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Two months ago I wondered in writ if you were ready for a Book of Mormon movie. [click here to read the previous article] I asked for your comments. I promised to publish your reactions in a kind of “Open Letter to the Producers.”
Your response was enormous. Your opinions were diverse. Your passionate perspective was passed on.
Our poll was not “scientific” but definitely defined the attitudes of the target audience for the Book of Mormon movies – “coming soon to a theater near you.”
Some of you can’t wait.
“I am anxiously awaiting these great films. “
Or
“I CAN HARDLY WAIT!!!”
Some of you don’t want the Book of Mormon made into a movie at all.
“I am not interested in a particular director or producer's interpretation of what he sees the message of the Book of Mormon to be. It is too personal.”
Or
“Generally speaking, Hollywood is very successful at accomplishing their mission of deception. The Book of Mormon is about truth, not deception.”
All of you have great expectations.
“Do it right or don’t do it at all. “
Or
“My bottom line is this: "if you are going to do it, then do it right and don't do it until you can! "
You have concerns.
“My fear is that true justice cannot be given a movie based on this book without the full support and financial backing of the church.”
Or
“My concern is the timing and the expertise of those who have announced their respective projects. “
Or
“We need to get better writing little stories before we start writing bigger stories.
The majority of you fall somewhere along an undulating bell curve of ambivalence.
“I would like to see a magnificent epic film based on the story of Lehi and his family. I know how very difficult it is to find the balance between the story of adventure and the sacred purpose of the book. I am supportive and excited. I am very worried.”
Many of you mused similarly.
“I have ambivalent feelings. A truly great movie is one of my greatest forms of entertainment. However, as it stands now, there is a grave risk of having one more piece of sacred material taken lightly and with derision by the public.”
“I am excited at the prospect of having films about Book of Mormon storylines, characters and themes…But please, if these Book of Mormon films are going to be totally “insider films” I don’t want to watch them.”
“I must confess to a mixture of emotions at hearing of a Book of Mormon movie. My first audible expression was a groan. From that point I have reached a level of guarded optimism. The groan comes from my concern that the serious and sacred nature of the material and its message will be diluted into a slick, trendy, “Hollywood” production dominated by commercial interests. “
You have strong feelings.
You want these movies made.
You don’t want these movies made.
You have great expectations.
You have grave concerns.
I read every email. All but a few were thoughtful, lengthy and extremely candid. A few of you besieged me with long scenarios explaining your personal vision of how the Book of Mormon movies should be made. Some of these were brilliant. Some emphasized the pitfalls. Many worried about the sophistication of the script. One reader wrote.
“It would be tempting to translate Lehi's journey into an adventure tale and make Nephi and his renegade brothers mere caricatures, trivializing the enormity of what is happening in their souls. The Book of Mormon story of the wilderness journey is complex and nuanced, primarily about interiors, the landscape of the soul. The wilderness journey to a promised land is physical, yes, but it is the journey of every soul. It is finding God in the desert. “
One of you suggested that the film makers,
“Take a single interesting story, ie, army of Helaman, put it in a different setting, a la West Side Story / Romeo and Juliet, or O Brother, Where Art Thou,/ The Odyssey, and make the story popular.”
Hmmmmmm?
Many of you compared these movies to the great Hollywood epics of years gone by. Some complained that the publicity invited comparison to Ben Hur, Ten Commandments and Lawrence of Arabia. Several suggested that such comparisons were 10 parts hype and 90 parts hyperbole.
Some of you made curious comparisons to current offerings of “Mormon cinema”. Everyone agreed that the Book of Mormon movies must rise above even the best of the current flock of Utah-produced, movies for Mormons.
Not a Competition
Part I of this 2-part series of articles was not intended to set up a competition between two projects. Feedback was not intended as a ballot. No prize was offered for winner of “the people’s choice.” Still, many of you opted to endorse one project over the other. A Voice from the Dust: Journey to the Promised Land received a significantly bigger “vote of confidence” than Book of Mormon Movie Vol. 1. Two reasons. Experience and budget.
