• Mobsters and Mormons: from HaleStorm Entertainment; Screenplay written by John E. Moyer (writer of "The Singles Ward", "The R.M.", "The Home Teachers"); Moyer also directs, marking his directorial debut. The story of a dysfunctional mobster family placed in the witness-relocation program among an all-Mormon community in Utah. Filmed in Springville, Utah. Cast members include Mark DeCarlo, Jeanette Puhich, Clayton Taylor, Scott Christopher, Britani Bateman, Olesya Rulin, Jan Broberg Felt, and John E. Moyer as Agent Tuttle. Release September 9, 2005 (Utah).
• Church Ball: comedy about Church basketball leagues where the battle on the basketball court is of mythic proportions--an underdog story about the misfit Mud Lake Ward hoops team that enters a tournament in the hopes of toppling the mighty Crystal Hills Ward. Directed by Kurt Hale and produced by Dave Hunter from HaleStorm Entertainment; $1 million budget. Script by John Moyer ("The Singles Ward", "The R.M."). Cast includes non-LDS Hollywood actors: Fred Willard ("Bewitched," "Anchorman," TV's "Everybody Loves Raymond"), Clint Howard ("Cinderella Man," "Apollo 13"), Gary Coleman (TV's "Diff'rent Strokes," Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jr., son of the basketball legend, and Andrew Wilson, older brother of Luke and Owen ("Fever Pitch"). Cameos by Mark Eaton, Hot Rod Hundley, and Utah radio personality Jimmy Chunga. Church Ball is scheduled for theatrical release Feb. 3, 2006.
• States of Grace: God's Army 2: Tagline: Beyond Faith, Beyond Reason, Beyond Experience. Sequel to "God's Army" written and directed by Richard Dutcher; produced by Richard Dutcher, Dan Urness, Stin Hansen, and Jeff Chamberlain; shot in Los Angeles; cinematography by Ken Glassing ("God's Army" "Brigham City"); starring Ignacio Serricchio ("General Hospital") in the central part as a Hispanic missionary in Los Angeles; Also starring Lucas Fleisher, Rachel Emmers ("Sons of Provo", "Out of Step"), Lamont Stephens and Jo-sei Ikeda. Funded largely by Utah Jazz owner Larry H. Miller; budget considerably under $1 million; story: A missionary's checkered past catches up with him as he and his companion are drawn into a Santa Monica gang war; religious groups other than Latter-day Saints factor prominently into the storyline, and are positively portrayed; Hits the street Fall 2005. Trailer premiered July 22, 2005 at Zion Films.
• Suits on the Loose: Written and directed by Latter-day Saint Hollywood insider Rodney Henson; Produced by George Dayton, Kurt Hale, Dave Hunter (all of HaleStorm) and Rodney Henson; musical score by Alan Williams; Director of Photography Barry M. Wilson; Co-producer and film editor David Brobert; Co-producer Kelly Moran-Brown. Starring Brandon Beemer, Ty Hodges, Sean Weiss and Jason Winer; Cast also includes: Fred Dryer; Allison Lange; Charles Napier and Robert Prosky. Suits on the Loose is the story of two delinquent teens, Justin and Ty, and their breakout from a desert survival camp. Scrapping their military fatigues, they pose as conservative missionaries in the small town of New Harmony. With the camp's General Wilkins closing in, Justin and Ty try to map out their ultimate escape. However, they are so embraced by the town, that getting away does not come easy. Filmed early in 2004 in Los Angeles w/SAG actors; now in post-production; a HaleStorm production; October 7, 2005 theatrical release.
