By Nicholas Ihli
The thrill of victory. The agony of defeat. That self-proclaimed Michael Jordan ball hog from your elder”s quorum.
All of the above and much more are experienced when priesthood holders play one of their greatest pastimes, church basketball.
That pastime is the setting of the latest in comedies based on LDS culture from director Kurt Hale.
Hale co-wrote and directed “Singles Ward,” “The RM” and “The Home Teachers.” With “Church Ball,” he is focusing on the competitive nature of Mormons as they play ward basketball.
The idea for “Church Ball” has been on Halestorm Entertainment”s radar for the past few years. The concept came to Hale while he was in the shower, probably due to ailing after playing church ball himself, he said.
“Obviously, church ball has become so engrained as a cultural aspect among Mormons,” Hale said. “We have made it famous and infamous.”
He said the crazy thing about church ball is people go out there and absolutely kill themselves playing basketball for nothing- no money, fame, nothing.
The premise of the movie is that a certain stake is holding church basketball for one last year. Anyone who wants to make a mark in church ball history knows this is their last chance. The poorest ward in the stake is the underdog team going up against the powerhouse ward- coaches and a team bus included.
Halestorm has received hundreds of stories from people”s church ball experiences. Hale yanked out classic material from bits and pieces of those stories to include in the movie.
“Like our previous films, you”ll go to this and immediately recognize or identify what you are seeing with part of your own personal experience,” he said.
Much like Hale”s other LDS comedies, “Church Ball” will be packed full of crazy Mormon jokes, but Hale said the classic underdog story might bring in non-LDS viewers.
Hale could confirm one actor in the film, none other than “Different Stroke”s” and former California gubernatorial candidate, Gary Coleman. He will play a non-LDS member who the ward tries to convert through church ball.
Halestorm”s poking fun at LDS culture will not stop at “Church Ball.” Hale said he has a feeling they will be producing one LDS comedy a year. “Singles 2nd Ward,” a sequel to Hale”s first hit comedy “Single”s Ward,” is already slated.
Production will also begin on a fish-out-of-water tale about a mob family placed in Provo as a part of the witness protection program, titled “Mobsters and Mormons.”
To create excitement for “Church Ball,” Halestorm announced a contest July 15 where someone can win the chance to visit the set of the new movie and a walk-on role.
The entries will be accepted one week before production on the film starts sometime in mid-September.
According to the official rules of the contest on www.churchball.com, where participants register, the contest is open for anyone over the age of 14.
The depth of the role will be determined by when the winner is available and what scenes are being filmed the day of the visit.
“It could be a featured extra in the background or a featured role,” said Jed Ivie, director of marketing for Halestorm.
Hale said they would take a look at the person and see what they can do to make the winner”s experience a good one. He doesn”t know if they will say any lines, though.
“Hopefully we can get somebody to throw a chair,” Hale said.
