Compared with the mega-attention another religious movie received, this was a decidedly low-key local premiere.
About 400 people gathered in the Torrance High School auditorium Tuesday night to see the new film based on the Book of Mormon and to hear its director, Gary Rogers, discuss the movie's creation and how he is showing it in one-night or weeklong stints around the country.
That, of course, is a far cry from the hoopla and huge box office grosses for Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ." But Mormon audience members say Rogers' movie, "The Book of Mormon Movie, Volume 1: The Journey," has special significance to them, even if ticket sales are a tiny fraction of those of "The Passion."
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not endorse the movie -- as a voice-over says before it starts. However, members of the Los Angeles Temple who went to the Torrance screening said it would be an educational experience for anyone unfamiliar with the Mormon Church.
"It's a good introduction to the Book of Mormon," said Carolyn Allen, who works for the Church's Southern California Public Affairs Council.
"I think it makes people think about their own beliefs," said her husband, Jack.
Rogers, who is Mormon, said his dream to create the film started when, as a boy, he saw Cecil B. DeMille's "The Ten Commandments."
"So many people have produced stories from the Bible -- wonderful stories," said Rogers, who grew up in Salt Lake City. "The Book of Mormon is a similar book of Scripture ... and nobody had attempted to make a movie."
The two-hour film depicts the prophets Lehi and Nephi and their family's travels from Jerusalem to the Americas in what Mormons believe was the start of a new civilization, 600 years before Christ's birth. The movie ends in the book 2nd Nephi, Chapter 5. Rogers plans eight more installments.
He started writing the script on and off about three years ago. At that time he owned the Salt Lake-based company International Television Productions. He sold the business in 2001 to devote time to finishing the script and starting the film.
Private investors funded the $1.5-million movie and provided an additional $500,000 for marketing. The movie has sold about $1.5 million in tickets so far, and its revenues will be boosted by a DVD version due out at the end of April, Rogers said.
"It's a miracle that we ever did this in the first place," said Rogers, 61. "Most people spend more money making a 60-second commercial."
