Merrill, new movie studio to focus on family

PARK CITY — Kieth Merrill has dedicated his life to making movies and now he wants to revolutionize the industry, making it more family-friendly, with a new movie company and plenty of firepower behind him.

In Park City on Friday, Merrill announced the formation of Audience Alliance Motion Picture Studio. The corporate headquarters will be based in Hong Kong, with Web portal and technical services in Australia. Film production will be based in Southern California.

Ken Kragen, who has managed some of the world's most popular entertainers, has taken a front-row seat as an advisory-board member. Kragen brought together more than 45 major artists for "We Are The World" to raise money for hungry people in Africa. He also orchestrated "Hands Across America," where 7 million people joined hands to feed the hungry and homeless in the United States.

While Kragen said these have been highlights in his career, he said Friday that the new studio is perhaps one of the most important projects he has taken part in.

"This isn't so much an attack on Hollywood," Kragen said. "It is a way to change the overall films that are made."

Last year, 68 percent of the movies that were released were rated R and yet 85 percent of movie revenue came from movies that were either G or PG, Merrill said.

Australian Peter Rancie is also taking a leading role in the project. He will be the studio's Australian chief executive officer.

Rancie co-founded and managed two successful privately owned advertising agencies and production companies in Australia. He has since turned his attention to "media with a message."

"We're taking a stand," he said. "This announcement today is exciting."

Sheri Dew, president of Deseret Book, also will also serve as an advisory-board member. Dew met Merrill when she was on the set of "Windwalker" as a young journalist.

The films produced by the new entity will all be based on Christian values and will seek to bring back the feel-good movies.

"I'm honored just to be a small part of it," Dew said. "I have a lot of confidence in him (Merrill)."

The studio was formed on the idea that Hollywood is losing touch with viewers and their values.

"It is an alliance of people like you who love going to movies but are sick and tired of getting unexpectedly ambushed by those one or two gratuitous scenes that ruin an otherwise good film," Merrill said.