Natl Film Title                Weekend Gross % B.O. Theatrs
Rank LDS/Mormon Filmmaker/Star   Total Gross Change  $/Thtr   Days
--- ---------------------------  ----------- ------ -------  ----
11  The Upside of Anger            1,249,125  -33%     167     17
    Keri Russell (actress)         4,015,047        $7,480

12  Constantine                    1,237,064  -47%   1,005     38
    Allen Hall (SFX coordinator)  72,680,301        $1,230

17  Millions                         488,044 +141%      77     17
    LDS major characters:            917,265        $6,338
      3 LDS missionaries

51  Lemony Snicket's A Series         59,596  -31%     109    101
      of Unfortunate Events      118,461,298          $546
    Brett Helquist (co-creator/
      book illustrator)

55  Pooh's Heffalump Movie            54,535  -53%     182     45
    Ken Sansom (star: Rabbit)     17,900,207          $299

61  Bugs!                             38,383  +11%      17    745
    stars Papilio,                14,874,812        $2,257
      a Great Mormon butterfly

62  Saints and Soldiers               37,491            18    234
    Ryan Little                    1,202,556        $2,082
     (director/producer/cinematographer)
    Adam Abel (producer)
    Brian Brough
     (assoc. producer/produc. manager)
    Wynn Hougaard (editor)
    J Bateman (composer)
    Matt Whitaker (screenwriter)
    Jennifer Buster (casting)
    Actors: Corbin Allred, Larry Bagby III,
      Kirby Heyborne, Lincoln Hoppe,
      Curt Dousett, Ben Gourley,
      Ethan Vincent, etc.
    LDS main character: Deacon

74  The Work and the Glory            17,622  -63%      32    124
    Russ Holt (writer/director)    3,167,222          $550
    Gerald N. Lund (author)
    Scott Swofford (producer)
    T.C. Christensen (cinematographer)
    Sam Cardon (composer)
    Stephen L. Johnson (editor)
    Larry H. Miller (exec. producer)
    Jeff T. Miller (line producer)
    Supporting actors:
      Brighton Hertford,
      Sarah Darling, Ryan Wood
    John R. Uibel (production designer)
    Cathren Warner (costume designer)
    Edwin Matsu (makeup artist)
    Stephanie Scott (makeup artist)
    Laurie Vukich (assistant hair stylist)
    Heather Toone (2nd assistant director)
    LDS main characters

94  Sons of Provo                      4,868 +309%       3     52
    Will Swenson                      83,339        $1,622
      (writer/director/producer/
      lead actor/songwriter)
    Peter D. Brown
      (writer/producer/songwriter)
    John Lyde, Stephen Rose
      (cinematographers/editors)
    John Shircliff (prod. designer)
    Anne Rose (costume designer)
    KC Blake (sound designer)
    Tyler Keegan
      (unit prod. manager/1st A.D.)
    Scott Hust (2nd A.D.)
    Robert Swenson (2nd 2nd A.D.)
    Spencer Barnes, Anna K. Findlay
      (make-up artists)
    Actors: Will Swenson, Kirby Heyborne,
      Danny Tarasevich, Jennifer Erekson,
      Peter D. Brown, Maureen Eastwood,
      Michael Birkeland, Alison Akin Clark,
      Jeremy Elliott, etc.
    LDS main characters

97  Galapagos                          4,128  -61%       2   1977
    Reed Smoot (cinematographer)  14,740,277        $2,064

111 The Young Black Stallion           1,860   +4%       2    459
    Reed Smoot (cinematographer)   6,723,521          $930

128 Baptists at Our Barbecue             165  -75%       1    143
    Christian Vuissa                 173,106          $165
     (director/producer/co-screenwriter)
    Matt Smith (producer)
    Robert Farrell Smith
     (producer/co-screenwriter/book)
    Brandon Christensen (cinematographer)
    Actors: Dan Merkley, Heather Beers,
      Frank Gerrish, Jan Broberg Felt,
      Duane Stephens, Steve Anderson

LDS Cinema Total Box Office Current Top Ten

1. The Other Side of Heaven - $4,720,371
2. The Work and the Glory - $3,167,222 *still in theaters*
3. God's Army - $2,628,829
4. The Book of Mormon Movie, Vol. 1: The Journey - $1,660,354
5. The Singles Ward - $1,250,798
6. Saints and Soldiers - $1,202,556 *still in theaters*
7. The Best Two Years - $1,165,523
8. The R.M. - $1,111,615
9. Brigham City - $905,073
10. Charly - $813,685