• This Divided State: Minority Films; A raw and riveting examination of the heated "red versus blue" rift in the nation, This Divided State begins in September 2004 with the presidential election fast approaching and the State of Utah ready to declare itself "Bush Country" once again. However, this complacent state of Republican majority was rocked when Utah Valley State College announced that liberal filmmaker Michael Moore would speak on their campus two weeks before the election. Within 24 hours of the announcement, a media frenzy descended upon the school as angry community members and religious leaders shouted protests, pointed fingers, and quoted Mormon scripture. Some even claimed Moore's arrival would bring the Apocalypse! Directed by Steven Greenstreet; Assistant Directors Elias Pate and Bryan Young; Production Manager Michelle Pate. Filmmakers edited 76 hours of raw footage down to 88 minutes. Limited theatrical release starting at the Tower Theatre in SLC, July 22, 2005, then spreading across the country. Check website for complete list of theaters. The DVD will be out nationwide September 27, 2005. (DS has been held over at the Tower Theatre for another week.)
• The Work and the Glory: American Zion: Sequel to "The Work and the Glory;" “American Zion” unearths the gripping tale of the passion, in the face of cruel intolerance, which eventually spurred the colonization of the West. Very few people know of the injustices inflicted by the government against a group of its own citizens who wanted only to exercise their First Amendment rights. Directed by Sterling VanWagenen, co-founder of the Sundance Institute and the Sundance Film Festival, the cast includes Sam Hennings (“The Aviator”), Brenda Strong (“Desperate Housewives”), Eric Johnson (“Legends of the Fall”,“Smallville”), and Jonathan Scarfe (Steven Spielberg’s “Into the West”). Filmmakers include Academy Award-nominated producer Scott Swofford (“Mysteries of Egypt”); Director of Photography Reed Smoot, winner of the Kodak Vision Award; and entrepreneur and Executive Producer Larry Miller, owner of the Utah Jazz NBA basketball team. Filmed entirely on location in Tennessee. Based on the second book in the series, "Like a Fire is Burning," by Gerald N. Lund. Vineyard Productions, along with Vineyard Distribution will release the film nationwide October 21, 2005.
• The Work and the Glory 3: Filmed consecutively with "The Work and the Glory: American Zion"; based on the third book, "The Truth Will Prevail;" focuses on the years 1836-1838. Release date 2006.
• Take a Chance: Feature length film by John Lyde starts filming July 11, 2005, in Utah County, about two brothers (Kirby Heyborne and Corbin Allred) from a small town in Texas who travel to a religious community in Idaho posing as foreign exchange students in order to meet the girls of their dreams. Others in the cast are KC Clyde, RaeAnn Christensen, Lara Schwartzberg, Carrie Stringfellow, Frank Gerrish, Sheryle Wilson, Caitlin Meyer, Bobby Swenson, and Tim Hall.
• Piccadilly Cowboy:Formerly titled "Mind the Gap." A romance about Carson Wells, a Montana cowboy living in England; filmed entirely in the United Kingdom; starring Bro. Jaelan Petrie ("Handcart", "Missy"),directed by Bro. Tyler Ford (M.A. London Film School); produced by Daniel Shanthakumar; musical score by legendary LDS composer Alan Hawkshaw. Others in the cast are Sophie Shaw, Tom Butcher, Kate Foster-Barnes, Gwyneth Powell, James Greene, Daniel Rabin, and Ian Bustard. Limited release very soon.
• Singles 2nd Ward: sequel to the hit comedy "The Singles Ward," expected to be made largely by the same people, with significant changes in the cast (as most of the lead players in the first film were married by the end of the closing credits); April 2006 release.
• Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration: Biopic about the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the man commissioned with the task of restoring the Christianity of the New Testament to the modern world; produced by the institutional Church, scheduled for release December 23, 2005 in the Legacy Theater at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Salt Lake City. (200th anniversary of the birth of Joseph Smith in Vermont); directed by Gary Cook and T.C. Christensen; screenplay by Cook; cinematography by Christensen; starring Dustin Harding as "Joseph Smith", Tayva Patch ("Brigham City", "Little Secrets", "Out of Step", etc.) as "Lucy" (Joseph's mother), Rick Macy ("Brigham City", "Message in a Cell Phone", "Out of Step", "Little Secrets", etc.) as "Joseph Smith Sr."; produced by Ron Munns; line producer Steven A. Lee; production design by Roger Crandall and Richard Jamison; costume design by Shari Ohman; unit production manager is Brian. The film will be translated into multiple languages and, at some point, released nationally into theaters.
