Seminary films shot nearby
By Bob Walker

As part of the Seminary program for youth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints worldwide, a series of historical videos was shot recently. Nearly 200 members of the church from upstate New York took part as background actors. The videos will be included in studies beginning this fall.

The videos depict the restoration of the gospel, as Joseph Smith was visited by heavenly beings, to restore the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Earth, as it was organized anciently.

One local actress called into service was nine-year-old Cassie Fowler of Wolcott. She has a reputation of talent within her own congregation in Lyons with annual talent shows. She was given the part of eight-year-old Helen Kimball, the daughter of Heber C. Kimball, one of the early members of the church. Dressed in period clothing of the 1830's, she became a member of the Kimball family, pleading with her father to not leave her and the family to go on a mission to preach the gospel for the Lord.

The production included professional actors and actresses from all over the country. Numerous individuals involved with the production of "Touched by an Angel" and "Promised Land" helped produce this series for the Church Educational Services.

Fowler said, "I felt nervous at first. It felt kind of fun and kind of spiritual at the same time. The Holy Ghost was with me. It was serious, but fun. I got to know the people who played my parents. My twin who played Helen Kimball at age 11, looked just like me. I think she was from the Buffalo area. It's neat to be in a Seminary film. It's kind of cool that people will see me around the world."

Fowler expressed her feelings that she might be embarrassed when fellow seminary students see her in the video, once she enters the Seminary program, as she displayed humility in saying she didn't feel she did very well with her part that included a few lines to speak.

Fowler's mother, Etta Graber said, "It was a very good experience for Cassie. She's very outgoing as it is. I was very surprised how quickly she got into the part. Once she was focused, she did a really nice job."

Fowler had two days of shooting, for which she had to get up at 5 a.m., to be on the set at 6:30 for make-up and costumes. She found the period clothing to be hot, especially on her first day of filming, where the temperatures reached into the 80's. Fowler was involved with filming that took place at the Genesee Country Museum in Mumford. Other shooting took place in Palmyra and Fayette.

The church Seminary is a four-year program for high school youth which rotates instruction from the Old Testament, the New Testament, the Book of Mormon and Church History.

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