A Conversation with Richard Dutcher Explore

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

A Conversation with Richard Dutcher Explore 67-69_c_Dutcher interview_FINAL.qxp 11/14/2006 11:25 AM Page 67 SUNSTONE INTERVIEW story—that’s all. I don’t set out to show warts; in fact, my natural inclination would be to put a little make-up on the wart if someone had one. What I want to do is tell stories about STATES OF CHANGE something real and important, something that fascinates me and that I feel the need to A Conversation with Richard Dutcher explore. Sure, someone may end up seeing more warts than they’d want to, but in other ways, I think my LDS films have been very sincere and open-hearted. I hear people say RICHARD DUTCHER is Mormonism’s preeminent film- my films have violent elements or that they maker. Although Latter-day Saint filmmakers have been talk about thematically mature themes. But at telling quintessential Mormon stories since the 1930s, the the same time, I believe they have such a pos- release of Dutcher’s films, God’s Army (2000) and itive outlook on life and on religion and on Brigham City (2001) mark what some consider to be the human relationships that I just can’t buy birth of “Mormon cinema”—feature-length films with LDS those easy descriptions. They aren’t dark; subject matter produced independently of the Church and they’re about something. And unfortunately released theatrically. Now, some six years after God’s there has been so little in Mormon art that’s Army, and in support of the DVD release of Dutcher’s most had any degree of real honesty toward the re- recent film, States of Grace, the director sat down with ality of the human condition, that when SUNSTONE editor Dan Wotherspoon during a rare day off many Latter-day Saints encounter it, they call from shooting his current project, a supernatural thriller it dark when all that means is that it resem- titled Evil Angel, to discuss States of Grace, the state of bles reality more than anything else overtly Mormon cinema, and where his work is taking him in the future. He’s also finishing another, very Mormon they’ve seen. personal, film, Falling, which should begin making the rounds at film festivals next year. During the session on the film at this sum- Before we talk about the DVD release of There is no Mormon content in it at all. mer’s Salt Lake Sunstone symposium, you States of Grace, tell me: what in the heck are But given my LDS background, that fact that were visibly moved by what the panelists you doing shooting a supernatural thriller? I’m working in the area of the supernatural, shared about their experiences with the film. and that I wrote the script, I’ll be interested Would you be willing to talk about your re- I know people are surprised by that. I like to to see if people pick up on any Mormon in- action to their remarks? tell them that I’ve made my Easter film (God’s fluences in the film. Army). I’ve made my Christmas film (States of As I said then, I’d been fighting for the film Grace). And now I’m doing my Halloween Let’s talk about States of Grace. Many familiar for so long—not just to make it but also be- film. I’ve been a fan of horror movies my with SUNSTONE will already have a sense of cause I was distributing it myself and wanting whole life, and so those who know me aren’t what the film is about, but can I get you to it to be seen and understood—that I was surprised by what I’m doing. But yes, it’s a give a quick framing of it for those who may pretty beaten down by having to constantly supernatural, sort of edgy, horror film, titled be learning about of it for the first time? defend it to people who didn’t understand Evil Angel, which stars Ving Rhames. It’s my what I was trying to say. I had been on the de- biggest film so far. Like my other films, it’s Sure. The film is about a half-dozen people fensive so long, that sitting there and being one I wrote and am directing myself. We’re in Santa Monica, California, two of whom are reminded of why I had made the film—and shooting it primarily in downtown Salt Lake Mormon missionaries, and about how their seeing that people had actually understood City and are about five or six weeks into pro- lives intersect and their impact on one an- what I was doing, and that the film meant duction with a couple of weeks left. other. That’s what fascinates me: putting a something to them really hit me hard. I’d very diverse group of people into an inter- been so focused on how it hadn’t succeeded Why did you choose to shoot the film in Salt esting circumstance and seeing how it might financially in the way I needed and wanted it Lake City? Is Mormonism part of the story? all turn out. But as far as the storyline goes, it to do, and they reminded me that it had suc- all begins with the two missionaries getting ceeded in doing what was most important— One of the main reasons to shoot in Salt Lake pulled into a gang-related drive-by shooting. communicating the thoughts and feelings is simply that it’s more convenient for me. And the film follows in the aftermath of that and experiences about the atonement