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Natl Film Title Weekend Gross
Rank LDS/Mormon Filmmaker/Star Total Gross Theaters Days
--- ----------------------------- ----------- ----- ----
20 The Santa Clause 2 816,138 1,202 66
Ken Daurio (screenwriter) 138,277,797
Cinco Paul (screenwriter)
30 Sweet Home Alabama 333,326 294 101
C. Jay Cox (screenwriter) 126,086,880
51 Cirque du Soleil: Journey of Man 45,450 5 976
Reed Smoot (cinematographer) 14,705,708
64 Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure 17,846 7 696
Scott Swofford (producer) 13,813,133
Reed Smoot (cinematographer)
Sam Cardon (composer)
Stephen L. Johnson (editor)
74 Jack Weyland's Charly 6,831 9 101
Adam Anderegg (director) 593,825
Jack Weyland (book author)
Janine Gilbert (screenwriter)
Lance Williams (producer)
Micah Merrill (producer, film editor)
Tip Boxell (co-producer)
Bengt Jan Jonsson (cinematographer)
Aaron Merrill (composer)
Actors: Heather Beers, Jeremy Elliott,
Adam Johnson, Jackie Winterrose Fullmer,
Diana Dunkley, Gary Neilson, Lisa McCammon,
Randy King, Bernie Diamond, etc.
87 Galapagos 1,590 1 1165
Reed Smoot (cinematographer) 13,679,758
88 China: The Panda Adventure 1,307 2 528
Reed Smoot (cinematographer) 2,990,483
114 Mark Twain's America 3D 215 1 1648
Alan Williams (composer) 2,292,236
MORE BOOK OF MORMON MOVIE - The "Filmmakers" section of the official website for Gary Rogers' Book of Mormon movie has been overhauled. http://www.bookofmormonmovie.com/filmmakers/index.html There are some new names and photos, including costume designer Anne Rose and art director Clark Schaffer.
A NOTE ABOUT ROBERTA SHORE - A few more words about Roberta Shore, the Latter-day Saint actress cast in a supporting role as Ishmael's wife in Gary Rogers' upcoming Book of Mormon movie. Not only did Shore have a major supporting role as the French student in Disney's 1959 movie, "The Shaggy Dog", she also sang the title song. That movie was the 3rd highest grossing movie of the year when it was released. (That's the same position that "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" holds this year.) Top grossing movies of 1959: 1) Ben-Hur ($70,000,000); 2) Sleeping Beauty ($51,600,000); 3) The Shaggy Dog ($28,900,000); 4) Some Like It Hot ($25,000,000). If the box office gross of "The Shaggy Dog" were adjusted for inflation, it would be $189,000,000 today.
IN IT, BUT NOT OF IT - Trent Hanson, the director of "In It, But Not Of It," has provided an update about this production. Due to an increased budget and the actors' schedules production has been pushed to 2003. Pre-production has begun. The director anticipates using songs from some of the country's most popular recording artists in the soundtrack. Hanson named the distributor he expects will handle the theatrical release of the movie. We won't pass on the name yet, but it is a major niche market and "art film" distributor which has released about 30 feature films in mainstream theaters during the 10 years, grossing over $240 million total in U.S. theaters. An official web site for the movie should be online next week. A teaser for the film will be in theaters by the end of February. A line from the teaser: "Life, love, choices... Sometimes only one moment... to ... live ... in it, but not of it.
DAY OF DEFENSE - "The Day of Defense" will soon be premiering at Kingsbury Hall in Salt Lake City using a High Definition Digital Projection system currently only available in LA and New York (also used for the premiere of Star Wars Episode II), and then will be released immediately following to theaters. The movie was the first feature film shot in Utah using High Definition digital video cameras, the same system used to film "Star Wars: Attack of the Clones." "Day of Defense" is a legal drama, and may be compared to such films as Judgment at Nuremberg, A Time to Kill, A Few Good Men, and To Kill a Mockingbird. The story in "Day of Defense" revolves around a Protestant-dominated Southern town attempting to prevent Latter-day Saint missionaries from doing missionary work there. A non-LDS attorney defends the missionaries -- and the First Amendment -- in court.
