Film producers finding new ways to market family-friendly films

Many people are frustrated with Hollywood-produced films that don't

measure up to Christian values. Hollywood studios often defend their

choices by explaining that a profitable market for Christian films

doesn't exist.

Mormon film producer Lyman Dayton disagrees, \"We know it's possible

because of the success of great films like 'Chariots of Fire,' 'The

Sound of Music,' 'Where the Red Fern Grows,' 'Seven Alone,' and 'Against

A Crooked Sky.' I see a market that has been neglected by Hollywood

studios.\"

BYU students and faculty, film producers and Christian media distributor

Bridgestone Multimedia Group are finding new ways of working together to

bring more family-friendly films to market. What's unique is how these

films are being produced and funded.

Almost 20 BYU students interned last semester at Lyman Dayton's

production company, Artae Entertainment. In exchange for their

production work, students gain first-class experience working on a

long-form, professionally mentored film.

\"Most independent film production companies don't ever get this level of

help from such talented young minds,\" Dayton said.

Many movies never make the money back it cost to create them. Finding

the financing to make a film is difficult. To overcome this challenge,

BYU philosophy professor Dennis Packard initiated a unique financial

model.

\"Donors and investors can help finance a movie by contributing money,

receiving a tax write off for the donation, and licensing back the final

product to participate in the profits. With foreign pre-sales and tax

credits, we can collateralize the investment, so they can receive their

funding back before the film actually goes into distribution,\" he

explained.

Utilizing this model for production and financing, Dennis Packard and

Lyman Dayton are now working together. They have selected to do a

multi-million dollar remake of the 1975 film \"Against A Crooked Sky.\"

View the accompanying film documentary for a detailed look at this

fascinating project.

E-mail: rmorgenegg@desnews.com