As some of you may have gathered, I feel like ‘God’s Army 2 – States of Grace’ is a critical movie for the Mormon culture/community. It explores race, forgiveness, redemption, religion, and just plain humanity in a way I haven’t experienced in a long, long time.
The bloggernacle buzz has begun, including:
- My podcast interview w/ Dutcher yesterday, over on SunstoneBlog.com
- M* has released a very interesting interview w/ Richard today
But we (in the bloggernacle) can do more. Nay….we must do more. :)
Wouldn’t it be amazing to see if we could join together in the bloggernacle to collectively promote this film–a la “the Blair Witch Project”…where grass roots or viral marketing becomes as powerful, or even more powerful, than mainstream commercial marketing? We would all benefit by this outcome, I believe.
So…what can we do? What if we encouraged every blog in the bloggernacle to do a simultaneous post about the movie? I wonder how historical this would be if we could pull it off…perhaps even unheard of in the larger blog world. And it would HAVE to help the movie out.
Just a thought. It would be cool to make some history. As far as I’m concerned, now is a critical time to make this happen. As Richard mentioned in the podcast yesterday, and on the M* post, Mormon cinema is in deep trouble on at least 3 fronts…
- While the Hailstorm and other movies can be fun, it feels to many like we’ve drifted a bit too far towards the silly in Mormon cinema…and I believe that Mormon cinema has much more to offer than this. But we must put our $$$ where are hearts are.
- Richard tells us that virtually all of these movies are in deep financial trouble, and he is forecasting a depression in Mormon cinema in part due to the audience and stereotypes and gimmicks it has painted itself into.
- This is a critical time for God’s Army 2, because if we don’t get the word out over the next week, theatres are gonna pull it (in advance for Harry Potter), and that will have serious implications in the short, medium, and long term for not only this movie, but any future Mormon artist that wants to do something similar.
Anyway, please consider noodling on this, and helping see if we can raise the influence of the bloggernacle, while simultaneously saving the soul of Mormon Cinema, as well as its commercial viability going forward.
All laudable goals, to be sure. :); And who knows…it could be quite fun!!
I really enjoyed listened to the podcast today (Nov. 22) even though the movie is already nearly 2 1/2 weeks into its “reel-ease.”
I really enjoy hearing Richard Dutcher speak. I have heard him speak in person twice at Utah Valley State College when I attended school there. Just hearing him speak, aside from his films, has inspired me.
I especially loved hearing the insights into his organic approach to storytelling.
States of Grace is phenomenal filmmaking and storytelling. I have seen it twice to personally support it.
I think one of the factors heavily influencing its financial viability that has been overlooked by money is that it isn’t a passive viewing experience. Its messages and plots are so deep and rich and the current generation wants to be spoon fed so much that when movies become an experience like’s Dutcher’s films are that many passive viewers find that cumbersome. I find it rewarding and thrilling and moving and exhilirating and wonderful.
I hope it continues to be successful. I feel I have done my part in spreading the word. A day or two after I saw it I sent out a mass e-mail to all my close family members and friends encouraging them to see it. Both times I left the theatre genuinely moved and in tears and gaining a greater appreciation for the universal atonement of Jesus Christ.
If you haven’t seen it yet and it is playing in your area, get a babysitter, carve three hours out of your schedule and go see it with your spouse, your adult friends. YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!!! And if you do, I would be willing to offer a money back guarantee, although the plausibility of that may be beyond my reach in the realm of cyberspace.
If it is not being shown where you are, don’t be passive and just say, “I guess I’ll buy it when it comes out on DVD.” Be proactive and do whatever you can to rally support for this excellent offering of cinematic work!
States of Grace is hands down one of the greatest films ever and the best LDS-themed, LDS-audience film to date. It is so good that it is difficult to even categorize it as LDS-themed. It has a greater scope than that.
GO SEE IT–STATES OF GRACE–Hopefully, in a theatre near you.