THE SHAPE OF THINGS - Here's a brand new movie trailer for Neil LaBute's upcoming feature "The Shape of Things." Plot Summary: The story of a man who becomes the raw material for a student's high-concept art project. "The Shape of Things" will be showing Jan. 20, 21, 22 as part of the Sundance Film Festival. 1 showing will be at Trolley Square in SLC and 2 will be in Park City. Trailer: http://progressive.stream.aol.com/aol/us/moviefone/movies/2002/shapeofthings_014254/shapeofthings_trlr_dl.mov
BOB HILTON - Here's a great article about Latter-day Saint news anchor and talk show host Bob Hilton. Hilton, whose son is leaving for a mission to Brussels in February, is the author of a new book: Weekend Dad: 101 Ways To Create Memorable Time With Your Children. His credits as host or announcer include: The Match Game (1991); Let's Make a Deal (1990); The Challengers (1990); Win, Lose or Draw (1987-1990); The $10,000 Pyramid (1987-1988); Double Talk (1986); The New Dating Game (1986); Body Language (1986); The Price Is Right (1985); Trivia Trap (1984-1985); Child's Play (1982); Blockbusters (1980-1981); Password Plus (1980); Card Sharks (1980, 1986-1989); The Guinness Game (1979); The New Tic Tac Dough (1980-1981); Truth or Consequences (1977-1978). The Sacramento Bee newspaper article about him is at: http://www.sacbee.com/content/lifestyle/story/5740748p-6712516c.html
HOPKINS IN LUHRMANN'S "LA BOHEME" - Here's a great article about Lisa Hopkins, the returned missionary who is currently starring in Baz Luhrmann's "La Boheme" on Broadway. http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,450024350,00.html
MUCH TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2003 - Latter-day Saint-themed feature films scheduled for 2003 release:
Names in right columns are the names of the director, unless otherwise noted.
Already Filmed, scheduled to be released in 2003: The R.M. Kurt Hale The Work and the Story Nathan Smith Jones Day of Defense Adam Lawson (may be direct-to-video) Suddenly Unexpected Mark Potter The Legend of Johnny Lingo Steve Ramirez American Grace (maybe) Curtis Taylor Scheduled to Be Filmed and Released in 2003: The Saints of War Ryan Little The Book of Mormon Movie Gary Rogers Love Logs On Tucker T. Dansie Baptists At Our Barbecue Robert Farrell Smith (writer) movie about home teachers John E. Moyer (writer) The Best Two Years of My Life Scott S. Anderson In It, But Not Of It Trent Hanson Also, already filmed 2003 releases by non-LDS directors featuring LDS main characters: - Angels in America, directed by Mike Nichols, adapting Kushner's Pullitzer-winning play - Latter Days, written and directed by C. Jay Cox - Thumbsucker, directed by Mike Mills, adapting Walter Kirn's novel
DESERET NEWS LISTS UPCOMING FILMS: The Desert News surveyed upcoming feature films in their 3 January 2003 article "Coming soon to a theater near you . . ." (http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,450024253,00.html). Films made by Latter-day Saint filmmakers and actors are:
JAN. 31
FINAL DESTINATION 2 -- Ali Larter and Utahn A.J. Cook return in this sequel to the 2000 horror-thriller, as the specter of death still follows surviving characters.
THE R.M. -- The makers of "The Singles Ward" return with this LDS-specific comedy about the title character (Kirby Heyborne), who has to decide what he wants to do with his life when he returns to Utah from a mission.
FEB. 21
THE LIFE OF DAVID GALE -- Drama starring Kevin Spacey as the title character, an anti-death-penalty activist who suddenly finds himself on death row for the slaying of another activist. Kate Winslet and Laura Linney co-star. [With Katherine Willis in a small role.]
MARCH 21
PIGLET'S BIG MOVIE -- A.A. Milne's tiny character finds himself thrust into the role of hero in this animated musical/comedy, which follows his attempts to rescue his friends from danger in the Hundred Acre Wood. [Starring Ken Sansom as "Rabbit."]
MARCH 28
THE CORE -- Ensemble science-fiction thriller starring Aaron Eckhart, Hilary Swank and Stanley Tucci as scientists making a last-ditch effort to save mankind by journeying to the center of the Earth.
YEAR END REPORT 2002 - Included below are only films which were released during 2002. Although films such as "The Other Side of Heaven" played in theaters during 2002, if they were released during 2001 or previous years, they were not included in the following report. An asterisk (*) next to the title marks those films which are still currently in theaters.
[If table below doesn't line up properly, try looking at them with a mono-spaced font, such as courier - Ed.]
Natl Film Title Prod.
Rank LDS/Mormon Filmmaker/Star Total Gross Budget
--- ----------------------------- ----------- -----------
14 The Santa Clause 2* 135,459,771 65,000,000
Cinco Paul (screenwriter)
Ken Daurio (screenwriter)
15 Minority Report 132,014,112 102,000,000
Gerald Molen (producer)
34 The Divine Secrets of the 69,586,544
Ya-Ya Sisterhood
55 Master of Disguise 40,400,000 16,000,000
Perry Andelin Blake (director)
73 Murder by Numbers 31,874,869
Ryan Gosling (actor)
106 Punch-Drunk Love 17,791,031 25,000,000
Actors: David Stevens
Nathan Stevens, Jim Smooth Stevens,
Michael D. Stevens (brothers)
135 Possession 10,103,647 25,000,000
Neil LaBute (director)
Aaron Eckhart (lead male actor)
163 ESPN's Ultimate X 4,197,175
Reed Smoot (cinematographer)
232 Jack Weyland's Charly* 577,143 950,000
Adam Anderegg (director)
Jack Weyland (book author)
Janine Gilbert (writer-screenplay)
Lance Williams (producer)
Micah Merrill (producer, film editor)
Tip Boxell (co-producer)
Bengt Jan Jonsson (cinematographer)
Aaron Merrill (composer)
Actors: Heather Beers, Jeremy Elliott,
Adam Johnson, Jackie Winterrose Fullmer,
Diana Dunkley, Gary Neilson, Lisa McCammon,
Randy King, Bernie Diamond, etc.
