REVIEW: "Peter: Mormon Filmmaker"

This mockumentary, presented at the 2007 LDS Film Festival, is an interesting comment on the Mormon cinema. It is interesting indeed that Mormon filmmakers are already parodying themselves and interesting as well how funny it seems to be. The idea of Mormon cinema is inherently humorous to people perhaps because to many the two seem to be incongruous. Because of its novelty those involved in the movement are easy targets for humorous films such as this.
This short film touched on what has become an issue since the recent advent of popular Mormon cinema: the exploitation of the Church in order for personal, financial, or artistic gain. Really, this film is a funny as it is because the Protagonist is a hopelessly talentless man and because we all know that a ward activity is not the proper environment in which to produce a feature film. The clash of the two worlds is a very real issue in Mormon cinema. If we're making movies about our culture, should meetinghouses be fodder for filming locations? Should church resources be used? Is it even ethical to market a commercial product solely to Church members? These have become very real issues and "Peter: Mormon Filmmaker" addresses and plays on the unique problems and challenges that LDS filmmakers face.