Director T.C. Christensen had most of the elements to make a film honoring the late LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley. He had an idea for a screenplay. He had nearly 30 years of experience in the LDS film industry. He had a location.
All he needed was an actor with a sometimes protruding lower lip and a face that would lend itself to portraying a prophet.
"In my view, when you do a historical drama, if you don't have a character that somewhat resembles (the lead), people have a hard time getting past that," said Christensen, who directed "Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration" and, more recently, "Emma Smith: My Story."
The 53-minute Living Scriptures film "Gordon B. Hinckley: A Giant Among Men" focuses on the formative years of President Hinckley's life, so Christensen needed multiple actors of varied ages. He organized a casting day with local talent agencies, though he already had someone in mind to play the biggest role — that of the 18- to 40-year-old future president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Christensen had worked with Levi Larsen, of Orem, Utah, and was entertaining the idea of casting him in the part. Larsen said he went to the casting call not knowing what the film was about or what part he was trying out for. When he got there, the director asked, "'Were you surprised to hear that I thought you could play a young President Hinckley?' and that was the first I had heard that he was actually thinking of me for the film," Larsen said.
Though no one had ever mentioned to him that he resembled a young President Hinckley, Larsen said he could see himself playing the part.
"After the director told me about the possibility of it, I looked at myself in the mirror, and I tried to smile like (President Hinckley) and I thought, 'I can do that.' "
"They don't look … identical, but it allows the audience to believe it," Christensen said. "(Larsen) not only had a look, but he also had acting skills."
Christensen has done multiple films based on the life and ministry of Joseph Smith and said there's a bit more wiggle room when it comes to the looks of the actors he casts to play the church founder, who lived so long ago. President Hinckley served as president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1995 until his death on Jan. 27, 2008, and traveled widely during his tenure. He also was a counselor to three presidents and was ordained an apostle in 1961.
Gearing up for the role meant Larsen wore costumes from the '20s and '30s. He also dyed his hair.
"My mom is a hairdresser and she dyed it," Larsen said. "And she was so concerned about it looking right, that we ended up dying it like three times."Larsen said the horn-rimmed glasses he wore in many of the scenes did a lot to help him get into character.
"There's a certain part where it shows me and it shows an early video of him. The glasses probably help a lot, but I watch it and I'm like 'Oh, I really like the way that looks because I can see some likeness.' "
Christensen said mannerisms were also important, which is why he was frequently telling Larsen to stick out his lower lip during filming.
"Constantly I was saying to Levi, 'The lip, the lip, Levi.' "
Christensen said his favorite scene from the movie is set at a social where President Hinckley and his future wife are in their teenage years. Larsen portrays a bashful teenager, looking at Marjorie Pay, played by actress Tamalisa Wood, from across the room.
The director said he wanted to focus on President Hinckley's earlier years in an attempt to show his spiritual growth and the lessons he learned that prepared him for later callings.
"I wanted the film to be like President Hinckley — comedic as well as spiritual," Christensen said.
Larsen said he learned things about the early life of President Hinckley by acting in and viewing the film, and he feels blessed to have been a part of the production.
"I just tried to do a good job," Larsen said.
E-mail: mfarmer@desnews.com