LDS Cinema Box Office vs. Production Budget Top Ten

1. God's Army - 8.763
2. The Singles Ward - 3.127
3. The Best Two Years - 2.914
4. The R.M. - 2.223
5. Saints and Soldiers - 1.542
6. Charly - 1.162
7. The Book of Mormon Movie, Vol. 1: The Journey - 1.107
8. Pride and Prejudice - 1.068
9. Brigham City - 1.006
10. The Other Side of Heaven - 0.674

FREE PROJECT MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE AVAILABLE - Latter-day Saint programmer/project management guru Brian Christensen has designed a project management software package that, although not specifically designed for film production, seems to be an ideal tool for helping to manage the complex scheduling of time and resources that goes along with all of the different phases of film production. The best part is that he offers the program as an open-source tool available to anyone who wants to use it for free. The program runs on Windows, Mac OS X and even Linux operating systems. It helps with every phase of project management from scheduling and prioritizing to follow-up. For more information and to download the software, visit http://www.pureviolet.net/ganttpv/index.html. For more information about Bro. Christensen's project management system along with some guidance on how to use the software, visit http://www.simpleprojectmanagement.com/home.html (Brian is Thomas's uncle.)

HOUR-LONG BIOPIC FILM ABOUT JOSEPH SMITH TO PREMIERE ON HIS B-DAY IN LEGACY THEATER, PART OF 200 ANNIV. CELEB - See http://www.newutah.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=51127&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

DOCUMENTARY BY LDS FIMMAKERS "THIS DIVIDED STATE" PREMIERES IN WASHINGTON D.C. - Steven Greenstreet's documentary film, This Divided State, premiered to a standing room only crowd at the E Street Cinema in our nation's capital.

This Divided State follows the controversy surrounding Utah Valley State College's invitation to liberal filmmaker Michael Moore to speak on campus. Though UVSC is located in one of the most conservative counties in the United States, vehement opposition to Moore's visit was much greater than anticipated. Equally surprising, however, was the overwhelming support for Moore, vocalized by students and community members previously considered "apathetic." Debate between Moore supporters and Moore protestors raged openly in the media and public forums. Death threats, hate mail, bribes, and lawsuits were all candidly captured on film.

The film's first screening was warmly received and has generated a number of rave reviews as well as an article in the Washington Post. You can read them all, as well as view a mini-documentary of the premiere on the films official website: www.thisdividedstate.com.

In the meantime, there are still more tour dates scheduled and an extensive NPR interview with Steven Greenstreet due to be broadcast in the coming weeks. The film is currently seeking distribution.

To RSVP for any of the remaining screenings, please email info@thisdividedstate.com.

A tentative list of tour stops has been included below. A more complete list is available on the website.

George Mason - March 28
NYU - March 29
Princeton - March 30
Cornell University - March 31
Yale University - April 4
Harvard University - April 5
Dartmouth University - April 6
Ohio State University - April 7
University of Wisconsin - April 11
University of Michigan - April 12
University of Chicago - April 13
Illinois State University - April 14
University of Kentucky - April 18
Vanderbilt University - April 19
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - April 20
University of Florida - April 21
University of Miami - April 25
University of Texas at Austin - April 26
University of California, Los Angeles - April 27
University of Southern California - April 28
University of California Berkeley - May 2
University of Utah - May 3

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD: LDS CINEMA OFFERS ALTERNATIVE ENTERTAINMENT OPPORTUNITY - See http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2005/03/25/news/news02.txt

NEW REVIEWS OF "SAINTS AND SOLDIERS" - See http://www.oregonlive.com/movies/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/entertainment/1111662099255730.xml and http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/artsentertainment/2002222724_saints29.html

RINGS IN THEIR NOSES: ROBERT REDFORD ON MORMONS - See http://www.sltrib.com/healthscience/ci_2627583

SAMPLING OF REVIEWS OF NEIL LABUTE'S NEW PLAY "THIS IS HOW IT GOES" - See http://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Story.aspx?ci=509178

PRESS RELEASE: LDS CINEMA STAR SIGNING HIS HIT NEW MUSIC CD; APPEARING IN STORES - Kirby Heyborne will be in Utah this week to promote his new CD "Inside." The album contains eleven original songs written and performed by the star of such films as "The Best Two Years," "Saints and Soldiers" and "The R.M." Kirby's musical style can be best described as alternative pop with intricate rhythmic guitars and warm vocals. He recently showed off his musical talent in the film "Sons of Provo," in which he plays a member of a Mormon boy band.

Kirby's schedule include live performances on Friday and Saturday at Media Play, Deseret Book, BYU and the LDS Conference Dance at the South Towne Expo Center. He will also be a guest on KSL's Doug Wright Show on Friday morning. Kirby's CD is available in most local bookstores and music outlets, including Deseret Book, Media Play, Borders, Hastings, and Seagull Book and Tape.