and re- With this film’s long schedule, I wanted to be and what happens to these missionaries and pentance that I wanted to share. It made that at least somewhat close to my family. But Salt some of the gang members involved. panel a wonderful experience for me. Lake also really fits the story well. I’m using a lot of old, kind of cool buildings in down- Some reactions to States of Grace have fo- There are a few specific elements in the film town Salt Lake City. The film doesn’t take cused on its edgier, darker elements—that that I haven’t heard you talk much about. place in Salt Lake; its story isn’t dependent you show LDS characters “warts and all.” First, your two uses of two Book of on a specific location. And I don’t think the What’s your reaction when you hear that? Mormon—one comic; one very serious. film will naturally lead people to recognize where I shot it, but it will have an old, gothic That term is way overused and doesn’t reflect Yeah. The ideas for using those came to- urban feel to it, so Salt Lake has been great. my approach at all. I want to tell an honest gether in the writing as the characters devel- NOVEMBER 2006 PAGE 67 67-69_c_Dutcher interview_FINAL.qxp 11/14/2006 11:25 AM Page 68 SUNSTONE oped and simply as settings suggested it. In alive and having lost their virtue through thoughtful, excellent, meaningful, real, the scene with Louis, the homeless preacher, sexual sin. You have one of the characters in honest films, that immediately whenever it was just fun and endearing to have him the film say that whoever thinks that is a jerk. someone thought of spirituality in film, preach from King Benjamin’s speech about they’d think of the Mormon community. And not suffering the beggar to put up his petition I did. And I stand by that. I’ve always found that’s what I tried to preach up through in vain. In the scene with Carl and Elder that notion repugnant and have seen how it Brigham City. Banks, it just came naturally. A gang banger has caused so much damage and heartache. But we blew that so quickly. That’s why, as and a Mormon missionary having a very se- So I loved having an opportunity to kick at soon as The Singles Ward came out and I real- rious conversation about repentance—what that a bit and to say, hey, this is what this ized that Mormon cinema was going to be image could work better than the story of the communicates, and to ask out loud if we be- just like Mormon literature, just like people of Ammon and their vow to end their lieve this, can we really call ourselves Mormon theatre and Mormon music, I be- violent ways, to bury their weapons forever? “Christian”? How can someone believe in the came discouraged. It was then I began to re- atonement of Christ and have something like alize that as much as I’d been talking, either You also introduce the symbol of the cross in that come out of his or her mouth? nobody understood what I was saying, or a powerful way. That’s pretty unusual in an they understood and just didn’t want it. LDS setting. Earlier you mentioned the financial picture for States of Grace. Are you willing to share You don’t mean that there’s no place in That was really important to me. In art, vi- any specifics about that? Mormon cinema for something like The sual iconography is so important, as you can Singles Ward, do you? Isn’t it that The Singles communicate so much with iconic images. Well, we have had zero real income on the Ward and many of the other films that fol- Having entered Mormonism from a back- film.
Recommended publications
  • Mormon Cinema on the Web
    Mormon Cinema on the Web Randy Astle ormon cinema on the Internet is a moving target. Because change M in this medium occurs so rapidly, the information presented in this review will necessarily become dated in a few months and much more so in the years to come. What I hope to provide, therefore, is a snapshot of online resources related to LDS or Mormon cinema near the beginning of their evolution. I believe that the Internet will become the next great force in both Mormon cinema and world cinema in general, if it has not already done so. Hence, while the current article may prove useful for contemporary readers by surveying online resources currently available, hopefully it will also be of interest to readers years from now by provid- ing a glimpse back into one of the greatest, and newest, LDS art forms in its infancy. At the present, websites devoted to Mormonism and motion pictures can be roughly divided into four categories: 1. Those that promote specific titles or production companies 2. Those that sell Mormon films on traditional video formats (primar- ily DVD) 3. Those that discuss or catalog Mormon films 4. Those that exhibit Mormon films online The first two categories can be dealt with rather quickly. Promotional Websites Today standard practice throughout the motion picture industry is for any new film to have a dedicated website with trailers, cast and crew BYU Studies 7, no. (8) 161 162 v BYU Studies biographies, release information, or other promotional material, and this is true of Mormon films as well.
