Let’s out with it: Jared and Jerusha Hess, who wrote (both of them) and directed (Jared) the 2004 independent film “Napoleon Dynamite” are Mormons. Can we move on now? We cannot. The Hess family religious affiliation gets brought up in nearly every story about them–which are proliferating now that the couple are promoting their new movie, “Gentleman Broncos.” I don’t have any problem with asking people’s religion, except that, having raised it, nobody seems to know what to make of the fact.
Take yesterday’s profile of Jared and Jerusha on NPR. Scott Simon introduces the segment by noting that this “atypical Hollywood team” lives “in Utah with their two kids”–making them a Hollywood couple how?–”and are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” The story is a fun listen, and I recommend it, but other than a reference to the Hesses’ meeting at Brigham Young University, we get no further treatment of their religion.
Which is a shame, because the two can be pretty funny about their faith. Check out this interview on the Writer’s Guild of America site, in which Jared imagines his grandfather upbraiding him for using coffee (which LDSer’s frown on) in a scene. Even then, Jared has to clarify the interviewer’s oblique reference to “the Mormon question”: “You mean how we can reconcile our faith with our industry?” he asks helpfully.
If these two filmmakers weren’t upright Mormons, you’d swear there was a hint of satire in Jared’s question, since they struggle to find much to reconcile. “I guess there are only two different types of film in the world. There’s porn, and then there’s Disney fare,” deadpans Jerusha. Jared recalls how when the Hollywood crew came to Salt Lake City to work on their last movie (“Nacho Libre,” I’m guessing), “a lot of the stereotypes they may have seen or heard about were put to bed because we’re just a lot of good people.” Can we put the matter to bed then? I suspect we can’t.
posted November 4, 2009 at 11:19 pm
I loved their other films! I can’t wait to see this one!
posted November 5, 2009 at 8:58 am
I heard the NPR story and was dissapointed. It seemed to have no direction whatsoever. He mentioned that they are Mormons and I thought, “oh that will be the angle”. Nope. Then he mentioned the success of Napolean Dynamite and I thought, “maybe it’ll be about the success of ND and if this film will meet that?” Wrong again. Perhaps it will be a review of the new film or its stars? Nope. The news story seemed to lack any narrative. It was, “here is Jared and Jerusha Hess. They made a new movie. Ain’t that swell.”
Don’t get me wrong. Scott Simon usualy does fine reporting. But the story seemed either afraid to hit the well trodden path about Mormons (which is good since this gets awfully dull) or unable to find a story beyond that (which is a shame because a husband/wife filmaking team as original and as the Hess’ is a rarity).
In fairness to NPR, as a fellow alumnus of BYU, I just like to hear a ‘BYU grad done well’ story. And ultimately I think folks like the Hess’ are hard to cover because they tend to defy stereotypes of Mormons. I love that. I like to think this is an emerging trend. That is, that the media will realize Mormons are like most people; each is unique and if you hope to cover them in news, you’ll need to dig deeper and rather than stick to convenient, outdated stereotypes.
posted November 5, 2009 at 3:07 pm
“they tend to defy stereotypes of Mormons”,
The only stereotype that is negative is one promoted by H’wood and the wack jobs they attract for reality TV. There are crazy people and extreme in every group.
The Hess’s just happen to be normal everyday folks that happen to believe and live the gospel of Jesus Christ and attend the Mormon church. Good on them.
Most of H’wood are wack job athiest from many different backgrounds so the Hess’s seem abnormal to them.