• Stalking Santa: Feature film slated for Christmas 2005. Written and co-produced by Daryn Tufts (star of "The Singles Ward"), working with Greg Kiefer of Cosmic Pictures.
• American Mormon: Documentary by Daryn Tufts and Jed Knudsen. It will be released on DVD and VHS Sept. 6, 2005, through Excel Entertainment and Deseret Book.
• New York Doll: Documentary about the late Arthur "Killer" Kane, a recovering alcoholic who has became devout Latter-day Saint and then reunited with members of the legendary punk rock band he belonged to in the 1970s: the "New York Dolls." Competed in the Documentary Competition at the Sundance Film Festival, January 2005. Film made by a predominantly LDS film crew, led by director Greg Whiteley. Was recently entered at the Los Angeles Film Festival (LAFF) June 16-26, 2005. October 2005 theatrical release.
• Thumbsucker: Directed by Mike Mills (who also wrote the screenplay), an adaptation of non-churchgoing Latter-day Saint Walter Kirn's novel about a boy (Lou Taylor Pucci) who sort of overcomes an oral fixation, becomes a Latter-day Saint and goes on a mission. Note that the Latter-day Saint content, although central to the novel, has been excised entirely from this feature film adaptation. Keanu Reeves plays the orthodonist; Tilda Swinton, Chase Offerle and Vincent D'Onofrio play other members of this family (who, in the novel, study with the missionaries and join the Church); also stars Benjamin Bratt and Vince Vaughn; debuted at Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah January 23, 2005; Limited release Sept. 16, 2005.
• The Spirithunter: Bro. David Weidner's feature film debut (he is writer/producer/director/editor): no Latter-day Saint characters, but clear Latter-day Saint beliefs in the film's afterlife themes; plot: A recently deceased man wakes up to find his memory erased. He must discover the unfortunate circumstances surrounding his death while keeping ahead of an unstoppable supernatural force determined to collect his soul; Budget: $100,000; debuted 13 May 2004 at Cannes Film Festival. Video/DVD release is pending.
• Confessions of a Hot Roddin', Pinstripin', Kustomizin', Teenage Icon: feature-length documentary about Latter-day Saint artist Ed "Big Daddy" Roth (a convert to the Church), who gained fame for his sculpted custom cars - "The Beatnik Bandit", "Mysterion" and "The Outlaw" - and his cast of eyepopping cartoon characters (including "Rat Fink"); film made by non-LDS filmmaker Ron Mann; now in post-production, with hopes of screening in the Toronto Film Festival; Summer 2005 release planned.
• The Alibi: Main character (played by Steve Coogan) crosses paths with a high-minded assassin who calls himself "The Mormon." Enci plays a "Mormon wife" in this movie, which was filmed in Los Angeles and is now in post-production. Starring Steve Coogan, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos, Selma Blair, James Brolin, Sam Elliott, John Leguizamo, James Marsden, Jerry O'Connell. Plot outline (IMDb.com): "A man (Coogan) who runs an alibi service for adulterous husbands gets into a jam with a new client. In trying to remedy the situation, he must rely on an alluring woman (Romijn-Stamos) who gets his heart racing." Hoyts Distribution: "Ray runs an alibi service for men and women who want to spend a little quality time away from their so-called loved ones. Business is booming and Ray's life couldn't be better if it weren't for Wendell Hatch (James Marsden), the pampered son of Rays biggest client, who snuck away to Napa for the weekend before his wedding and accidentally strangled his date-mind you, not his fiance. Suddenly Ray's accessory to Murder, featured on the most wanted lists of a savvy small-town cop, a heart broken chauffeur hungry for revenge and a high-minded assassin who call himself THE MORMON. With the help of Lola (Rebecca Romijn Stamos), his sexy, fast-talking right hand woman, Ray must mastermind one final con that will clear his name for murder and put the ghosts from his past to rest, once and for all. But even for Ray, everything doesn't always go to plan -- whether he likes it or not, he's about to learn a thing or two about love and other affairs of the heart."; Scheduled for July 2005 release.