The two projects should not be compared. It is my fault that has happened of course. By discussing both I invited side-by-side consideration. But “apples to apples” they ain’t. The whopping difference in budgets makes them very different projects. The significance difference in pertinent experience -- producing video products on the one hand and movies for the big screen on the other – differentiates the team, the concept, approach, and style. The productions as announced are most dissimilar.
Book of Mormon Movie Vol. 1 has plans to begin second unit photography in February and quickly complete the film for release by this summer. Two corrections. The name of the company behind Book of Mormon Movie Vol. I is Mormon Movies LLC, not Gary Rogers productions and scenes of the Promised Land are being shot in Mexico.
A Voice from the Dust: Journey to the Promised Land does not plan to begin shooting until late summer for release in 2004. Director, Peter Johnson explained, “Great art takes time and we are carefully moving forward, without rushing and possibly compromising the integrity of the work..”
Rather than risk distortion of your views by my own analysis and interpretation, I sent selected copies of your e-mail directly to the filmmakers. That diminished the need for the “open letter.”
Those of you who were brutally candid in your comments about individual producers, players or plans, may rest assured that your prejudice and passions were kept confidential.
Your comments and concerns fall into a few defining categories. The categories project an accurate profile of the target audience. It was interesting that many of you expressed contradictory responses and mixed emotions within a single e-mail.
Your ambivalence is by far the most fascinating and most telling revelation of your feedback. I understand ambivalence. It is where I find myself.
You comments fit – with a silver shoe horn and a little stuffing -- into the following categories .
• Ambivalence.
• Do it.
• Don’t do it.
• It will be a blessing.
• Do it right or don’t do it.
• Not enough money.
• Portraying scriptures and sacred things.
• Compared to other movies.
• Concern about actors and performance.
• Concerns about the role of the church.
• Suggestions to the film makers.
My Own Response
Selected e-mails excerpts that typify your comments and concerns are included at the end of this series according to category. Before I lose you in the tangled forest of “notable quotes” however, I wish to share the evolution of my own perspective.
My initial reaction to the Book of Mormon movies was:
“As a Mormon I want these films to be all that I’ve imagined.
As a moviemaker I know the ominous challenges ahead.
As a Mormon I am tingling with anticipation.
As a moviemaker I am terrified.”
My focus has shifted. From your letters, and pointed conversations with people whom I greatly respect, I came to the conclusion that the most important consideration for ANY filmmaker who takes on stories from the Book of Mormon is ultimately NOT about the budget, the script, the actors, the locations, the cinematography or the production team.
Oh, don’t get me wrong. These matters matter greatly. The ominous challenges remain. My life making movies gives me a clear understanding of what it will take to make these motion pictures great.
I know that an adequate budget is essential. You worry that one project has an inadequate budget and the other may have barely enough.
I know that the actors must be superb. Book of Mormon Movie Vol I is not signatory to Screen Actors Guild. Some already cast in the roles are SAG actors willing to work “off card.” The decision is limiting.
A Voice from the Dust: Journey to the Promised Land will be SAG signatory. That gives the casting director unlimited access to a much greater variety of seasoned professionals from which to choose players suited to the characters. Neither production plans on using “name” actors. That choice, mandated by budget, will likely confine distribution to the LDS audience.
I do not agree with you who worry that, “no one in the church is qualified.” I do agree that no LDS film maker has demonstrated the remarkable gifts of Peter Jackson [Director, Lord of the Rings.] But, I like to believe that all things are possible to him that believes and that ordinary men can rise to extraordinary challenges.
Some of you share my optimism.
“It is true we don’t have the Urim and Thummim to help with the production, but this is still the Lords work. If we can build temples behind the Iron Curtain, then with the Lords help and with the experience and expertise of the film makers, movies of the Book Of Mormon can and should be done.”
One of you shared with us this quote from President Hinckley,
"When people of goodwill labor cooperatively in an honest and dedicated way, there is no end to what they can accomplish."