    [Show full text]
  • WHY WE STAY Samoan Temple Burns Down; Book Stirs Controversy; FIVE PERSPECTIVES New LDS Films; More! (P.74) J
    Cover_129.qxd 10/15/2003 10:05 AM Page 2 MORMON EXPERIENCE SCHOLARSHIP ISSUES & ART THE MAKING OF IMMANUEL: SUNSTONESUNSTONE Brian David Mitchell and the Mormon Fringe by John-Charles Duffy (p.34) NEBULA an England essay contest winner by Mari Jorgensen (p.46) Experience the YEAR OF THE CICADA a story by Joe Peterson (p.52) Surviving BYU and Berkeley by Joanna Gardiner (p.57) IN MEMORIAM: Dean L. May and Stanley B. Kimball (p.6) 2003 Salt Lake Sunstone Symposium Report (p.68) UPDATE Conference news: Church members arrested after confrontations with street preachers; LDS leaders speak out on same-sex marriage legislation; WHY WE STAY Samoan temple burns down; Book stirs controversy; FIVE PERSPECTIVES New LDS films; More! (p.74) J. Frederick “Toby” Pingree, October 2003—$5.95 MaryAnne Hunter, Bill Bradshaw, Grethe Peterson, & Thomas F. Rogers ifc.qxd 10/15/2003 10:08 AM Page 1 Washington MOLLY BENNION—ORGANIZER ROY BENNION LEVI S. PETERSON RICHARD DUTCHER MARNI CAMPBELL ARMAND L. MAUSS THERESA ROTH CHARLOTTE ENGLAND TOM MUMFORD SUSAN PALMER JULIE MUMFORD DAVID HUNTER DAN PINGREE SAGE JOHNS LEAH SMITH pecial thanks to this year’s fall regional symposium volunteers! S Tape order form, page 73 Texas STEVE ECCLES—ORGANIZER MARGARET BLAIR YOUNG ROBERT H. BRIGGS DARIUS GRAY DAVID FEATHERSTONE ARMAND L. MAUSS CLIFTON JOLLEY VICKIE STEWART EASTMAN PAUL H. SMITH DARRELL FLETCHER LAEL LITTKE 01_toc.qxd 10/15/2003 11:19 AM Page 1 MORMON EXPERIENCE, SCHOLARSHIP, ISSUES, & ART OCTOBER 2003 Issue 129 FEATURES 22 J. Frederick “Toby” Pingree, . WHY WE STAY MaryAnne Hunter, Bill Bradshaw Grethe Peterson, Thomas F.
    [Show full text]
  • THESIS a REASON to BELIEVE: a RHETORICAL ANALYSIS of MORMON MISSIONARY FILMS Submitted by Sky L. Anderson Department of Communic
    THESIS A REASON TO BELIEVE: A RHETORICAL ANALYSIS OF MORMON MISSIONARY FILMS Submitted by Sky L. Anderson Department of Communication Studies In partial fulfillment of the requirements For the Degree of Master of Arts Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colorado Spring 2012 Master’s Committee Advisor: Carl Burgchardt Eric Aoki Kathleen Kiefer ABSTRACT A REASON TO BELIEVE: A RHETORICAL ANALYSIS OF MORMON MISSIONARY FILMS In this analysis, I examine Mormon cinema and how it functions on a rhetorical level. I specifically focus on missionary films, or movies that are framed by LDS missionary narratives. Through an analysis of two LDS missionary films, namely Richard Dutcher’s God’s Army (2000) and Mitch Davis’ The Other Side of Heaven (2001), I uncover two rhetorical approaches to fostering spirituality. In my first analysis, I argue that God’s Army presents two pathways to spirituality: one which produces positive consequences for the characters, and the other which produces negative consequences. I call these pathways, respectively, ascending and descending spirituality, and I explore the rhetorical implications of this framing. In my second analysis, I contend that The Other Side of Heaven creates a rhetorical space wherein the audience may transform. Specifically, the film constructs a “Zion,” or a heaven on earth, with three necessary components, which coincide perfectly with established LDS teachings: God, people, and place. These three elements invite the audience to accept that they are imperfect, yet they can improve if they so desire. Ultimately, by comparing my findings from both films, I argue that the films’ rhetorical strategies are well constructed to potentially reinforce beliefs for Mormon audiences, and they also may invite non-Mormons to think more positively about LDS teachings.