240 The Believer 406,035
Ryan Gosling (actor)
241 Little Secrets 405,182 2,500,000
Blair Treu (director/producer)
Brian Sullivan (cinematographer)
Sam Cardon (composer)
Jerry Stayner (film editor)
Actors: Jan Broberg Felt, Rick Macy,
Tayva Patch, Caitlin E.J. Meyer
334 Handcart* 70,000 300,000
Kels Goodman (director/DP)
David Greenslaw Sapp (producer)
Mark von Bowers (screenwriter)
Eric M. Hanson (composer)
Actor: Jaelan Petrie, Stephanie Albach
Chris Kendrick, Shannon Skinner,
Gretchen Condie
We do not have box office information for the following theatrically screened films RELEASED during 2002 and directed by Latter-day Saints: Out of Step (Ryan Little); Cremaster 3 (Matthew Barney); Lewis & Clark: Great Journey West (Bruce Neibaur); India: Kingdom of the Tiger (Bruce Neibaur); The Princess and the Pea (Mark Swan). Also, we do not have box office data for a number of IMAX films directed by Latter-day Saints and released prior to 2002 which continued to be shown in theaters throughout the United States and the world during 2002.
TOP 10 LISTS UPDATE: Additional top 10 lists were published in newspapers around the world this week. Below are updated lists of feature films by LDS/Mormon filmmakers and actors which were cited in top 10 lists by movie critics worldwide.
In addition to the critically acclaimed feature films that were produced or directed by Latter-day Saints, or which featured a Latter-day Saint actor in a starring role, we might briefly mention "The Man from Elysian Fields." Along with the movie's non-LDS stars Mick Jagger, Andy Garcia and James Coburn, a lesser known actor named Joseph Paur had a small role as an opera singer. Paur may be better known to Utah audiences for his major supporting role "Lamonah" in the Church-produced film "The Testaments: Of One Fold and One Shepherd (2000). Paur also had the starring role as the reclusive singer Ribaldi in the direct-to-video movie "Rigoletto" (1993), widely considered the best movie produced by Feature Films For Families. "The Man from Elysian Fields" was included on the Top 10 Films of the Year lists of F.X. Feeney (LA Weekly) and Chuck Rudolph (Slant Magazine).
Also, Latter-day Saint movie producer Jerry Molen (producer of "The Other Side of Heaven" and many of Spielberg's movies) and actor James Morrison (a native of Bountiful, Utah) had small roles in Steven Spielberg's "Catch Me If You Can," which starred Tom Hanks (himself a Latter-day Saint when he was a child). The movie is an adaptation of the biography of check forger Frank Abagnale Jr., who claims to have been a BYU professor at one time, but probably wasn't. "Catch Me If You Can" was included on over 40 Top 10 lists by newspaper and TV critics nationwide, including People Magazine, LA Weekly (Ron Stringer), Good Morning America (Joel Siegel), New York Times (Elvis Mitchell), Newsday (John Anderson), Hollywood Reporter (Martin Grove), Time Out New York (Nicole Keeter), Slant Magazine (Chuck Rudolph), The Hollywood Reporter (Michael Rechtschaffen), Florida Sun Sentinel (Todd Anthony), Denver Rocky Mountain News (Robert Denerstein), New Haven Advocate (John Boonstra), Dallas Morning News (Gary Dowell), Dallas Morning News (Philip Wuntch), Reno Gazette-Journal (Forrest Hartman), Hollywood Reporter (Michael Rechtshaffen), New York Press (Armond White), Las Vegas Mercury (Bob Grimm), Globe & Mail (Johanna Schneller), The Beacon Journal (George M. Thomas), Washington Post (Stephen Hunter), Daily Oklahoman (Jerry Shottenkirk), Deseret News (Jeff Vice), CBS The Early Show (Jess Cagle), WFAA Dallas (Gary Cogill), FOX TV (Shawn Edwards), FOX TV (Roger Friedman), filmcritic.com (Rachel Gordon), Willamette Week (Brian Libby), Palo Alto Weekly (Jim Shelby), NewsChannel2000.com (Tim Lammers), filmcritic.com (Christopher Null), Gay Chicago Magazine (Jonathan Lewis), Cozzi Fan Tutti (Jill Cozzi), Daily Reviews (Shay Casey), Window to the Movies (LVJeffrey), Associated Press (Christy Lemire), LightViews (John Larsen), filmcritic.com (Jeremiah Kipp), and CNN Entertainment (Paul Clinton). New York Post critic Jonathan Foreman ranked "Catch Me If You Can" as the best movie of the year.
The lists of Top 10 lists, which include Possession, Minority Report (on more than 70 lists), Punch-Drunk Love (on more than 90 lists), The Believer, Cremaster 3 and Family Fundamentals, can be found at: http://www.ldsfilm.com/misc/lds_top10.html.