Last year I learned that the casting department for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was looking for people of Latin descent as extras in the Book of Mormon videos. We submitted headshots and M received a call.
Today was our first, and probably last day, on set and it was incredible. M went through hair, makeup, costume, shoes, jewelry, accessories, dirt and came out the other end transformed into the daughter of a wicked priest. It was awesome! She looked amazing and it was surreal being on set where the Book of Mormon came to life. Seeing it on a screen or reading about it in a book does not do it justice. Watching M walk through the dense underbrush and smoke from campfires was indescribable. It felt like a completely different world.
As neat as it was to be in Book of Mormon times, the thing that was most beautiful to me was being surrounded by brown people. There was a handful of white adults but everyone else was brown and the entire day was spent listening to people talk about their heritage. It was the first time M had been asked over and over about her brown skin with the intent to share stories and not just try to figure out her place in our family or community. It was powerful meeting people from Tonga, Samoa, Philippines, Peru, Mexico, Ecuador, Native American Navajo tribe, and Guatemala all excited to share their stories. Truthfully it probably meant more to me than her but as she grows up those types of experiences will become increasingly more memorable and precious.
Beginning the transformation process.
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