Political Surf on how to make a Book of Mormon movie

You don’t hear much about “Book of Mormon Movie: Volume 1: The Journey,” Gary Rogers’ attempt to bring the Mormon Church’s chief scripture to the big screen in 2003. Talk of a sequel lingered on for years, but even that has faded away.

It’s true, the film is dopey. There are a lot of “Mormon actors” in the film, including Jan Broberg-Felt, Jacque Gray and Kirby Heyborne. Although non-Mormon star Noah Danby is pretty good as Nephi, he can’t overcome weak dialogue, little depth of character, a hurried production, historical inaccuracies, poor special effects, mediocre acting, really bad aging procedures, supercilious narration, delusions of Cecil B. DeMille-ish grandeur, an episodic shooting script that allows little plot development … have I left anything out? Oh yes, it’s too long.

In fact, Latter-day Saints are the most harsh of the critics of BOMM. They seem to take it as a personal affront that a film version of Mormondom’s most famous scripture is barely above the level of a K. Gordon Murray Saturday-only Mexican children’s fantasy from the 1960s. Still, I bet there are thousands of LDS families who have a copy of BOMM gathering dust in the DVD rack. And many more Latter-day Saints went to see the film. It grossed over $1.6 million, a pretty high take for an LDS-genre movie. Perhaps if BOMM had cost $500,000 instead of $1.5 million, we might actually be seeing a “Book of Mormon Movie Part 2: Zarahemla.”

We Mormons are clannish people. We give our films a shot. And no matter how bad a “Home Teachers” or “BOMM” is, it makes an easy and low-maintenance family home evening activity. Also, BOMM, God bless it, is full of good intentions. Its pretentious, faith-affirming prologue brings a smile, as does the Snidely Whiplash antics of Laman and Lemuel, the aging actors whose faces stay smooth while their hair grays, and that modern dialogue — my favorite is a young Nephite who tells mom, “Oh mother, we’re going to a new world, you’re so old fashioned!” (I paraphrase I’m sure!

So what would it take to do an honest, interesting version of BOMM? Probably the best idea is not to try at all. The Book of Mormon is the 19th century’s Tristram Shandy. It’s hard to adapt. But if someone ever tries again, stick to Alma. It seems the easiest to adapt into an adventure film. But then take all the specific religious elements out of it, throw in some fantasy, a few wizards and elves.

By all means make sure the producer or director is not a Mormon. Add a passionate romance to the plot, a long journey, bad guys, a twisted tormented dwarf, helpless villagers, a bloody finale, perhaps a magic, malicious breastplate, and finally a joyous reunion of all the (good) principals.

Slap the title BOMM on it and — if a lawsuit from J.R.R. Tolkien’s estate is avoided — it may just gross $50 million and result in a couple of thousand referrals for missionaries.

BOMM was — to put it kindly — greeted coldly by critics. It’s hard to find a positive review, even on fan sites such as the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com) One fan reviewer, playing off a Mark Twain pun, calls BOMM “chloroform on film.” It’s true, the film is dopey. There are a lot of “Mormon actors” in the film, including Jan Broberg-Felt, Jacque Gray and Kirby Heyborne. Although non-Mormon star Noah Danby is pretty good as Nephi, he can’t overcome weak dialogue, little depth of character, a hurried production, historical inaccuracies, poor special effects, mediocre acting, really bad aging procedures, supercilious narration, delusions of Cecil B. DeMille-ish grandeur, an episodic shooting script that allows little plot development … have I left anything out? Oh yes, it’s too long.

As a proselytizing tool, the leaden acting, tablecloth wardrobe, and Sixties-era Star Trek set design are more likely to leave nonbelievers stupefied than awestruck, while Craig Clyde’s rambling script, which annoyingly employs both Biblical thou-isms and modern-day colloquialisms, is far too literal in bringing the big Book to the big screen....
....for fans of truly bad cinema, The Book of Mormon Movie is something of a comedy goldmine...Up against Mel Gibson’s ultrarealistic The Passion of the Christ, The Book of Mormon Movie comes off as a Herschell Gordon Lewis film minus the gore. With its liberal use of what appear to be Styrofoam interiors, you sit through the duration of the film half expecting James T. Kirk to wander into frame with Spock and Bones in tow, seeking to avert the destruction of "Jerusalem 9" by the Romulans."
- Excerpt from a review of BOMM at The Austin Chronicle
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Whether or not you believe The Book of Mormon is true -- and I should say up front that I do -- many of its stories are prime movie material, full of drama, excitement and inspiration. I suspect one day a good film will emerge that makes use of the book's events and characters.
"The Book of Mormon Movie" is not that film."
- Excerpt from a review of BOMM at "Snide Remarks"
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The Book of Mormon Movie: The Journey, coming to Rexburg’s Holiday Theater Sept. 19, is meant to do more than merely entertain LDS audiences. The goal of the Mormon Movie production company, according to the directors and public relations, is to open the roads for missionary work.
"The target audience for this movie is not the membership of the LDS church," public relations representative Brett Thompson said. "We expect they will see it, and we hope they will be proud of it and feel it is an accurate depiction of their beliefs. However, those that are passively curious about the Book of Mormon because of their association and friendship with 'Mormons' are whom we hope to reach."
"....It’s not corny or embarrassing; you can feel good about taking your friends to it. Our biggest hope is that the film will be used for the purpose that it’s intended."
- Excerpts from an article on BOMM found at BYU-Idaho

The very extensive Book of Mormon Movie page at ldsfilm.com
The Book of Mormon Movie, Vol. 1: The Journey listing on Wikipedia
Book of Mormon Movie! DVD! New! LDS Movie - Awesome! listing at Amazon.com

You don’t hear much about “Book of Mormon Movie: Volume 1: The Journey,” Gary Rogers’ attempt to bring the Mormon Church’s chief scripture to the big screen in 2003. Talk of a sequel lingered on for years, but even that has faded away.

REYNOLDS: I'm interested in the picture business. My associates and I wish to produce a series of uplifting religious films, on the Apostles. But unfortunately, we don't have enough money.
ED: Raising money is tough.
REYNOLDS: Oh! Our church has the money for one film. We just don't have it for all twelve...
ED: Okay -- you know what you do? You produce a film in a commercially proven genre. And after it's a hit, you take the profits from that, and make the twelve Apostles' movies.
REYNOLDS: Would that work?
ED: Absolutely! You see this script..? "Graverobbers From Outer Space"! It's money in the bank.
REYNOLDS: Graverobbers from what??
ED: From outer space! It's science-fiction. Very big with the kids! If you make this picture, you'll have enough money to finance a HUNDRED religious films!....and pay my back rent from the profits.

Related article:
Plan Ten From Outer Space

he can’t overcome weak dialogue, little depth of character, a hurried production, historical inaccuracies... delusions of Cecil B. DeMille-ish grandeur, ...little plot development … have I left anything out? Oh yes, it’s too long.

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Sounds like an AMAZINGLY accurate portrayal of the Book of Mormon!
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Mark Twain wrote the original script...

But they wouldnt use it ...

claimed it was too lively for their targeted audience...

;)

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