Comments on: Sunstone Journal – Saturday

By: cory

cory — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 00:28:31 +0000

I wish that I had been here for the symposium. I was in CA for 8 weeks, and didn’t even know about it. I would have loved to hear Richard Dutcher personally.

Someone was mentioning this on AML, but I’ll mention it here. I think that if someone were to create a really good Mormon centric film and also had a great marketing team, that there would be a big hit.

My reason for saying this is Brian Friel. He writes, in his own words, “for the liberation of the Irish people.” His work is very ethnocentric to the Irish. There are a lot of obscure references, but his work gets performed all of the time.

By: Clark

Clark — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 06:59:42 +0000

The problem is that often what people say they want and what they show they want are quite different. That's why often films that don't meet what marketers expect turn out to be so positive. And why so many market driven films don't do so well.

By: Bart Gibby of LDS Audio.com

Bart Gibby of LDS Audio.com — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 20:30:38 +0000

I have met Richard Dutcher breifly, I listened ot him as he talked with my Aunt, (she was in Brigham City). I shook his hand and thought, I like this man, I admire him for sticking out of the crowd.

I mean Richards films have quality acting, they are dramatic, and they tell a compelling story.

When God’s Army came out my father thought the very name was blasphomy… I wondered what others form his gernation thought. I loved the film. It was the first major film of its kind.

Eric, I have said it before to my cousin who works for Fox and I’ll say it here. Until the entertainment industry (especially the LDS entertainment industry) stops using a production mentality and starts using a marketing mentality. they will always have big disasters (Water World for example).

I agree with Dean Hale when he says “that it is of value to Mormons and that it entertains.” I think what he means by “value” is the marketing mentality I am suggesting. You have to understadn your customer, the actual person buying the ticket or the DVD. What does the LDS Community want to see?

Richard Dutchers films, especially Brigham City were too dramatic and were perhaps not what the main stream LDS market wanted. Plus LDS people might not like the idea of non-LDS people thinking that a Mormon can be a killer.

My point is that every product has a life cycle, maybe Richard’s film Brigham City wa too ealry in that life cycle and perhaps Hale Storms Movies hit the life cylce at it peak.

Am I suggesting that LDS Film is dead, no in fact I think the peak I mentioned was just he begining of another major paradime shift for the LDS movie watcher.

Perhaps the LDS peopel are sick of slap stick humor and are ready for the Drama… I really enjoy the Work and the Glory films, I think these types are really what the LDS people want at the moment.

But the only way to tell is if someone really asks them. Someoen needs to take valid statistical polls of what LDS movie watcher wants.

By: Matt Bowman

Matt Bowman — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 03:07:48 +0000

Mahonri – the profanity is in ‘Kiss,’ which apparently was an brief one act play that Eric incorporated into the film production.

I agree that Gadianton, particularly, would have been a stronger choice to film. Additionally, it’s unfortunate that the producers were unable to leverage better production values. Eric’s among the best we’ve got, and I do wish that the first filming of his work was more successful.

By: Mahonri Stewart

Mahonri Stewart — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 01:02:31 +0000

I actually saw the play version of Peculiarities– which was a rather different beast from what the film is, in that it only had four plots instead of six (the NCMO plot, the Las Vegas plot, the “emotional affair” plot, and the single room mates plot). I enjoyed the play very much, although there was certainly some discomfort (intentional I’m sure) at some of the material (even though I don’t remember strong profanity– I wonder if that was added into the film). It was certainly thought provoking and I came out glad that I had seen it. However, I do not believe it is Eric’s strongest piece and was kind of at a loss why he chose that play over something, say, like Gadianton or Family. It is one of the least mass appeal of his works (not that Eric ever really makes mass appeal one of his chief goals). Although I haven’t seen the film (I surely hope to, although I don’t know where) and thus can’t judge its technical quality, yet the previews I saw on the company’s website were dodgy. Poor sound quality, moderate acting– from what I could tell, I don’t think they served Eric’s material very well.
Again, I think this is unfortunate. Eric’s been a friend and his plays are really what inspired me to go into LDS playwriting. He’s one of the best in the genre. I really want his work to succeed, but I think the production company behind the work; the choice of the piece (especially in regards to subject matter); and the Mormon-centric nature of the piece, while repelling the mainstream Mormon audience, will all be major down falls for the film. Here’s hoping that Eric will get another chance with a work that will be a stronger contender for the LDS audience and a more competent production company that will give the piece more quality. Eric’s work deserves at least that much. If that doesn’t happen, at least we know he will continue churning out quality, powerful LDS theater.

By: Matt Bowman

Matt Bowman — Sun, 13 Aug 2006 22:47:53 +0000

Weirdly, Eric, I had exactly the same day – I went to these sessions, locked my keys in my car after Rees’s, and had to call Triple A. In fact, I think I approached your locksmith – I gave him my name and he said, “Nope, I’m here for someone else,” which was confusing – until now.

On Mormon film, I agree with Dutcher. I think the only way a Mormon film succeeds now – even to say, God’s Army level – is if it has crossover appeal enough to get backed by a non-Utah based company and attract audiences for non-Mormon reasons.

As to Peculiarities – I agree. I think there are a lot of interesting ideas knocking around in it, but it also seems to me that it’s almost unconsciously Mormon-centric; a couple of the situations depicted – the ones involving BYU students – require a Mormon, or even a BYU, worldview to make sense, as was made clear when multiple audience members confessed not following the plot. Additionally, all of the stories make Mormon references that a non-Mormon audience wouldn’t grasp. Further, I think you’re right about it not appealing to mainstream Mormons, even setting the profanity aside. Too bad.