"I'm very excited to have my first solo album finally released. I love music, and I love playing music, especially in front of an audience," says Kirby Heyborne, who wanted to come out with a music album for several years now. "This is a dream come true, and I'm happy to return to my artistic roots. Music is definitely my first love."

Kirby got interested in music when he was 15. He played in local bands like Shasta Daisy and Bentleigh, which had a good following in Utah and Idaho. With Bentleigh, Kirby opened for N'Sync at the Olympic Medals Plaza during the 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Winter Games. He also did a cover version of the hymn "Hie to Kolob" for the R.M. soundtrack. Recently, Kirby wrote the song "Beautiful Inside" for the comedy "Sons of Provo," and performed as a member of the fictional boy band Everclean on the soundtrack and in the film. His album "Inside" is a more personal expression of his musical talent.

SCHEDULE OVERVIEW:

Friday, April 1, Noon:
Live at the Terrace
Brigham Young University
Wilkinson Student Center, Provo

Friday, April 1, 7:00 - 9:00 PM:
Media Play Family Center Mid-valley
5546 South Redwood Road, Salt Lake City

Friday, April 1, 11:30 PM:
LDS Conference Dance
South Towne Expo Center
9450 South State Street, Sandy

Saturday, April 2, Noon - 2:00 PM:
Deseret Book ZCMI Mall
36 South State Street, Salt Lake City

Saturday, April 2, 4:00 - 6:00 PM:
Media Play Family Center
130 East 1300 South, Orem

MEASURE TO PROTECT DVD EDITORS USING LDS-MADE FAMILY-FRIENDLIZATION TECHNOLOGY PROGRESSES - See http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,600121828,00.html

DISCUSSION: DVD-LOCALIZATION TECHNOLOGY, COPYRIGHT, AND DICK CAVETT - [BELOW: Commentary from LDSFilm.com subscriber Joseph L. Puente, about the LDS-made DVD-modification technologies used by various Utah-based companies to remove objectionable content from Hollywood movies.]

My mother always told me that you can't have your cake and eat it too. Well, apparently, the powers that be in Washington think you can.

I'm all for stiffer penalties for piracy. This new bill, according to Dianne Feinstein, D-California, "will ensure that those who steal the creative works of others will be held accountable."

But this same bill is also designed to protect companies like ClearPlay who are developing and marketing technology to ALTER the copyrighted creative works of others.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the way copyright law works now, no one can benefit financially from a derivative version of a copyrighted work unless they OWN the copyright. That's what companies like ClearPlay and CleanFlix are doing. They are making money from derivative versions of copyrighted material they don't own. Oh, sure, they argue that they "don't make MUCH money" from it and that their customers "collectively own the movies and can do what they want," or "our little DVD players don't cut anything out, they just filter it." But the fact remains, they're making money at this. As are the video stores who rent out edited films and even sell them as "previously viewed."

I think it's hypocritical to support a bill that essentially says to artists, "We'll protect your right to make money from your work, but we won't protect your right to express yourself... In fact, we're going to make it easier for people to change and filter the artwork that you've created. You know, to make it more acceptable for children, less offensive to parents... It doesn't matter if your work isn't geared toward children or families, they might want to see it too without all that icky truth and realism."

I do believe it's the right and responsibility of parents to manage what their children see and hear on television, in the movies and on radio. But this legislation isn't about helping parents to make decisions. It's about enabling LAZY parents who would rather leave the decision making up to technology and other so-called "solutions" from OUTSIDE OF THE HOME.

I'd like to clue in a few people about how redundant this legislation really is. You see, parents don't need special sanitizing DVD-players or "edited" versions of movies to choose from. Nor do they need legislation to protect their so-called right to delegate viewing choices to an outside influence. What they need to do is exercise their own judgment. They need to spend time with their children and KNOW what's going on in their lives. They need to stop looking for loopholes to their own morals and have the BACKBONE to stand up and say, "I don't have to watch this and neither do my children."

Oh, but we can't have that, can we? Heaven forbid we deny the rights of parents to ignore their children and shut them up in a room with an electronic babysitter. No, instead, our culture says, "Just because your a parent doesn't mean you have to spend all your time parenting. We'll find a workaround. We'll invent technology that you can use in place of your own judgment to 'protect your children.' Isn't technology wonderful? And we'll take it a step further, we'll make it a law that parents have the right shirk their responsibility to raise their children as moral and productive members of society. That they have the right to leave the moral instruction of their kids up to companies who don't really care about teaching morals... they just care about hiding what THEY BELIEVE are the 'BAD PARTS' of media because 'as long as they don't HEAR or SEE anything BAD, the rest of it MUST be okay, right? I haven't seen it, but the sign says "R and PG-13 movies EDITED for the FAMILY." That's probably good, right?'"

