The Work and the Story

The Work and the Story is a 2003 Mormon mockumentary comedy film written and directed by Nathan Smith Jones and starring Nathan Smith Jones, Jen Hoskins, Eric Artel, Dan Merkley, and Richard Dutcher. The title of the film is a reference to the Mormon-oriented film The Work and the Glory.

The Work and the Story
Directed byNathan Smith Jones
Written byNathan Smith Jones
Dan Merkley
Produced byMiriam Smith
StarringNathan Smith Jones
Jen Hoskins
Eric Artel
Dan Merkley
Richard Dutcher
Music byBig Idea Music
Distributed byOff-Hollywood Distribution
Release date
  • August 15, 2003 (2003-08-15)
Running time
77 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$103,000

Plot edit

The story takes place just after the fictional disappearance of Richard Dutcher, famous for beginning the current Mormon cinema phase with his work God's Army. After Dutcher's disappearance the film follows the journeys of three amateur filmmakers who are eager to take his place as the first "Mormon Steven Spielberg". One of these filmmakers doesn't want to see Dutcher found.

Production edit

Richard Dutcher donated the 16mm film stock to make the film. This is the same stock (three years-old) that God's Army was going to be shot on, had Dutcher not found the financing to shoot on 35mm.

External links edit