imported>Sshock: /* Filmography */

2025-04-30T05:45:44Z

Filmography

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{{short description|American film director}}

{{Infobox person
| image = T.C Christensen.jpg
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1953}}
| birth_place = {{nowrap|[[Salt Lake City, Utah]], U.S.}}
| birth_name =
| spouse =
| children =
| occupation = Filmmaker
| notable_works = {{unbulleted list
| {{nowrap|''[[Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration]]''}}
| ''[[Emma Smith: My Story]]''
| ''[[17 Miracles]]''
| ''[[Ephraim's Rescue]]''
| ''[[The Cokeville Miracle]]''
}}
| education =
| alma_mater = [[Brigham Young University]]
| relations =
| years_active = 1973–present
}}

'''Thomas C. Christensen''' (born 1953) is an American [[cinematographer]], film director, and writer best known for his work on films related to the history of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (LDS Church), including ''[[Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration]]'', ''Gordon B. Hinckley: A Giant Among Men'', ''[[17 Miracles]]'', and ''[[Ephraim's Rescue]]''. He has made films about the [[Mormon handcart pioneers#1856: Willie and Martin handcart companies|Martin and Willie handcart companies]] who traversed the plains toward the [[Salt Lake Valley]] in late 1856. Christensen is also a member of the [[American Society of Cinematographers]].

==Biography==
Christensen grew up in [[Layton, Utah|Layton]], [[Utah]], with nine siblings. He served as a [[Missionary (LDS Church)|missionary]] for the LDS Church in [[Ohio]] and [[West Virginia]] from 1972 to 1974. He studied filmmaking at [[Brigham Young University]] (BYU) and the [[University of Utah]] (U of U).<ref name="man">{{cite news|last1=Toone|first1=Trent|title=T.C. Christensen: the man, the movies, and the stories that matter|url=https://www.deseretnews.com/article/865574936/TC-Christensen-the-man-the-movies-and-stories-that-matter.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130310055858/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865574936/TC-Christensen-the-man-the-movies-and-stories-that-matter.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 10, 2013|accessdate=9 May 2018|agency=Deseret News|publisher=Deseret News Publishing Company|date=March 6, 2013}}</ref>

Christensen married his wife, Katy, in 1980. They have two children, Tanner and Tess, both of whom have worked with Christensen on his films. His cousin Ron Tanner has also collaborated with Christensen on his films.<ref name="man" />

==Career==
While attending BYU and the U of U, Christensen worked as a part-time cameraman for [[KSL-TV]] in Utah for five years. He declined offers to go full-time because he did not want to pursue a career in news.<ref name="man" /> After leaving KSL-TV, Christensen began freelance filmmaking. He credits fellow filmmaker [[Kieth Merrill]] as his mentor, with Merrill's children cast in Christensen's ''The Mouth of Babes''.<ref name="man" />

