Heimerdinger’s First Passion was Filmmaking
By Bettyanne Bruin

Long before he wrote the best-selling novels in the Tennis Shoes among the Nephites series, Chris Heimerdinger had a passion for filmmaking.  In fact, he made his first film — a film that caught the attention of Sterling Van Wagenen — when he was still in high school.

Upon seeing Heimerdinger’s first film, Van Wagenen — co-founding executive director of the prestigious Sundance Film Institute — invited the 17-year-old Heimerdinger to attend the institute. As the youngest person ever to attend the Institute, Heimerdinger captured the judge’s attention with his film, Night Meeting.

Night Meeting is a story that involves an ancient Native American interacting with a modern-day white man. This film included a scene where their hands passed through one another’s, a scene Heimerdinger says, “actually planted the seed” for Heimerdinger’s current film, Passage to Zarahemla.”

Receiving the Sundance Institute’s Most Promising Filmmaker Award for Night Meeting opened the door for Heimerdinger to attend BYU’s Cinematic Arts Department as a film major, where he was granted the most generous scholarship ever given up to that time.

“I have always been a visual person,” says Heimerdinger. “I think cinematically and I write cinematically. My head is filled with visual stories, all of which I have always desired to put up on the big screen. But when I first started out in filmmaking, 26 years ago, investors were hard to come by and no one was investing in or making LDS films. So, I started writing novels as a substitute creative outlet. But the reason I originally wrote novels was so I could reach the day where all the stories I’ve had in my head could be put up on the big screen.”

That time has now come, as the LDS film industry readies itself for its first action/adventure/fantasy film, and as Heimerdinger finally brings one of his most popular books to life.

For the past several years, Heimerdinger has been writing and perfecting the screenplay for Passage to Zarahemla. Although the novel was published in 2003, Heimerdinger actually began working on the screenplay many years before this. Passage to Zarahemla follows the story of suddenly orphaned siblings Kerra and Brock. Fleeing state authorities and their troubled past, they seek out some long lost relatives — a fairly simple LDS family.

Unbeknownst to this family, there exists a place where parallel realities — ancient and modern — mysteriously collide.  Having visited there often as a child, Kerra returns there once again, only to meet up with her childhood friend, the Nephite warrior Kidonni. What happens next, as evil battles righteousness in both the present and past worlds, leads Kerra and Brock to an unexpected surprise.

Of jumping into LDS cinema, Heimerdinger says, “I’m thrilled about LDS cinema. In fact, there’s a lot to celebrate. I’ve always felt if LDS filmmakers are to succeed, they cannot forget their first priority, which is to entertain. A movie must thrill, surprise, engage and enchant. This is my goal with Passage to Zarahemla.”

Heimerdinger’s ambition is to get LDS film back on its original track — to truly entertain and enlighten Mormon audience with quality storytelling. He hopes to do this utilizing the same talents he has cultivated the past twenty years — the skill of telling a compelling, intriguing story that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. However, he approaches the industry rationally, understanding that because LDS audience numbers are presently limited, film budgets must be scaled down to be financially feasible.

“If anyone expects to see special effects like those found in big budget films like Pirates of the Caribbean,” says Heimerdinger, “they’ll most likely be disappointed. Our goal, all along, has been to create solid characters within an engaging story. These are the elements our genre can afford. And, in the end, I have always said, I am very proud of the fact that my books and films celebrate the Book of Mormon and LDS culture, and I hope to always do this in an entertaining way.”

Following his words with actions, he has brought on an impressive team of talent.  They include:

Also included in this film is the sentimental, but Hollywood-experienced talent of Bryce Chamberlain — who played the father in the LDS church’s first film production, Man’s Search for Happiness, and now, forty-three years later, plays the grandfather in Passage to Zarahemla.

Thrilled about this new adventure, from the adventure-master himself, Heimerdinger adds, "No one loves generating an enthusiasm about the Book of Mormon than me. I absolutely love being part of this first-ever, LDS action-adventure-fantasy film."

For more on Passage to Zarahemla, visit www.passagetozarahemla.com.