blue-7
Joined Jan 2001
Welcome to the new profile
Our updates are still in development. While the previous version of the profile is no longer accessible, we're actively working on improvements, and some of the missing features will be returning soon! Stay tuned for their return. In the meantime, the Ratings Analysis is still available on our iOS and Android apps, found on the profile page. To view your Rating Distribution(s) by Year and Genre, please refer to our new Help guide.
Badges6
To learn how to earn badges, go to the badges help page.
Reviews116
blue-7's rating
In 1969 my brother Richard and I produced a 20 minute film on our own titled SEEDS OF JOY. We were quite proud of it and hoped that it would somehow lead to us getting to work at the BYU Motion Picture Studio where the films at that time were produced for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
We arranged to shows our film to the workers at the the studio on one of their lunch hours. They were quite interested in what we had done and asked questions as to how much it had cost us. It was around $2000.00 if you didn't figure all of the equipment that we had to purchase in order to do it.
Sometime later we understood why SEEDS OF JOY had aroused such interest when we saw a 70mm filmed called IN THIS HOLY PLACE screened at the visitor's center on Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake.
Our film was very similar to the one that they had produced in 70mm and I am sure ours was done at a fraction of their cost.
As I remember it, IN THIS HOLY PLACE was not screened for very long. Then it seemed to disappear only to be released on 16mm in a scanned format with a different music track put on the film.
Later on when VHS came along IN THIS HOLY PLACE was released on that format only in the scanned version. The Church use of 70mm would take place with the productions of LEGACY and THE TESTAMENTS OF ONE SHEPHERD AND ONE FOLD some 30 plus years later.
No question that the Church film was more professional then our film was but SEEDS OF JOY was something that we could be proud of and was good enough to rented along with Church produced films for a number of years.
We arranged to shows our film to the workers at the the studio on one of their lunch hours. They were quite interested in what we had done and asked questions as to how much it had cost us. It was around $2000.00 if you didn't figure all of the equipment that we had to purchase in order to do it.
Sometime later we understood why SEEDS OF JOY had aroused such interest when we saw a 70mm filmed called IN THIS HOLY PLACE screened at the visitor's center on Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake.
Our film was very similar to the one that they had produced in 70mm and I am sure ours was done at a fraction of their cost.
As I remember it, IN THIS HOLY PLACE was not screened for very long. Then it seemed to disappear only to be released on 16mm in a scanned format with a different music track put on the film.
Later on when VHS came along IN THIS HOLY PLACE was released on that format only in the scanned version. The Church use of 70mm would take place with the productions of LEGACY and THE TESTAMENTS OF ONE SHEPHERD AND ONE FOLD some 30 plus years later.
No question that the Church film was more professional then our film was but SEEDS OF JOY was something that we could be proud of and was good enough to rented along with Church produced films for a number of years.
I was curious about this film being a theatrical release as its title of MISSIONARY STORIES plainly indicates that it is focused more a members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints then in reaching a larger faith-following group.
It depicts three missionary stories and is divided into four parts or Chapters as it is stated on screen.
The first missionary experience is divided into Chapter One and Chapter Four at the conclusion the film. It is certainly the most dramatic of the three stories as deals with a suicidal situation.
While I found myself pulled into the stories I did wonder why the filmmakers felt that it would drawn well in a theater. My understanding came with a statement at the end of the film that it was intended to be an introduction to television series that will explore various experiences of LDS missionaries -- in fact it invites audiences members to submit missionary stories for consideration to be told on the series.
I do think that something like this might work well as a TV series and it will be interesting to see if the intended plans actually more forward.
If it is done as television series I suggest that you refrain from shooting in the 2.35:1 format. For some reason would be filmmakers are fascinated with this anamorphic format. When seen on a TV screen you have a small image with black bars above and below the screen image. Why not use the full wide screen framing of the TV. It takes much more skill as a cinematographer to make effective use of the 2.35 format.
