Halestorm Entertainment
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film production and distribution |
| Founded | January 2001 |
| Founder | Kurt Hale, Dave Hunter |
| Defunct | 2020 |
| Headquarters | Orem , United States |
Area served | Western mainland United States |
| Products | Films, short films, television, documentaries |
Halestorm Entertainment operated as a film production and distribution firm headquartered in Orem, Utah. Established in January 2001 by Kurt Hale and Dave Hunter, both alumni of Brigham Young University's film program, Halestorm concentrated on movies created by, for, and centered around Latter-day Saint communities. Their projects frequently incorporated common stereotypes and clichés associated with the culture of Church members residing in the western mainland United States, with a primary focus on first-run theaters within that geographic area.
The company’s debut success came with the 2002 release of The Singles Ward. Nevertheless, following the significant commercial disappointment of The Home Teachers, Halestorm encountered diminishing demand for explicitly Mormon-themed comedic films. Consequently, they transitioned away from heavily LDS-centric content; for instance, Church Ball contained fewer insider references and featured more widely recognized actors to appeal to a broader viewership.
After several years of inactivity, Halestorm Entertainment was quietly dissolved in 2020. Presently, most of their film catalog is under the control of Deseret Book.
Feature films
- The Singles Ward (2002)
- The Best Two Years (2003)
- The Book of Mormon Movie, Vol. 1: The Journey (2003)
- It's Latter-day Night! (2003)
- The R.M. (2003)
- Baptists at Our Barbecue (2004)
- The Home Teachers (2004)
- Sons of Provo (2004)
- Mobsters and Mormons (2005)
- Suits on the Loose (2005)
- Latter-Day Night Biscuit (2005)
- Take a Chance (2006)
- Church Ball (2006)
- The Singles 2nd Ward (2007)
- The Dance (2007)
- Beau Jest (2008)
- The Wild Stallion (2009)
- A Christmas Wish (2010)
- Heaven's Door (2012)
- Storm Rider (2013)
Short films
- Money or Mission (2006)
- Sons of Provo: Confidential (2007)
Television
- Howdy Town (2006–2007)
Documentaries
- Happy Valley (2008)
- The Real Life Singles Ward (2011)
Divisions
- HaleYeah! Records: the company’s music branch.
- Stone Five Studios: affiliated studio producing family-oriented films outside the LDS niche.
- HaleStone Distribution: responsible for distributing films and DVDs from independent studios.
- HaleMark Publishing: publishing arm specializing in novelizations and children’s literature related to their films.
Production studio
In May 2005, Halestorm initiated construction on a comprehensive production and post-production facility located in Provo, Utah, which became the only commercially accessible studio soundstage in the state following Osmond Studios.