In making movies, goodwill, hard work, honesty and dedication may not be quite enough. The “gifts” of God – the miracles we may need here – are most often the fruits of preparation. I agree with many that the collective experience of the production team behind A Voice from the Dust: Journey to the Promised Land is much stronger and most likely to succeed.
It is too late to confess my bias. You have already caught a glimpse of it peeking through the curtain before the show begins. As a TV newsman at KSL during my college years, I learned that there is no such thing as objectivity. Oh sure, media types claim impartiality and journalists are supposedly unbiased in reporting “the facts”. Nonsense! Personal prejudice defines the world – for better or for worse.
Since my bias is surely showing like a fleece of petticoats beneath a poodle skirt in a swing dance, let me define my bias even as I confess it. My bias in favor of A Voice from the Dust: Journey to the Promised Land to a large extent is based on your own perceptions. They have more money and experience. But my bias is not only about the people, plan and probability. It is a bias born on the set of my first feature film 20 years ago. It is a bias nurtured over many years and many projects destined for theatrical release and the big screen.
It is a bias based on Gary Roger’s determination to take what he calls an “unconventional approach” to his Book of Mormon Movie, Vol. 1 and reasonably reliable “inside information” that the “film” is being shot on HD video, the crew is very small and they are relying heavily on miniatures. When asked, Gary told me that, “the movie will be shot and edited in High Definition 24p and released on 35, we will have a full crew, considerably more than three men and we will employ MASSIVE full size sets for master shots as well as miniatures. “ The contradiction between “MASSIVE sets” and miniscule budget is part of my bias.
My bias is fair and simple:
“There is nothing in my 25 years of making movies that gives me any confidence that the Book of Mormon Movie, Volume I can reach its grand goals and promised expectations. Gary Rogers promised me that, “my jaw would drop and I would be amazed.” I promised Gary that I will repent in public and write an entire article on his movie if he proves me wrong.”
Gary Rogers, writer, producer, director, Book of Mormon Movie, Vol I, has been most cooperative in granting interviews and discussing his project. He is accomplished in his experience as a video producer. He has unbridled enthusiasm and undaunted confidence.” Whether we can pull it off or not needs to be judged when the movies are finished. If I produce a mediocre movie then you and everyone has the right to trash it and flush it down the toilet.” Gary told me, but refused to discuss his budget (estimated to be less than 2 million dollars) or allow me to see the script.
Producers of Voice From the Dust: Journey the Promised Land have likewise declined my request to read the script. As a filmmaker, I understand and note this as a point of interest, not criticism.
Producer-director team, Steve DeVore and Peter Johnson have announced a budget of 8 million. Peter explained, “One of the perceptions in today's media world is that to do a great film one must have a budget of tens of millions of dollars. There are many, many examples of films approaching $100 million or much more than that, that are far from satisfying or "great." Other examples can be cited of films of very small budgets that manage to capture the imagination of the audience, entertain them, satisfy them, and achieve critical acclaim as well as artistic merit. Having said that, we also recognize that to do an epic film of this nature, a certain level of budget is necessary. We've all seen, painfully, films with the best of intentions that were made with inadequate funding. Our production team is too experienced to fall into that trap.”
Producer, Steve DeVore added, “what you will see on the screen with our movie made with our budget will appear to to be a $30+ million movie. Traditional Hollywood excesses that tend to explode budgets are not part of our production equation.”
There is good cause for optimism here. A Voice from the Dust: Journey to the Promised Land has a chance of becoming what the producers envision it to be. The team of seasoned filmmakers has produced for the big screen before. They have four times the budget. But budget and experience notwithstanding, A Voice from the Dust: Journey to the Promised Land must ultimately be worthy of our grand expectations. [The good news – if I may be personal – is that Line Producer, Scott Swofford is a genius at bringing tremendous production value to the screen for remarkably few dollars.]
