Mormon movies — a new one in the works

Posted on by

I am proud to admit right here on the bloggernacle that I own DVDs of almost all of the Mormon movies that have come out. From “Johnny Lingo” to “The Best Two Years,” if they have a Mormon theme, I shell out the bucks. I spoke recently with a husband-and-wife team that is trying to put together a unique Mormon film called “The Smith Interviews.” This is no fly-by-night operation: Mark Deakins is an experienced actor, and Steve Young (yes, THE Steve Young) is the executive producer.

“The Smith Interviews” is nothing more than a business plan, a script and a short 10-minute movie right now. Mark and Joni Deakins are looking for $1 million from investors so they can film, produce and distribute the movie this year, the 200th anniversary of Joseph Smith’s birth. The idea of the project is to hear about Joseph Smith from the people who knew him in the 1830s and 1840s — both his supporters and critics. It will be a docu-drama of sorts.

The short is quite interesting. We hear from John Bennett, Hyrum Smith, Govs. Boggs and Ford and John Taylor and many others. They are interviewed giving their opinions of Joseph Smith. I think the project is really quite promising. We see Joseph Smith with his supporters in the Carthage Jail talking right before he is martyred.

I am mostly interested in this from a journalistic standpoint — what is it like to put together a movie, especially a Mormon movie? The Deakins report that it’s not easy. Although some Mormon themed movies have been successful financially, many of them have been panned by critics (think of “The Book of Mormon Movie,” which I actually thought was not nearly as bad as the critics said it was). There are not that many LDS people in Hollywood, according to the Deakins. (Kieth Merrill is of course an exception).

The Deakins used their own money, about $50,000, to put together the short in less than a week of filming with professional actors. They have been sending the short and a business case around the country looking for investors. Once they get $1 million, they plan to start shooting. They hope to have a film to send to the theaters by this fall.

Mark Deakins has been on Broadway and had some roles on “Star Trek: Insurrection,” “Judgment Day” and has been on “Star Trek: Voyager” among many, many acting projects. He was the original voice on the “Sundance Channel” and is the voice of “Audi.”

The Deakins make a convincing case that there is room for their approach to the Joseph Smith story. I’d like to see it make it to the big screen. I need some more movies for my video collection.

This entry was posted in Any by Geoff B.. Bookmark the permalink.

About Geoff B.

Geoff B graduated from Stanford University (class of 1985) and worked in journalism for several years until about 1992, when he took up his second career in telecommunications sales. He has held many callings in the Church, but his favorite calling is father and husband. Geoff is active in martial arts and loves hiking and skiing. Geoff has five children and lives in Colorado.

11 thoughts on “Mormon movies — a new one in the works”

  1. I agree that it sounds promising in concept. I would like to see it made and wish them the best.

    Having said that, I don’t think it will make its money back should it manage to get made. One million on a docu-drama?! I would be surprised if they even managed to gather the money – hopefully it will be from saints who want to see it made and don’t care if they get their money back.

    Few LDS films have broken the $1 box office mark, and a docu-drama has a lot of things going against it. Regular movie theaters don’t carry documentaries or docu-dramas, so you’re already confined to art-house theaters that do. Even then, the average movie going public – even a Mormon one – doesn’t generally go to see that kind of movie. Docu’s generally don’t make any money anyway – unless you manage to become a national hit as in the very rare case of Super Size Me and F 9/11. The fact that it’s both a docu and a Mormon movie is a bad sign. I see it barely breaking the $100,000 box office gross – and that’s if it’s good.

  2. I gotta agree with Russell — that sounds like a disaster of a business plan.

    And $1M on a docu drama? Wow. Films like the RM and the Singles ward were filmed for half that (see, e.g., http://imdb.com/title/tt0306069/business ), and documentaries are supposed to be cheap, right? If people can film a very successful shark fil form $130K (see http://imdb.com/title/tt0374102/business ) then why does it take a million to film a docu drama? Color me skeptical.

