Last Movie? - The Work and the Glory III: A House Divided (2006) Discussion

[–] kaslesinthesky 18 years ago

The screenwriter's mother-in-law is in my ward, and she was talking to my mom about the movie and how Matt Whitaker was worried they may not ask him to do another film. I asked my mom if they were even planning on making another film, and she said they were thinking about it. Obviously it just depends on whether or not they make enough money with two and three.

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[–] nosyrb 18 years ago

Yep, it all depends on how American Zion and A House Divided do. So far American Zion isnt doing good enough to save the series. Unless peopel actually support the re-opening program they are doing then we will only get the three films.

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[–] jwhitneyphoto 18 years ago

The frustrating part is that they seem to market this film only to the Mormon viewing audience. I rented the first one from Blockbuster and enjoyed it immensely and was excited about American Zion. To my knowledge it never played in the NYC area which is as diverse as it gets thus attracting a larger audience. I just rented it last week and while the same great cast was in place the storyline did not hold my interest for long.

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[–] mvfred 18 years ago

I enjoyed the film, but I don't know what its appeal would be to a non-LDS audience.

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[–] tybeecrew 18 years ago

I AM NOT LDS, BUT WORKED ON 2 OF THE FILMS. I LEARNED ALOT, BOTH ABOUT HISTORY AND ABOUT CURRENT LDS MEMBERS. I WAS SO IMPRESSED, WITH THE CREW MEMBERS BEHIND THE SCENE PERSONALITIES, IT'S HARD TO EXPRESS. I IN TURN, TOOK FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO SEE THE FILM(1) AND WHEN DVDS CAME OUT I EVEN TALKED THE LOCAL SCHOOL INTO SHOWING THEM AS A "HISTORY lESSON." ALTHOUGH ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED,I WAS UNABLE TO STAY ON THE LAST JOB DUE TO FAMILY ILLNESS, BUT CAN'T WAIT WORK WITH THIS GROUP AGAIN. THE FILMS SEEM TO BRING 'AWARENESS,' WITHOUT BEING OVERBEARING. AGAIN, CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE BEHIND THE SCENES CREW.

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[–] the_rogers1998 17 years ago

I would be interested in working on these films. How did you get into it? I primarily work as a costume designer and would love to work on LDS projects. Thanks so much.

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[–] lifesabeach-1 18 years ago

As far as I know, there's no plan to make another one after the third one, but you never know.

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[–] tlbauerle 18 years ago

Actually, Miller stated he felt the series would be told best throughout six films. However, he could not foresee justifying a large loss of money six times in a row.

We still have a hope for video sales for AMERICAN ZION and then the theatrical release of A HOUSE DIVIDED and its video sales. I just hope they have enough time span between AZ's DVD release and AHD's theatrical release, so people can rent the second and then go see the third.

Plus, lets not forget AZ re-release program!

While AMERICAN ZION is still behind THE WORK AND THE GLORY, figure the first one took 25 weeks to reach $3,347,439. It has been 13 weeks and the second is at $1,954,031. It has seen a fairly steady increase over the last six weeks, and I think AMERICAN ZION will have a longer theatrial run that 25 weeks. It may turn out okay.

I just think they went too wide the first time...and at the completly WRONG time of year. They need to be releasing these films a the end of January or early in February because the first real big films don't hit until late April. OR they need to be released in Mid to Late August after the summer season has been spent. In each case it is the off season and there isn't a lot of good product.

BUT, this year has been weird for movies. NORTH COUNTRY didn't make anything, and that was a fabulous movie. I think its been a weird season.

-Todd
www.toddlbauerle.com

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[–] lifesabeach-1 18 years ago

Let me clarify: I have heard from people directly involved with the film that they aren't sure the third one will get a theatrical release at all, much less make 3 more.

If they make 3 more, it'll be much lower budget, and with a very different (much more low-brow) cast. But that's extremely doubtful at this point.

