[Transcript of KUTV news story]
MALE ANCHOR: One of the most anticipated films by Mormons is not officially under way. It is the big screen production of the Book of Mormon.
FEMALE ANCHOR: The building of the set started just this week and Dan Rascon joins us live from Ogden in a secret location... and... Dan is that a cabin that you're in?
RASCONE: Yes, Christy and Bryan. I'm in Joseph Smith's cabin in Palmyra, New York. Or at least that's what Hollywood would have you believe. As you can see this is just a set, here... and I'm in a warehouse here... A warehouse at a secret location in Ogden. This warehouse will be full of sets to make the Book of Mormon [inaudible "come to life?"]
GARY ROGERS, producer/director: This is a filmmaker's dream.
[ORCHESTRAL MUSIC. Scenes of modelmakers, set builders and craftsmen. Interspersed with shots of the actors naming their roles.]
CRAGUN FOULGER: I play Lemuel.
SUSAN ROUNKLES: I am Nephi's sister.
R. THANE HALES, executive producer: Now it becomes a reality.
RASCON: Film production is now under way on one of the LDS Church's most sacred books, The Book of Mormon.
CHRISTOPHER MILLER: I'm going to be playing one of Ishmael's sons.
SHERYL LEE WILSON: I'm Sariah's best friend.
GARY ROGERS: It will have all the elements that any good motion picture has. Drama...
CRAGUN FOULGER (as Lemuel): I'm not going to leave behind all of my wealth and possessions. You're... You're mad!
GARY ROGERS: ...a great romance...
LISA ROGERS: I play Laman's wife.
GARY ROGERS: ...murders... calamaties
RASCON: Gary Rogers is the director of this multi-million dollar Hollywood-style production.
GARY ROGERS: There's a built-in audience of nearly 12 million people that have been waiting for this all of their life.
BRYCE CHAMBERLAIN: I'm portraying Lehi.
RASCON: "The Book of Mormon Volume 1: The Journey" will take place 600 years before Christ, following Lehi and his family as they travel from Jerusalem to America.
THANE HALES: We're in a warehouse in Ogden at a secret location.
RASCON: In another month this warehouse will be transformed into the city of Jerusalem... will also travel to Hollywood for scenes of Lehi's and Ishmael's homes... and Laban's palace. Scenes will also be shot in Saudi Arabia and Mexico.
ALLEN LAFFERTY, production designer: [inaudible; building a model ship]
RASCON: And Nephi's ship will be built in all sizes. There will be small... and very, very large... Former Mormon Youth Symphony conducter Robert C. Bowden is in charge of the music.
ROBERT C. BOWDEN, composer: This is going to be one of the most important tufts.
ANNE ROSE, costume designer: We could do some of those leather [inaudible]
RASCON: The costumes are also critical.
ANNE ROSE: [inaudible]
UNIDENTIFIED: I think one of the biggest challenges will be to please the expectations of those members of the Church that are familiar with the story and have seen the movie in their minds over and over...
RASCON: But it's a challenge these LDS filmmakers are anxious to take.
THANE HALE: When they leave that theater, our purpose is... we want them to read the book.
RASCON: Yes, coming soon to a theater near you at the end of Summer... Now, this big screen here you see behind me, the big green screen actually will be used to bring some of those ocean scenes alive through the magic of Hollywood. Now, Rogers plans to make eight or nine episodes over the next eight or nine years, hoping to get one out each year. The movie, as I mentioned, hits the big screen hopefully by the end of this summer. That's the plans for now. Now, for more information on this, you can go to their website at BookOfMormonMovie.com. Well, Christy and Bryan, back to you.
MALE ANCHOR: Dan, a couple of things. One, I remember when he was in town recruiting. Has he filled all roles?
RASCON: No, he's filled every role except for Nephi's role. In fact they're leaving tomorrow to go cast Nephi there in L.A. But I guess they're looking for somebody about 6'4", two hundred and twenty-five pounds... A lot what you look like...
FEMALE ANCHOR: [laughs]
MALE ANCHOR: [to Rascon] You and I...
RASCON: That's right, about the same...
MALE ANCHOR: That's right...
RASCON: No, but they, they haven't filled... That's the only major role they haven't filled.
MALE ANCHOR: It's secret... a secret location?
RASCON: It is. It's a secret location out here.
FEMALE ANCHOR: Thank you, Dan. Stay tuned, we'll be right back.
