Biography for
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Mini Biography

Dutcher had studied and worked for years to perfect his craft. His first complete film project was the ultra-low budget student film "Brother John." As a young graduate of film school Dutcher poured everything he had into making his first feature-length film, the romantic comedy "Girl Crazy." Although "Girl Crazy" was never screened theatrically, Dutcher did sell the picture to HBO, and was able to recoup his expenses.

In 1997 Dutcher directed "Eliza and I", a play-like film based adapted from the play by BYU professor/actress/playwright Elizabeth J. Hansen, which was shown on public television and is available on video.

Although he knew what he wanted to do, and he was certain he had the skill and experience to be able to do so, it took Dutcher three years to raise enough money to make a feature film about Latter-day Saints.

Eventually Dutcher raised enough money to commence filming. "God's Army" was made with a budget of $300,000, a paltry sum by today's movie-making standards. But after it was released in Utah it became the second-highest grossing film in the state for that year. "God's Army" went on to be shown in theaters all over the country. It ended up grossing over $2.6 million in U.S. box office sales, and then sold over $2.5 million in videos and DVDs in the first year of video release.

With the critical and financial success of "God's Army", Dutcher was easily able to raise money for this next film project. "Brigham City" opened in Utah theaters on April 6, 2001. It eventually played in theaters around the country. Critics generally considered it an even better film than "God's Army." But its darker subject matter (the plot revolves around the sheriff's search for a serial killer), as well as its PG-13 rating seemed to keep some movie-goers away.

On April 19 2001, just two weeks after the release of "Brigham City", anticipation was high as newspaper and TV reporters crowded the Bombay Room in Salt Lake City's Hotel Monaco. It was here that Dutcher announced the subject of his next film. He would make a movie about Joseph Smith, Jr., the first prophet and founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Mini Biography

American independent filmmaker Richard Dutcher, although still relatively young in his career, is known primarily as the "father of Mormon Cinema." His first widely released theatrical feature, God's Army (2000), told the story of several Mormon missionaries in Los Angeles. Produced for only $300,000, "God's Army" grossed over $2.6 million at the U.S. box office, sold over 100,000 videos, and single-handedly launched a new genre: Mormon Cinema.

Dutcher's next film, the murder drama Brigham City (2001), was a critical success that introduced him to a more mainstream audience while gaining him the distinction of being one of the most critically-respected filmmakers working in a religious genre.

Although serving as a hired gun script doctor/screenwriter on the upcoming Tom Sizemore pic "Fly Boys" and appearing in walk-on roles in several minor Mormon genre films, Dutcher's most interesting work is found in the distinctive films that he both writes and directs. These find him moving in the direction of such respected "spiritual" filmmakers as Robert Bresson and Carl Dreyer.

Among Dutcher's rumored future projects are "Resurrection", a supernatural/spiritual thriller, "Stealing Sundance", an affectionate satire of independent filmmaking, and "The Prophet", an epic biopic on the life and murder of Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism. Richard Dutcher's unfolding career promises to be a fascinating one to follow.

Mini Biography

Few if any independent filmmakers are as truly independent as Richard Dutcher. From his first feature, Girl Crazy (1997), to his latest, Falling (2007), Dutcher's remarkable versatility has been on display as writer, director, editor, and frequently lead actor. In the spirit of Francis Ford Coppola, who said, "If you don't control distribution, you're dead," Dutcher launched his own film distribution company in 1999. His Main Street Movie Company owns distribution rights to each of his five films and has successfully distributed them theatrically, on DVD, on television and in foreign markets.

Though perhaps best known as "The Father of Mormon Cinema" because of his early Mormon-themed films, he left the church in 2007 over theological differences. Some critics have noted that the progressive complexity of his films, from the acclaimed murder mystery Brigham City through the gritty urban drama States of Grace, seem to reflect his own journey toward a more universalistic world view. Today Dutcher, praised as "a wunderkind of truly terrifying potential" by Michael Medved, is unaffiliated with any religion. He is wrapping up post-production on an action/horror film, Evil Angel, which stars Dutcher and Ving Rhames (Pulp Fiction, Mission: Impossible).

Spouse

Trivia

Graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in film. [1988]

After seeing his film "Brigham City," the mayor of the real Brigham City, Utah, gave him the Key to the City.

"Falling" is his favorite of all of his films.

His favorite novels are Leo Tolstoy's "Anna Karenina" and Larry McMurtry's "Lonesome Dove.".

Worked as manager of the apartment building where he filmed "Girl Crazy." The production overstayed its welcome and Dutcher was fired immediately after wrapping principal photography.

Owns a Jaguar XJ Portfolio, one of only 35 in the U.S.

While struggling to become a filmmaker, worked as a cook, an oil rig roughneck, a cider maker, a substitute school teacher, a gas station attendant, a graveyard shift clerk at 7-11, a corporate Spanish language teacher, and a janitor.

Speaks fluent Spanish.

At his high school, was student body vice president and editor of the school newspaper. Was threatened with expulsion over his newspaper editorials critical of the school administration.

In the mid-90s was a film critic for "Entertainment Today," a Burbank-based weekly. He quit the job when ordered to write positive reviews for bad movies.

His wife is a professional sculptor. She has sculpted several figurines for Walt Disney Classics.

Often uses the same actors in multiple films.

Is an avowed Charlie Chaplin fan.

Was born Richard Hill. His name was changed at age 7 when his mother married into the Dutcher family.

He and his wife, Gwen, were married in an outdoor stone theater in the mountains above Sundance.

Has been married to his wife, Gwen, since 1988. They have seven children.

Collects all the guns his characters use in the films.

Is a lifetime Chicago Cubs fan. His boyhood hero was Cubs' outfielder Billy Williams.

Born in Oak Park, Illinois, the same city as Ernest Hemingway.

Personal Quotes

Directors who say that their movies are like their children have either never had children or aren't spending enough time with the ones they've got.

Everything I've wanted to do I've done. But it's always taken me a hell of a lot longer than I expected.

If you're an independent filmmaker, but you're dependent on Sundance for success, then how independent are you?

Divorce is my family's only enduring tradition.

At the beginning, I was proud to say, 'Yeah, I'm a Mormon filmmaker' because then, I was defining what a Mormon filmmaker was. It quickly got completely out of my control. Now, no one wants to call themselves a Mormon filmmaker because you're associating yourself with a genre that's fallen into disrepute. It's like having porn on your resume.

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