- Cipher in the Snow
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Cipher in the Snow Directed by Keith J. Atkinson Produced by Judge Whitaker
Keith J. AtkinsonWritten by Jean Mizer Screenplay by Carol Lynn Pearson Starring Robert Bridges
Bruce Kimball
Roberta Shore
Jacqueline Mayo
Walter Stocker
Mary Cox
Larry Watts
Martha Henstrom
Kirk Hutchings
Ronald Jenkins
Court LeRoyCinematography Reed Smoot
Ted Van Horn
W. Grant WilliamsEditing by Peter G. Czerny Release date(s) 1973 Running time 21 min. Country United States Language English Cipher in the Snow is a short story written by Jean Mizer about the death of an ostracized teenager. It was later made into a short film by Brigham Young University in 1973.
Contents
Background
Cipher in the Snow, written by Jean Mizer, an Idaho teacher, counselor and guidance director, was first published in the NEA Journal, 50:8-10, 1964. It won first prize in the first Reader's Digest/NEA Journal writing competition.[1][2]
It has since been frequently reprinted and the story and film used in religious education: for instance, as part of anti-bullying initiatives.[3]
Brigham Young University made a movie of it in 1973. The film was produced by Wetzel Whitaker and Keith Atkinson, with a screenplay by Carol Lynn Pearson. A DVD of the movie is available through BYU's Creative Works Office.
Synopsis
The story is about an ostracized teenager, Cliff Evans, who following his parents' divorce has no friends and becomes a completely withdrawn "cipher". Then on a school bus, he asks to be let off, and collapses and dies in the snow near the roadside. His school's math teacher is asked to notify his parents and write the obituary. Though listed as Cliff's favorite teacher, he recalls that he hardly knew him. After getting a delegation to go to the funeral - it's impossible to find ten people who knew him well enough to go - the teacher resolves never to let this happen to another child in his charge. It is implied that his death was because no one loved him.
References
- ^ Promoting Health And Emotional Well-Being in Your Classroom, Randy M. Page and Tana S. Page, Jones & Bartlett, 2007, ISBN 076374154X
- ^ Educational Horizons, Pi Lambda Theta, 1976
- ^ Bullying Videos/DVDs, Idaho RADAR Network Center
External links
- Cipher in the Snow at the MLCA Database
- Cipher in the Snow at the Internet Movie Database
- The Story
- Cipher in the Snow (1973) at ldsfilm.com
Latter-day Saint Films Feature-length Legacy: A Mormon Journey (1990) · The Mountain of the Lord (1993) · The Testaments of One Fold and One Shepherd (2000) · Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration (2005)
Shorts The Windows of Heaven (1963) · Man's Search for Happiness (1964) · Johnny Lingo (1969) · Pioneers in Petticoats (1969) · Cipher in the Snow (1974) · The First Vision (1976) · The Mailbox (1977) · The Phone Call (1977) · Uncle Ben (1978) · Mr. Krueger's Christmas (1980) · The Last Leaf (1983) · The Nativity (1986) · Our Heavenly Father's Plan (1986) · How Rare a Possession (1987) · Together Forever (1987) · The Pump (1988) · Labor of Love (1990) · What Is Real? (1990) · On the Way Home (1992) · Joy to the World (1993) · The Lamb of God (1993) · The Mediator (1995) · Finding Faith in Christ (2003) · The Restoration (2004) · Finding Happiness (2006)
Early films One Hundred Years of Mormonism (1913) · The Life of Nephi (1915) · All Faces West (1929) · Where the Saints Have Trod (1947)
Advertising Campaigns Homefront (1979-present) · Truth Restored (2008-present) · "I'm a Mormon" (2010-present)
Links LDS Motion Picture Studios
Categories:- LDS stubs
- 1973 films
- 1970s drama films
- Christian fiction and allegory
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