The official website for Gary Rogers' Book of Mormon movie has posted a photograph and biography of the actor chosen to star as Nephi. The actor is apparently not a Latter-day Saint. The following is from the website:
Noah Danby
Noah Danby is a veteran Stage, Screen and Television actor living in Toronto, Canada. His 6'3", 224 lb. muscular frame, striking good looks and extraordinary acting ability, make Noah the perfect actor to play the leading role of Nephi.
Noah's film credits include: Exit Wounds (Warner Bros.), Tuxedo (Dreamworks), Against The Ropes (Paramount), Marciano (MGM/Showtime), The Skulls (Universal), Darkness Falling (Norstar), Loser (Sony Pictures), Detroit Rock City, (New Line), and The Pawn (Canadian Film Centre).
Some of Noah's Television credits include: The Brady Bunch In The Whitehouse (Fox/Paramount), Theives (ABC/Warner Bros.), Veritas (ABC/Touchtone), Mutant X (Tribune Entertainment), Relic Hunter (Paramount), Witchblade (TNT/Warner Bros.), Murray Maguire (PAX TV), Power Play (Alliance/CTV), Singles Court (Red Apple Entertainment), Lexx-The Dark Zone (Salter St. Films), Animorphs (Nickelodeon), La Femme Nikita (CTV).
Some of Noah's Theatre credits include: Funny Money (Theatre On The Grand), Mass Appeal (Genisis Productions), Private Lives (Theatre Collingwood), Venus Of Dublin (Centaur), The Dining Room (Theatre On The Grand), Six War Years (Ryerson Theatre), The Greeks (Ryerson Theatre), Our Town (Ryerson Theatre), Lunatics, Lovers & Other Poets (Ryerson Theatre), Little Shop Of Horrors (Guelph Little Theatre), Annie (Royal City Music Productions), New Canadian Kid (Theatre Ross), Mirror Game (Theatre Ross), and Step on a Crack (Theatre Ross).
In addition to his acting talent, Noah is also an accomplished athlete. He was a 4-year Allstar football player and 1994 OFFSA Wrestling Champion. Noah excels in Downhill Skiing, Kayaking, Kick Boxing, Rock Climbing, Horseback Riding and Mountain Biking.
OGDEN -- Since seeing "The Ten Commandments" in 1956, Gary Rogers has dreamed of making a movie depicting stories from the Book of Mormon.
Nearly 50 years later, he is writing, directing and producing that dream.
"He conceived the idea," said Thane Hales, who is executive producer with Mormon Movies L.L.C., "but we all had thought about it for years."
The first in an eight-volume series, "Book of Mormon Movie -- Volume One" is expected to hit the local cineplex this summer.
Interior filming of the movie takes place for the next few months in an unmarked warehouse in Business Depot Ogden.
Inside, a platform stands before a giant, green screen. At the other end of the warehouse, production designers decorate Lehi's house, while a boat set sits upon inner tubes.
"You will believe you are in the most violent storm in history, but you're really in Ogden, Utah," Rogers said.
"It's another good tenant at BDO and we're happy to have them here even if it's just a short-term thing," said Steve Waldrip, project manager for The Boyer Company, BDO developer.
Rogers and Hales, former LDS missionary companions in Alaska and Canada, said this is the first attempt to make a motion picture of the Book of Mormon.
The filmmakers want to produce "The Book of Mormon" movie in eight or nine volumes through the next seven years.
The Book of Mormon is one of four books that comprise the canon of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It tells of a prophet named Lehi who fled Jerusalem with his family and others. They ultimately arrived in the New World and founded a civilization. The book says the resurrected Jesus Christ visited their descendants, who were literal descendants of Israel.
The first volume of the movie will cover "1 Nephi" through part of "2 Nephi." Both are books within the Book of Mormon.
Filmmakers said they will try to get the movie into cinemas across the country and around the world. After the release, the movie will be available on DVD and video, with the ability to see the exact chapter and verse in the book that relates to the scene in the movie at the press of a button.
"Book of Mormon Movie - Volume One" takes place about 600 B.C., with the families of Lehi and Ishmael journeying through the Arabian desert, crossing a great ocean and reaching the Americas.
Volume One ends with the separation of Nephi and his followers from his brothers, Laman and Lemuel, shortly after the death of their father, Lehi.
Rogers said the movie, running less than two hours, will include action, drama, intrigue and romance.
