From Deseret News archives:
LDS humanitarian aid explored
The first two parts of the four-part series previously aired March 31-April 1 during LDS General Conference. Now those first two parts will repeat, May 8 ("A Time of Need," Part 1) and May 15 ("A Willing Heart," Part 2), at 7 p.m. and replaying again at 10 p.m. the same night on BYU-TV (Comcast Ch. 21 in Utah).
Parts 3 and 4, not shown previously, will air on BYU-TV, May 22 ("My Brother's Keeper," Part 3) and May 29 ("Champions," Part 4), also 7 p.m., with a repeat at 10 p.m.
The series is independently produced by Kineto Pictures of Salt Lake City. It was funded through a grant by Rex and Ruth Maughan of Arizona, donated to Brigham Young University. BYU Television is the series' distribution outlet.
According to Travis Babcock, director of "Acts of God" and president of Kineto, the production was originally only going to be a single documentary.
"We ended with so much good footage," Babcock said, that it was expanded to four parts. Work on the production began June 1, 2006, with the first footage being taken Aug. 1. Parts 1 and 2 were edited just before April conference and the final two parts are now in the final editing process.
The series was filmed at various sites ranging from Indonesia to the Mississippi to Africa.
Actor James Avery, most famous as "Uncle Phil" on the former "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" TV series, is narrator.
Babcock said the objective of the documentary was not to be a "touchy-feely piece," but to show just what accent the church has in humanitarian aid.
The series follows the history of LDS humanitarian aid. It also tells the stories of some of the individuals touched by the humanitarian aid program. The documentary exposes a world of humans while telling the story of the humanitarian aid program's goals and accomplishments.
"Humanitarian aid is tough," Babcock said, explaining it can't patronize those it assists, nor can it make them beggars. He believes the LDS Church's humanitarian aid looks long-term and at the responsibilities of the recipient to eventually take care of themselves.
"The church is more interested for the future," he said, while the thrust of the Red Cross, for example, is immediate aid — a vital aspect too, but different than the LDS Church's accent.
He said the LDS Church didn't control his film's content or shooting, but said, "The church will not toot its own horn" about its accomplishments.
Babcock said the church often partners with other organizations and individuals to create longer-term solutions.
He was amazed that the cleanup after the Katrina disaster took so long. He was also surprised at how many volunteers for the church worked weekends in that devastated area, sleeping on the lawns of LDS chapels at night.
Babcock isn't certain if the series will eventually be available on DVD or video, but it should be available through streaming on the Internet.
E-mail: lynn@desnews.com