    [Show full text]
  • S¡Iritual ¡Aths After Se¡Tember 199^
    Cover_130.qxd 1/9/2004 2:43 PM Page 2 MORMON EXPERIENCE SCHOLARSHIP ISSUESISSUES && ARTART CONFESSIONS OF A MORMON SUNSTONESUNSTONE BOY,, a one-man play by Steven Fales (p.40)(p.40) Pillars of My Faith, A FISTFUL OF PIRITUAL ATHS FTER LISTS by S P A Rebecca Chandler (p.32)(p.32) SEPTEMBER 1993 SKETCHING THE BY FIFTEENTH WARD,, fictionfiction LYNNE KANAVEL WHITESIDES contest winner by Dawn Jeppesen PAUL TOSCANO Anderson (p.60)(p.60) MAXINE HANKS JAR OF REPENTANCE, D. MICHAEL QUINN personal essay by Kathleen Smith LAVINA FIELDING ANDERSON Thomas (p.57)(p.57) Jared Christensen shares his GREAT DILEMMA (p.64)(p.64) UPDATE Church responds toto DNADNA andand Book of Mormon controversy; Mormon polygamy inin spotlightspotlight onceonce more; Christian ministers denounce templetemple garmentgarment desecration; Church lawyerslawyers areare busybusy again; Angels in America on HBO;; New LDSLDS filmsfilms onon thethe horizon;horizon; More!More! (p.72)(p.72) December 2003—$5.95 ifc.qxd 1/7/2004 12:19 PM Page 1 2004 SUNSTONE SYMPOSIUM WEST CALLFor PAPERS CALL FOR PROPOSALS Sunstone seeks to celebrate and explore Mormon experience, issues, and art through diverse approaches and from many perspectives. From scholarly paper to artistic expression, we strive for excellence in thought and quality in presentation. FORMATS Sessions may be scholarly papers, panel discussions, interviews, personal essays, sermons, dramatic performances, literary readings, debates, comic routines, art displays, or musical presentations. PROPOSALS SHOULD INCLUDE At press time, Session title; a one-hundred-word abstract; presenter name(s), background(s), and Sunstone is contact information; a summary of the topic’s relevance and importance to Mormon finalizing location studies; description of any audio or visual equipment needs.
    [Show full text]
  • In the United States District Court for the District of Utah
    Case 2:15-cv-00110-DB Document 114 Filed 05/08/17 Page 1 of 15 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF UTAH CENTRAL DIVISION RICHARD DUTCHER, MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER Plaintiff, v. Case No. 2:15-cv-110-DB-PMW BOLD FILMS LP; BOLD FILM PRODUCTIONS, LLC; OPEN ROAD FILMS, LLC; NBC UNIVERSAL MEDIA, LLC; and UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENT, LLC, District Judge Dee Benson Defendants. Chief Magistrate Judge Paul M. Warner District Judge Dee Benson referred this case to Chief Magistrate Judge Paul M. Warner pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(A).1 Before the court are Richard Dutcher’s (“Plaintiff”) three motions to compel various discovery requests from Bold Films LP; Bold Films Productions, LLC; Open Road Films, LLC; NBC Universal Media, LLC; and Universal Studios Home Entertainment, LLC (collectively, “Defendants”).2 The court has carefully reviewed the written memoranda submitted by the parties. Pursuant to civil rule 7-1(f) of the Rules of Practice for the United States District Court for the District of Utah, the court has concluded that oral argument is not necessary and will determine the motions on the basis of the written memoranda. See DUCivR 7-1(f). 1 Dkt. no. 80. 2 Dkt. nos. 100, 101, and 106. Case 2:15-cv-00110-DB Document 114 Filed 05/08/17 Page 2 of 15 BACKGROUND In 1999, Plaintiff wrote the screenplay for the movie Falling. Plaintiff’s movie was filmed in 2007, at which time he registered a copyright with the United States Copyright Office.
