled and gave me his enthusiastic permission. After that, everything just seemed to fall into place.

I began searching the Internet and library and quickly found dozens of excellent articles and books on script writing, budgeting, directing, recruiting actors, etc. I also found many web sites dedicated to helping independent filmmakers with their projects including detailed descriptions of how various low budget films were made.

As I talked to friends about my movie, word spread and talented volunteers came forward offering to help. I posted audition notices on-line and in local theaters. The response was wonderful and I soon had a talented volunteer cast.

I rented an abandoned fire station which I used as a workshop and studio. Some friends volunteered their house for several of the scenes. The forest service was very willing to issue a permit to shoot on public land.

Since the main actors were students, we shot during the week of mid-winter school break. Parents became valuable crew members. We shot the movie in only eight days.

We shot the movie using a MiniDV camera and edited it on a PC, both of which I already owned. We needed to rent specialty items like lights and microphones, though, which ended up being the most expensive part of the movie. But still, the entire movie cost less than a cheap used car.

Now I readily admit that Walk to Survival is by no stretch of the imagination a blockbuster movie. To some it might be little more than a ward road show gone digital. But to me and those who participated in its creation, it is far more. It was an opportunity to experience something unique and meaningful and to share it with others. And for those fortunate enough to see it, Walk to Survival will inspire and uplift – especially those who have ever dreamed of making a movie of their own.

Would I do it again? Absolutely! In fact, I am currently making another movie and have written script outlines for two more. I think brother Merrill was correct in stating that digital moviemaking has helped create the Mormon Cinema phenomena. But I think that even he may have underestimated the floodgate that Personal Cinema has opened.

Craig Lofgreen lives in Seattle with his wife and four children. Information on the Salt Lake City Film Festival can be found at www.slcfilmfest.org/. The Walk to Survival web site is www.walktosurvival.com.