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] staceymay36 18 years ago

I think this is going to be the last movie for a few reasons. First, we all know that these are not blockbuster movies at the box office. Second, from the way that the character list reads in the third movie, they have cut out a lot of characters from the book that are necessary for the story to progress to the 6th book, even the 4th book. If you have read the books (which I highly recommend), you can also understand why they stopped at the third one. It has a nice stopping point for the Steed family.

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[–] jesseranney 18 years ago

Well surely they are doing as well as a LDS film can. . . I mean you cant expect and LDS themed film to be makin over the $7,000,000 budgets ya know?. . .

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[–] blue-7 18 years ago

The third film was supposed to be released in April 2006 as the second one comes out on DVD. I live here in Salt Lake and have seen no sign of a theatrical showing for A HOUSE DIVIDED.
I'm afraid too many members of the Church have the attitude of just wait and buy it when it comes out on video -- or wait and see the film when it hits the dollar houses.
CHURCH BALL may be the last LDS themed movie to make it to the big screen. It's too bad that a film like Richard Dutcher's STATES OF GRACE (or GOD'S ARMY II, if you prefer), SAINTS AND SOLDIERS and the wonderful WORK AND THE GLORY films can't even get decent support from those who should the most excited about them! Too bad.

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[–] tlbauerle 18 years ago

Ditto...boy its nice to not have to go to the trouble of repeating myself. Let us know when you start to hear something about the release!

-Todd
www.toddlbauerle.com

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[–] nosyrb 18 years ago

I have heard that the third film may be released in the fall or something. I will keep looking for specific dates as well. I too feel badly that these films aren't supported more. Hopefully more people will go out and buy American Zion on DVD so they can see that it was pretty good. If the third film opens nearby I hope more people see it.

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[–] fcclamormon-1 18 years ago

I hope the make movies for all the books it would be great. i would go see it in theater but it doesn't come out in Ny in theaters so i have to wait till they come out on dvd and buy it

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[–] thinton-4 18 years ago

I actually agree with staceymay36. It looks like when they filmed the third movie, they were careful to make sure it could be a closure to the series. However, I heard Sterling VanWagenen (director) say last Friday that if "American Zion" DVD sales are good and "A House Divided" does well in the box office, Larry Miller is considering making as many more as will be profitable. So I guess we need to keep our fingers crossed and tell everyone we know to buy "AZ" and see "AHD" on opening weekend in November!

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[–] daniel_silva_124 18 years ago

I will be quite sad if it is, but even more sad if they have to change up the actors again because they lost a bit of quality with the acting in the second film. I was very glad about Lydia being changed, but I would absolutely hate to the man who plays Joseph go. I have never seen a more believeable Joseph Smith. I feel like he did a better job than the fellow who played him in the new film put out by the church (please don't call me blasphemous for this).

Dan Silva
Go Cougs

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[–] doug-ward-1 18 years ago

I actually agree with this. While although I enjoyed the movie done by the church about the Prophet Joseph Smith, I really enjoyed the performance of the guy who played him in Work and the Glory. At first it kind of bothered me but I got used to it really quick. Actually, one of the best Joseph's in my opinion was done in "Legacy". I kind of wish that actor was used for the part more frequently.

-Doug Ward

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] nosyrb 18 years ago

I do, I just saw Di Vinci code and it was pretty good.

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[–] jeff_lars 18 years ago

I live in Michigan, way outside of Mormon country, and we were only able to see it here because they had a showing for two nights at a theater in our stake (which, out here is several counties) and that's only because the actress that played Jessica Roundy Steed was from that town. The actor who played Nathan was from a town about 100 miles away, and that's the only reason the original was released out here. There are plenty of LDS out here that would like to see these movies and try to, but until the DVD's come out (whcih are found at the local Wal-Mart), most people can't see it. The two shows for each one were completely sold out.