    [Show full text]
  • Download Resume
    Monica Moore Smith Eyes: blue • Hair: blonde • Height: 5’4” • Size: small/medium Talent Management Group, Inc. [email protected] • 801.319.6623 512 E 4500 S, #200 • Salt Lake City, Utah 84107 MonicaMooreSmith.com • IMDB.me/MonicaMooreSmith Vickie Panek • [email protected] • 801.263.6940 Television Battle of the Ages Character Co-Host Big Game Productions Inc. Big Family Movie Host BYUtv Devin Supertramp Fortnite Lead Devin Graham Primary Pals with David Osmond Series Lead Joseph Wilkins Devin Supertramp Super Smash Bros Lead Devin Graham Life Crunch Personal Responsibility Guest Star Neil Haitt Theatrical Romance in the Outfield: Double Play Lead Randolph Sternberg, Rebecca Sternberg Twice The Dream Lead Savannah Ostler Saturday's Warrior Supporting Lead Michael Buster A Seat For Everyone Supporting Lead Cactus Jack Missionary Safety Series Featured Blair Treu Waiting Lead Emily Mcney 13 Bullets Supporting Lead Richard Dutcher Fairness for All Lead Sterling Van Wagenen Bullying - Stop It Supporting Feature Lucas James McGraw To Have and To Hold Lead Colten Elzy Mission Advantage Lead Kelyn Ikegami Room Enough Supporting Lead Ben Wray Commercial Sinclair Oil 100th Anniversary - Are We There Yet? Supporting Lead Fueld Films Ken Garff Lead Faktory Poo-Pourri Supporting Chamber Media Utah Community Credit Union Supporting Molin Christmas Anxiety Support Group Lead Deseret Book $5 Smile Club Lead Circa3 Check City Lead First Vision Group Lucid Mattress Lead Malouf Films Morgan Jewelers Lead Thomas Arts WyzeCam Supporting Lead Atomic
    [Show full text]
  • Representations of Mormonism in American Culture Jeremy R
    University of New Mexico UNM Digital Repository American Studies ETDs Electronic Theses and Dissertations 8-19-2011 Imagining the Saints: Representations of Mormonism in American Culture Jeremy R. Ricketts Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/amst_etds Part of the American Studies Commons Recommended Citation Ricketts, eJ remy R.. "Imagining the Saints: Representations of Mormonism in American Culture." (2011). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/amst_etds/37 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Electronic Theses and Dissertations at UNM Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in American Studies ETDs by an authorized administrator of UNM Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Jeremy R. Ricketts Candidate American Studies Departmelll This dissertation is approved, and it is acceptable in quality and form for publication: Approved by the Dissertation Commillee: , Chairperson Alex Lubin, PhD &/I ;Se, tJ_ ,1-t C- 02-s,) Lori Beaman, PhD ii IMAGINING THE SAINTS: REPRESENTATIONS OF MORMONISM IN AMERICAN CULTURE BY JEREMY R. RICKETTS B. A., English and History, University of Memphis, 1997 M.A., University of Alabama, 2000 M.Ed., College Student Affairs, 2004 DISSERTATION Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy American Studies The University of New Mexico Albuquerque, New Mexico May 2011 iii ©2011, Jeremy R. Ricketts iv DEDICATION To my family, in the broadest sense of the word v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This dissertation has been many years in the making, and would not have been possible without the assistance of many people. My dissertation committee has provided invaluable guidance during my time at the University of New Mexico (UNM).
    [Show full text]
  • JH Resume 2016 TMG.Pages
    JEREMY HOOP FILM (PARTIAL LIST) STELLA STARRING VANESSA GREENE DIR. LOVE EVERLASTING SUPPORTING ROB DIAMOND, DIR. ROAD TO EMMAUS STARRING BRUCE NIEBAUR, DIR. EPHRAIM’S RESCUE SUPPORTING TC CHRISTENSEN DIR. THE ORCHARD STARRING GO FILMS/NATHAN LEE DIR. BULLSEYE STARRING MATT POPE DIR. LIFTED UP STARRING ERWIN BROTHERS FILMS CHARLY STARRING ADAM ANDEREGG DIR. MOOLA SUPPORTING DON MOST DIR. JONAH AND THE GREAT FISH SUPPORTING DENNIS AGLE DIR. ABRAM’S REWARD SUPPORTING ERWIN BROTHER’S FILMS JUST A DREAM SUPPORTING SHOWTIME/DANNY GLOVER DIR. OUT OF STEP STARRING RYAN LITTLE DIR. THE TESTAMENTS STARRING KIETH MERRIL DIR. THE KING’S FALCON STARRING DEBORAH HOFSTEDT DIR. THE APOSTASY SUPPORTING BLAIR TREU DIR. SONS OF PROVO SUPPORTING WILL SWENSON DIR. BRIGHAM CITY SUPPORTING RICHARD DUTCHER DIR. THE SINGLE’S WARD SUPPORTING KURT HALE DIR. TELEVISION