Convincing Mormons to speak candidly about homosexuality may seem a difficult task, but through Helen Whitney’s reporting on religious societies, she produced many documentaries that shed light on little-known parts of Mormonism and other faiths.
Reflecting on her role as director of The Mormons, a documentary that appeared on the Public Broadcasting Service in the spring, Whitney spoke at the Boston University Kenmore Classroom building last night about the challenge of gaining people’s trust when discussing religion.
“Until recently, religious subjects were the hardest to get on the air,” said Whitney, an Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker. “Poll after poll shows that we are an evidently religious society, but reporting on religion can be dangerous.”
In the filming of The Mormons, the most difficult part was persuading followers of the religion to “open their doors,” she said.
In The Mormons young adults closely dance as voiceovers discuss homosexuality — both topics traditionally looked down upon Mormons.
“Dance is used as a defining part of the essence of Mormons,” Whitney said. “The image of dance enabled me to try to tie it to Mormon heresy.”
Whitney used the documentary to explain to the approximately 30 students in attendance the challenges she faced while working in the film industry.
Whitney began her career in faith-based documentaries in 1981 when she filmed day-to-day activities of monks at Saint Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer for the American Broadcasting Company.
“Since then, virtually all of my films have worked with some form of religion,” she said.
Whitney’s films have appeared on most major broadcasting networks, as well as PBS and HBO.
The filmmaker said another difficulty of making her documentaries is that too much information can overload viewers, and a documentary must balance image with fact.
The Luce Program in Scripture and Literary Arts and the Humanities Foundation sponsored Whitney’s lecture.
“The Luce Program is particularly interested in the way scriptural and religious ideas are communicated to people through means other than traditional religious scriptures and communities,” said College of Arts and Sciences religion program coordinator Cristine Hutchison-Jones, who said she hopes students left the lecture with a sense of how religion is conveyed through media – such as film – from inside and outside traditional religious communities.
Luce Program Director Peter Hawkins said “nobody captures the spirit of religion and film like [Whitney] does,” especially because of the unique people she profiles in her films.
“She uses gorgeous visuals and perfect music as well as interviews with people you carry away with you in memory,” he said.
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