A Star is Born

It is way more fun to watch the church movies now that I live in Provo, Utah, because chances are, I know someone; at least one or two of the extras.

I had a companion in Scotland whose neighbor had the nefarious job of screaming out in an extreme close up “Crucify him!” in the most popular Atonement/Crucifixion scene of all time. It makes me feel a little better to know that he doesn’t really mean it. But every time we watched the video with investigators, she’d whisper “There’s Mr. Georgopolis…”

So there is a girl in my congregation who is a casting director for the LDS Motion Picture Studios. A couple of months ago, she sent around a sign up sheet calling for extras for the new Joseph Smith movie that is in production to be shown at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. Men in the ward had to grow out beards, and the women had to have long hair. I really wanted to sign up, but while I do have long hair Todd can’t grow a convincing beard. He can grow a really good foreign Count-of-Somewhere mustache, but no beard. And they needed couples. Besides, I felt too eager, and sometimes if I feel too eager about something, it’s a sign NOT to do it…but sometimes I do it anyway…it’s so unpredictable…

So last Sunday, she passed about another casting call; this time for video clips to be shown in General Conference this upcoming week. I guess the speakers submit their talks and then submit requests for scenes such as families gathered in prayer, couples walking in the park, that sort of thing, but the LDS Motion Picture Studios only have a matter of DAYS to set up and capture those shots. I would not let this chance pass me by, so I signed up.

On Tuesday night, just before my darling sister Suzie Petunia had to catch a flight back home from her wonderful, but too short, “Mommy Only” vacation, we were sitting in full Sunday garb in our chapel pretending to be in Sacrament Meeting. It was nice because we could sit and chat and reminisce all we wanted (no sound recording was needed).

The filming crew worked around us and shot a baby blessing (look for Todd in the prayer circle!) a confirmation, the Sacrament (you might see mine and Todd’s hands and another lady is wearing my wedding ring), and testimonies (the girl is wearing my black cardigan). Then this morning, I took a sister in my ward to a house over in east Provo, where they filmed us pretending to put her groceries away and chatting.

This is my big break, people! This is the shot at the big time that will catapult me into LDS motion picture stardom! Or so Todd keeps teasing me…

Anyway, keep a look out for me and Suzie and Todd, and if you see us up there on the big screen, give us a cheer, and make sure everyone around you knows that YOU KNOW ME!