Dutcher's disappointment in LDS cinema hasn't prevented other filmmakers from trying to pick up the torch. This year has already brought the release of "Beauty and the Beast: A Latter-day Tale," which is in theaters now, and "The Dance," which opens Friday.

The latter film comes from actor-turned-producer Michael Flynn, who also spearheaded the well-regarded 2003 LDS missionary drama "The Best Two Years."

Flynn, who's been working in film for nearly 30 years, said he still believes there is an audience for "clean, uplifting movies," but audiences have become skeptical. "No one's really giving them what they want to see," the 59-year-old veteran said. "It all comes down to character and story. You have to have both things to be successful. You have to be smart."

"Smart," in Flynn's opinion, also means frugal. The modestly budgeted "Dance" was produced for less than $300,000. "You don't have to cut corners or make something that's cheap-looking. You just have to be realistic."

In addition to his acting career, Flynn operates Flynn-Daines Productions with McKay Daines, who directed "The Dance." Flynn said he met Daines at a Brigham Young University football game years ago, "and found we had a lot in common. We've got big plans for this company, and hopefully this movie will get us off to a good start."

Tapped out

Prolific filmmaker Kurt Hale tasted early success of his 2002 comedy "The Singles Ward." However, that success may have spoiled him, he said. And it's been disappointing for Hale to see each succeeding movie he has made come up with what he calls "diminishing returns."

"I think LDS films may have been tapped out," Hale said, "and we may have been a big contributor to that. Audiences may be willing to spend $8 to see a Hollywood blockbuster, but it's asking a lot to charge that much for one of our silly comedies."

His most recent effort was last year's sports spoof "Church Ball," which featured such name actors as Gary Coleman, Fred Willard and Clint Howard in the cast.

It was a "calculated risk," one that was supposed to create a film with wider appeal. In retrospect, the move may have backfired. "Our costs went up but our grosses didn't," Hale said.

Meantime, HaleStorm has released a couple of direct-to-video films, and both Hale and his partner, Dave Hunter, have been busy trying to secure funding for their Stone Five Studios production facility in Utah County.

Stone Five should open soon, and Hale is planning to continue making smaller films — and to find ways to expand his audience. "It would probably be pretty easy for us to make 'The Singles Ward 2,' but believe it or not, we're a little more ambitious than that," he said with a laugh. "Of course, if we really thought we could duplicate the success of the first movie, who knows, maybe we'd seriously consider it."

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E-mail: jeff@desnews.com