Filmmakers

Chris Heimerdinger - Writer, Director, Executive Producer
Though known until now as a successful novelist with works in both the national and local markets, Chris has nurtured his dream to direct a feature film since he was 12 years old. At age 17, he was the youngest person ever to attend Robert Redford's prestigious Sundance Institute. Chris was awarded the "the "Most Promising Filmmaker" at the BYU Film Festival while still in High School, opening the door to receive the most generous scholarship ever granted (up to that time) for the Cinematic Arts Department at Brigham Young University, where Chris majored in film.

Originally, Chris' objective was to write novels simply to pay the bills and make ends meet until he was finally able to indulge in what he always felt was his "most natural" talent-storytelling through the visual arts, or filmmaking. His success as a novelist, however, proved much more satisfying and lucrative than Chris had anticipated. In 1989, Chris' first novel, Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites, was released to much critical and popular acclaim. Chris has since written 9 more novels in the Tennis Shoes Adventure Series, plus 6 other novels, including "A Return to Christmas," released nationally by Random House/Ballantine in 1995, plus such renowned works as "Eddie Fantastic" and "Ben Franklin and the Chamber of Time."

Chris' first commercial directorial film debut came in 1982-a short film about boyhood gangs-entitled "The Wolves." He produced and directed this film while only a Freshman at BYU and later sold it to Phoenix Films, BFA, who marketed the title for the Education market across the United States. His next commercial film venture came twenty years later with the 2002 documentary, "Lehi's Land of First Inheritance." This hour-long work is a breathtaking and beautiful exploration of a topic very central to many of Chris' novels. Chris not only wrote the screenplay and directed the movie, but also shot some of the aerial photography. To quote Dr. Curtis Fawson, President, Southern Virginia University, "This presentation on the Book of Mormon is a must for every LDS family. The music and photography are beautiful." Even at that time Chris was patiently working on the screenplay of Passage to Zarahemla in response to the countless requests by a devoted fan base to bring his compelling words to life on the big screen. Later, the screenplay was adapted into a novel. In fact, some of Chris' fan base proved so devoted that they generated the seed money for the film to be made. Passage to Zarahemla also attracted the attention of many talented LDS notables, such as award-winning composer Sam Cardon, and former DreamWorks' special effects supervisor Stephen Sobisky, plus an incredible array of musicians and artistic and technical personnel-all excited to team up for this ground-breaking project. Thrilled about this new adventure, Chris is convinced, "No one loves inspiring enthusiasm about the Book of Mormon more than me. I love to think I was a part of the first-ever LDS action-adventure-fantasy film, and even more thrilled that I could-like the phrasing from the Book of Mormon-help 'bring it to pass'."

Brian Brough - Producer
Brian has managed or produced such feature films as Brigham City, The Singles Ward, The R.M., Saints and Soldiers, and The Home Teachers. In 2004, Brian produced Everything You Want, which was selected as an ABC Family Original Movie and later released on DVD through Buena Vista Home Entertainment. Brian recently managed Joseph: Prophet of the Restoration for the LDS Church. Brian has not limited himself to the business aspect of the industry, having directed two films: Beauty and the Beast: A Latter-Day Tale and Tracker, an action adventure thriller.

David Ruff - Executive Producer
David Ruff is a successful business entrepreneur who resides in Highland, Utah. In addition to other business projects, he co- founded and managed the operations for PowerQuest Corporation, a successful Utah County software company. David has invested in several business and real estate projects throughout Utah. He decided to work with Chris Heimerdinger on the movie Passage To Zarahemla because he saw a great opportunity to produce a profitable and quality production of a great story which had an already established fan base (Chris Heimerdinger book fans). He has been instrumental in funding and consulting throughout the project. David is married to Deon Ruff and is the father of eight children, and grandfather of two.

Stephen Sobisky - Special Effects Supervisor
Hired to be the 3D Modeling Producer for Utah's Viewpoint Datalabs, Sobisky worked on a new, innovative film that would set the ground for future animated films, ANTZ, released in theaters in 1998. After managing the ANTZ project for a year and a half, he was hired to be part of the PDI/DreamWorks team, where he was able to work with his mentor, Hael Kobayashi, who was the Production Supervisor on ANTZ and many other projects for PDI/DreamWorks. From there, Sobisky worked on over forty films, including but not limited to Godzilla, Batman & Robin, Armageddon, Flubber, George of the Jungle and Mission Impossible, with many varying production roles. Assigned to be the Lighting Effects Supervisor on Shrek, Sobisky worked for three and a half years, and from there he became the Production Manager in the Café (Commercial and Film Visual Effects) Department. Acquiring the bug to do live action visual effects, Sobisky worked on such projects as Evolution, Legend of Bagger Vance, Mission Impossible II, and The Mexican. Sobisky is currently the Director of Production and COO of Sandman Studios, located in Orem, Utah, and the current Visual Effects house for the new ABC TV Show "Pushing Daisies." Stephen is thrilled to bring his talents to Passage to Zarahemla: "[It] gave me the opportunity to step in and bend reality to create the largest amount of visual effects ever seen in an LDS film. The LDS market is now starting to catch on to what can really be done within the film industry."

