From Deseret News archives:
Big fan puts cash where his heart is
About Utah
During the 1990s, Miller read all nine books in Gerald N. Lund's "The Work and the Glory" series. With every volume he became more and more engrossed with the fictional Steed family that is at the heart of Lund's epic work of historical LDS fiction. By the time Miller finished the final installment, "All Is Well," he was as hooked as any soap opera addict.
"After about 4,500 pages, you really feel like you know them," he says.
So when Lund asked the owner of the Utah Jazz, assorted car dealerships and other Utah businesses if he might by any chance be interested in financing the movie version of books that have sold more than 2 million copies, Miller was powerless to say anything other than "where do I send the check?"
He only did what thousands of others would have done had they had the chance.
He turned his heroes into movie stars.
"I didn't do this to get into the movie business," says Miller, "I did this to support people I know and because I think it's a story that ought to be told."
Miller initiated a friendship with Lund in 1995, right after Miller read the fifth book in the series and Lund was writing volume six. The Lunds and Millers began having dinner three or four times a year. Larry took Jerry to the occasional Jazz game. They'd talk books and basketball.
They didn't talk movies until about 18 months ago, when Lund arranged a meeting between Miller and Scott Swofford, a local producer whose works and business ethics Miller admired.
"They'd formed a company to produce the movie and they said the production budget was $7.4 million, plus $1.1 for distribution. So eight and a half," remembers Miller. I said, 'So how much do you want from me?' They said, 'Eight and a half.' "
When he said yes, Miller became executive producer.
Through Monday, "The Work and the Glory" had pulled in $450,000 at the box office. Not bad for five days' work. Nationally, the movie ranked No. 23 in gross revenues for the Thanksgiving weekend period — just behind "What the Bleep Do We Know?" and just ahead of "I Heart Huckabees" starring Dustin Hoffman. Those movies are national releases, as are all the rest in the top 25. "The Work and the Glory" won't leave Utah's borders until a scheduled national release in late January.
"It's really unheard-of, for a movie with local release to do that well nationally," says Lindsey Thomas, spokesman for Excel Entertainment, the company in charge of distribution for "The Work and the Glory."
