LDS or Mormon cinema refers to motion pictures with themes relevant to Latter-day Saints. Many of these films are screened extensively within high LDS population centers such as Utah, and do not regularly reach mainstream viewers in other parts of the world. For other uses see film (disambiguation) Film refers to the celluliod media on which movies are printed Film — also called movies, the cinema, the silver screen, moving pictures, photoplays, picture shows, flicks, or motion pictures, — is a field that encompasses motion pictures as an art form or as... A Latter-day Saint is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, the lead section of this article may need to be expanded. ...

LDS cinema films are distinct from LDS Church movies like Legacy and Testaments, because they are commercial and not produced for teaching or proselytizing LDS doctrine. LDS cinema is usually produced and directed by Latter-day Saints. The films have LDS themes and they are typically marketed especially toward Latter-day Saints. This differentiates LDS cinema from films merely produced by Latter-day Saints like Napoleon Dynamite, or films about LDS themes from an outside perspective. The Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the largest attraction in the citys Temple Square. ... Legacy: A Mormon Journey is a 53-minute film produced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... The Testaments of One Fold and One Shepherd is a 67-minute film produced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... Napoleon Dynamite is the feature film debut of director Jared Hess, based on his earlier short film, Peluca. ...

History of LDS cinema

Films about Latter-day Saints are nothing new. The first feature-length documentary ever made (and the sixth feature-length film made in the United States) was "One Hundred Years of Mormonism" (1913). Films about Mormons (especially lurid pulp fiction-inspired tales of hypnotic missionaries and Western pioneer stories) were a staple of the early silent, black and white film era.

With films made primarily by LDS filmmakers for an LDS audience, the "LDS Cinema" movement is distinct from the broader use of Mormon characters in mainstream Hollywood films. The "LDS Cinema" movement began around 1999, when Richard Dutcher's company Zion Films released God's Army commercially. The film, which was produced on a budget of $300,000, grossed about $2.5 million at the box office and many more millions of dollars worth of video purchases. Observing the market success of God's Army, many other LDS studios began producing films. 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Gods Army is a 2000 film. ...

Although God's Army dealt with the overtly religious subject of LDS missionaries, and many LDS comedies are sometimes incomprehensible to people outside The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a growing trend moves toward making LDS-themed movies more broadly accessible. The acclaimed World War II movie Saints and Soldiers is perhaps the most successful crossover LDS film to date. More accessible films have been thought by some as likely to ensure larger potential markets. However, "accessibility" has not necessarily translated into greater box office earnings or critical acclaim than achieved by the more "insider"-oriented LDS Cinema films. A missionary is traditionally defined as a propagator of religion who works to convert those outside that community; someone who proselytizes. ... The Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the largest attraction in the citys Temple Square. ... Combatants Allied Powers: United Kingdom France Soviet Union United States Republic of China and others Axis Powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Winston Churchill Charles de Gaulle Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Chiang Kai-Shek Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tojo Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33... Saints and Soldiers is a war film released by Excel Entertainment in August, 2004. ...

LDS comedies in particular have been panned by critics, who have branded most efforts thus far inaccessible and unfunny to those outside the intended market. Such movies have frequently been perceived as overly reliant upon the audience's extensive knowledge of LDS practices and LDS cultural norms formerly unique to Utah, but now becoming more worldwide. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, the lead section of this article may need to be expanded. ...

LDS cinema and MPAA ratings

One unique aspect of LDS cinema is heightened concern over MPAA film ratings. Many Latter-day Saints feel disinclined to view movies rated PG-13 and especially R, so LDS film producers risk greatly diminished revenue for exceeding a PG rating. One PG-13 film, The Book of Mormon Movie, Vol. 1 garnered its rating for depicting a decapitation that occurs in the Book of Mormon. Producers defended the scene as essential. Some critics leveled a common complaint about the MPAA—that it more harshly rates movies not from the major studios. Nonetheless, producers re-edited the movie to earn a PG rating for DVD distribution. Another film, Saints and Soldiers received an R-rating prior to film festival screening in spite of being very mild compared to other R-rated films. Producers edited the movie to receive PG-13 for commercial distribution. The MPAA film rating system is a system used in the United States and territories and instituted by the Motion Picture Association of America to rate a movie based on its content. ... PG can mean: Bangkok Airways: IATA airline designator Page, in chat short-hand Papua New Guinea: ISO 3166-1 country code Parental Guidance, the name given to a number of similar movie and television ratings, including: An MPAA (US) movie rating A BBFC (UK) movie rating An OFLC (Australia) movie... The MPAA film rating system is a system used in the United States and instituted by the Motion Picture Association of America to rate a movie based on its content. ... The Book of Mormon (originally, The Book of Mormon: An Account Written by the Hand of Mormon upon Plates Taken from the Plates of Nephi) is one of the sacred texts of the Latter Day Saint movement, named after the prophet/historian Mormon, who according to the text compiled most... The MPAA film rating system is a system used in the United States and territories and instituted by the Motion Picture Association of America to rate a movie based on its content. ... The Big Ten refers to the ten major film production studios. ... DVD (commonly Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc) is an optical disc storage media format that can be used for data storage, including movies with high video and sound quality. ... A film festival is a festival in one or more movie theaters with a special program showcasing many films. ...

