tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860308562279203907.post1365853314831458542..comments2024-01-20T05:27:34.690+01:00Comments on Toward an LDS Cinema: Napoleon Dynamite as the Standard for LDS FilmmakingTrevorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00817545149801983520noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860308562279203907.post-69595527373128073652008-07-19T00:57:00.000+02:002008-07-19T00:57:00.000+02:00Trevor, Sorry to revive an old topic in this way, ...Trevor, <BR/><BR/>Sorry to revive an old topic in this way, but I just caught up on the AML discussion you mentioned in your e-mail. I'm putting this here for the benefit of anyone else who might have something to say about this film.<BR/><BR/>Obviously I haven't seen it, but <I>HottieBoombaLottie</I> seems like just what you said - a failed attempt at using <I>Napoleon Dynamite</I> as a standardAdam K. K. Figueirahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00332366019568841848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860308562279203907.post-66716343430687315192008-07-11T06:13:00.000+02:002008-07-11T06:13:00.000+02:00Bryan, Sorry, not my intent at all. Actually, what...Bryan, <BR/><BR/>Sorry, not my intent at all. Actually, what I think happened was that the people giving the awards hoped that calling it a major Hollywood production would make it sound like a more impressive achievement than saying "production by a local independent LDS filmmaker." Everyone likes a little bit of Hollywood at these events. <BR/><BR/>I should have, but didn't have time before theAdam K. K. Figueirahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00332366019568841848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860308562279203907.post-57434780512411347192008-07-11T04:05:00.000+02:002008-07-11T04:05:00.000+02:00I think that in this case the marketing folks hope...I think that in this case the marketing folks hope people equate "major Hollywood production" with a much better story, production values, and acting than, say, "The Singles Ward." I don't know if I would equate "Hollywood" with Little selling out on his core values. I think he needs a little more time to mature as a filmmaker before I can determine that.Bryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08014603435354864124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860308562279203907.post-54501083359005156682008-07-11T02:41:00.000+02:002008-07-11T02:41:00.000+02:00For what it's worth, here's an interesting note ab...For what it's worth, here's an interesting note about <I>Forever Strong</I>.<BR/><BR/>Tonight I'm running some equipment for the Days of '47 "Pioneers of Progress" dinner in Salt Lake. It's an annual event at which I've been the technician for the last three years. Tonight, one of the honorees is Larry Gelwix, the coach portrayed in Ryan Little's movie.<BR/><BR/>I found it interesting, since Adam K. K. Figueirahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00332366019568841848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860308562279203907.post-4407150052517111452008-07-09T00:17:00.000+02:002008-07-09T00:17:00.000+02:00Kayela, From what limited participation I've had i...Kayela, <BR/><BR/>From what limited participation I've had in the LDS film movement, that's one of the big things that's under discussion right now.<BR/><BR/>In that same issue of <I>BYU Studies</I> that I quoted in my original post, Gideon Burton (et al ) has a 150 page history of LDS filmmaking. He presents as a working definition any cinema that has been made by, with, for, or about Latter-dayAdam K. K. Figueirahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00332366019568841848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860308562279203907.post-26210603750776812732008-07-08T22:56:00.000+02:002008-07-08T22:56:00.000+02:00Orgazmo is included in the BYU Mormon Literature D...Orgazmo is included in the BYU Mormon Literature Database but so is that one episode of Frazer with a Mormon lawyer in it. How are we defining LDS filmmaking? Do you count if you're less active? Just curious.Kayelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02831024889231823650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860308562279203907.post-20972269842785204752008-07-08T13:55:00.000+02:002008-07-08T13:55:00.000+02:00For the record, my use of "we" was intended to exc...For the record, my use of "we" was intended to exclude me. :) I'm quite conservative on a number of LDS principles, but fairly liberal as to my willingness to see and appreciate flawed LDS characters in film - at least among others I know. That said, I have no desire to see either "Fallen" or "Orgazmo" (which I suppose someone could make a case for inclusion in the Mormon cinema tent, but <B><IBryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08014603435354864124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860308562279203907.post-23555320890903300352008-07-08T10:39:00.000+02:002008-07-08T10:39:00.000+02:00boy, what a discussion starter!Allow me to point t...boy, what a discussion starter!<BR/><BR/>Allow me to point to a previous post of mine on the LDS-ed-ness Jared Hess's movies and their humor:<BR/>http://ldscinema.blogspot.com/2008/01/few-reasons-why-i-think-jared-hess.html<BR/><BR/>I used to feel similarly to Bryan: {We want everyone to see us as optimistic, hard-working, family-oriented, and driven by faith. This makes it difficult for Trevorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00817545149801983520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860308562279203907.post-82860062147424120302008-07-08T04:52:00.000+02:002008-07-08T04:52:00.000+02:00Sorry, I mistyped. Napoleon Dynamite grossed over ...Sorry, I mistyped. <I>Napoleon Dynamite</I> grossed over 44 million.Adam K. K. Figueirahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00332366019568841848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860308562279203907.post-85095561949929882802008-07-08T04:50:00.000+02:002008-07-08T04:50:00.000+02:00Ah, yes. I omitted "New York Doll" in my initial ...Ah, yes. I omitted "New York Doll" in my initial post not out of ignorance, but because I believe it stands as a terrific exception to what we've seen from the so-called "LDS cinema" movement so far. I forgot to mention it though, as I felt my reply was getting long enough as it was.