ISSUE 14 FEBRUARY / MARCH 2011 Editor-In-Chief Mormonartist Ben Crowder Covering the Latter-Day Saint Arts World Managing Editor Katherine Morris
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MormonArtistISSUE 14 FEBRUARY / MARCH 2011 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MormonArtist Ben Crowder COVERING THE LATTER-DAY SAINT ARTS WORLD MANAGING EDITOR Katherine Morris SECTION EDITORS Mormon Artist is a bimonthly magazine Literature: Katherine Morris published online at mormonartist.net Visual Arts: Liesl Hansen Music & Dance: Annie Mangelson Film & Theatre: Meagan Brady issn 1946-1232. Copyright © 2011 Mormon Artist. All rights reserved. ASSISTANT EDITOR Jon Ogden All reprinted pieces of artwork copyright their respective owners. THIS ISSUE Front cover and back cover photographs WRITERS © Robert Anthony DeRosa 2010–2011. Elizabeth Rhondeau Meagan Brady INTERVIEWERS Design by Ben Crowder. Elsie Boyer Katherine Morris Liesl Hansen Mahonri Stewart Myrna Layton Shelia Cosper PHOTOGRAPHERS Lizzy Bean Tiffany Tertipes Val Hunter CONTACT US Want to help out? WEB MORMONARTIST.NET http://mormonartist.net/volunteer EMAIL [email protected] Table of Contents lds film festival reviews Cricketless iv Review by Elizabeth Rhondeau My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend v Review by Elizabeth Rhondeau The Book of Life vi Review by Meagan Brady literature Stephanie Black 1 Interview by Katherine Morris visual & applied arts Ashley Smith 8 Interview by Elsie Boyer Robert DeRosa 18 Interview by Liesl Hansen music & dance Janice Kapp Perry 28 Interview by Myrna Layton film & theatre Eric Samuelsen 36 Interview by Mahonri Stewart Kymberly Mellen 42 Interview by Shelia Cosper Mormon Artist Magazine iii LDS Film Festival Reviews Cricketless Review by Elizabeth Rhondeau Writer, Director: Joel Ackerman Producer: Raven Alard Envision. Create. Illuminate. For an entire decade now the LDS Film Fes- tival has called to creators everywhere for the fulfillment of their mission— and in Joel Ackerman’s 2011 entry Cricketless, they got it. I will warn you now that I went into this screening a little more than slightly biased; while most of the masses were intent on catching the Image courtesy Raven Alard Festival’s international fare at The Book of Life in the Grand Theater, I Confusing her at first, I only had to kiss victim Natalie, and acclaimed had chosen an afternoon in Show- say the word film to gain a mutual psychologist Dr. Noah G.. Carmoly set house II based solely on the fact that understanding, after which we rev- out to do just that through a series of I had seen some of Joel Ackerman’s eled silently, smiling, in the glow and unconventional experiments in search work before, and through those warmth of creativity’s victory. of signs of moral life. Despite disbe- experiences had generally come to the So now you’re thinking I am either lieving the existence of Jiminy Cricket irrefutable conclusion that whatever overly excitable or very simply insane. himself, Dr. Carmoly’s shock tests and he touches turns to gold. His capstone Let me explain. shell recordings lead to the ultimate film for Brigham Young University’s The story structure may itself be revelation that Adam does indeed have film program did not disappoint, as simple; it’s boy-meets-girl in what the a conscience—it just speaks to him in might be noted from my own notes filmmakers call a “poignant romantic a foreign language. of the evening—a reveling, scribbled comedy.” But Cricketless redefines Envision? Director Joel Ackerman mess of departure from my more care- the meet-cute when the opening explains that the genesis of the project ful thoughts on previous films. Crazy scenes have boy Adam O’Dea (Topher stemmed from a common dismissal he fantastic! I wrote across the page, two Rasmussen) literally running into girl heard in response to news of this-or- sizes larger than practical or neces- Natalie Endicott (Megan Jones)—in that horrific happening—robberies sary. Restored all faith in humanity! his car. On purpose. Because he’d re- or rapes or murders. Attempting to Cricketless makes me want to hug a ally like to get to know her. It’s yet an- explain the inexplicable, Ackerman film major. other point against him in Adam’s life- would hear most people excuse the No, really. I sang my way home long list of strange offenses, and as an committers of crimes as simply not and ran immediately to my roommate eighteen-year-old this last strike could having a conscience. To Ackerman (conveniently working on a capstone send him to a fifteen-year stint in jail the answer seemed slightly more film herself), attempting to put into or an indefinite future in the mental complex. “They probably do have a that hug what I could not find in hospital if no one can find Adam what conscience,” he concluded. “It just words: Thank