Films by Christensen have received recognition in several film festivals. His ''A Pioneer Miracle'' (also titled ''In the Arms of Angels'') received the Grand Remi Award at the Houston International Film Festival in 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://worldfest.org/2015-remi-winners/|title=2015 Remi Winners – Worldfest-Houston|website=worldfest.org|language=en-US|access-date=2018-05-10}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=A Pioneer Miracle/In the Arms of Angels|url=http://josephsmithfoundation.org/ziontube/in-the-arms-of-angels/|language=en-US|accessdate=2018-05-10}}</ref>''[[Seasons of the Heart (1993 film)|Seasons of the Heart]]'', for which he was both director and cinematographer, received multiple awards in film festivals.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hicks|first1=Chris|title='Seasons of the Heart' wins another award|url=https://www.deseretnews.com/article/349264/SEASONS-OF-THE-HEART-WINS-ANOTHER-AWARD.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511012803/https://www.deseretnews.com/article/349264/SEASONS-OF-THE-HEART-WINS-ANOTHER-AWARD.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 11, 2018|accessdate=10 May 2018|agency=Deseret News|publisher=Deseret News Publishing Company|date=April 24, 1994}}</ref> Christensen has made several films about [[Joseph Smith]], founder of the [[Latter Day Saint movement]] ([[Mormonism]]).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/458778/american-prophet-the-story-of-joseph-smith|title=American Prophet: The Story of Joseph Smith (1999) - Overview - TCM.com|website=Turner Classic Movies|language=en|access-date=2018-05-10}}</ref> Among these are ''[[Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration]]'' and ''[[Emma Smith: My Story]]'', both made in cooperation with Gary Cook.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Means|first1=Sean P.|title=Tayva Patch, actor in several LDS-themed films, dies at 62|accessdate=10 May 2018|agency=The Salt Lake Tribune|publisher=The Salt Lake Tribune|date=November 25, 2015|url=http://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=3227455&itype=CMSID}}</ref> Other [[Latter-day Saint]]-themed films include the biography of [[President of the Church (LDS Church)|LDS Church president]] [[Gordon B. Hinckley]], made following Hinckley's death in 2008.<ref>{{citation |last= Moore |first= Carrie A. |date= 2008-11-21 |title= Movie details early life of President Hinckley |url= http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705264811,00.html |archive-url= https://archive.today/20120731045008/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705264811,00.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= July 31, 2012 |newspaper= [[Deseret News]] }}</ref> Christensen wrote, directed, and produced ''[[Only A Stonecutter]]'', the story of [[John R. Moyle]], father of [[James H. Moyle]].<ref name="seventeen" /> Christensen has also been the cinematographer for a large number of films. These include ''[[Rigoletto (1993 film)|Rigoletto]]'', ''[[The Testaments of One Fold and One Shepherd]]'', ''[[Forever Strong]]'', and ''[[Outlaw Trail: The Treasure of Butch Cassidy]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ldsfilm.com/FFFF/Rigoletto.html|title=Rigoletto (1993)|website=www.ldsfilm.com|access-date=2018-05-10}}</ref><ref name="seventeen">{{cite news|last1=Toone|first1=Trent|title=17 films from the resume of T.C. Christensen, creator of '17 miracles'|url=https://www.deseretnews.com/top/1356/12/Forever-Strong-17-films-from-the-resume-of-TC-Christensen-creator-of-17-miracles-.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511012459/https://www.deseretnews.com/top/1356/12/Forever-Strong-17-films-from-the-resume-of-TC-Christensen-creator-of-17-miracles-.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 11, 2018|accessdate=10 May 2018|agency=Deseret News|publisher=Deseret News Publishing Company|date=March 6, 2013}}</ref> Having collaborated over the years, T. C. Christensen has been described as the "mentor" of ''[[Napoleon Dynamite]]'' and ''[[Nacho Libre]]'' director [[Jared Hess]].<ref>{{citation |last= Walch |first= Tad |title= BYU duo win Telly Award by a nose |newspaper= Deseret News |date= 2005-07-26 |url= http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,600151171,00.html |archive-url= https://archive.today/20120730112920/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,600151171,00.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= July 30, 2012 |accessdate= 2009-06-05}}</ref>

