Joshua Ligairi» 01.20.09 »
With George W. Bush's presidency at an end, David Letterman presents the final edition of "Great Moments in Presidential Speeches" on The Late Show.
The Late Show's last "Great Moments in Presidential Speeches"
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
BLOG: Pinch me
I don't want to get into a habit of getting political on this blog, but today I have to make an exception. I just got back from an inauguration breakfast at a friends house, but it still hasn't sunken in: Barack Obama is the 44th President of the United States!
I wasn't sure it would be possible to match speeches like the infamous Yes We Can speech or the Election Night speech, but Barry did it. He made me truly proud to be an American for the first time in a long time and, damn him, he gave me hope. This is a great day.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
BLOG: Separation of chruch and hate
Joshua Ligairi » 01.01.09 »
As post-production draws to a close on Cleanflix, I'm turning my sights to new projects. There are already many exciting things on the horizon, but as I've ruminated on topics that would be worth the next two years of my life, I keep coming back to the Mormon Church and homosexuality.
As a progressive in a largely conservative religion, I've struggled with the church's decision to take a stance on the recent Proposition 8 in California. That said, I’m not interested in making a film about Prop 8 or an attack piece on the LDS church. I want to make a film about people. The most simple stated goal for this project is to humanize homosexuals for Mormons and to likewise humanize Mormons for the gay community. For me, the most obvious way to do that is to find personal stories that reveal where these two groups overlap.
By way of disclosure, I'm straight and an active member in the LDS church. Just as that may provide some comfort to Latter-day Saints, I’m sure it will also prove to be a point of worry for those in the gay community. I don't see my personal faith as a drawback but as a strength. I have a working knowledge of both the LDS church and Mormon culture. I know where these people are coming from and the good intentions behind their sometimes confusing actions.
Update 2010 >> This film has been put on hold due to the prominence of another upcoming film on Gay Mormon issues entitled 8: The Mormon Proposition . Knowing some of the filmmakers personally, I am confident that what we are hoping to do is much different and far less an attack piece that 8, but we are going to give it some time to cool off anyway. We don't want to be "the other Gay Mormon movie."
Update 2011 >> This film has now officially been cancelled due to the emergence of a new film trying to do exactly the same thing, the main difference being that the director is, himself, a Gay Mormon. The film is called Far Between and looks to be fantastic. I trust those making the documentary to do a fair job and make a film that will go a long way toward healing between these two communities and so, I am humbly bowing out of contention. I am so glad this film is being made. I don't need to be the one to make it. Best of luck to Kendall Wilcox and the crew of Far Between from all of us at Icarus A&E. To learn more about what Kendall Wilcox is planning for the film, listen to him talk to Radio West's Doug Fabrizio. He seems to be a pretty great guy.
As post-production draws to a close on Cleanflix, I'm turning my sights to new projects. There are already many exciting things on the horizon, but as I've ruminated on topics that would be worth the next two years of my life, I keep coming back to the Mormon Church and homosexuality.As a progressive in a largely conservative religion, I've struggled with the church's decision to take a stance on the recent Proposition 8 in California. That said, I’m not interested in making a film about Prop 8 or an attack piece on the LDS church. I want to make a film about people. The most simple stated goal for this project is to humanize homosexuals for Mormons and to likewise humanize Mormons for the gay community. For me, the most obvious way to do that is to find personal stories that reveal where these two groups overlap.
By way of disclosure, I'm straight and an active member in the LDS church. Just as that may provide some comfort to Latter-day Saints, I’m sure it will also prove to be a point of worry for those in the gay community. I don't see my personal faith as a drawback but as a strength. I have a working knowledge of both the LDS church and Mormon culture. I know where these people are coming from and the good intentions behind their sometimes confusing actions.
On the other hand I have seen a great amount of ignorance and bigotry from the church membership. As an ethnic minority, I've often felt like an outsider in the Caucasian-dominated LDS churches I've attended in Utah and California. This is not precisely the same thing, and I recognize that, but I mention it to demonstrate that I have been on the receiving end of discrimination myself.
I am close to several gay Mormons. Some open, others closeted. On my mission for the Mormon church in Amsterdam, I served with a young man struggling to combine his faith and sexuality. Since that time I have been keenly aware of the LDS church’s attitudes and doctrines pertaining to homosexuality. In my estimation, there have been huge leaps of progress in the last few years. Of course, it’s difficult not to see Proposition 8 as a huge step backward. I am a liberal-minded person trying to believe and honestly trying to reconcile these differences.
Further, I am in no way interested in controversy. For me, the main intent of this film is to explore the prospects of healing and understanding between the gay community and the LDS Church. I hope that both groups will feel well-represented and that the film leads to discussion and progress.
I am close to several gay Mormons. Some open, others closeted. On my mission for the Mormon church in Amsterdam, I served with a young man struggling to combine his faith and sexuality. Since that time I have been keenly aware of the LDS church’s attitudes and doctrines pertaining to homosexuality. In my estimation, there have been huge leaps of progress in the last few years. Of course, it’s difficult not to see Proposition 8 as a huge step backward. I am a liberal-minded person trying to believe and honestly trying to reconcile these differences.
Further, I am in no way interested in controversy. For me, the main intent of this film is to explore the prospects of healing and understanding between the gay community and the LDS Church. I hope that both groups will feel well-represented and that the film leads to discussion and progress.
Update 2010 >> This film has been put on hold due to the prominence of another upcoming film on Gay Mormon issues entitled 8: The Mormon Proposition . Knowing some of the filmmakers personally, I am confident that what we are hoping to do is much different and far less an attack piece that 8, but we are going to give it some time to cool off anyway. We don't want to be "the other Gay Mormon movie."
Update 2011 >> This film has now officially been cancelled due to the emergence of a new film trying to do exactly the same thing, the main difference being that the director is, himself, a Gay Mormon. The film is called Far Between and looks to be fantastic. I trust those making the documentary to do a fair job and make a film that will go a long way toward healing between these two communities and so, I am humbly bowing out of contention. I am so glad this film is being made. I don't need to be the one to make it. Best of luck to Kendall Wilcox and the crew of Far Between from all of us at Icarus A&E. To learn more about what Kendall Wilcox is planning for the film, listen to him talk to Radio West's Doug Fabrizio. He seems to be a pretty great guy.
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