T. C. Christensen

Tom C. Christensen (born 1953) is an American filmmaker. His films include Joseph Smith: The Man in 1980 to Gordon B. Hinckley: A Giant Among Men in 2008, and more recently films about the [[Martin and Willie handcart companies which encountered horrific difficulties while traversing the plains toward Salt Lake City in late 1856.

He grew up in Layton, Utah. He served as an LDS missionary in Ohio and West Virginia from 1972 until 1974. He studied filmmaking at Brigham Young University and the University of Utah.[1]

Films by Christensen have received recognition in several film festivals. His Pioneer Miracle received the Best in Show award from the Houston International Film Festival in 2004. His Seasons of the Heart for which he was both director and cinematographer received multiple awards in film festivals.

Christensen has made a large number of films about Latter Day Saint (Mormon) founder Joseph Smith. Among these are Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration and Emma Smith: My Story both made in cooperation with Gary Cook. Other Mormon-themed films include his biography of LDS Church president Gordon B. Hinckley, made following Hinckley's death in 2008.[2]

Christensen was the co-author and director of Only A Stonecutter, the story of John R. Moyle, father of James H. Moyle.[3][4][5]

Christensen has also been the cinematographer for a large number of films. These include Rigoletto, The Testaments of One Fold and One Shepherd, Forever Strong, and Outlaw Trail: The Treasure of Butch Cassidy.

Christensen has been described as the "mentor" of Jared Hess.[6]

On such films as the first Work and the Glory, Christensen's cinematography was considered by some to be by far the best part of the film.[7]

Christensen has also made several IMAX films including Texas: The Big Picture and Ozarks: Legacy and Legend.

Christensen has two children. His daughter, Tess. appeared in Season's of the Heart" and also had a role in his 2001 film Bug Off.

In the summer of 2011, 17 Miracles was released across the country. The film depicts the Martin and Willie handcart companies]] and their struggles and witnessed miracles as they travelled across the plains to Salt Lake City in 1856.[8]

In 2013, Christensen's film Ephraim's Rescue about the life of Ephraim Hanks,[1] a notable rescuer of the Martin Handcart Company, was released to good user reviews and specifically the addressed events of Hanks bringing the first food supplies to the company, which were snow-bound and starving on the Mormon Trail.

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