Richard Alan Dutcher[1] (born 1964)[2] is an American independent filmmaker who produces, writes, directs, edits, and frequently stars in his films. Well known among members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) for his early Mormon-themed productions, Dutcher has been called “The Father of Mormon Cinema.” Although he left the LDS church over theological differences in 2007, his films continue to explore universal spiritual and religious ideas. Dutcher launched his own film distribution company, Main Street Movie Company, in 2005 and now seeks to take his movies from concept to full distribution independently.[2]
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Dutcher was born in Oak Park, Illinois as Richard Hill. His family moved frequently, and at age seven his parents divorced. As a member of the LDS Church, Dutcher served a two year mission in Mexico.[2]
Dutcher lived in his car during high school and was so financially strapped while attending college that he frequently had to choose between eating and going to the movies. Because of his love of film, he normally went to the movies.[3] Dutcher graduated from Brigham Young University in 1988 with a degree in film.[4] Dutcher has been married to his wife, Gwen, since 1988. They have seven children.
His first feature film was Girl Crazy (1997), which he sold to HBO and Cinemax.
Dutcher's next film was the 2000 indie smash God's Army, which grossed over ten times its $250,000 production budget. Dutcher produced, wrote, directed and starred in this film about Mormon missionaries, focusing on a Mormon elder determined to finish his two-year mission even though he is dying of brain cancer. The film debuted with a world premiere in Sandy, Utah and was taken on tour around North America for limited engagements. The commercial success of God's Army is widely credited for launching the LDS Cinema movement.
Dutcher followed this film in 2001 with Brigham City about the search for a serial murderer in a small Utah town which has never had a murder before. The movie explores how residents of a close-knit religious community, who are mostly LDS, react to and deal with the situation.
Dutcher's next film, States of Grace, was released November 4, 2005. This film follows a set of missionaries in Los Angeles caught in the middle of gang warfare. Wade Major of Boxoffice Magazine wrote of the director, "Dutcher has joined the ranks of the very best independent filmmakers in the world."
Dutcher's film, Falling, shown in a single theater in Utah in January 2008 and in Los Angeles in August 2008, tells the story of a Hollywood videographer, Eric Boyle, who stumbles across a gang murder and sells the footage to a Los Angeles news station for a small fortune. Boyle's life falls apart when the exposed gang members come after anyone with a connection to the incriminating footage. In an interview Dutcher said that this was the most personal of all his works, and that he would self-distribute the film.
Dutcher's latest film is Evil Angel, an action/horror film called starring Ving Rhames (Mission: Impossible, Pulp Fiction), released in 2009.
In 2007, the Provo Daily Herald published an open letter from Dutcher on its editorial page where he announced, "I am no longer a practicing member of the church." He explained that he had taken a spiritual journey that "may ultimately prove incompatible with Mormon orthodoxy." He hoped to explore human spirituality in film more broadly, but like early church leader Oliver Cowdery, someday he might return to the faith.
Dutcher lamented that Mormon cinema was dying from too many shallow, poor-quality films trying to "make a few bucks." He urged Mormon cinema to abandon "moronic," unfunny comedies that rely too much on self-mockery, and family films, which often lack any valuable meaning. He felt that church-produced movies fail to "share … the beauty and power of Mormonism," and are instead "polite, remedial and not-so-factual recitations of Mormon History and scripture". The potential of Mormon cinema was still unappreciated and untapped. Dutcher thought the market could be revived by reintroducing well-crafted film that explores the great depths of Mormon themes and experience. Rather than just making "clean" movies, free from violence and vulgarity, Dutcher said "it is better to tell an R-rated truth than a G-rated lie."[5]
This letter provoked strong criticism from some LDS Church members, most notably Kieth Merrill, a Mormon filmmaker whose work was included in Dutcher's criticisms. In his fiery reaction, Merrill claimed Dutcher was arrogantly ignoring the importance of social and spiritual values. Merrill saw Dutcher as attacking LDS cinema because of the poor response to his latest films.[6] Two days later, in a letter to the editor, Merrill apologized for his harsh criticisms, regretted the loss of Dutcher, and wished him well in his future.[7]
Dutcher at one point was planning to direct Prophet: The Story of Joseph Smith, a film about the life of the early LDS prophet. While Dutcher did not specifically comment on his plans for his movie on Joseph Smith in his 'Parting words' letter, Dutcher did state that he will no longer be making Mormon films. [5]
Dutcher's film Falling, was released January 18, 2008 at a single Salt Lake City theater, and later shopped to art-house theaters, where he did not expect to make back the film's money. Dutcher's 'Parting words' letter suggests that these and future movies may be spiritually-based but not Mormon related.[5]