Now, it's interesting. I just watched American Zion again and it drives me absolutely crazy how far it falls from the novel, I still would like to see the movies continue. I just wonder how they're going to work certain things in. For example, exactly when are they going to allow Ben to join the church? In the books it already happened in #2 when Joseph asked for his help on the Temple. It was a major issue in the movie that they had to twist the plot for Ben to be a non-member. They lost the proper place for the conversion. The missed Nathan giving Jessica a blessing, allowing her to have Rachel in the first place. It's very frustrating. And yet, like I said, I'm still excited to see some of the things that match protrayed on the big screen and curious to see how the screenwriter manages to resolve some of the issues that have strayed from the original text. After all, the novels are easily the most captivating part fact/part fiction account of church history, with "Legacy" coming in a distant second.

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[–] nosyrb 18 years ago

Yeah it is rough not being able to see it in theaters. My whole problem is not with those who would or who have supported the films it is those who could go and just dont. Even if you dont like them at least support LDS cinema so it doesnt go away. Look at how far the quality has come, but then you hear people like Larry Miller saying that they are not interested in producing anymore and I get sad that we dont support the quality films as we should. I know they made the third film seem to complete the series because they knew it was unlikely to get funding for more installments.

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[–] rhondarossof10 18 years ago

I felt that AZ was jumpy - it didn't flow easily from 1 scene to the next -

The reason that it wasn't successful in the theaters in our area was that people didn't know that it wasn't called Work and the Glory 2 - It played for a week and just as the word was getting out, it left - So my theory is that it needs to be publicized better - however that is possible -

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[–] limejellobob 18 years ago

I agree that it wasn't publicized enough. People didn't know that "American Zion" was the second movie. If it had been called or advertised as the second movie, it would have done better. Many people didn't even know a second movie existed, even.

In any case- I hope they finish the series, in however many movies they do it. It would be unfortunate to only make it a third of the way through.

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[–] sp013 18 years ago

now if they do make all nine of them, are they really going to take nine years to do that... cause that's a long time!!!! and I really hope they stick to the novel, i was disapointed in the 2nd one, they cut out a lot and add stuff that wasn't in the novel...

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[–] snoopyfreak101 18 years ago

Ok every one understand if they got every detail in the movie would be TOO long and thats movie bussiness they have to cut things out! and when they made the 2nd one they had already made the third one but they wanted to release it later. Like they did with lord of the rings they made all 3 movies there all in a few years and just release them a year apart. and i heard they are making them all but it may get squished in to a few movies not 6 more. and they will have to leave out lots of stuff to get the main idea out to the audience. its jsut the way things if they ever decided to follow strictly to the book and get every single little detail then they would have to release part of the movie out so there would be like 3 parts jsut to the first one for an example. and the reason why they leave out important things is becuase they don't have time and that is why they have to add stuff that is not in the book so that way they don't have a gap between things so they come up with other ideas it fix it. it's not that hard to understand if your uncle is a scrpit writer like mine. you guys ask such mediocre questions. hA!

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[–] fcclamormon-1 18 years ago

what was with the ending?

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[–] nell98 18 years ago

Yeah, I really didn't get that either. Who was it? Where was it? What was it? I didn't think it was Joshua, but I just re-watched it again today, and it could be, but I can't tell for sure. If it was Joshua, that's kind-of a random transition. Maybe I should remember what it was all about, but it's been over 5 years since I've read the books, and I don't have them...I had borrowed them then.

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[–] the_only_michael 18 years ago

The poster in theaters says something to the effect that the third movie was going to be the last movie

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[–] tlbauerle 18 years ago

Where'd you see that poster?

-Todd
www.toddlbauerle.com

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[–] nell98 18 years ago

This is my favorite Joseph ever. He's a perfect balance between prophet and real person. I don't think they could have picked a better actor.

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[–] ballenhinds 18 years ago

I just watched American Zion yesterday for the first time, having bought it from Deseret Book. I already had the first one. I must say, the second film seemed too choppy, too rushed, and not enough development of the new characters that were introduced. I also did not like the flash back at the start of the film.