I was glad that I was able to catch a theatrical screening of MISSION STORIES. The sound track was well recorded and the limited use of music well done. The acting ranges from very well done to okay. The stories told did spiritual touch me several times.
I wish you well on your television project and look forward to see what becomes of this noble effort.
It depicts three missionary stories and is divided into four parts or Chapters as it is stated on screen.
The first missionary experience is divided into Chapter One and Chapter Four at the conclusion the film. It is certainly the most dramatic of the three stories as deals with a suicidal situation.
While I found myself pulled into the stories I did wonder why the filmmakers felt that it would drawn well in a theater. My understanding came with a statement at the end of the film that it was intended to be an introduction to television series that will explore various experiences of LDS missionaries -- in fact it invites audiences members to submit missionary stories for consideration to be told on the series.
I do think that something like this might work well as a TV series and it will be interesting to see if the intended plans actually more forward.
If it is done as television series I suggest that you refrain from shooting in the 2.35:1 format. For some reason would be filmmakers are fascinated with this anamorphic format. When seen on a TV screen you have a small image with black bars above and below the screen image. Why not use the full wide screen framing of the TV. It takes much more skill as a cinematographer to make effective use of the 2.35 format.
I was glad that I was able to catch a theatrical screening of MISSION STORIES. The sound track was well recorded and the limited use of music well done. The acting ranges from very well done to okay. The stories told did spiritual touch me several times.
I wish you well on your television project and look forward to see what becomes of this noble effort.
In the realm of independent filmmakers telling inspiring true stories of people of faith meeting challenges there is no one more impressive than T.C. Christensen. T.C. is a story teller who uses his talents as a writer, cinematographer and director to bring to life tales of ordinary people who are called upon to do extraordinary things -- and with faith in God accomplish seemly impossible challenges.
THE FIGHTING PREACHER unfolds the amazing story of Willard Been and his wife Rebecca who in 1905 are called upon to be caretakers for their Church of sacred property that had been abandoned when the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were forced to flee due the hatred of their neighbors. What begins as a 3 year calling transforms into a 25 year span that changes their lives and those who still carrying on their dislike for "Mormons".
Not only has T.C. skillfully condensed a 25 year story into a fascinating film that is beautifully photographed and skillfully edited (by son Tanner) but has discovered two wonderful performers new to the screen. David McConnell as Willard and Cassidy Hubert as his wife Rebecca bring to life these two remarkable people. Scarlett Hazen who was so good in T.C.'s LOVE, KENNEDY shines in the role of their daughter Palmyra.
THE FIGHTING PREACHER is a film that I am proud to recommend to others and one that I will return to the theatre to see again. I look forward to its future release on Blu-ray to add to my revered collection of T.C. films: 17 MIRACLES, EPHRAIM'S RESUCE, THE COKEVILLE MIRACLE and LOVE, KENNEDY. These are films that I actually rewatch from time to time.
THE FIGHTING PREACHER unfolds the amazing story of Willard Been and his wife Rebecca who in 1905 are called upon to be caretakers for their Church of sacred property that had been abandoned when the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were forced to flee due the hatred of their neighbors. What begins as a 3 year calling transforms into a 25 year span that changes their lives and those who still carrying on their dislike for "Mormons".
Not only has T.C. skillfully condensed a 25 year story into a fascinating film that is beautifully photographed and skillfully edited (by son Tanner) but has discovered two wonderful performers new to the screen. David McConnell as Willard and Cassidy Hubert as his wife Rebecca bring to life these two remarkable people. Scarlett Hazen who was so good in T.C.'s LOVE, KENNEDY shines in the role of their daughter Palmyra.
THE FIGHTING PREACHER is a film that I am proud to recommend to others and one that I will return to the theatre to see again. I look forward to its future release on Blu-ray to add to my revered collection of T.C. films: 17 MIRACLES, EPHRAIM'S RESUCE, THE COKEVILLE MIRACLE and LOVE, KENNEDY. These are films that I actually rewatch from time to time.
Recently taken polls
1,202 total polls taken