Ken Garff - Cinematographer
Emmy Award-winner Ken Garff specializes in film and High Definition production. Recently, Ken served as Director of Photography on Sahara, a two-hour 35mm nature/feature crossover that launched the High Definition broadcast on PBS. It has been said of Ken, "(Sahara is) beautifully shot, it will win you over.Ken Garff's excellent lens work is quite arresting." (Variety) Known for the fresh storytelling he brings to his documentary film work and commercials, he also recently served as Director of Photography on another fall theatrical release, Return with Honor.

Sam Cardon - Composer
Sam Cardon is an Emmy Award-winning composer whose portfolio includes nine large-format films (IMAX) including Texas, Lewis and Clark, Olympic Glory, and Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure; several feature films including The Work and the Glory series, Brigham City, and the upcoming Heber Holiday. Sam has written or co-written the themes for National Geographic Explorer, ABC Sunday Night at the Movies, and Good Morning America. He also produced three hours of original music for the 1988 Winter Olympic Games and provided music for the Salt Lake City Olympic Winter Games Closing Ceremonies. Sam also has a burgeoning career as a jazz musician, conductor, and producer.

Dave Broberg - Editor
After receiving a BFA from BYU in film, Dave answered the call to work for Disney Studios, as Production Coordinator on their film lot in Burbank California, working on such films as Three Men and a Little Lady, Alive and Father of the Bride. After five-years at Disney, becoming a freelance film editor gave him the opportunity to work on a more diverse array of projects, including assistant film editor on Phenomenon, That Darn Cat, and Father of the Bride II, and most notably, Titanic (Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Film Editing). Dave has had the pleasure of editing countless Network/Airline versions of films, including Memento, Men in Black, The Holiday, Gridiron Gang, etc. He currently edits fulltime for Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Shari Ohman - Costume Designer
A popular costume designer for film, television and commercials, Shari created all of the wardrobe for such feature films as Jack Weyland's Charly, Lee Groberg's documentaries, American Gunmaker: The John M. Browning Story, Trail of Hope: The Story of the Mormon Trail, Enduring Legacy: The Story of Firearms, and American Prophet: The Joseph Smith Story. Shari also served as the Costume Supervisor for The Testaments of One Fold and One Shepherd, and was Assistant Costume Designer for the PBS special, A More Perfect Union: America Becomes a Nation. Shari was excited to bring her passion for costume design to this project: "I have spent years researching time periods between 1000 BC to the present. I have traveled to Guatemala and other places to research authentic costuming. I have done extensive work for LDS productions and I enjoyed creating the costuming on this film as well."

Hiep Deiudonné - Makeup
Hiep Deiudonné has worked throughout the world with such Hollywood actors and actresses as Neal McDonough (Angels in the Outfield, Star Trek: First Contact), John Heard (Home Alone, Home Alone 2, Pelican Brief), Robert Hayes (Airplane, "Spin City", "That 70's Show"), Rachel Hunter (Best Actress: Rock Star, MacArthur Park), providing key make-up services and specialty make-up as: sculpting and mold work, facial tattoos, latex layering, blood work, body painting, acne and bruising, as well as providing key hair services. Her film credits include the horror film, Unrest, and the docudrama, Jesus is Coming.

Bruce Wing - Props Master
Creating such replicated props as turn-of-the-century guns, Meso-American bows, arrows and horns, award-winning Props Master Bruce Wing has an impeccable dedication to accuracy and eye for detail. Wing received his early training on such feature film sets as Halloween 4 and 5, and the futuristic Neon City. His TV credits include "Encyclopedia Brown", property master for "Double Jeopardy", "Nothing Lasts Forever" and "Touched by an Angel". Recent feature films include serving as Props Master on Everything You Want, Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration, and Forever Strong. Bruce brought his passion for his work to this project: "I bought a bunch of books on Meso-America to make sure the props I provided were authentic, from arrows to spears to blades. Props seem to be my thing because I am very detail oriented."