Angel Studios, the production studio behind the "Sound of Freedom" movie, has a disclaimer on donation slips that mirrors Mormon tithing slips --

"Everything about 'Sound of Freedom' that certain critics hated — its dramatic oversimplification of child trafficking, its moralizing overtones — was spun into gold by the well-oiled, whole-wheat marketing machinery at Angel Studios, a sort of anti-Hollywood the brothers founded in the foothills of Mormon country....Clips started to spread of Caviezel promoting 'Sound of Freedom' at a gathering of QAnoners and other conspiracy theorists, where he claimed traffickers were torturing children to harvest chemicals they secreted. Some of the fan videos on TikTok turned paranoid, accusing movie theaters of sabotaging screenings to keep people from watching the film. One of thousands of crowdfunders whose name appeared in the film’s credits was arrested in connection to a child kidnapping....Angel now advertises Pay it Forward programs for 15 shows and movies under its umbrella. Small print on the payment screen for some of them notes that the company will own the funds 'and may use them at its sole discretion to further the Angel Studios’ mission of amplifying light through impactful stories.' ”

Direct link to the WaPo story (probably paywalled for most)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2023/08/13/sound-of-freedom-angel-studios/

Link from r/exmo (WaPo is allowing reddit readers access to more articles)

https://old.reddit.com/r/exmormon/comments/15qkdz2/mormon_owned_company_that_made_sound_of_freedom/

Every movie changes the original stories when based in real facts to present in a format that will generate the desired effect.
To me, the facts this movie is trying to bring out, are heavier than any adaptations.
Children are being attacked all over the world, pedoph1la rings are real and we must protect our little ones from any kind of predators.

I don't like the direction of this article. I don't want indy literature, films, music etc all have to pass government censor in order to gain funding. In America that is against the constitution and in many western countries it is a violation of rights. If content is libellous etc then there are already laws about that.

I know a lot of people who make some money from Kindle, indy publishing and music etc. This is big media using extreme examples to attack general freedom of expression again...

Observing Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Children are being attacked all over the world,
> pedoph1la rings are real and we must protect our
> little ones from any kind of predators.

The Floodlit website seems to grow by the day and includes many examples of LDS predators, some of which are all too well documented.

I have no issue with crowdfunding in order to help an independent filmmaker get off the ground. In this case however, it's taken a distinctly Mormon turn, with their disclaimer mimicking a Mormon tithing slip (Angel Studios will have sole ownership of the funds, which they will use where and how they see fit.) Also, given that SoF has earned a healthy amount of money, something like $15 million, the need for further crowdfunding is IMO questionable. It's starting to take on the air of a grift to me.

HAL 9000 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I don't like the direction of this article. I
> don't want indy literature, films, music etc all
> have to pass government censor in order to gain
> funding.

Can you point to somewhere in the article that says anything like that? The "censorship" in question is by movie viewers who don't want to see certain things and are free, under a 2005 law, to edit films they buy as they want.

Where exactly does the government come in?


------------------
> This is big
> media using extreme examples to attack general
> freedom of expression again...

It is precisely the opposite. The Harmon brothers started a company that would edit "big media" productions that Mormons and other squeamish people found objectionable. The big film producers fought back and the Harmons were forced to stop editing other people's work. In short, the big film companies successfully stopped the Harmons from interfering with their freedom of speech.

How exactly is that a case of "big media" depriving the small independent producer of his or her right of expression?

Exactly. If anyone was censoring, it was the Harmon brothers.

Yep.

And we ridiculed CleanFix and other companies, including by implication the Harmons, for saving Mormons from the devastating influence of cleavage.

You have to work hard to find a government or big-media conspiracy behind that.

So ... I was prompted to actually read the links and I did NOT see any cleavage...

Lot's Wife Wrote:
> It is precisely the opposite. The Harmon brothers
> started a company that would edit "big media"
> productions that Mormons and other squeamish
> people found objectionable. The big film
> producers fought back and the Harmons were forced
> to stop editing other people's work. In short,
> the big film companies successfully stopped the
> Harmons from interfering with their freedom of
> speech.

While the movie industry is exercising their 1st amendment right by producing content, it was a copyright case in the end.

Like any other case they lose, Mormons will claim that it's a big media conspiracy to corrupt the morals of society. The hyperbole is silly.

If you don't want to watch something, don't watch it. Simple. Why can't people get that through their heads?

