Mormon movie madness

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Aug 15, 2003 | by Nicole Warburton Deseret Morning News

According to Dutcher, even bad films can be good for the Mormon- movie genre.

"I think even if some film that's so poorly made that it's offensive to all of us comes out, I don't think even that is going to affect the market because there's just a pretty constant niche (audience) out there that will go see these films. And, I think that if a bad one comes along, they'll just forget about it, and it will make them want a good one even more."

When a niche film does poorly at a theater, however, it makes it more difficult for the next film to get in, Dutcher added. "And that could be one thing that could be a challenge for us is, if a few films go out and do poorly -- whether because they're poor films or because they're poorly marketed or whatever. Then that causes us to have to negotiate a little harder with the theatre chains in order to get the films in there.

"And the reason why the doors were open after 'God's Army' was because it did extremely well. And so, the theatre chains are in the business of making money, so they wanted anything else that could bring in that kind of an audience, and so they were open to whatever came along and now they're getting a little more discriminating."

However, Dutcher also feels that the market for LDS films can only improve.

"I have absolutely no anxieties about the economic stability of this genre. Because there is enough of an audience there, if you make your films for the right price, if you don't overspend, then you're going to do well in that market. And, I think if it's an honest story, if it's very straight-forward, very honestly and sincerely told, then it will attract other people.

"We'll just try to ignore the really bad movies and really celebrate the great ones, and 10 years from now maybe we'll have our own big studio, cranking out our own product with a lot of experienced filmmakers. . . .

"We have this incredible potential to provide world cinema something that they don't already have -- which is spiritual cinema."

LDS-themed films

SCHEDULED FOR FALL RELEASE

"Suddenly Unexpected" (special screenings in Houston theaters)

"The Work and the Story," Aug. 29 (limited digital-video screenings)

"The Book of Mormon Movie,

Vol. 1: The Journey," Sept. 12

"Day of Defense," Oct. 10

"Best Two Years," Oct. 10

"Pride and Prejudice," fall 2003

SCHEDULED FOR WINTER 2004:

"The Home Teachers," Jan. 9

"Saints and Soldiers," early 2004

ALSO

"The Legend of Johnny Lingo," Aug. 29

Cost-to-gross earnings for LDS-themed films

* Cost includes marketing costs; gross is U.S. box-office earnings

"God's Army" (2000)

-- Cost: $300,000

-- Gross: $2.6 million

"The Other Side of Heaven" (2001)

-- Cost: $7 million

-- Gross: $4.7 million

*(Played theatrically in every state but Rhode Island and West Virginia. Disney Home Video distributed on VHS and DVD.)

"Brigham City" (2001)

-- Cost: $900,000

-- Gross: $905,073

"The Singles Ward" (2002)

-- Cost: $500,000

-- Gross: $1.25 million

"Handcart" (2002)

-- Cost: $300,000

-- Gross: $98,666

"Jack Weyland's Charly" (2002)