I happen to be working on a film script right now myself. I am going to be taking a break to serve a mission soon, but plan to finish it when I return. If none of the other films are made by the time I finish my script, and depending on how well it does in it's release. I may consider picking up the film, starting over with a whole new cast, and using my marketing knowledge to get this story told as it should be.

I believe very much in movies that are based on books following the books as closely as possible and cutting as little as possible. The two movies were good, but I think they could have been better. I have not read the books, but that is something I will do before I consider rewritting a script and redoing something that has already been done once.

I think that it is possible to redo the entire story on film, simply because the film was not released to a wide enough audience and was known almost exclusively to members of the church.

There was no mention of it made in church magazines and there was no effort made to reach out to people in the wards, stakes, and branches. I did not even hear about the first Work and the Glory film having been released until I saw it on a Wal-Mart shelf. Then I tried to obtain information on the second, and knew nothing until it was well past the theatrical release date.

It's not even advertised or talked about on BYU-TV. I watch that almost every day and there was no mention made of the film.

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[–] mvfred 18 years ago

I agree entirely. The Joseph Smith in the church film was a fairly bland character, but the one in this series has just the right combination of cockiness and charisma.

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[–] tkevinr 18 years ago

I have worked for Deseret Book for the last two years. I have come to be very close with several of the actors, screenwriters, and producers of movies (from churchball to down and derby to the Work and The Glory's. Because the 2nd and the 3rd movies were filmed consecutivly (like the Lord of the Ring's Trilogy) I was able to see American Zion in theaters and A house Divided in an upstairs room of the Deseret Book headquarters.

The second movie completly flopped, it made less than 33% of what was expected (Corporate blames the PG-13 rating & Larry Miller blames incorrect target marketing on the sellers side. Because the money was already put into the 3rd one they decided to continue and release the 3rd one (which was originally supposed to be released in May of 2006).

Larry Miller (the pockets behind anything that has to do with Work and the Glory) has stated that no more will be done. THIS IS THE FINAL CHAPTER. I hate it as much as you do but unless Larry H. Miller receives a divnie Epiphany. We are all stuck with 3 of a promised 9 movies.

So enjoy the final one. I had a chance to speak with Sheri Dew on the subject and she said that it would take an $8,000,000 miracle to get Larry Miller or anyone to concider filming the rest of them.

So my idea is simple. I graduated in business marketing and there are two types of advertising (straight and Buzz.) Straight is your typical billboards, commercials, etc. Which cost the people money (larry isn't planning on doing much of this) The second is Buzz - this is word of mouth advertising. Tell people to go see the movie. Tell them to take their families, tell them it is the best movie of the three (even if you don't think so) If you want the rest to be made, it is up to you to make it happen. Supply and Demand, typical economics states, that they will provide if you show them there is a need.

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[–] tlbauerle 17 years ago

Thanks for the comments...

However, it was my understanding that Miller was planning on adequately telling the story in six films, ending with the adapatation of PRAISE TO THE MAN, with an epilogue to summarize church history post-Joseph Smith era.

From the latest theatrical trailer, it looks as if A HOUSE DIVIDED will tie up loose ends from LIKE A FIRE IS BURNING and combine the story from TRUTH WILL PREVAIL & THY GOLD TO REFINE. That's a ton of material to cover...and while the end of THY GOLD TO REFINE is a great place to end the 'Steed' story...we're missing the capstone of Joseph Smith's martyrdom.

Can't wait for this film...I need to get out and support the re-release of the first two films here pretty quick.

-Todd
www.toddlbauerle.com

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[–] syaeger 17 years ago

My brother-in-law worked on the set crew for parts 2 and 3 (they were both filmed at the same time). He was to be hired to work and the upcoming sequels. According to him, the producer told him that no other sequels will be filmed because the dissapointing box office returns of the prior movies.

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[–] thrwmbsbgkdoepmcjrmrdw 12 years ago

I so wish there had been more than just the three. I didn't read the books but honestly after recentlly re-watching the movies I almost want to. I'm on the fence about cause they are so thick!

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