LDS cinema companies

• Zion Films
• Halestorm Entertainment
• Excel Entertainment Group
• Living Scriptures, Inc.

Halestorm Entertainment is a film production and distribution company based in Orem, Utah. ... Excel Entertainment Group, Inc. ...

LDS cinema movies

Drama

• God's Army — 1999. First Mormon cinema film directed by Richard Dutcher.
• Brigham City — 2001. A murder mystery also by Dutcher.
• The Other Side of Heaven — 2001. Not by an LDS studio. Although special pains were taken to remove overt LDS references, it is often counted as LDS cinema because it was brought to fruition by an LDS producer.
• The Shadow of Light — 2002. Set in 1947, two young men break their truck in rural Utah. They go to the local bishop who helps them pick up work to pay the repair bill. They and the bishop's daughter get involved in solving a local mystery stretching from the late 1800s to the 1930s. (Direct-to-DVD release.) (IMDB listing)
• The Book of Mormon Movie, Vol. 1: The Journey — 2003. Ambitious though critically panned movie about the Book of Mormon.
• The Best Two Years — 2003. An LDS missionary's experience in the Netherlands. Based on the play The Best Two Years of My Life.
• Saints and Soldiers — 2004. A World War II movie produced by Excel that has muted LDS overtones and significant mainstream appeal.
• The Work and The Glory — 2005. Based on Gerald Lund's LDS and historical fiction series The Work and the Glory.
• God's Army 2: States of Grace — 2005 sequel to God's Army by Richard Dutcher.
• The Work and The Glory: American Zion — 2005 sequel.
• Suits on the Loose — 2005. Two escapees from a youth detention camp in the Mojave Desert assume the identies of two mormon missionaries whose car they stole.
• The Work and The Glory: A House Divided — 2006 sequel.

Gods Army is a 2000 film. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Brigham City is a 2001 film. ... 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Other Side of Heaven is a 2001 Walt Disney film. ... 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... Year 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, the lead section of this article may need to be expanded. ... In Mormonism, the Bishop is the leader of a local congregation and an office of the Aaronic Priesthood. ... Beginning of the Napoleonic Wars (1805 - 1815). ... The 1930s (years from 1930-1939) were described as an abrupt shift to more radical and conservative lifestyles, as countries were struggling to find a solution to the Great Depression, also known in Europe as the World Depression. ... DVD (commonly Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc) is an optical disc storage media format that can be used for data storage, including movies with high video and sound quality. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Book of Mormon (originally, The Book of Mormon: An Account Written by the Hand of Mormon upon Plates Taken from the Plates of Nephi) is one of the sacred texts of the Latter Day Saint movement, named after the prophet/historian Mormon, who according to the text compiled most... The Best Two Years is a 2003 film written and directed by Scott S. Anderson. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Saints and Soldiers is a war film released by Excel Entertainment in August, 2004. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Combatants Allied Powers: United Kingdom France Soviet Union United States Republic of China and others Axis Powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Winston Churchill Charles de Gaulle Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Chiang Kai-Shek Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tojo Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33... The Work and The Glory is a 2004 historical fiction drama film directed by Russell Holt. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Gerald N. Lund serves in Europe as a General Authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... LDS fiction (or Mormon fiction) is a growing niche market of fiction novels featuring themes related to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the LDS Church, see also Mormon). Much of the recent rise in the number of titles and the improvement in the quality of LDS... A historical novel is a novel in which the story is set among historical events, or more generally, where the time the action takes place in predates the time of the first publication -- distinguish and contrast the genre of alternate history. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Looking across from Emigrant Pass towards the Kingston Range in the eastern Mojave. ... It has been suggested that Senior Missionaries be merged into this article or section. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Romance

• Jack Weyland's Charly — 2002. Based on the successful LDS fiction novel of the same name.
• Out of Step — 2002. A young dance student leaves Utah for schooling in New York City. She falls in love with two different men and must choose between them.
• Pride and Prejudice — 2003. Modern adaptation of Jane Austen novel Pride and Prejudice set in Provo, Utah.

