LDS actors and actresses in Church films come from many walks of life. The face behind the character may be a homemaker, teacher or construction worker. He or she could be a lawyer or advertising executive. A few act professionally full time. Some have professional training, while others were schooled in stake musicals and road shows.
But they all have one thing in common - using their talents to share the message of the restored gospel through the medium of film. (Please see related article on page 8.) Following are examples of Latter-day Saint actors and actresses:
When you walk in the offices of the Audiovisual Department in the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City, you may be greeted by the warm smile of Yvonne Robertson. A member of the Salt Lake Emigration 27th Ward, Sister Robertson serves as a Church Service Missionary for the Audiovisual Department.
You may also know her as Lucy Mack Smith in "The First Vision" and "Restoration of the Priesthood," Church films well-known to full-time missionaries. Sister Robertson's other roles include Sariah in "How Rare a Possession" and parts for extras.
"I sort of fell into acting in Church films," she recalled. In about 1970, she decided to audition for a role in the Church film, "The Lost Manuscript." Although she didn't get the part, the decision to try changed her life. Using her skills as a seamstress, she began making costumes for films, and, then, in the mid 1970s, BYU Motion Picture Studio officials asked her to play Mother Smith in "The First Vision."
Her Church service mission concludes in February, but her love for Church films will continue. "I've always considered my film work to be a mission in a way."
Acting began as a hobby for Cliff Cole of the Mueller Park 1st Ward, Bountiful Utah Mueller Park Stake. In 1983, he began doing stake musicals and enjoyed the experience.
"I started taking vocal lessons and got involved in the University of Utah opera workshop program," Brother Cole recalled.
Then, in 1989, a friend urged him to audition for a part in Church films to be shown in the Nauvoo and Carthage LDS visitors centers. "I wasn't really interested because I figured I didn't have a chance. She coaxed me, and I decided to do it for the experience."
It ended up quite the "experience." Brother Cole, who has a deep but gentle voice, got the part of the Prophet Joseph Smith in films still shown today at the centers. "Overwhelmed" was the way Brother Cole felt at the time. "When I was cast, people asked how I felt portraying this role. I said, `I don't know how anybody could portray Joseph Smith.'
"I couldn't have done it on my own," Brother Cole continued. "There were lots of people helping, from the cast and crew to directors to producers."
Brother Cole, who has since had parts in other Church films, surmised that there is "an amazing amount" of LDS talent for Church films.
Tayva Patch has wanted to act since she was a little girl. "You love the experiences of mankind, and you like to understand them and to help others understand them," she said.
Sister Patch of the Edgemont 14th Ward, Provo Utah Edgemont Stake, especially enjoys using her acting talents in Church films to help others "understand" gospel experiences. Her first role was in the early 1980s in a seminary filmstrip of Old Testament stories. "I've been helped by the Spirit on stage before," she noted, "but I have never felt like I had to rely so much on the Spirit than when I worked on Church projects."
Her latest Church role was "The Woman at the Well," a seven-minute film recently produced by the Church depicting the conversation between the Savior and the woman of Samaria as recorded in John 4. Sister Patch expressed the hope that when people watch the film, they don't see her, but first the woman of Samaria, then themselves. "That's what an individual should feel. He or she should ask, `What would I have done? What is there here for me?' "
