Film: United 93

I’ve been typing and deleting my thoughts on United 93 for too long now. I just don’t have the ability to do this film justice. Forgive the following rambling words. My thoughts about the film are coming up like the vomit that my queasy stomach wants to produce.

Let me just say this. Every now and then there are films that make you think, “This is why the medium of film was created. So we could see this. So we could participate in this experience.” Schindler’s List is one such experience. The Passion of the Christ is another. United 93 joins a small collection of films that are sacred because of the sheer magnificence of the stories they have to tell and the skill with which they tell it.

United 93 is a spiritual film. For a moment it separates us from the World and connects us to Humanity. And through that momentary connection with humanity a glimpse of our potential relationship with God. The hijackers praise Allah. The passengers pray to their Christian god. Yet I sense that the passengers, the flight administrators on the ground and the military show a deeper connection to God than their opponents, even if it is unexpressed, because of their connection to each other. For a moment in time they are united in purpose and are united by love.

United 93 had me stunned and shaking with its subtle, understated power. It has no need of sentimental filmmaking conventions because of the command of the story itself. It is unique in its events, yet not at all unique in its characters. Each of them are each of us. We are all on this flight together.

United 93 reminds me of the potential power of well told stories as it reminds me of the potential power of human hearts. I think we have great stories to tell as Mormons. Even though they may lack the drama inherent in such major events as these, it’s not the drama that makes films such as United 93 succeed. It’s the quiet nobility of the storytelling process. It’s the unspoken but clearly evident fact that these filmmakers believe that what they’re putting on the screen is transcendental. These films aren’t just what filmmaking is all about; these stories are what humanity is all about.

But these stories aren’t limited to great tragedies. I think they can be found all over in our history, in our scriptures and in our hearts. I believe that stories such as United 93 are all around us. What we need is the passion and faith in our stories to let them speak for themselves. I think we can.

There’s a certain paradox in films like United 93. It’s the story itself that makes you want to give up sitting in your cushioned flight seat, reading and watching stories that are supposed to inspire you. Though I want to read and write stories that inspire like United 93, I also want to get up and charge the cabin. Can we do both? I don’t know, but I’m thinking I just might try.

News: Popcorn Popping, an online magazine for Mormon narrative art, launches

Popcorn Popping, a new online magazine for Mormon narrative art, has posted its first issue. It feature a short story by AMV's very own S.P. Bailey and a personal essay by Rosalynde Welch.

Oh, and, I'm one of the editors.

I'll let AMV readers wander over there and see what it's all about, but let me just say three things:

1. Popcorn Popping is actually doing quite well in terms of having enough content, but we still welcome submissions so send something in and spread the word.

2. I strongly believe that criticism has a crucial role to play in the continued development of the Mormon arts scene/body of work. I encourage all Popcorn Popping contributors (and future contributors) to read AMV regularly and let some of the critical ideas that are explored here inform your work.

3. I'm sorry that I've neglected AMV a bit of late. The reasons why should now be clear. I do plan on making a major AMV effort (in terms of posting and redesigning the site) in two-three weeks.

Thanks.

Marketing: New York Doll DVD

This was already pointed out by Jared over at LDS Film blog, but I find it particularly interesting. The DVD for New York Doll has two different DVDs: the one sold at Amazon is for a general audience and the one sold at Deseret Book is tailored for a Mormon audience.

The biggest difference between the covers is the background, switching between a picture of the LA temple and view of New York. The version for general audiences also puts the “Doll” of the title in a cursive pink, which I can only suppose was to edgy for the Deseret Book crowd. The DB version also omits the note of an exclusive interview with Morrissey on the cover. Apparently Mormons aren't all that into Morrissey. The critic quotes on the cover also differ. The standard version offers a blurb from Kenneth Turan of the LA Times that says, “As journeys go, this is one to treasure.” The LDS version quotes NY Times Stephen Holden who refers to Kane as “A soft-spoken, damaged soul who has found refuge and hope in the Mormon Church.” From what I understand, the only difference between the two in actual content is that a few swear words have been removed from the LDS version. Strangely enough, I’ve found a third version on the internet that seems to be a blend between the two.

In any case, what interests me about all this is the attempt to set out dual marketing schemes for much coveted “crossover” film. I wonder how feasible this will be for films in the future. If it works, we could be seeing secular versions of LDS films being repackaged and released on a larger scale on DVD.

We’ve seen a few instances of this already. Pride and Prejudice: A Latter-day Comedy was released on DVD without the subtitle and with all the LDS references within removed. But apparently, you can find the Mormon version on an Easter Egg in the DVD. The Brigham City DVD got a creepy remake for the larger audience. And States of Grace was released in Utah with the addition of “God’s Army 2” to its title, with plans to remove the reference outside of Utah.

If all this cross-marketing is bringing in more dollars to their filmmakers, then I have to say it’s probably a wise move. But it amuses me that it would really make that much of a difference, that there are people, in both audiences, who will buy the DVD who wouldn’t of had the cover been different.

I also wonder if the marketing changes the way we actually read, or experience, the film. I imagine that non-members who don’t think highly of the Mormon church will be less likely to perceive the film’s emphasis on Kane’s Mormonism if it’s not market as such. Even more fun would be a study that gave either the standard or LDS version of the DVD to groups of church members and then asked their opinions of it afterwards. I’m willing to bet money that the group that got the DVD with the temple on the cover would be much more likely to describe the film in positive, spiritual terms. And that’s the amazing power of marketing.

Admin: AMV welcomes playwright Mahonri Stewart

We are pleased to announce that this place has just become a bit more dramatic.

(pause)

Mormon playwright Mahonri Stewart has joined A Motley Vision.

The premiere of Stewart's British period drama "Farewell To Eden" at UVSC kick-started an era of exciting, interesting productions at the college and the blossoming of projects for talented writers, actors and directors there. He has followed up his outstanding debut with several other exciting projects (which he will mention in his introduction).

But just as important as his talents as a playwright, Stewart is devoted to producing Mormon-themed art and has interesting and informed opinions on Mormon arts and culture. He will not only help AMV better cover the world of Mormon drama, but he will also help us continue to bring readers interesting, unique, relevant Mormon criticism and reviews in a variety of genres and fields.

Welcome, Mahonri!