In addition to your pointed comments, it is clear that I have my own long list of concerns arising from years of making movies. The story of Nephi includes remarkable visions. Digital magic makes it possible to do whatever the mind can imagine. But depicting something we’ve never experienced that is not fictional but true – including deity – is an ominous and expensive challenge.
Incorporating profound doctrines in perfunctory dialogue will push the writer’s skill to the limit. Finding the balance between “artistic license” and “sacred scriptures” will twist the director’s creativity into painful contortions.
Then of course there are the camels. Camels can be obstinate, ornery critters to work with, but than so can some actors from time to time. This is the easy stuff. Filmmaking as life. A million critical decisions. Predictable problems. Exhilarating efforts that simply come with tromping the movie turf.
Many of you wished that the filmmakers were looking beyond the Mormon market. In my follow-up interview with Gary Rogers, he told me, “I am not designing this for the Mormon audience. Our greatest goal of all is to get people who leave the movie to want to read the book. We are banking, of course, on the fact that members of the church will come and see the movie. The LDS market is our financial target audience, but our target is the world.”
Gary Rogers was undaunted by my short lecture on the brutal reality of the world-wide theatrical marketplace, where hundreds of well funded well produced Hollywood films go unseen and undistributed every year.
Steve DeVore and Peter Johnson have confidence that the quality of Voice from the Dust: Journey to the Promised Land will give it a chance to cross over and penetrate some main stream theatrical markets.
In a recent conversation with Peter he told me, “It is our intent to create a masterful film of world-class quality that will meet or exceed the highest levels of professional film standards. Anyone with film experience recognizes the enormous challenge and difficulty associated with this undertaking. It requires skill, talent, experience, and great understanding of how to tell a story. The delightful and insightful nuances of great films are not obtained by accident! This successful creation will be achieved by combining business acumen, artistic vision and execution, luminous performances, and expert financial and production management. The production team is fully prepared to meet this high standard. Each person on our team has been prepared throughout his or her life to make this film.”
What’s Most Important?
Shifting my paradigm of what is ultimately most important in making a Book of Mormon movie has not relieved me of my awareness of the process nor my expectations for what it can be.
So, if the most important challenge isn’t the budget, the script, the actors, the locations, the cinematography or the production team, what is most important ?
You said it for me. A dominant theme in your response was the sacred nature of the Book of Mormon. The persistence and power of those comments has been meaningful.
• “Playing the movie in the theatre of our minds" makes me feel like this is sacred "don't touch" territory.
• The problem with portraying scriptural stories as entertainment is that they aren't meant to be entertaining in the first place.
• The Book of Mormon is a personal experience. Every time I read it I have a new experience. It depends on how I am tuned in, and what the Spirit wants to teach me. How can that possibly be put on the screen? I do not even like the illustrated books or the dramatized attempts on audiotape. My imagination does a much better job.”
• “The Book of Mormon is to me a book of revelation. Sometimes the view [the images in my mind] changes as I have gained greater insight into things revealed by the Spirit. I would be sad if I were ever to become attached to the images of the movie and lose that ability.”
“The Book of Mormon is the evidence that God gave us that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. It is sacred. If you intend to tamper with it you better not take it lightly.”
Books are often adapted and made into movies. Sometimes the movie is better than the book but not often. A book on which a movie is based in the vernacular of Hollywood talk is called “the property”. It makes me shudder to think of the Book of Mormon in such crass commercial terms.
I did not need your comments to be reminded that the Book of Mormon is not Tolkien’s, Lord of The Rings, or Rowling’s, Harry Potter. And in the realms of Mormon Cinema, it can hardly be equated with Groberg’s, Eye of the Storm -- or Charly, by Jack Weyland.
You said it best, “ I don't relish the idea of investigators telling missionaries, I don't need to read your book, I saw the movie.”
The Book of Mormon is scripture. It is revelation from God. It is sacred text. It is the keystone of our religion. It is the most correct of any book on earth. It is published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Next: Does the Church Have an Official Position?
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