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AMDG: A World is not Enough
September 2005
Story and photos by Thomas Rochford SJ
In late August Michael Breault, S.J. of the California Province directed the dramatic portions of the movie on a soundstage in Los Angeles. Three professional actors played the roles of the first companions whom the Society is honoring. The production was filmed in high definition.
"The filming went very smoothly," said Father Eddie Siebert, Loyola Production's president; "we have now edited the three scenes into what we believe is compelling footage."
Breault wrote the script for the dramaticizations which present three scenes in the evolving relationships between the three men during their time at the University of Paris. The script brings to life aspects of the characters that Father General spelled out in his letter introducing the jubilee year. He focused on certain themes that the three men embodied, and that we still live out today. Breault's script shows the initial disdain that Francis felt for the poor student whose conversion contradicted his own ambition. From the beginning Ignatius saw the potential for a different kind of ambition played out at a much higher level. The second scene focuses on Francis during his experience of the Spiritual Exercises, while the final scene presents the parting of the companions as Ignatius leaves paris for Spain before his friends leave for Venice.
The professional actors playing Ignatius, Francis and Pierre take these brief scenes and create very believable characters. Sean Mahon plays Ignatius. A native of Dublin, Ireland, Mahon has been acting in the United States since 1991 and how lives in Los Angeles where is is working in tilm and television as well as serving as creative producer and managing director of "The Virtual Theatre Project." Larry Sullivan plays Pierre Favre as the mutual friend who brings together Ignatius and Francis. Sullivan has a background in theater and has done guest roles on such shows as "Suddenly Susan" (1996), "JAG" (1995), "The West Wing" (1999), "Felicity" (1998) and "Will & Grace" (1998). Francis Xavier is played by David Monahan who graduated from Harvard before moving into acting in Los Angeles.
On the Jesuit side, the production has been a model of collaboration all over the world. Giuseppe Zito, S.J. (Italian Province) wrote the script for the documentary sections which are evocative in tone. His part of the script takes up where each dramatic segment ends and draws out the meaning of each man for Jesuits and colleagues today. Zito became involved with Loyola Productions while doing a graduate degree in movie production at Loyola Marymount University, and is now in his second year of theology in Naples, Italy. The footage to illustrate the documentary sections comes from Jesuit movie makers and production studies around the world as well. The packaging has been designed by Luis Blanco Doring, S.J., of the New Orleans Province. John Predmore, S.J. (New England Province), who has been coordinating the Jubilee activities for the U.S. Assistancy, is working on the first draft of the Viewer's Guide. Pierre Belanger, S.J. from the French Canadian Province translated the script into French. The voice over for the film will be in English, French, and Spanish. Additionally, there will be subtitles in Italian, Mandarin, Czech, and Slovenian.
Gene Geinzer, S.J., of the Maryland Province, conceived the original idea of commissioning three composers to do one hymn each to celebrate Ignatius, Xavier and Favre. He joined forces with Loyola Productions so that the hymns and movie can be released together in one package. Three composers/musicians--Matthew Ferraro, Carl Riley and Cristobal Fones, SJ from the Chilean Province-were selected to compose the hymns, each in a different genre. Ferraro is a veteran Hollywood composer whose score for the movie, Mango Kiss, was awarded the Gold Medal for Director's Choice of Music at the Park City Film Music Festival at Sundance. His other credits include work on the movies, The Insider (1999) and The Incredibles (2004), and on the mini-series Dune (2000).
The composers came together in Los Angeles in mid September to record demo versions of the hymns. In mid-October a professional choir and orchestra in London recorded the sound track for the movie along with performance version of the hymns. Themes from these hymns will be incorporated into the musical score of the movie.
Loyola Press in Chicago is handling the packaging and production of the gift packages which will include will include DVD, users' guide, background material, extracts from the score; a movie-only DVD will also be available.
A.M.D.G. - The World Is Not Enough is being funded by Father General and a number of provinces and will have its premiere on November 29 at the meeting of major superiors in Loyola.