Filmmakers said they attracted LDS members with experience in Hollywood on films including "Titanic," "Star Wars," "Batman" and "Independence Day" to work on the movie. About 10 to 15 individuals from Ogden are working on the movie too.
"We just say we want a ship and they say, "No problem, we worked on 'Titanic,' " Hales said.
Robert C. Bowden, director of the Mormon Youth Symphony and Chorus and former associate conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, will compose the musical score.
The London Symphony Orchestra, which performed the music for "Star Wars," will perform the "Book of Mormon's" score.
Shooting will take place at Universal Studios in Los Angeles, Central America and the Southern California desert. Swooping desert shots have already been filmed in Jordan and Saudi Arabia, Rogers said.
Rogers would not say how much the movie cost but said it is a multimillion-dollar motion picture, funded by private investors.
Although filmmakers are relying heavily on religious subject matter, Hales said the "Book of Mormon Movie" is not sponsored or endorsed by the LDS Church.
"It is a religious movie, but it is not created by the church," Hales said. "It is realistic because it's all there in the book and we tell it in a movie kind of way."
Rogers said the movie is meant to reach a wide audience.
"The movie certainly has special interest for members of the LDS Church, but this movie is not designed for them," Rogers said. "It has all the good elements you find in a great motion picture."
Hales said he hopes people learn about his religion.
"It's not our intent for it to be a missionary movie," Hales said, "but if people understand the book and want to convert, then that would be good."
Kurt Hale, director and co-writer of "Single's Ward" [sic] and "The RM," said the church does not get officially involved with films about LDS culture.
"The church is very quiet about it," he said. "I think that they have another agenda. Nobody has ever come out publicly and said, 'Hey, we like what you're doing.' "
Privately, members of the church have praised his work, Hale said, but the church wants to remain diplomatic about the various movies.
Mitch Davis, who directed the film "Other Side of Heaven," said he heard nothing from the church, even though the main character, John Groberg, is now a General Authority in the church.
"There was absolutely no input, no interference and no encouragement either," Davis said.
Audiences, however, are recognizing LDS films as a new plausible genre, Hale said.
"A lot of people have had stories to tell for a long time, and now they feel they can do that," he said. "The success of "God's Army" and "Single's Ward" says that you can make the films and get a small profit."
These movies tend to do well in areas with an LDS community such as Utah, Arizona, California and Idaho, but they also attract people who are curious about the LDS Church.
The future of LDS films, Davis said, is making quality movies, even if they will only be seen by other members of the LDS Church.
"The danger is if the LDS market doesn't demand first-class filmmaking," Davis said, "then LDS directors won't make first-class films."
PHOTO CAPTIONS:
Assistant costume designer Ron Johnson works on some of the wardrobe to be used in filming.
Scenic artist Steven Price lays out floor tiles for the filming of a movie in a warehouse in Business Depot Ogden recently. Some of the indoor scenes for a movie on the Book of Mormon will be filmed there.
[This is a shortened version of the article that appeared originally in the Ogden STANDARD-EXAMINER, and which was carried by Associated Press.]
OGDEN, Utah (AP) - Since seeing "The Ten Commandments" in 1956, Gary Rogers has dreamed of making a movie depicting Book of Mormon stories.
Nearly 50 years later, he is writing, directing and producing the first of what is hoped to be eight or nine films on the scriptural stories.
"He conceived the idea, but we all had thought about it for years," said Thane Hales, executive producer with Mormon Movies LLC.
Rogers and Hales were missionary companions in Alaska and Canada.
"Book of Mormon Movie - Volume One" is expected to open this summer.
The Book of Mormon is one of four books that comprise the canon of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It tells of Lehi, a prophet who with his family and others fled from Jerusalem to the New World, where they founded a civilization.
A warehouse in Business Depot Ogden is being used in the filming.
Inside, a platform stands before a giant, green screen. At the other end of the warehouse, production designers decorate Lehi's house, while a boat set sits upon inner tubes.
"You will believe you are in the most violent storm in history, but you're really in Ogden, Utah," Rogers said.
The first volume of the movie will cover "1 Nephi" through part of "2 Nephi."
It takes place about 600 B.C., with the families of Lehi and Ishmael journeying through an Arabian desert, crossing a great ocean and reaching the Americas.