• Legacy: Documentary produced and directed by Larry Laverty about World War II veterans noting their experiences during the war and looking at how those of us in younger generations might live up to what those Veterans fought for. Over 30 WWII veterans have been filmed. In addition, three former WWII German Army soldiers and two Auschwitz Concentration Camp survivors have been recorded and will be included. It should be completed the end of fall 2005, with post, including critical music, taking another several months. Don't Blink Productions. Completion date: early 2006.
• The Eleventh Hour Laborers: documentary directed by Richard Dutcher and produced by Robert Foster; about the 1978 revelation allowing the priesthood to go to African-Americans; executive producer: Wayne L. Lee; now seeking additional supporters willing to make a donation in any amount to support the creation of this film; now in production.
• Helmuth Hubener biopic: critically acclaimed filmmakers Ethan Vincent and Matt Whitaker (recent graduates of BYU film school) are working on a feature film biopic about Helmuth Hubener, the German Latter-day Saint teenager who opposed Adolf Hitler during World War II; Whitaker made the fascinating documentary about Hubener, Truth and Conviction (available on video/DVD); more information to follow.
• Wolfman's Cabin: Student filmmaker Gideon Oakes from BYU-Idaho is producing a feature-length film this fall based loosely on a local legend in Rexburg, Idaho. Legend has it that a man went insane and killed his family in the mountains of Eastern Idaho nearly a hundred years ago to the day. They say he returns to his cabin each year on the anniversary of the murders. The film follows four college students from BYU-Idaho who decide to investigate the legend. What they discover, nobody can predict. Buffalo Rock Productions Release date October 2005. Coming to DVD, Halloween 2005.
• The Return: Romance/drama/comedy directed by Michael Amundsen and written by Tracy Garner. Trying to be perfect has its flaws. A returning missionary (Javen Tanner) anxious to reunite with his long time sweetheart-fiancee (Joey Jalalian), awakens from a near fatal accident with the new priority of saving his wayward mother. Others in the cast include: Tayva Patch, Raymond Zeiters, and Tracy Garner. Produced by Tracy Garner, James W. Broughton, and Steven A. Lee. Executive Producers: M. Kathryn Anhder, Kenneth Garff , Ruanne McArthur, and Norma J. McArthur. Director of Photography Kenneth Garff, First Assistant Director Dusty Dukatz, and Art Director Lana Daniels. Currently in preproduction; begins filming in Utah County August 8, 2005. February 2006 release.
• September Dawn: Indy Western written and directed by Christopher Cain, the father of actor Dean Cain. “Dawn” is a love story set against the 19th Century massacre of a wagon train of settlers in Utah at the hands of a renegade Mormon group. John Voight (Oscar winner “Coming Home”) plays the leader of the renegade Mormon faction, while Lolita Davidovich (“Hollywood Homicide” “Dark Blue”) is a member of the wagon train who stands up to Voight’s threats. Starts shooting August 2005 in Alberta Canada. (No known Latter-day Saint filmmakers or stars.)
• Familiar Spirits: Perry Shumway, is the writer and director of this feature-length independent film, produced by Razor Wire International of Phoenix, Arizona, and Elegy Media International, L.L.C. of Bountiful, Utah. This non-SAG production begins shooting in Soda Springs, Idaho, September12—October 8, 2005. Familiar Spirits is in the horror genre, made by Mormon filmmakers; about Mormons; with the target market LDS families, so there won’t be any nudity or profanity, and little or no violence. The story concerns Angela, a girl in her late teens who, after being in a serious car accident, finds herself in a dark Idaho forest, pursued by frightening ghosts. It's only after she stops to talk with one of them that she realizes that she didn't survive the crash after all, and that she, too, is a spirit. The handshaking test to determine whether a spirit is good or evil, as given in Section 129 of Doctrine and Covenants, is significant to the plot, and the subplot regarding Angela's dad, who has apostatized from the Church, deals with his wish to take some time before returning to the fold.