<BR/><BR/>Adam, I'll still check out "Forever Strong" someday, but as you mentioned earlier, I will do so with Bryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08014603435354864124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860308562279203907.post-35703179199480285592008-07-08T02:04:00.000+02:002008-07-08T02:04:00.000+02:00My two favorite "Mormon" films are: 1) New York Do...My two favorite "Mormon" films are: 1) New York Doll, and 2) Napoleon Dynamite. In each film there are unique and attractive characters. Mormonism is not the main character-- it plays a minor role if at all. (One really has to search for it in Napoleon).<BR/><BR/>Good films have to have the capacity to attract a broad audience that does NOT need inside information about the Church to S.Fauxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11172834057530110206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860308562279203907.post-76301895003750646472008-07-08T01:35:00.000+02:002008-07-08T01:35:00.000+02:00Wow! I'm glad to have finally written a post that ...Wow! I'm glad to have finally written a post that people have found interesting enough to comment on!<BR/><BR/>I have a few things to say.<BR/><BR/>Bryan, <BR/><BR/>Let me give you a better rounded impression of <I>Forever Strong</I>. When I say that it's not different from Hollywood fare, I don't mean that it's mediocre. It is as good as anything you'll see from a major studio with the benefit Adam K. K. Figueirahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00332366019568841848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860308562279203907.post-48615366895618594092008-07-08T01:33:00.000+02:002008-07-08T01:33:00.000+02:00I should add that I think half the Disney movies (...I should add that I think half the Disney movies (many which are filmed here by LDS or quasi-LDS crew) are sort of exemplary of the mediocre LDS film. The only difference is that LDS film makers then make token yet arguably insubstantial LDS references.<BR/><BR/>I think they could do more. However at this stage I think any LDS film to do well and be interesting has to be presenting LDS culture Clark Goblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03876620613578404474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860308562279203907.post-69585089289218675832008-07-08T01:31:00.000+02:002008-07-08T01:31:00.000+02:00I'm glad someone else mentioned New York Doll whic...I'm glad someone else mentioned New York Doll which was quite the genre breaker in some was. I think why Napoleon Dynamite worked is that it was quirky and focused in on what makes us different without focusing in on the religion. I mean anyone who grew up around Utah would recognize most of those stereotypes immediately. I think that's why so many see it as Mormon. It's the cultural Mormon Clark Goblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03876620613578404474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860308562279203907.post-64204904176945478462008-07-07T23:10:00.000+02:002008-07-07T23:10:00.000+02:00Just a couple thoughts.First, no one has mentioned...Just a couple thoughts.<BR/><BR/>First, no one has mentioned "New York Doll." Could not this film also be seen as a standard for LDS filmmaking? The film has complex characterization, it has a unique LDS appeal, and yet it also has an appeal to a wider audience (albeit a narrow one). Perhaps LDS film makers might consider making films that cater to other niche audiences, even if it sacrifices Dennishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08804813003502191307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860308562279203907.post-59836632668274391322008-07-07T22:20:00.000+02:002008-07-07T22:20:00.000+02:00This is off the cuff and I haven't had my coffee y...This is off the cuff and I haven't had my coffee yet (kidding! blog cliche alert) and I haven't seen any of the films mentioned except for <I>Napoleon Dynamite</I>, but it seems to me the problem has about three parts (maybe more). <BR/><BR/>1. Money. The minute Adam mentions money, my mind goes to <I>El Mariachi</I> that was filmed on what, 10K? But look what play it got. Even if that's a Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860308562279203907.post-31805922077412635702008-07-07T22:15:00.000+02:002008-07-07T22:15:00.000+02:00I appreciate your perspective on "Forever Strong,"...I appreciate your perspective on "Forever Strong," even if it did dim my enthusiasm for the movie somewhat. Given that it looks like the film is intended as a star-making (-burnishing? I don't know him) vehicle for teen heartthrob Sean Faris, I wonder how many of the creative decisions in it were made by Little and how many were imposed on him by the producers. <BR/><BR/>In the indie music worldBryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08014603435354864124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860308562279203907.post-27034467651279683522008-07-07T21:42:00.000+02:002008-07-07T21:42:00.000+02:00Bryan, I think you make a necessary point in sayin...Bryan, <BR/><BR/>I think you make a necessary point in saying that (if I understand you correctly) placating the sensitive and doing well at the box office should not be the goals of LDS cinema. There's a difficult balance between doing what you need to to get your movie into the hands (or eyes and ears, as the case may be) of an audience and staying true to your artistic/spiritual vision. The Adam K. K. Figueirahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00332366019568841848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860308562279203907.post-41076670991670840622008-07-07T20:09:00.000+02:002008-07-07T20:09:00.000+02:00One of the current difficulties is the portrayal o...One of the current difficulties is the portrayal of Mormon characters in cinema. Part of this is due to external events (like the FLDS raid a few months back) that have put the Church and its members on the defensive. We are working hard to send the world a clear message as to who we are and what we stand for. (Note the Church's <A HREF="http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/Bryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08014603435354864124noreply@blogger.com