Volume One ends with the separation of Nephi and his followers from his brothers, Laman and Lemuel, shortly after the death of their father, Lehi.
The filmmakers said they attracted Mormons with experience in Hollywood to work on the movie. About 10 to 15 Ogden residents also are working on the movie.
Robert C. Bowden, director of the Mormon Youth Symphony and Chorus and former associate conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, will compose the musical score, which is to be performed by the London Symphony Orchestra.
Shooting will take place at Universal Studios in Los Angeles and in Central American and the southern California deserts. Swooping desert shots already have been filmed in Jordan and Saudi Arabia, Rogers said.
Rogers would not say how much the movie cost but said it is a multimillion-dollar motion picture, funded by private investors.
Hales said the movie is not sponsored or endorsed by the Mormon church.
Rogers said the movie is meant to reach a wide audience.
"The movie certainly has special interest for members of the LDS Church, but this movie is not designed for them," Rogers said. "It has all the good elements you find in a great motion picture."
Hales said he hopes people learn about his religion.
"It's not our intent for it to be a missionary movie," Hales said, "but if people understand the book and want to convert, then that would be good."
The first major motion picture to depict the Book of Mormon is scheduled for release this summer.
"July 24th has a nice ring to it," the movie's writer, director and producer, Gary Rogers, said. "But we don't have an exact date."
Rogers has waited for a movie about the Book of Mormon for a long time.
"I thought somebody should make a motion picture out of the Book of Mormon over 40 years ago," Rogers said.
He said he never thought he would be involved. But four years ago, he began writing a script.
Rogers said he plans to make a Book of Mormon movie series. The first film, titled "Book of Mormon Movie - Volume One," covers 1 Nephi through the beginning of 2 Nephi, when Lehi dies.
The film uses a combination of vernacular and scriptural English, Rogers said.
"It's a combination of both," he said. "We've modernized it somewhat so it's a little more palatable to the audience, but essentially it's almost the same as it is in the Book of Mormon."
Rogers said the movie is meant for more than just Latter-day Saint audiences.
"The Book of Mormon movie will have special appeal to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," he said. "However, the movie is designed to appeal to all viewers. The movie has all the same elements that make up any good motion picture: mystery, drama, action, intrigue, murder and romance. This will be an epic motion picture in every sense of the word."
Rogers wanted to make it clear that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has not endorsed the film.
"We've wanted the Church to be involved unofficially," he said. "The Church cannot nor should not sponsor or endorse a commercial project, which indeed this is. But we have given the screenplay to them. We have wanted them to be advised of what we're doing."
BYU students expressed support for a film with the Book of Mormon as its subject.
"It will be interesting to see what they come up with; I hope they will do it well, " said Ellinor Bergqeist, a junior from Stockholm, Sweden, majoring in music.
Students believe that with the recent popularity of LDS films, "Book of Mormon Movie" has a good chance at success.
"I think it's a good idea," said Arianne Barrus, a senior from Richmond, Va., majoring in psychology. "I think the Church has gotten a good reputation lately, and with 'The Other Side of Heaven' and 'The Singles Ward,' people are starting to see a different light in the Church. It can't hurt."
Rogers said he plans to first release "Book of Mormon Movie - Volume One" in 40 theaters throughout Utah, and then to release the film nationwide.
The London Symphony is scheduled to perform the music for the film. They also performed all the music for "Star Wars."
Noah Danby is a versatile professional actor with an impressive resume of screen television and theatrical credits that demonstrate the 6-foot-3, 224-pound Toronto resident can play a variety of characters.
Danby's Web site lists his roles in 10 full-length movies, 17 television features and 14 professional stage productions. His latest role is that of Nephi, the Book of Mormon hero, in "The Journey," the first volume of the "Book of Mormon Movie" scheduled for release this summer.
The Book of Mormon Movie's Web site has partial lists of past performances of the major actors in the movie. Perhaps the producers can be forgiven for omitting Danby's appearances in the graphic gay-themed 2001 Showtime mini-series, "Queer as Folk." In separate episodes, Danby played gay characters named "Tatoo" and "Captain Astro," including a couple of nude scenes. Danby lists those credits on his own Web site, along with his latest role as Nephi.
The Book of Mormon Movie Web site makes clear that the LDS Church is not involved with the project.
Films and television programs shot entirely or partially in Utah during the past year and their current video status:
RECENT/CURRENT RELEASE
AWAITING RELEASE/AIRING