NOM

I was talking with my one non-Mormon friend that I actually talk about the Mormon church with that a show on Netflix about JS could honestly be a huge hit.

We were tossing ideas back and forth as to whether or not you make it a drama, dark comedy, or a straight-up comedy show.

And then talking about how you format it in order to stay both historically accurate and chronological while still being able to take the viewpoint that Joseph made it up, but also being able to show what he was *claiming* was happening.

I honestly think it could be a series that nevermos would watch and enjoy, because Mormonism is a truly fascinating thing, and if you kept it historically accurate while exposing what a complete dumpster fire the real history is for Joseph Smith... oh man it would be a sight to behold.

How would you make a show about JS? Would you go drama/comedy/dark comedy?

Figured this is a more lighthearted topic as I hit the home stretch of my very expensive vacation to see in-laws who abandoned their family for the second time in 3 years to pay the church to work for free as seniors. And I need to get out of here!

Starting with your last thought - my widow MIL is on a "mission" as an office secretary in a Mission in Canada. She asked to be sent to 2 specific places where she could do family history in the evenings, so they sent her to a very cold, dark place all by herself. And she had to buy a truck for the climate - all so the church doesn't have to pay a local person minimum wage. Insane.

Anyway - I'd make it a historical drama. The closer the story is to the documented facts, the more interesting it would be. Staring with the occult stuff and religious revivals, Joseph learning how to do magic then transitioning to gold plates... its really a good story! Gold plates, FV, early converts are interesting characters like Martin & Lucy Harris and all the Whitmers, the moves to Kirtland, MO, Nauvoo and the subsequent relations with neighbors, the Kirtland temple and the Kirtland bank with it's fallout.... it goes on forever! All the while you'd have a thread running through it of a secret inner-circle, rumors, sex, violence and heavenly visitations. Nauvoo is a whole season, as is the trek west and establishment of Zion.

Someone could make at least a 4 season netflix show.

Make it a mix of these shows:

The Americans
West World
Breaking Bad
Narcos
Outlander
Game of Thrones

You could easily do 10 seasons if you focused on Smith and the beginnings and Brigham migrations west.

Every time I see a thread like this my first initial reaction is: Nobody cares about MORmONism.


But... That musical about some book related to MORmONism is a smash hit, so If the show about Horny Joe is done right, I guess it could work.



Edit: And since the Red Cowboy and I were posting almost at the same time:

Red Ryder wrote: ↑Thu Oct 24, 2019 3:16 pmMake it a mix of these shows:

The Americans
West World
Breaking Bad
Narcos
Outlander
Game of Thrones

You could easily do 10 seasons if you focused on Smith and the beginnings and Brigham migrations west.

Include The Walking Dead in that list.

wtfluff wrote: ↑Thu Oct 24, 2019 3:20 pm Every time I see a thread like this my first initial reaction is: Nobody cares about MORmONism.

I've always agreed with this and still do for the most part, but it was talking with this one nevermo friend who kept telling me how fascinated he was by what I was talking with him about... he even started reading some of it on his own and he is a full blown atheist that could not care less about the Mormon church.

So we were talking about the church and he said how he never thought he could be so fascinated by it and then we turned to the idea of making a series that went through the church historically and how it could work if it was serious vs if it was a comedy where the audience is in on Joseph's con.

Either way... I think it could seriously be a hit if it was done right, which of course is true of many ideas. But its fascinating and the way Joseph constantly gets into trouble and then gets out of the jams with revelation would be awesome to see in a television show from episode to episode.

When polygamy ramps up... it would be one of the most insane seasons of television around.

What would the title be?

Saints and Sinners
Prophet World
Nauvoo Ballers
Horny Joe
Wives of the Prophet
SMITH
God Said So!
Bad Prophet
Garment Diaries
The Sacrament
Sacred Duty
Killed by a Mob
Seinfield Smith
Prophet Walking
Prophet
Fanny

I've actually thought a lot about this, I think it would be a great HBO series. They should call it No Man Knows My History and use the book as a template.

Red Ryder wrote: ↑Thu Oct 24, 2019 3:36 pm What would the title be?

See that would depend heavily on what the tone was (dark, funny, drama, etc)

Just going to brainstorm here...

Making Mormonism
Oh, Joseph
Joseph's Fruits
Come Follow Me (that would seriously trigger some people)
The Smiths
Celestializing
Frontier Sex Cult
Rock in a Hat
White and Delightsome
Secret Combinations
Heavenly Mothers
My 34 Moms
The Greatest Conman on Earth
Peeping Stone

I love Horny Joe... that would be a great comedy title lol. Garment diaries might be too sad for me to watch - I will never not hate garments.

Man this would be a fun project.

I vote for Frontier Sex Cult!

A few more:

Celestial Sex Cult
Garment Land
Beehive
The Printing Press
Angel with a Sword

I thought I saw on Reddit someone talking about actually doing a script like this with Jon Hamer.

I’ll see if I can dig that up.

Red Ryder wrote: ↑Thu Oct 24, 2019 3:36 pmWhat would the title be?

All Wives Matter

wtfluff wrote: ↑Thu Oct 24, 2019 7:29 pm

Red Ryder wrote: ↑Thu Oct 24, 2019 3:36 pmWhat would the title be?

All Wives Matter

First Wives Club for the first show, Second Wives club for the sequel, Third Wives Club for #3, Forth Wives Club for #4
You could do 33 or so shows. And use In Sacred Loneliness as the script.

I like the idea of the comedy where the audience is in on the con. But then I could never stand to watch it, so maybe not.

wtfluff wrote: ↑Thu Oct 24, 2019 3:20 pm Every time I see a thread like this my first initial reaction is: Nobody cares about MORmONism.


But... That musical about some book related to MORmONism is a smash hit, so If the show about Horny Joe is done right, I guess it could work.



Edit: And since the Red Cowboy and I were posting almost at the same time:

Red Ryder wrote: ↑Thu Oct 24, 2019 3:16 pmMake it a mix of these shows:

The Americans
West World
Breaking Bad
Narcos
Outlander
Game of Thrones

You could easily do 10 seasons if you focused on Smith and the beginnings and Brigham migrations west.

Include The Walking Dead in that list.

And Peaky Blinders!!

BringEmYoung wrote: ↑Fri Oct 25, 2019 11:54 am

wtfluff wrote: ↑Thu Oct 24, 2019 3:20 pm Every time I see a thread like this my first initial reaction is: Nobody cares about MORmONism.


But... That musical about some book related to MORmONism is a smash hit, so If the show about Horny Joe is done right, I guess it could work.



Edit: And since the Red Cowboy and I were posting almost at the same time:

Red Ryder wrote: ↑Thu Oct 24, 2019 3:16 pmMake it a mix of these shows:

The Americans
West World
Breaking Bad
Narcos
Outlander
Game of Thrones

You could easily do 10 seasons if you focused on Smith and the beginnings and Brigham migrations west.

Include The Walking Dead in that list.

And Peaky Blinders!!

Peaky Foooookin Blinders!