By guest blogger: Fernando Camilo
I recently had the opportunity to visit the Jerusalem Movie Set, the newest addition to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ film production sets. The set is located about 70 miles south of Salt Lake City, literally in the middle of nowhere. It was built to be the new filming spot for The Life of Jesus Christ: Bible Videos, a gift from the First Presidency of the Church to the world.
The Church-owned farm was carefully chosen by Media Services Department producers and approved by the First Presidency to be the home of the remarkable movie set. Initially, the production team had considered filming locations as far as Morocco, but after extensive search, Goshen turned out to be the ideal spot for the production.
The large set feels more like a miniature Jerusalem than an actual movie set. Everything in it was so carefully designed and crafted that at times I felt like I had not only been transported to the ancient land but also traveled 2,000 years back in time. Although the set was not dressed for shooting, it was still impressive. The unmistakable scent of manure was a constant reminder that you were certainly not in Jerusalem, but it definitely didn’t detract from the experience. Everything from doorknobs to staircases was masterfully built to reproduce the Holy Land perfectly. Wood columns made of Styrofoam and fiberglass-covered props easily fooled the eye. In fact, much of the set didn’t seem fake to the touch either. Everywhere you looked was picture perfect and undoubtedly a cinematographer’s dream.
Perhaps the most spiritually enlightening part of our tour was the walk down to “Gethsemane” and later on to “Golgotha” where the three infamous crosses still stood from last year’s filming of the Savior’s crucifixion. Although the grove wasn’t made of real olive trees and the crosses weren’t consecrated by the Master’s blood, the sense of reverence still permeated the spot.
Visiting that incredible movie set has been one of the highlights of my Church employment so far. Being a part of this project has been an incredible blessing and I sincerely hope more and more people will take advantage of these beautiful videos.
Shooting will resume this summer and Bible Videos will eventually become a large collection of vignettes about the life of the Savior, containing over 100 videos relating the story of his birth, ministry, death, and resurrection.
Below are pictures I took during my visit to the set, as well as pictures from the actual videos available at BibleVideos.org.
For more photos, see “New Movie Set to Help Portray Life of Jesus Christ.”
Note: The Church is looking for background actors for additional New Testament stories to be filmed during July and August of 2012.
The making of these LDS Bible videos, about the life of Jesus Christ, is among my favorite projects that the Church is doing to share the gospel with others. The movie set, I must agree, is wonderful. Such a great spirit attends this work. Thanks for sharing your beautiful pictures.
tDMg
Beautiful photos! Thank you for taking us on a “tour”. I would love to be able to go out there to see it myself. I studied in Jerusalem and throughout the Holy Land over 20 years ago. I’ve been thrilled with the quality of the videos, and I’m amazed at the beauty and attention to detail which makes it look like it was filmed “on location” 2,000 years ago. I love hearing about the holy feeling that the Goshen movie site has. I have a friend who has been involved as a cast member, and she says that it has been an incredibly spiritual experience. – Best, MoSop
Beautiful pictures i like it, i hope have opportunity to see it myself and feel that impression to travel 2,000 years in the past.
I enjoyed this article about this movie set. The video vignettes have been amazing to watch and are masterfully done. I had to smile about the ‘manure’ comment because I would think ancient Jerusalem would have abounded with such smells. Imagine all the animals being brought to market, or to be used for sacrifice on the Temple mount, or even animals used for transportation!
Having worked at Disneyland and Disney World w many artisans I really am in awe and appreciate the detail that went into these sets! Wished i could of had a hand in !Glad my nephew Wayne is a part of the acting part of it! Maybe if i grow a beard I could be a background guy .Ha ha.
Hello Fernando,
When I first heard about the Jerusalem Movie Set I was really excited to see the movies that are going to be created as a result of it. You meantioned that you were able to go to the set and walk around. I wanted to know if it is possible for people to come in and take a look. My wife are coming out there (We’re from Florida) in April and wondered if we could visit it. Thanks!
Todd Howes
Are there tours available for the movie set and land. I cannot seem to locate the information. I would like to bring my grandchildren. shirley
Shirley,
They don’t do tours there any more.
Larry
My husband, sister and I will be in the Goshen, Utah
area the end of September 2015. Would it be possible for us to see the movie set???
Renaye,
Sorry, but they don’t do tours there any more.
Larry
I hope the day comes when I get to see this.