On such films as the first ''[[The Work and the Glory (film)|Work and the Glory]]'', Christensen's cinematography was considered by some to be by far the best part of the film.<ref>{{citation |last= Vice |first= Jeff |title= 'Work' beautiful but disappointing |newspaper= Deseret News |date= 2004-11-24 |url= http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,595107501,00.html |archive-url= https://archive.today/20120731115451/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,595107501,00.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= July 31, 2012 |accessdate= 2009-06-05}}</ref> Christensen has also made several [[IMAX]] films including ''Texas: The Big Picture'' and ''Ozarks: Legacy and Legend''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ldsfilm.com/bio/bioC.html|title=Biographies: Latter-day Saint and/or Utah Film Personalities: C|website=www.ldsfilm.com|access-date=2018-05-10}}</ref> In the summer of 2011, ''[[17 Miracles]]'' was released across the country. The film depicts the Martin and Willie handcart companies as they traveled across the plains to the Salt Lake Valley in 1856.<ref>{{citation |url= http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705385810/TC-Christensens-17-Miracles-aims-to-be-more-than-just-a-handcart-story.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110809090832/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705385810/TC-Christensens-17-Miracles-aims-to-be-more-than-just-a-handcart-story.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= August 9, 2011 |title= T.C. Christensen's '17 Miracles' aims to be more than just a handcart story |newspaper= Deseret News |date= 2010-08-30 |first= Steve |last= Fidel }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Davis|first1=Allan|title=17 Miracles. Directed by T.C. Christensen|journal=BYU Studies Quarterly|date=2012|volume=51|issue=4|pages=185–188|url=https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4423&context=byusq|accessdate=9 May 2018}}</ref> In 2013, Christensen's film ''Ephraim's Rescue'' about the life of [[Ephraim Hanks]], a notable rescuer of the Martin Handcart Company, was released to good user reviews, and specifically the addressed events of Hanks bringing the first food supplies to the company, who were snow-bound and starving on the [[Mormon Trail]].<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Hilton III|first1=John|title=Ephraim's Rescue, written and directed by T.C. Christensen|journal=BYU Studies Quarterly|date=2014|volume=53|issue=2|pages=187–189|url=https://byustudies.byu.edu/content/ephraims-rescue-written-and-directed-t-c-christensen|accessdate=9 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Toone|first1=Trent|title='Ephraim's Rescue' another powerful pioneer tear-jerker|url=https://www.deseretnews.com/article/865580891/Ephraims-Rescue-another-powerful-pioneer-tear-jerker.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130613152317/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865580891/Ephraims-Rescue-another-powerful-pioneer-tear-jerker.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 13, 2013|accessdate=9 May 2018|agency=Deseret News|publisher=Deseret News Publishing Company|date=May 31, 2013}}</ref> In 2015, Christensen wrote and directed ''[[The Cokeville Miracle]]'' which tells the story of the [[Cokeville Elementary School hostage crisis|school bombing]] in [[Cokeville, Wyoming]], in 1986.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Toone|first1=Trent|title=Sharing the 'Miracle': Mormon filmmaker wants 'Cokeville' retelling to reach many faiths|url=https://www.deseretnews.com/article/865630092/Sharing-the-Miracle-Mormon-filmmaker-wants-Cokeville-retelling-to-reach-many-faiths.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150607070556/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865630092/Sharing-the-Miracle-Mormon-filmmaker-wants-Cokeville-retelling-to-reach-many-faiths.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 7, 2015|accessdate=9 May 2018|agency=Deseret News|publisher=Deseret News Publishing Company|date=June 4, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Haddock|first1=Sharon|title='The Cokeville Miracle' a story of faith and answered prayers|url=https://www.deseretnews.com/article/865624143/The-Cokeville-Miracle-a-story-of-faith-and-answered-prayers.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315084127/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865624143/The-Cokeville-Miracle-a-story-of-faith-and-answered-prayers.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 15, 2015|accessdate=9 May 2018|agency=Deseret News|publisher=Deseret News Publishing Company|date=March 13, 2015}}</ref> In 2016, Christensen began working on ''Love, Kennedy''. It is based on the true story of Ogden, Utah, teenager Kennedy Hansen's battle with [[Batten disease|Juvenile Batten Disease]]. The film was released in June 2017.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Toone|first1=Trent|title=TC Christensen's new film based on inspiring life of Utah teen who died from rare disease|agency=Deseret News|publisher=Deseret News Publishing Company|date=May 1, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=McDonald|first1=Hannah|title='Love, Kennedy' is touching, if a little heavy-handed|url=https://www.deseretnews.com/article/865681130/Love-Kennedy-is-touching-if-a-little-heavy-handed.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170602093138/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865681130/Love-Kennedy-is-touching-if-a-little-heavy-handed.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 2, 2017|accessdate=9 May 2018|agency=Deseret News|publisher=Deseret News Publishing Company|date=June 2, 2017}}</ref>

Christensen is a member of the American Society of Cinematographers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theasc.com/asc/members|title=Members - The American Society of Cinematographers|website=theasc.com|language=en|access-date=2018-05-09}}</ref>

