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- Kylee Cochran is an American actress known for The Crow: Salvation (2000), The Paper Brigade (1996) and the celebrated indie film, Sedona (2011). She met actor Seth Peterson, while guest starring on Providence (2000). The couple married in May 2001 and later separated in 2013. They have four children together, including actor Lennon Henry, who stars in American Horror Story: Hotel (2015).
- Actress
- Composer
- Producer
Portia Nelson was born on 27 May 1920 in Brigham City, Utah, USA. She was an actress and composer, known for The Sound of Music (1965), Doctor Dolittle (1967) and The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Chinese Junk (1967). She died on 6 March 2001 in New York City, New York, USA.- Writer
- Director
- Additional Crew
Scott Whitaker's contributions to filmmaking were mainly as a story man and script writer, but he also directed some short films in a 22 year tenure with the film studio at Brigham Young University that he helped to establish. His education included English classes at George Washington University and cinema writing courses at the University of Southern California. In the early part of his career he worked as a special effects animator at RKO and as a story artist and writer at Walt Disney Studios.
In 1946 three senior Mormon leaders (Harold B. Lee, Mark E. Peterson, and Mathew Cowley) were taken on a tour of The Walt Disney Studio by Scott's brother, Judge Whitaker, a Disney animator and fellow employee. Viewing morale-building training films made at the studio during the war sparked a discussion about producing church films in a similar fashion. Judge proposed that he and other Mormons in the film industry make a film in their spare time. Two years later this resulted in two films about the LDS welfare program, "Welfare in Action" and "The Lord's Way." Eric Larson directed the first, Judge the second, Scott did some live action direction in The Lord's Way, with Judge and Scott creating the animation sequences. The success of these films would ultimately alter the lives and careers of both brothers.
As children Scott and Judge visited the Schneitter Hot Pots (natural hot springs in the Heber Valley, Utah). Finding it for sale in 1951, four Whitaker brothers acquired the property as a family business and started to create "The Homestead" as a year-round resort. Judge asked for a leave of absence from Disney to help remodel the property. Now relatively close to BYU, Judge became involved with establishing a studio at the university, officially heading the new Department of Motion Picture Production starting in January, 1953. The following year Scott joined as well, splitting his time for a few years by working winters for the studio and summers at the family resort before devoting his time completely at BYU.
Casting was difficult for an early film about a man gone astray until faithful Mormons help lead him back into church activity, and Judge finally asked Scott to play the lead. With the strict ban against smoking among members of the LDS Church, Scott had to overcome his wife's concern that his smoking in the picture would raise eyebrows, especially since he had been a member of a Mormon bishopric. Ultimately Scott's performance in "Come Back, My Son" elicited tears when the film was shown in The Tabernacle in Salt Lake City during the General Conference of October, 1954.
Scott did considerable background research for the historical film Windows of Heaven (1963), finding enough material for a full length feature in the course of writing a shooting script. Ultimately the budget limited it to 50 mins. In 1963 Scott developed a story concerning the negative effects of alcohol within communities of the Navajo people by living briefly among them on the reservation in New Mexico and sleeping in a Hogan. He went on to direct his Bitter Wind (1963) script on location in New Mexico and Arizona. As a director Scott would often look for opportunities to improve upon his scripts. He suggested that he and Robert W. Stum "take our sleeping bags and sleep with the sheep" to get the best possible shot of a flock far away from their hotel, which would only be possible at sunrise.
As Supervising Story Editor for the BYU studio he had the opportunity to mentor young writers such as Carol Lynn Pearson and Claire Whitaker (Judge and Scott's niece), both would have long and successful writing careers following their contributions to BYU short films.
Enjoying location work also made Scott a world traveler, and he directed two film projects he had long advocated in widely separated parts of the globe. He climbed over many archeological sites in Central & South America to film Ancient America Speaks (1974) and arranged to film Where Jesus Walked (1978) in Israel during March to maximize the presence of green grass and flowers. Due to the timing of the production, Scott was able to accept the invitation to give the key Easter sermon upon the Mount of Olives to the local Mormon community in Jerusalem. In the address he expressed gratitude for his family and co-workers, perhaps knowing that his work was almost through. Having been plagued by a persistent backache during the entire trip, and with the film almost complete, he returned to Utah where he was diagnosed with bone cancer that had spread to his liver. He quietly died six weeks later, and this, his final film, carried a formal dedication to him. He was buried in the Midway City Cemetery.- Forrest Cochran was born on 13 June 1978 in Brigham City, Utah, USA. He is an actor, known for Final Stab (2001), The Brotherhood (2001) and The Brotherhood 2: Young Warlocks (2001).
- Joe Bright is the author of several novels and screenplays. With a degree in English, Bright began his career as a technical writer for Thiokol, the manufacturer of space shuttle rocket boosters. He later taught English in Honolulu, Hawaii, and Berkeley, California. Currently he lives in Studio City, California.
Fascinated by people and life's idiosyncrasies, Bright became a collector of scenes. In his travels throughout the world, Bright has always maintained that the most interesting aspect of any country is the people. The unusual twists of his stories are always complemented by his rich characters, which he often pulls directly from life. - Chris White was born on 24 May 1986 in Brigham City, Utah, USA. He is an actor, known for Journey to Harmony (2002), Everwood (2002) and Slow Moe (2010).
- Marilyn McArthur was born on 25 May 1927 in Brigham City, Utah, USA. She was an actress, known for The Black 6 (1973). She was married to Howard McArthur. She died on 19 December 2002 in Bakersfield, California, USA.
- Boyd K. Packer was born on 10 September 1924 in Brigham City, Utah, USA. He was married to Donna Edith Smith. He died on 3 July 2015 in Cottonwood Heights, Utah, USA.
- Mortimer Snow was born on 19 November 1868 in Brigham City, Utah, USA. He was an actor, known for The Mohican's Daughter (1922). He was married to Adelaide Warren. He died on 20 June 1935 in East Islip, Long Island, New York, USA.
- Art Department
- Additional Crew
- Actor
Eric Lichtenberg was born on July 24th, 1977 in Brigham City, Utah. From 1995-1997, Lichtenberg attended Utah State University in Logan, Utah then relocated to Los Angeles, California. Lichtenberg worked within the film and television industry Credits. Later Lichtenberg worked as a talent agent in Beverly Hills, California and in Salt Lake City, Utah. In 2001 Lichtenberg was diagnosed with Diabetes and has worked with Abbott Labs, a producer of medical equipment in the marketing of their products for diabetes. Lichtenberg is also known among the firearms rights community for his efforts to teach firearms safety and his involvement in Local politics. Lichtenberg has been involved in the development of new firearms and firearms products and in 2006 founded Lichtenberg Research. A company based in South Salt Lake City, that provides firearms training and gun wrangling services for the film and television industry. Lichtenberg also works as a Creative Director for Concept Marketing Web Site an advertising agency based in Park City, Utah.