Figuratively Speechless

When Sam and I first saw the advertisements for the New Testament Project, we knew it was perfect. Sam enjoys acting and has wanted to participate in something ever since we got married. He has no formal training and limited experience (all play-acting: some children's theater as a kid, cast three times as a young teen, and lead four times in high school, although it must be noted that he comes from a very small town and that was all over 11 years ago). But, being an extra doesn't require any experience at all, so he was good. And though I couldn't be in it because I don't look the part (unless they include a Viking attack in Jerusalem), I have always wanted to see Sam with long hair and a beard (oohlala!) Thus it was that Sam began growing out his hair and beard in October 2010.

Over 10,000 people applied to be extras for the New Testament project, and by December these were pared down to only a few thousand. Sam's olive skin and dark hair must have tipped the scale, because he was accepted as an extra. The approved extras were then invited to audition for speaking parts in January. Sam only ever planned on being an extra, and we laughed about him trying out because he pretty much stood an ice cube's chance in you-know-where. But hey, why not shoot for the moon? Sam signed up for an audition date almost as a joke.

In February we got an email saying that Sam had made the first cut, and we laughed out loud. That's so hilarious! Back pats and hearty laughs were given all around. Rather than do call-backs, they were having the director review film of the first try-outs, and he would decide who made the cut, so Sam didn't have anything else to do. We continued on with life, because the fun was surely going to stop there.

In April we got an email saying Sam made the second cut, and requesting he audition with the director. Okay, this was kind of getting serious. In a funny sort of way. Of the original 2,702 auditioning actors, only 62 were left. And basically everyone but Sam was a professional actor with an agent. When he finally auditioned with the director, Sam wasn't sure how he felt about it. Like any perfectionist, he felt like he could have done better. But it's not like he was going to get a part, so oh well! By this point we were thinking that Sam's man beard was doing all the talking, and we were expecting a glorified extra part. Like shop-keeper #6 or fish-seller #13.

We didn't hear back for a month, and when we did, it was a 7:33 pm email, requesting new beard-shots for a 7:00 am meeting the next morning. We sent in midnight pictures taken in our bedroom (the ones in this post). Two weeks later we got an email requesting info for ecclesiastical clearance. (Are you a convicted felon? Have you been disfellowshipped or excommunicated? List every calling you have had dating back to the flood.)

And then silence. We heard nothing for over six weeks. Our glorified extra hopes evaporated. But we were okay with that, because we only ever expected the back of Sam's head to be in the movie, anyway. Being an extra would still be really fun.

Then, on July 6th, we received this email:

RE: Official BOOKING for Samuel Ricks

Please REPLY with your ACCEPTANCE (or rejection) as soon as possible.

Dear Samuel,

Thank you for your patience with our casting process. You have been approved by our ecclesiastical authorities to participate in this production! We would like to offer you the role of “John, son of Zebedee (Apostle)” in our New Testament project for the LDS Church.

According to the current schedule, we will need you to work 27 days on this production. [Lots of information on dates, meals]

Thank you, again! We look forward to working with you on this production. Please feel free to call or e-mail with any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Alisa Anglesey

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Media Services Department Casting

LDS Motion Picture Studio, Provo, Utah US

WHOA.

We don't know if he has any speaking parts, but he'll definitely be there for most of the major events. The Mount of Transfiguration, Gethsemane, the resurrection. He will film during August, September, and October.

I am speechless. (Figuratively, of course. Obviously not literally, as this post has 760 words.) This is nuts.