  3. Perhaps this is the Mormon version of “Springtime for Hitler.”

  4. I am guilty of not describing this film correctly. Here is a better description, and more information, from Joni Deakins, who e-mailed me:

    “Normally I would not respond, but I think he might have been a little confused. First of all, our film is not a documentary. It is a feature film, in the same vane as Arthur Penn’s “Little Big Man.” – where a reporter comes to interview a character and as he answers the questions there are flashbacks of his life. Secondly, we are not marketing to Mormons because they are a given. We are marketing to the independent festival world, something I actually know a lot about having actually produced films that went to festivals and as former agent in NY representing Academy Award winning talent, along with indie film-makers. Thirdly, most Hollywood films including blockbusters do not make their money on box office. They make it in foreign distribution and dvd/video sales. To get even a limited release in “Arthouse Theatres” assures you of foreign distribution, as well as a better deal with your distributor in dvd/video.”

  6. It is true that Hollywood films make a chunk of change overseas, but that’s Hollywood. Besides “God’s Army”, which managed to pick up some theaters in Mexico, I am unaware of any Mormon-themed films have been able to expand internationally.

    Market towards Non-LDS? That doesn’t mean anything. Everyone’s doing it. “Suddenly Unexpected” had the same idea. They would ignore Utah at first and begin going through film festivals. It didn’t work because it wasn’t good enough. “Saints and Soldiers” on the other hand, was good, and managed to win audience choice or best picture in a load of film festivals. It was also marketed towards non-LDS and doesn’t even mention Mormons anywhere in the movie. It has made 1,162,730 in the box office to date.

    A film about Joseph Smith, which doesn’t have the backing of a mega selling novel from a GA author, will not come close to the gross of “Saints and Soldiers”. “The Work and the Glory” has been able to expand outside the jello-belt only because of its success within it. Normally, national theaters will not pick up an independent film about Joseph Smith, even if it has won in film festivals.

    Such a film will not make it far outside Utah/Idaho/Arizona and will only make a dent within. If it is indeed a feature film and manages to get into regular theaters, I predict a BO gross of $300,000 – $500,000. Again, that’s if it’s good.

    Apologies for being pessimistic. I hope it gets made and I hope it does well. But LDS films are bombing all over the place these days and I’m afraid it’s causing potential investors to lose confidence.

  7. Perhaps this would be more drama than docu, and it will be filmed in the style of Citizen Kane. Intrepid reporter tours the country interviewing friends, followers, and even enemies of the recently martyred cult leader Joseph Smith. Anyone know what Joseph named his sled when he was eight?

  8. Geoff writes:

    “we are not marketing to Mormons because they are a given.”

    Wow. Are Mormon moviegoers and DVD-buyers really so predictable/uniform/easy-to-take-for-granted. Maybe it’s just me, but that seems like a very problematic attitude. I don’t think that any filmmaker can assume that a major portion of his audience is a given. He may _hope_ that they’re a given. But the film still has to be good, has to strike people the right way, has to resonate.

    And I’ll reiterate doubts about the $1M budget. It just seems (from the perspective of an outside observer) very hard to make money with films. A $1M budget seems like a lot to try to make back. I don’t think it’s any coincidence that many of the great success stories of independent films, like Pi or Open Water, were shot on extremely bare-bones budgets.

    I’m wishing them the best of luck. I like the fact that there are Mormon movies out there. And I would be interested in watching this, if and when it comes out. But I’m still dubious about this particular idea as a business model. And I’m not convinced that the Mormon audience can be taken for granted.

  9. To Mr. Eric Russel:

    I would like to say that I believe Mormon movies BOMB because they are exactly that – MORMON movies. Too many mormons often try to capitalize on their faith, from “get rich quick” multi-level marketing schemes to videos such as “The Aeorobic Workout for the LDS Woman” to producing films such as you mentioned. And the films bomb because they are campy productions with no professional direction or vision, designed to target and capitalize on membership of faith. The movies you mention are the epitome of embarrassment in the mormon culture.

    Having seen the 13 minute DVD Mr. Deakins produced and directed, I have a clear picture of where this director wants to go – and it ain’t Kansas, Dorothy.

  10. I am a Deakins myself and am proud to say that if you put your mind to it, you can do anything! Maybe the $1m is a little high, but would you want them to aim low? I say go for it Mark and Joni! and good luck!

  11. I have seen the short of the “Smith Interviews” and was left with a feeling of awe and intrigue. I’m not a movie critic but this short appealed to me. It was well written and well acted. Mark has a great vision with this movie and I hope it makes it into the theatres.

    -Amy Brooks Joffs

Comments are closed.