Wednesday, March 30, 2005

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!

8 comments:

Melissa said...

Okay, I can not wait for your big debut! I will be looking for you v. closely. The same way I look for a Humanities Professor at BYU in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir who I didn't speak to for 10 years after he splashed water on me in the pool when I was about 5.

JP said...

I just KNEW it...off being a LDS Production STAR!!

Remember the little people, CA...and by little people I mean me. Even though I am "technically" not that little. Its the height...it gets me every time.

Anonymous said...

That makes watching conference so much more exciting. Thank you!

(this is heidi)

Alicia said...

I am totally excited for this moment of LDS fame! I myself will hopefully have a blissful moment on Mormon TV this weekend. I am singing in the choir for the Saturday afternoon session! Watch for a semi-blonde girl on the left side of the choir of on your television in the very back row with a yellow shirt on! It's me!! So many famous bloggers on Mormon display!

Jess said...

How very exciting! THIS is when I need Tivo or DVR. I will be listening to conference on the radio this weekend while we travel to Mt. Rushmore.
I'll have to be real geeky and check out the conference tape from the church library. Maybe Sarah will share hers.
Enjoy the fame, I hope to not read about you in the tabloids. (Not that I read them)

Amy Lynn said...

When you become rich and famous, will you hire me a nanny and take me for pedicures to fix my cracked heels? You have to always love me and remember me, no matter how famous you get, because I'm your sister. My guaranteed "in".

mo said...

I saw the back of your head!!! I can't believe I am the mother of such a big star!!!

Carrie Ann said...

Sadly, my adoring fans, I THOUGHT they showed the back of my head, but it wasn't me, but I accidentally led my Mom, Dad, Grandma, and Grandpa to think it was indeed, me. Thanks for clearing that up for me, TiVo...

Todd's face WAS shown for, like .56 seconds, but it was only discernable through many rewindings aby, again, the miracle of TiVo.

Thanks for sticking by me everyone...I'll get on conferece NEXT time...or else...