President Spencer W. Kimball gave a talk in 1978 entitled "The Gospel Vision of the Arts." In this talk, Kimball said: "In our world, there have risen brilliant stars in drama, music, literature, sculpture, painting, science, and all the fields of excellence. For years I have had a vision of members of the Church greatly increasing their already strong positions of excellence till the eyes of all the world will be upon us."

Christian Vuissa, organizer of the LDS film festival and creator of the recent "Errand of Angels," has taken Kimball's words and creates films, putting the LDS community in a positive light.

Vuissa has produced another film, "Father in Israel," and will be showing a rough cut of the film at BYU tonight at 7 p.m. in B191 of the JSFB.

Dennis Packer, a philosophy professor at BYU, has assigned his philosophy of film class different elements in the film to focus on. Packer's class has been taught to evaluate both completed films and those in progress.

At the end of the film, Packer's students will present their findings of their focused elements to Vuissa himself, as well as the audience.

"This is a great opportunity for students who are studying film, watching international film or who just love movies in general," Packer said.

Packer said this viewing of the "Father in Israel," is a great example of how Vuissa is trying to change the LDS movie industry. By allowing for these early views of the movie, Packer said Vuissa is getting the LDS community involved in creating high-quality movies that live up to gospel standards.

Kimball said: "Our writers, our motion picture specialists, with the inspiration of heaven, should tomorrow be able to produce a masterpiece which would live forever. Our own talent, obsessed with dynamism from a worthy goal, could put into such a story life and heartbeats and emotions and love."

Jeanette Clayson, the PR Intern for Campus Films, said "Father in Israel" will be released early next year.

Copyright Brigham Young University 10 Dec 2008