Thursday, August 9, 2012

91: LDS MOTION PICTURE STUDIO: PART 1

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The recently dedicated Jerusalem Movie Set built by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is currently being used to produce Church films. The new set is located on the LDS Motion Picture Studio South Campus in Goshen, Utah. (interesting is that the city of Goshen used to be called Sodom.)

The LDS Motion Picture Studio has developed some 830 acres — a square-mile area – into a parcel of the ancient Holy Land that includes replicas of parts of old Jerusalem, Bethlehem and other New Testament-period places.

"If you compare this to shooting on location in Jerusalem, this is a far less costly option," said Elder Robbins. He declined to disclose property, set or project costs, saying the LDS Church keeps its financial information confidential. This set has been built to last over 20 years..  (maybe with the intentions to eventually have tours (like the backlots in Hollywood)

Needless to say, The Church has spared no expense. Everything is top notch. Hired talent have been flown in from all of over the world, including makeup artists from Europe. The Church has even hired two full time paramedics to be on the set in case there are any medical problems. Below are some pictures of the sets.
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Sidenote:  Reality vs Look-Alikes.  In creating movies, a movie "set" is built, which is made to look real, but it is not. The viewer is only able to see what the director wants you to see. Actors perform who are not the real characters. It is pretend.. they are look-alikes for the real thing.. A close friend of mine recently wrote  a  list about Look-alikes.  Here are some of them from his blogpost.

Academic Credentials...... for Spiritual Credibility
Emotional stories......... for Doctrine
Success of an institution......... for God's favor
Priesthood authority for priesthood power (Boyd K Packer Conference address)
Religious platitudes........ for actual knowledge of God (2 Timothy 3:7)
Financial success.......... for God's Approval (Mosiah 12:14-15) (Luke 6:24)
"Following The Prophet"........... for Following the Lord (D&C 76:98-101)

We may also mistake:
Uniformity........ for Unity.
Human talents.......... for Gifts of the Spirit
Following the manual........ for following the Spirit (Moroni 6:9)
Praying to be "heard of men"........... for praying to be heard of God. (Alma 33:8)
Official changes........... for Revelation

and the
The City of Goshen (formerly known as Sodom)...... for the Holy Land.