you for capturing the he seems to lack: a conscience. With speaks Armenian.” deeper depths of beauty in this world a week’s leeway, Adam’s mother Lil, Stemming from that idea alone and sharing it for all the world to see. attorney Greg Gregerson, hit-and- he went on to then create a story not iv Issue 14 • FEB/MAR 2011 in a rare moment of cinema sustain- ability actually lives up to it. Girl? Boy? True Love? My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend has got it all and then one-ups all the rest with a story finally worthy of both romantic and comedy to its title. In a twist true to the film’s tagline, this is the story of a girl who meets her one true love . twice. Alyssa Milano plays the girl, a classy sass named Jesse whose confidence opens a conversa- tion with boy Ethan (Christopher Gor- ham), a writer with no publications to his credit and yet another rejection Photo courtesy Raven Alard letter in his hand. He’s on the brink of ultimate surrender when Jesse’s abrupt only beautifully crafted from script to you not only with a sense of pure satis- arrival plays muse to his artist and screen but one that illuminates our faction in entertainment rightly done life starts looking up. Pocketing her understanding of right and wrong, but also with the unparalleled edifica- number and promising to call, Ethan the consideration and consequences tion of Truth illuminated. Watching exits Act One and the scene is set for of choice, and ultimately, how the the film, you have plenty of time to another hour of the usual silver screen Spirit speaks to us individually. “If enjoy the aesthetic of it all. Clever romanticizing until—mere moments you’re living life right it will hurt when but never over-written, the script is after finally finding the perfect guy for you do something wrong,” Ackerman succinct with enough space to lead her—in walks Mr. Right. explained. But what if you don’t have and leave you to your own expanding Contrasting Ethan’s nerd-passion the language to differentiate between thoughts. The acting was superb and and sweet sentimentality, Troy (Mi- the two in the first place? spot-on, the art direction a dream of chael Landes) arrives on the scene Intentionally playing on the name clinical whites and honeyed warmth. with more suave than all fifteen of Adam, Cricketless’s main character While fictionally fantastical, the story seasons of The Bachelor combined. A embodies the innocence of the Garden stays believable, and each character is successful ad exec with all elements of of Eden, naïve and childlike with no emotionally rewarding. In the enter- tall, dark, and handsome, he is Prince thought between action and reaction. tainment essentials, Cricketless is good Charming personified and proceeds But Cricketless is set in the lone and to go. But then, once it’s over, you have to sweep Jesse right off her feet with dreary world, and through Acker- the added joy of extended satisfaction every expected accoutrement: roses, man’s eyes we begin to understand the in a film that leaves you to dwell on the candlelit dinners, afternoons of golf consequences of innocence and the es- more eternally important principles at the club and evenings at souped-up sential quest to understand the Spirit’s of the soul’s aesthetics, a film that not soirees. Jumping between scenes of stirrings. Just as Adam in the Garden only fortifies an existing testimony Jesse’s dates with both boyfriends, it needed to learn the language of his but builds upon it. And that, in five seems a clear-cut win for Troy in the Father in order to make righteous de- paragraphs or less, is why I reserved game of love—and yet Ethan isn’t cisions, so is Adam O’Dea required to my exclamation marks for this film in about to give in either. So now you’re learn the language of his birth father the Festival. You won’t need Jiminy on thinking this is just another predict- (an Armenian love his mother met in your shoulder to know that experienc- able write-off. Well, that’s what Paris) before he can understand the ing Cricketless was a good choice. you think. difference between right and wrong. Envision. Create. Illuminate. Hug a The ensuing dilemma and ultimate He needs to learn, essentially, what film major.❧ happily ever after make My Girlfriend’s we all should take time to study: how Boyfriend exactly what it proposes the Spirit speaks to us, and then to My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend to be: the sweet fluff of romance for act accordingly. Review by Elizabeth Rhondeau the perfect Friday night escape. For It’s a risky reveal and almost preco- those looking for a few hours of light cious plot line, one that flirts danger- Writer, Director: Daryn Tufts Producers: Rick McFarland & Alyssa Milano entertainment and a sugary aftertaste, ously between soul-swelling perfec- this film fits the bill.