For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... LDS fiction (or Mormon fiction) is a growing niche market of fiction novels featuring themes related to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the LDS Church, see also Mormon). Much of the recent rise in the number of titles and the improvement in the quality of LDS... Published in 1980, Jack Weylands Charly is among the earliest examples of contemporary LDS fiction. ... Out of Step is a 2002 film about an LDS young woman from Utah who moves to New York, New York to pursue and education in dance at New York University. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, the lead section of this article may need to be expanded. ... Nickname: Big Apple, Gotham, NYC Location in the state of New York Coordinates: Country United States State New York Boroughs The Bronx Brooklyn Manhattan Queens Staten Island Settled 1613  - Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Area    - City 1,214. ... Jane Austens novel Pride and Prejudice (1813) has been the subject of numerous television and film adaptations. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... For films named Pride and Prejudice, see Pride and Prejudice (film). ... Map showing Provo, Utah Provo is a city in Utah and the county seat of Utah County, located about 50 miles south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. ...

Comedy

Several comedies, mostly produced by Dave Hunter, have also been released. Because these film's humor often relies on specifically Utah-centric Latter-day Saint culture, they tend to have a smaller niche than the other LDS sub-genres, even among Mormon viewers. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, the lead section of this article may need to be expanded. ... A Latter-day Saint is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). ...

• The Singles Ward — 2002. Title refers to an LDS congregation (ward) composed only of single adults. Comedy with romantic aspects.
• The R.M. — 2003. About the experiences of a returned missionary.
• The Work and the Story — 2003. Mockumentary about LDS cinema when Richard Dutcher (fictionally) disappears. Written, produced and directed by Nathan Smith Jones; co-produced by Miriam Smith.
• The Home Teachers — 2004. Slapstick comedy about polar opposite home teachers that "fulfill" their responsibility on the last day of the month. ("Home teaching" is the LDS practice of a home teaching companionship — a holder of the Melchizedek Priesthood and a 14-year old Teacher or older — visiting and teaching families in their ward each month.)
• Baptists at our Barbecue — 2004. Longfellow (consistently called "Longwinded" by locals) is a small town that is religiously divided equally between Baptists and Mormons. A newcomer becomes the tie-breaker. Rather than tilt the scales he decides to bridge the religious divide by organizing an all-faiths barbecue. It is based on a novel by Robert Farrell Smith.
• Sons of Provo — 2004. Mockumentary about an LDS boy-band named Everclean.
• Mobsters and Mormons — 2005. After testifying against his mob boss, Carmine "The Beans" Zindelli Pasquale and his family are put in the Witness Protection Program in "Happy Valley", Utah, with a large culture clash. By Halestorm Entertainment.
• Down and Derby — 2006. Slapstick comedy about the lengths (and depths) to which some fathers will go to "help" their sons win the Cub Scout pinewood derby. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a strong supporter of Boy Scouts of America including the Cub Scouts programs, although not overtly LDS themes are present in the movie.
• Church Ball — 2006. In the last year of the league, this church team doesn't want to place last again. The storyline centers around the juxtaposition between a desire to win at all costs and an expectation for sportsmanlike conduct in church sports.

The Singles Ward is a 2002 comedy film. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a ward is the larger of two types of local congregations (the smaller being a branch). ... The R.M. is a 2003 comedy film about the experiences of an LDS returned missionary. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A missionary is traditionally defined as a propagator of religion who works to convert those outside that community; someone who proselytizes. ... The Work and the Story is a comedic Mormon film written and directed by Nathan Smith Jones. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Mockumentary, a portmanteau of mock documentary (also fictional documentary or false documentary), is a film and TV genre, or a single work of the genre. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Slapstick is a type of comedy involving exaggerated physical violence. ... In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a ward is the larger of two types of local congregations (the smaller being a branch). ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Sons of Provo is a 2004 film written by Peter Brown and Will Swenson, and directed by Will Swenson. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Mockumentary, a portmanteau of mock documentary (also fictional documentary or false documentary), is a film and TV genre, or a single work of the genre. ... Mobsters and Mormons is a 2005 film. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... In the United States, the Witness Protection Program (also known as WITSEC) is established by the Witness Protection Act, which in turn sets out the manner in which the U.S. Attorney General may provide for the relocation and protection of a witness or potential witness of the federal government... Happy Valley is a nickname for a number of Utah communities, especially Utah County. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, the lead section of this article may need to be expanded. ... Down and Derby is a 2005 film about the often, over-competitive Pinewood derby race. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Slapstick is a type of comedy involving exaggerated physical violence. ... Official Pinewood Derby car kit. ... The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is a United States Scouting organization, with some presence in other countries. ... Cub Scouts in uniform from Hong Kong The Cub Scouts is the section of the Scout Movement for young persons normally aged 8–10. ... Church Ball is a 2006 film about a basketball team from an LDS church ward who has failed to make it into the church tournament in the past twenty years. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• LDS cinema
• LDS Cinema Gets Better and Gets a Bum Rating — about MPAA ratings given the LDS cinema films
• LDS Film Festival
• LDS Film & Media News (Blogger)
• Rhapsidiom: An Ode to Mormon Aesthetic (Blogger)