FIRESTARTER 2: REKINDLED (W/Danny Nucci) SUPPORTING USA/SCI-FI MINI SERIES PERFECT MURDER, PERFECT TOWN (W/John Heard) SUPPORTING CBS/MINI SERIES BEYOND THE PRAIRIE (W/ Walton Goggins) SUPPORTING CBS TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL GUEST STAR CBS PACIFIC BLUE (2 EPISODES) GUEST STAR USA PROMISED LAND (W/Gerald McRaney) GUEST STAR CBS TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL (4 Episodes) CO-STAR CBS EVERWOOD CO-STAR WB COVER ME CO-STAR USA UNDER CONTRACT GUEST STAR USA/PILOT COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL (PARTIAL LIST) POKEMON - TOMY PRINCIPAL PARENTWISE PRINCIPAL VERIZON WIRELESS PRINCIPAL ANCESTRY.COM PRINCIPAL NAPA AUTOPARTS PRINCIPAL MICROSOFT PRINCIPAL SOUTHWEST AIRLINES PRINCIPAL ALBERTSONS PRINCIPAL INTEL PRINCIPAL WELLS FARGO PRINCIPAL
    [Show full text]
  • CATHLEEN MASON Broadway Film Management 175 West 2700 South SLC UT 84105 (801) 557-4782 FEATURE FILMS
    CATHLEEN MASON Broadway Film Management 175 West 2700 South SLC UT 84105 (801) 557-4782 FEATURE FILMS The Letter Writer Lynn, the nurse/Day Player Christian Vuissa Dir./ Mirror Films Blood Fare Dean Deveroux/Day Player J.A. Steel Dir./Warrior Entertainment Jospeh Smith and the Golden Plates Midwife 1/Day Player Christian Vuissa Dir./Mirror Films For Robbing the Dead Mrs. Carpenter/supporting Tom Russell Dir./First Light Productions The Wayshower,Lord of the Realms Mrs. Hinkins/Day Player Jsu Garcia & John Roger Dir./Gilgamesh Productions Joseph Smith,Prophet of the Restoration Pioneer Thom Eberhardt Dir./LDS Motion Picture One Good Man Weeping Woman/Featured Christian Vuissa Dir./Mirror Films The Book of Mormon Movie Weeping Woman/Featured Gary Rogers Dir./Mormon Productions Charly Sister Atkins/Day Player Adam Anderegg Dir./Kalidescope Productions Brigham City Barbra,townswoman/Day Player Richard Dutcher Dir./Zion Films TELEVISION None-the-Less Mom/supporting Brandi Lynn Anderson Dir./Drop-the-Ball Productions The Kane Files Wendy's Mom/featured Ben Gourley Dir./ Aesop Productions The Gap Helen, the mom/Day Player Antonio Lexoroot Dir./Stick Pictures/episodic Annother Audience Mrs. Meek, teacher/supporting Adam Anderegg Dr./BYU Productions/KBYU The Absence of the Good Mrs. Gumme/Day player John Flynn Dir./ Absence Prod./ HBO Special Touched by An Angel/Angel of Death The Angry Woman/Day Player Tim Van Patten Dir./Caroline Prod./CBS Series BUSSINESS/INDUSTRIAL/EDUCATIONAL/SHORTS/FEASTIVALS/COMMERICALS/V.O. Dead People Don't Talk Mom /supporting
    [Show full text]
  • Writer-Director Richard Dutcher, Unquestionably the Dominant Personality in the Past Decade of Mormon Cinema, on Location with A
    Writer-director Richard Dutcher, unquestionably the dominant personality in the past decade of Mormon cinema, on location with actors Jo-Sei Ikeda and Ignacio Serricchio for his film States of Grace (2005). Dutcher—who has worked as writer, actor, producer, director, and now editor—is credited with launching a new wave of Mormon film with his breakthrough production God’s Army in 2000, which not only set the stage for multiple theatrical releases of Mormon-themed pictures, but also sought to increase their realism and dramatic depth beyond the limited depic- tions of Mormons in Hollywood films or, conversely, institutional productions in the style of Judge Whitaker. © Main Street Movie Co. A History of Mormon Cinema: Fifth Wave V 127 The Fifth Wave: Cultural and Commercial Viability (2000–Present) The Fifth Wave of Mormon cinema is the current period, in which a culturally robust and commercially vibrant new art form is beginning to emerge. Its most obvious manifestation is in the stream of Mormon- themed theatrical feature films, produced independently of the Church, made by and for Latter-day Saints. Richard Dutcher’s much-celebrated God’s Army, released in March 2000, made him widely recognized as the father of this new movement in Mormon film, but his groundbreaking work actually marks a return to the past. The LDS filmmakers of the First Wave also sought to create 35mm films to be distributed through commer- cial theaters to a paying public. Mormon film has in many ways come full circle, with Latter-day Saints of the Fifth Wave attempting large theatrical productions at a time when anti-Mormon films are once again more vis- ible in the mainstream.
