Fiji is one of the three countries in which the Walt Disney movie “The Other Side of Heaven part two“ will be shot from April to May this year.

The other two countries are New Zealand and Idaho in the United States of America.

The movie is based on the story of John H Groberg, a 20-year-old man from Idaho, USA, who as a missionary for the  Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, was sent to serve a mission in Tonga for three years in the 1950s.

His experience in Tonga during that time was captured in his book “ In the eye of the storm”.

In an interview with Mitch Davis, the producer, director and script writer said that he was always attracted to films as a universal language that could tell stories to people at the same time in different countries like China, Fiji or the USA.

Mitch as a young man had also served a church mission in Argentina in 1970 and had always wanted to share his story about his experience.

Producer, director and script writer Mitch Davis (left) with Fiji LDS Director of Public Affairs Sulueti Kama. Photo: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

When he read Elder John F Groberg ‘s story he felt that this was a story he needed to share in a film.

“I love human stories about people who learn and grow through adversity. Often in life we learn through things we suffer and overcome”, he said

This sequel of the movie is based on John H  Groberg’s [SCBK1]  second book “The Fire of Faith” which records some of the amazing experiences he and his family had while on his  second mission to the islands of Tonga, Fiji and Niue a decade after he completed his first mission in Tonga.

This time he was assigned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints as mission president for over 200 missionaries in those  three islands.

“This movie shows how people of different cultures and beliefs combine their faith miracles and wonderful things happen,” said Mitch Davis.

Elder John H Groberg, 84, will be here in Fiji in April to watch the filming as it takes place.

Auditions will continue on Sunday as more people are still needed. Of the 100 people needed for anglo roles, only 25 people have been auditioned so far so there is still 75 needed. A lot more locals are still needed .

Edited by Percy Kean

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