Cornucopia

Untold

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Today is a good day to point out that the documentary Nobody Knows: The Untold Story of Black Mormons will be playing in the next few weeks at film festivals in Dallas and San Diego. And possibly more places, depending in its success at those festivals. This very worthwhile project is the product of lots of effort by Darius Gray and bloggernacle regular Margaret Young. Keep us all posted on the progress of your film, Margaret.

15 comments for “Untold”

  1. How can I resist an invitation like that?
    Here’s a review by Gideon Burton:

    http://gideonburton.typepad.com/gideon_burtons_blog/2008/01/lds-film-fest-3.html

    Pre-emptive answers to frequently asked questions:
    When will the DVD be available?
    Sorry, but probably not for another year. We still need to do special features, and we’re hoping to have a PBS or History Channel broadcast.
    Will there be a theatrical release?
    A limited one–extremely limited. Probably one theater. We will do this because I want to dress up in very fancy clothes and have someone ask me who I’m wearing. Our plan is to have a Utah debut (not associated with a film festival) during the week of June 8th, the 30th anniversary of the priesthood revelation.
    When will it come to MY area?
    I don’t know. It depends on what festivals accept us. I guess we need to update our website (www.untoldstoryofblackmormons.com) and list which cities we’ll be visiting as we know which festivals we’ll attend.
    How is Darius’s health?
    It was really good for the LDS Film Festival. I haven’t seen him so energetic and strong for quite awhile. We’ve been blessed!

    Thanks for this opening, Kaimi!

  2. Margaret, If you haven’t already, please consider submission to the Heartland Film Festival in Indianapolis. Usually in October. Call for entries usually begins in March.

    Brother Gill is in the other ward that shares the building with my ward.

  3. Hi Bookslinger!

    We submitted to a festival in Indiana but haven’t heard back yet. It wasn’t the Heartland. If we get accepted, we might just have Paul represent us. We can’t afford to travel to all the festivals we’ve entered. If we did have money, we’d love to be there with Paul.

    Thanks for this reminder, because I need to e-mail Paul and give him a report on the LDS Film festival.

  4. Margaret,

    If you hurry, you can still submit for the Full Frame Documentary Festival in Durham, NC. The Triangle area has a strong group of Church members and its own sensitive and deep racial history (see Duke lacrosse scandal- circa 2006). But our ward(s) have historically had a very difficult time holding on to black converts. I think the deadline for submissions is February 11 and the festival is the first weekend in April. I would be happy to do promo work among the wards and stakes in this area if you were able to make the trip.

  5. AHLDuke–one of our associate producers, Rob Foster, is from North Carolina. Maybe he could even represent the film out there so we wouldn’t have to travel. I’ll look into it.

    For everyone: Darius has informed me that we will have the special features done long before I had thought. He thinks we’ll be selling DVDs within three-six months. I’ll take his word for it.

  6. MARGARET,

    My fiancee and I are eager to see this in the SDBFF next week.

    A question: this appears at the ending of the film’s trailer: “A Nelson / Dutcher Project.” Who are Nelson and Dutcher? Is the second our friend Richard Dutcher?

    Thanks!

  8. Manaen–Richard Dutcher is our executive producer and filmed many of the interviews. The “Nelson” is Bob Nelson. He is the chair of the theater/film department at the U of U and our assistant producer. He also did a voiceover for us.

    I’ve e-mailed Marren at the SD Deseret Book, so I knew about the “Time Out for Women.” I doubt Marren can publicize us, because she probably has to publicize her own event, but I do hope word gets out.

  10. Thanks to a bunch of requests from folks in the NW, we did indeed submit our INTENTION to enter the SIFF. I need to mail the DVD and our entry fee by Feb. 7th, which is no problem. We have no guarantee that we’ll be accepted–this is a huge festival–but we’ll sure give it our best shot.

  12. I just talked with the San Diego film festival. They confirmed that showtime will be Saturday, 2/2, @ 5:00pm.
    .
    Tickets are available on-line at:
    http://sdbff.com/nobody_knows.htm
    Don’t wait — they’ve already sold more than half the tickets. The on-line confirmation says that the tickets will come to your billing address but the staff insist that they will be held at Will Call. They also said that they may open a second screening if this sells out.
    .
    You may want to buy a pass; the other films look interesting as well.

  13. THANKS MANAEN! I have cut and pasted your message and sent it to our contacts in Southern CA. So do I get to meet you in San Diego? I’ll be the one with the red hair. Darius is black. (Also, we’ll be with two descendants of Jane James: Louis Duffy and Louise Washington. Neither is LDS, but both are very aware of the doc. Louis is in it and has donated to it. I’ve never met Louise and am eager to.)

  14. I e-mailed my bishop, who forwarded it to the entire ward, plus to the Stake President.

    Hopefully, there will be some good turnout. :)

  15. 13. MARGARET,

    Darius is black. — ROFL !

    My fiancee and I will be at the screening in San Diego. We’re looking forward to meetiing you and the others.

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