    [Show full text]
  • The Sexual Stereotyping of Mormon Men in American Film and Television
    “ACCORDING TO THEIR WILLS AND PLEASU RES”: THE SEXUAL STEREOTYPING OF MORMON MEN IN AMERICAN FILM AND TELEVISION Travis Sutton, B.A. Thesis Prepared for the Degree of MASTER OF ARTS UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS May 2009 APPROVED: Harry M. Benshoff, Major Professor Sandra Larke-Walsh, Committee Member Claire Sahlin, Committee Member Sam Sauls, Program Coordinator Melinda Levin, Chair of the Department of Radio, Television and Film Michael Monticino, Interim Dean of the Robert B. Toulouse School of Graduate Studies Sutton, Travis, “According to Their Wills and Pleasures”: The Sexual Stereotyping of Mormon Men in American Film and Television. Master of Arts (Radio, Television and Film), May 2009, 187 pp., references, 107 titles. This thesis examines the representation of Mormon men in American film and television, with particular regard for sexual identity and the cultural association of Mormonism with sexuality. The history of Mormonism’s unique marital practices and doctrinal approaches to gender and sexuality have developed three common stereotypes for Mormon male characters: the purposeful heterosexual, the monstrous polygamist, and the self-destructive homosexual. Depending upon the sexual stereotype in the narrative, the Mormon Church can function as a proponent for nineteenth-century views of sexuality, a symbol for society’s repressed sexuality, or a metaphor for the oppressive effects of performing gender and sexuality according to ideological constraints. These ideas are presented in Mormon films such as Saturday’s Warrior (1989) as well as mainstream films such as A Mormon Maid (1917) and Advise and Consent (1962). Copyright 2009 by Travis Sutton ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Curriculum Vitae Barrett Ogden
    Curriculum Vitae Barrett Ogden 1457 East 920 South Provo, UT 84606 Phone: (818) 415-9350 E-mail: [email protected] www.barrettogden.com http://bit.ly/BarrettOgdenIMDb EDUCATION MFA, Theater: Contemporary Performance, 2009 NAROPA UNIVERSITY, Boulder, CO BA Theater (Acting Track), 1997 BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY, Provo, UT CERTIFICATIONS Fitzmaurice Voicework Teacher, 2017 (Pending) Catherine Fitzmaurice, Barcelona, SPAIN Grotowski-based Psychophysical Acting Teacher, 2016 (Pending) Stephen Wangh, New York City, NY (Dean-nominated) Great Teachers Invitational Summit Training, 2011 UTAH VALLEY UNIVERSITY WASATCH CAMPUS, Heber, UT Designated Viewpoints Teacher, 2009 NAROPA UNIVERSITY, Boulder, CO Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner©, 2003 EAST COAST PROFESSIONAL FELDENKRAIS® TRAINING PROGRAM, Montclair, NJ Alba Emoting™ CL1, 2002 Christine Scott, New York, NY Bartenieff Fundamentals, 1995 Pat Debenham, BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY, Provo, UT UNIVERSITY APPOINTMENTS Adjunct Professor, Fall 2013 – present Voice, Movement, and Acting UTAH VALLEY UNIVERSITY, Orem, UT Lecturing Professor of Acting, Voice and Movement, Fall 2011 – Spring 2013 Acting, while serving as interim Professor of Voice and Movement, including Dialects, Movement, and Voice & Speech UTAH VALLEY UNIVERSITY, Orem, UT Adjunct Professor, Fall 2010 – Spring 2011 Acting UTAH VALLEY UNIVERSITY, Orem, UT Co-Instructor, Spring 2009 NAROPA UNIVERSITY, Boulder, CO Co-Instructor, Fall 2008 NAROPA UNIVERSITY, Boulder, CO 1 UNIVERSITY INVITATIONAL TEACHING Feldenkrais® - for the Actor
    [Show full text]