Yes - floodlit.org is growing daily. 524 documented cases so far of alleged or confirmed sexual abuse by active LDS members.

We are reviewing about 220 more right now, and are getting reports of several cases a day on average. They could be about crimes that allegedly took place decades ago, or they could be about ongoing criminal/civil cases.

We haven't even scratched the surface yet. Most of our research has been centered on Utah because it's like shooting fish in a barrel to find Mormon abuse cases there. But I think only about 13 percent of the LDS worldwide membership lives in Utah (2.17 million of 17 million as of 2022, as per https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/facts-and-statistics).

Thank you for doing this.

He was supposed to have a pre-trial hearing in June regarding his case of sexting a young girl in his ward while he was in the bishopric. I could not find any information about whether this hearing was actually held or what the determination for a trial date was.

https://floodlit.org/a/a604/

Cortney Ted Andrew

From the floodlit site

"from Cache Valley Daily on May 23, 2023:

According to court records, Andrew appeared for a preliminary hearing Monday morning in 1st District Court. Following prosecutor’s calling the lead investigator in the case to testify and showing a statement from the alleged victim about the allegations, Judge Angela Fonnesbeck determined there was sufficient evidence to bind the defendant over for trial."

"Andrew remains out of jail on pretrial supervision. He is scheduled to appear again in court June 26 for a pretrial conference, and could face up to 15 years in prison, if convicted.”

Can't find any more recent information

There was a pre-trial conference on June 26, 2023. The defense requested a continuance so Cort Andrew (defendant) could complete evaluations. The prosecution didn't object. The court continued to August 14. Another pre-trial conference was held on Aug 14. Same thing, defense said they're still waiting for final evaluation results and requested another continuance. No objection from the state. It's been continued to September 18, 2023 (another pre-trial conference). I'll update the floodlit case details page.

Yes this is what I was looking for; do you have a link for his case on your website? I searched but nothing came up.

This is very distressing he lives in a very small town, and last I knew was serving on the town council, I don't go to church anymore so I don't know if he still attends, but I know folks who have teenage grandchildren directly across the street from his house, and there are many girls and young women who live nearby.

Ssshhhhh.

Every time there's an article criticizing Ballard or anybody tangentially related to the movie, it just makes him look like he's hit a nerve.

Did you see that headline?
We must be over the target!

Angel Studios seems to be producing content that a lot of people want to see. Unlike Disney.

I'm not saying it's good content necessarily, but they're displaying a better understanding of the market than the ESG crowd do.

Angel Studios earned a bit more than $15 million from the Sound of Freedom. I don't think those earnings will keep many Disney executives awake at night.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/19/2023 02:38PM by Margie.

For those interested, Funday Fridays(YouTube) did an episode on Angel/Sound of Freedom/Tim Ballard.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvOiFkWQe_I&t=2691s

I have not seen the movie yet. That being said is it presented as a documentary or a story? Sore point with me is when they used music in documentaries, emotional manipulation anyone.... Sally StrutherS would be proud of some the emotional manipulation on some of the videos I have watched before...

https://www.abc4.com/news/local-news/tim-ballard-supporter-former-lds-youth-leader-sentenced-for-possessing-child-porn/

“ A former youth leader for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was sentenced this week for possession of child pornography. He was also known to support Tim Ballard and his Operation Underground Railroad, which fights against child sex trafficking.

According to court documents, Erick Allen Mosteller, 58, was convicted after pleading guilty to two second-degree felony charges of child sexual exploitation. He was sentenced to 250 days in jail, and up to four years of probation.

Court documents state that the child pornography viewed and distributed by Mosteller involved children as young as one year old. The child pornography he possessed “shows exceptional depravity in depicting the rape and sodomy of infants and toddlers,” the court records state.“

“ According to statements by Mosteller’s sister, he was invited to be involved in a movie premiere about Tim Ballard’s Operation Underground Railroad. He then discovered the “deep web” and downloaded information “not available to general web users.” She claims that as part of his research, he unintentionally downloaded child sex abuse material files.

However, court records state that Mosteller had been engaging in this type of activity for several years — he would allegedly download child porn, view it, and then delete it.“

“ According to several statements made by those who knew Mosteller, he was an active member of the Church and a youth leader. The Church will not release a statement concerning Mosteller as there were no victims due to his leadership.”

Guess he didn’t learn anything from the movie.

They could use him as an extra in the sequel. If he's lucky, he could be tackled by Jim Caviezel.