==Filmography==
All credits come from [[Internet Movie Database]] (IMDb).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002459/|title=T.C. Christensen|website=IMDb|access-date=2018-05-09}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ {{Screen reader-only|List of T. C. Christensen film credits}}
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" |Notes
|-
| 1973
| ''Wheels of Fire''
| Cinematographer & editor
| Documentary
|-
| 1978
| ''The Bridge''
| Cinematographer
| [[Short film]], credited as Thomas R. Christensen
|-
| 1979
| ''Kenny Rogers and the American Cowboy''
| Cinematographer
| [[Television film]]
|-
| 1982
| ''The Ghost of the Great Salt Lake''
| Director
|
|-
| 1987
| ''The Touch of the Master's Hand''
| Director
| [[Short film]], credited as Tom Christensen
|-
| 1988
| ''[[On Our Own (film)|On Our Own]]''
| Cinematographer & actor
| [[Television film]]
|-
| 1990
| ''Quest for a Go-Getter''
| Director of photography
| Video short
|-
| 1991
| ''Dream Machine''
| Cinematographer
|
|-
| 1991
| ''In Your Wildest Dreams''
| Cinematographer
|
|-
| 1992
| ''The ButterCream Gang''
| Cinematographer
| Video
|-
| 1992
| ''Split Infinity''
| Cinematographer
|
|-
| 1992
| ''On the Way Home''
| Cinematographer
| Video short
|-
| 1993
| ''[[Rigoletto (1993 film)|Rigoletto]]''
| Cinematographer
| Video
|-
| 1993
| ''[[Seasons of the Heart (1993 film)|Seasons of the Heart]]''
| Cinematographer
|
|-
| 1995
| ''Fedora''
| Cinematographer
| Short
|-
| 1995
| ''Reach for the Stars''
| Director of photography
|
|-
| 1995
| ''The Dark Knight''
| Cinematographer
| Short
|-
| 1995
| ''Ozarks: Legacy & Legend''
| Cinematographer
|
|-
| 1995
| ''San Francisco: The Movie''
| Cinematography
| Short
|-
| 1995
| ''Valencia, Spain''
| Cinematographer
|
|-
| 1996
| ''Treasure Chest''
| Cinematographer
| Short
|-
| 1996
| ''Turning Point''
| Cinematographer
| Video short
|-
| 1996
| ''Last Resort''
| Cinematographer
|
|-
|1996
| ''Clubhouse Detectives''
| Cinematographer
|
|-
| 1997
| ''Witness''
| Cinematographer
| Short
|-
| 1997
| ''Trail of Hope: The Story of the Mormon Trail''
| Cinematographer
| Television documentary
|-
| 1997
| ''The King's Falcon''
| Cinematographer
| Short
|-
| 1998
| ''No More Baths''
| Cinematographer
|
|-
| 1998
| ''Follow Your Heart''
| Cinematographer
| Short
|-
| 1998
| ''Angels in the Attic''
| Director of photography
|
|-
| 1999
| ''Olympic Glory''
| Cinematographer
| Documentary short
|-
| 1999
| ''A Kid Called Danger''
| Cinematographer
|
|-
| 1999
| ''American Prophet: The Story of Joseph Smith''
| Cinematographer
| Documentary
|-
| 1999
| ''Christmas Mission''
| Cinematographer
| Video short
|-
| 2000
| ''Navigate your Destiny''
| Cinematographer
| Short
|-
| 2000
| ''The Testaments: Of One Fold and One Shepherd''
| Cinematographer
|
|-
| 2000
| ''Baby Bedlam''
| Director of photography
|
|-
| 2000
| ''Message in a Cell Phone''
| Cinematographer
|
|-
| 2001
| ''Walls''
| Cinematographer
| Short
|-
| 2001
| ''Bug Off!''
| Cinematographer & writer
|
|-
| 2001
| ''The Penny Promise''
| Cinematographer & writer
|
|-
| 2001
| ''Horse Crazy''
| Cinematographer
|
|-
| 2002
| ''Journey to Harmony''
| Director of photography
| Short
|-
| 2002
| ''Lewis & Clark: Great Journey West''
| Cinematographer
| Short
|-
| 2003
| ''A Pioneer Miracle''
| Cinematographer & writer
| Video short (alternative title: ''In the Arms of Angels'')<ref>{{cite news|title='A Pioneer Miracle' (also known as 'In the Arms of Angels')|url=https://www.heraldextra.com/a-pioneer-miracle-also-known-as-in-the-arms-of/article_830dc706-cffc-5345-a077-22f810b2259e.html|accessdate=10 May 2018|agency=Daily Herald|publisher=Harold Communications|date=July 24, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| 2003
| ''Texas: The Big Picture''