WRONG! It's never good to let other people do your thinking for you, especially when they claim to be doing it for your own good or for your protection.

Has anyone stopped to consider how much time and money has been spent preparing this legislation? Or how many resources have been put into creating "family safe" DVD-players and edited movies?

Why do people tend to overlook the simplest and most inexpensive solutions? It doesn't take a genius to come up with a few simple rules to govern what your family watches. Here's one you can try on for size and feel free to adjust these to suit your own families needs. After all, there's no copyright on common sense.

If there's a movie or television program you'd like to see that has some violence, sexuality or profanity, you have two very simple choices at your disposal.

A) Watch it WITHOUT your children.

(This assumes that there might be some merit to the film but it contains material that young children probably aren't mature enough to handle.)

or

B) Don't watch it at all.

(This option has the added bonus of not costing you ANY MONEY. That's right, folks, it's absolutely FREE not to watch a film, avoid renting a movie, or turning off your TV. In fact, you can take the money you save and spend it on something that's more worthwhile like, taking the family to the zoo or buying a book that you can read together or doing any infinite number of things that will get your family interacting instead of just sitting quietly staring at a screen.)

Now, I know there are some people out there who are going to be offended by what I have written here. These are people who want to have their cake and eat it too. All I can say to them is what my mother said to me when I wanted it both ways: "NO!!! BAD CHILD!! Now pull your head out of your [censored] and start acting like an adult!"

Mom always knew how to get right to the point. (May she rest in peace)

Oh, I'm curious to know how many people read the word "censored" and immediately knew what I was really saying? Kind of makes you wonder why I bothered. Makes me wonder why ClearPlay bothers about it too. Dick Cavett once said, "Censorship does more for the dirty mind than the four letter word itself."

You comments are always welcome.

Sincerely,
Joseph L. Puente
filmmaker@joepuente.net

P.S.

This reminds me of a book that I've just requested from the library. I haven't read it yet, but I'm looking forward to. It's called "Rated F." by Todd C. Noker. Here's the description:

Provo, Utah. Home of sex, violence, and porn -- for the whole family! When the resourceful owner of a struggling video rental business gives his customers what they want -- R-rated movies that are edited for the family -- the profits start to roll in. His life quickly spirals out of control when media attention about his successful business leads to a parade of fanatics that either want to kill him, or have him alter their personal video collections.

When a customer brings in a lifetime of home movies with a request to remove his wife, things take a frightening turn. Managing a video store swiftly turns into violence, murder, and too many people smiling for too many cameras.

Rated F is a satire about political correctness gone too far, and how making the world non-offensive for everyone creates only insanity.

DISCUSSION: I THOUGHT IT WAS FUN (RESPONSE TO: ORSON SCOTT CARD: 'RETURN OF JEDI' IS BAD) - LDSFilm.com subscriber Matt Floer writes:

Interesting points by OSC on "Return of the Jedi."

I remember watching the Stars Wars movies as a kid and was surely unawares of all the subtle points of that--Darth Vader being like Hitler and then voila--didn't kill his son and so he's saved so to speak. That is contradictory of course, to what we know of justice and repentance. And I sure as heck didn't think about that at age 9 or whevenever I watched the thing. :) I probably thought more like--woah, cool, Vader and his son are back together again.... heh, heh. It was a happy, ideal ending. Just never connected all the dots.

What Lucas may have been trying to attain was just that happy ending and I think most people could enjoy that. And for those that understand fiction is just that--fiction, it's kinda fun to imagine something else. Even a realm where Darth Vader can be forgiven and all ends well. So maybe Lucas was trying to show those fallibilities and redemption, etc.. Still, as OCS pointed out, it's a mighty big descrepancy there fomer being THAT bad to standing as equals with the good guys who fought all their lives.

And that's another thing I loved about Star Wars--all the morality and good and evil stuff. The "force," the conflicts, the lonely Luke Skywalker, stripped of things he loved, etc..

Sure was a fun film. And what if Lucas had changed the ending of D. Vader not helping Luke or say killing him or how 'bout not showing D. Vader finding his way back to a merry afterlife with Yoda and Obi-wan? :)

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Matt is responding to a previous post about LDS author/screenwriter Orson Scott Card's opinion about "Return of the Jedi," that it is a bad movie in part because of its immoral conclusion. A version of one of Card's speeches on this topic can be found at http://www.lib.byu.edu/friends/lectures/card.html