Wednesday's screening of The Importance of Tolerance as part of the Tower Theatre's Open Mic Night seemed to go over fairly well. However, it did confirm something for me that I'd always kind of know: this one's for the insiders. If you've been a part of or near the Mormon community in your lifetime, particularly during your youth, this is going to make a lot more sense to you.

The style that I adopted in writing and directing this project was one emulative of short, instructive, and intendedly uplifting videos produced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Is it parody? Is it satire? Is it spoof? I'm not entirely sure. However, it is a comedy. If you don't understand what iconography we're cashing in on with this shot of Daniel praying in a grove, you're probably going to be missing out a lot.

I'd love to be able to show you what these videos look like, but the dedicated piracy artists that populate YouTube seem none too eager to upload the contents of LDS Family Home Evening Videos. Especially, I'd like to share "The Joy of Missionary Work," which had particular influence on the style of this film. I assembled a brief primer over at my personal blog that might give you a little bit more of a clue as to what we're drawing on.

Much thanks to everyone who worked on this project. The film just wouldn't be the same if my long-time friend William Stewart hadn't traveled to town to start. His chemistry with our own Joseph Schlegel was a wonder to behold. Also, WiL Whitlark wrote a positively wonderful score and theme song featured on the soundtrack here.

Labels: Embedded Video, Release announcements, The Importance of Tolerance