| Cinematographer
| Documentary short
|-
| 2004
| ''[[The Work and the Glory]]''
| Director of photography
|
|-
| 2005
| ''Down and Derby''
| Cinematographer
|
|-
| 2005
| ''A Warm Heart''
| Director of photography
| Short
|-
| 2005
| ''Praise to the Man''
| Cinematographer & writer & director
| Video
|-
| 2005
| ''[[Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration]]''
| Cinematographer & Director
|
|-
| 2006
| ''Roving Mars''
| Cinematographer
| Documentary short
|-
| 2006
| ''Outlaw Trail: The Treasure of Butch Cassidy''
| Director of photography
| Credited as TC Christensen
|-
| 2006
| ''Rainbows of Paradise: The Pageant of the Long Canoes''
| Director
| Documentary short
|-
| 2007
| ''Take the Lead''
| Cinematographer
| Video short
|-
| 2007
| ''Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure''
| Director of photography
| Documentary short
|-
| 2007
| ''The Legacy of Aotearoa: Land of the Long, White Cloud''
| Cinematographer & Director
| Video documentary short, credited as TC Christensen
|-
| 2008
| ''[[Emma Smith: My Story]]''
| Cinematographer & co-director
|
|-
| 2008
| ''[[Forever Strong]]''
| Cinematographer
|
|-
| 2008
| ''Gordon B. Hinckley: A Giant Among Men''
| Cinematographer & writer & director
| Video
|-
| 2008
| ''Only a Stonecutter''
| Cinematographer & writer & director
| Video short
|-
| 2009
| ''The Jerk Theory''
| Cinematographer
|
|-
| 2009
| ''Treasure in Heaven: The John Tanner Story''
| Cinematographer & director
| Video short
|-
| 2010
| ''The Killers: Boots''
| Director
| Video short
|-
| 2010
| ''That Promised Day: The Coming Forth of the LDS Scripture''
| Director of photography
| Video
|-
| 2011
| ''[[17 Miracles]]''
| Cinematographer & writer & director
|
|-
| 2012
| ''Everything's Fine''
| Cinematographer
| Short
|-
| 2012
| ''12 Dogs of Christmas: Great Puppy Rescue''
| Cinematographer
|
|-
| 2012
| ''Gathering of Friends''
| Cinematographer
|
|-
| 2013
| ''[[Ephraim's Rescue]]''
| Cinematographer & writer & director
|
|-
| 2014
| ''Scriptures Legacy''
| Cinematographer
| Television [[short film]]
|-
| 2015
| ''[[The Cokeville Miracle]]''
| Cinematographer & writer & director
|
|-
| 2017
| ''Love, Kennedy''
| Cinematographer & writer & director
|
|-
| 2017
| ''[[The Stray (film)|The Stray]]''
| Cinematographer
|
|-
| 2019
| ''The Other Side of Heaven 2: Fire of Faith''
| Cinematographer
|
|-
| 2019
| ''[[The Fighting Preacher]]''
| Cinematographer & writer & director
| Finalist for the 2019 narrative-feature-film [[AML Award]]<ref>"[http://associationmormonletters.org/blog/2020/05/2019-aml-award-winners/ 2019 AML Award Winners]" by Andrew Hall. ''Dawning of a Brighter Day''. [[Association for Mormon Letters]]. 2 May 2020. Accessed 2 May 2020.</ref>
|-
|2024
|''[[Escape from Germany (2024 film)|Escape from Germany]]''
|Cinematographer & writer & director
|
|-
|2025
|Standout: The Ben Kjar Story
|Cinematographer
|Documentary
|-
|2025
|Raising the Bar: The Alma Richards Story
|Cinematographer & writer & director
|Documentary
|}

==See also==
* [[List of Latter Day Saints|List of famous Latter-day Saints]]
* [[Lee Groberg]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[http://tc-dp.com/ Official website for T.C. Christensen]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Christensen, T. C.}}
[[Category:1953 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Layton, Utah]]
[[Category:American Mormon missionaries in the United States]]
[[Category:Brigham Young University alumni]]
[[Category:University of Utah alumni]]
[[Category:American cinematographers]]
[[Category:American Latter Day Saint artists]]
[[Category:Latter Day Saints from Utah]]
[[Category:Film directors from Utah]]

T. C. Christensen - Revision history

imported>Sshock: /* Filmography */