When T.C. Christensen went looking for a school to stand in for Cokeville Elementary in his film, The Cokeville Miracle, the writer-director found the perfect location by searching his own memory.
There had to be two entrances to the classrooms, because thats how it was in Cokeville, said Christensen, whose other films include Ephraims Rescue and 17 Miracles.
There had to be a bathroom, and there had to be windows that opened, because thats how it really was.
The original school had been updated, and a replacement location proved elusive.
Then I got thinking, I think the elementary school I went to had all those things, Christensen recalled. I went to my school, E.M. Whiteside Elementary, and it had all those things. It was terrific. The people in the school district were good to us, and I got to go down memory lane and remember all the trouble I caused there.
Laytons E.M. Whiteside Elementary acts as the main set of The Cokeville Miracle, an independent film which opens in Utah theaters on June 5.
Christensen, of Centerville, said the strength of ticket sales on opening weekend will likely determine if the film opens in additional markets or if it goes to DVD.
The story is based on a 1986 hostage event during which a former town marshal, David Young, and his wife, Doris, entered the school with a bomb, taking 136 children and 18 adults hostage. After about 2 and a half hours, the children started praying, and an agitated David Young strapped the detonator to his wifes wrist before leaving the room.
Doris made a gesture, and accidentally detonated the bomb, which is when the miracle portion of the story began.
I didnt want to make this film just because of the sensationalism of kids being held by a crazy bomber, Christensen said. That had no appeal to me at all. But this bomb goes off, and no kids and no adults except the perpetrators die. Very easily, there could have been 156 people dead.
Many suspected divine intervention.
There were about eight children that either saw something or heard a voice, or had some kind of experience beyond the bomber and getting out, the director said. I dont show angels in the film. Its all done through reactions. We do one reflection, and we do recount those stories, and tell what the kids said.
One child reported a woman who pulled her out of the smoke-filled classroom, then was gone. Later, viewing a family album, the girl identified a deceased aunt as her rescuer.
Another break was a partial failure of the bomb. Only a portion of it exploded, lessening what could have been a deadly outcome.
Christensen also found a story of transformation.
I found in the real story, Ron Hartley, who was a skeptic, underwent a change and found faith. In the film, I could take him through the experience, and the audience might see they could follow the same path. I felt like it was a powerful message.
Most of Christensens best-known projects have told stories of the early days of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Several explore the perilous journeys taken by pioneers.
At the time of the hostage situation, much of the population of Cokeville practiced the LDS faith, the director said. But Christensen describes The Cokeville Miracle as a story of faith rather than of one specific religion.
Our film is for everybody, he said. It can be faith inspiring in people who are doubters or not sure about Gods involvement in our lives. I want them to see something on the better side of life. One of my heroes is director Frank Capra, and he once said only the morally courageous should be worth of speaking to their fellow man for two hours in the dark. I want to be worthy, to be able to put out a good message that has people coming away from a film I have worked on feeling uplifted and capable of seeing the better part of life.
Contact reporter Nancy Van Valkenburg at 801-625-4275 or nvan@standard.net. Follow her on Twitter at @SE_NancyVanV; on Facebook at facebook.com/SE_NancyVanV.
Link Download :
Free Download The Cokeville Miracle (2015) Full Movie HD
Local director hopes to inspire with Layton-shot film. Tuesday , June 02, 2015 - 4:57 PM
Local director hopes to inspire young Oklahomans | Watch ...
Watch the video Local director hopes to inspire young Oklahomans on Yahoo takes home the top prize at this years deadCENTER film festival. a local film, takes
Top 5 Headlines to Know. Now. - Standard-Examiner
Jobs; Homes; Rentals; UtahFindit; Watch watch. News. News; Video; Local; State; Government; Education; Military
Local director hopes to inspire young Oklahomans
"The Post Human Project", a local film, takes home the top prize at this years deadCENTER film festival. Subscribe to KOCO on YouTube now for more:
Local director hopes to inspire young Oklahomans ...
"The Post Human Project", a local film, takes home the top prize at this years deadCENTER film festival. u local. On TV. Video. Marketplace. Real Estate; Get Coupons;
Local film maker hopes to inspire - Kelowna News ...
A local director is hoping his new film will inspire people to pursue the things they really want in life. Thomas Bowerbank of Bowerbank Digital Cinema along with
Local director Tan Pin Pin to collaborate with MDA despite ...
Despite the controversy surrounding her most recent film, local director Local director Tan Pin Pin to collaborate with MDA despite recent film "We hope that
Focus On So. Florida: Womens History Month « CBS Miami
and a local director is debuting his film that he hopes will and a local director is debuting his film that he hopes will inspire women everywhere
Director showcases Sudbury in martial arts movie | Timmins ...
The producer of an upcoming Sudbury movie hopes to inspire and support local talent. Steve Gagne, producer of the martial arts filmFeud,loves sharing his skills. As a
Director showcasing Sudbury in martial arts film | Sudbury ...
Director showcasing Sudbury in martial arts film 0. LINDSAY JOLIVET, The producer of an upcoming Sudbury movie hopes to inspire and support local talent.