Arthur Van Wagenen: Mormon Filmmaker

Arthur Van Wagenen has followed in his father, Sterling’s, footsteps and carved a career for himself in the filmmaking industry. He is known as an actor in The Trip to Bountiful (1985), crew for Convicts (1991), Alan & Naomi (1992), and One Good Man (2009), and head of Excel Entertainment. He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Van Wagenen pursued law in the entertainment industry and worked for New Line Cinema while the studio produced The Lord of the Rings trilogy. He practiced entertainment and intellectual property law for four years and was a partner with a small documentary film company (MirrorLake Films) until he accepted a position with Excel Entertainment, a division of Deseret Book Company as Product Director for Film. He is head of distribution and works to release movies that are good films, period; rather than good Latter-day Saint films or good independent films.[1] Excel negotiates with producers to enter into distribution agreements and markets, promotes, and manufactures films. Some of Excel’s recent films include Just Let Go (2015), Freetown (2015). The Cokeville Miracle (2015), and The Christmas Dragon (2014).

Van Wagenen earned his bachelor’s degree in German from Brigham Young University. He studied entertainment and intellectual content law at the University of Utah, earning a degree from the College of Law. He lives in Sandy, Utah, with his wife and three children.