# Garrett Batty

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{{short description|Director and filmmaker}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name          = Garrett Batty
| image         = GarrettBatty.jpg
| image_size    = 250px
| alma_mater    = [Brigham Young University](/source/Brigham_Young_University)
| occupation    = Director, Producer, Writer
| years_active  = 2009-present
| notable_works = ''[The Saratov Approach](/source/The_Saratov_Approach)''
}}

'''Garrett Batty''' is an American film director, writer, and producer known for his film ''[The Saratov Approach](/source/The_Saratov_Approach)''. He is a graduate of [Brigham Young University](/source/Brigham_Young_University) and a native of [Park City, Utah](/source/Park_City%2C_Utah).<ref name=":0" /> He is a member of [the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints](/source/the_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints), (LDS Church)<ref name=":2" /> and his films are part of [Mormon cinema](/source/Mormon_cinema), but with a more general audience. He has written, directed, and produced four full-length films, including ''Freetown'' (2015) and ''[Out of Liberty](/source/Out_of_Liberty)'' (2019), and will begin work on a fifth in 2020.<ref name=":6" /> For ''Freetown'', he was awarded the 2015 [Ghana Movie Award](/source/Ghana_Movie_Awards) for Best Screenplay alongside [Melissa Leilani Larson](/source/Melissa_Leilani_Larson).

== Early life and education ==
As a young boy in [Park City, Utah](/source/Park_City%2C_Utah),<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://mormonartsstg.lib.byu.edu/people/garrett-batty/|title=Garrett Batty {{!}} Mormon Literature & Creative Arts Database {{!}} HBLL|website=mormonartsstg.lib.byu.edu|access-date=March 20, 2020}}</ref> Batty began making short films.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://mormonartist.net/podcast/episode-13-garrett-batty/|title=Episode 13: Garrett Batty – Mormon Artist|website=mormonartist.net|access-date=March 20, 2020}}</ref> He attended [Park City High School](/source/Park_City_High_School) and often attended the [Sundance Film Festival](/source/Sundance_Film_Festival).<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|url=https://www.parkrecord.com/entertainment/park-city-high-school-grad-gets-serious-with-the-saratov-approach/|title=Park City High School grad gets serious with 'The Saratov Approach'|last=Iwasaki|first=Scott|website=www.parkrecord.com|language=en-US|access-date=March 24, 2020}}</ref> In both high school and college, Batty participated in acting, improv comedy, and filmmaking.<ref name=":7" /> After serving an [LDS mission](/source/Missionary_(LDS_Church)) in [New York City](/source/New_York_City),<ref name=":0" /> he graduated from [Brigham Young University](/source/Brigham_Young_University) in 2001 with a film degree.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lehifreepress.com/2019/10/07/filmmaker-shoots-out-of-liberty-in-lehi-barn/|title=Filmmaker shoots "Out of Liberty" in Lehi barn|last=Halladay|first=Gina|date=October 7, 2019|website=Lehi Free Press|language=en-US|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=March 24, 2020}}</ref> He is a member of the [Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints](/source/The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints).<ref name=":2" />

== Professional career ==
During his early career in [Hollywood](/source/Cinema_of_the_United_States), Batty edited TV pilot episodes, trailers, and DVDs.<ref name=":1" /> He often worked with LDS film companies such as [Excel Entertainment](/source/Excel_Entertainment) and [Halestorm Entertainment](/source/Halestorm_Entertainment). He later moved to [Utah](/source/Utah), where he and his wife adopted three children.<ref name=":1" /> He was inspired by LDS films such as ''[The Singles Ward](/source/The_Singles_Ward)'', and after moving to Utah, filmed ''Mormon Messages'' for the [Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints](/source/The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints). He began a production company,<ref name=":1" /> Three Coin Productions, in 1993.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deseret.com/2008/10/1/20380022/scout-camp-to-appeal-to-varied-audience|title='Scout Camp' to appeal to varied audience|last=Farmer|first=Molly|date=October 1, 2008|website=Deseret News|language=en|access-date=March 20, 2020}}</ref> His short film "#Pound# 646" was shown at the 2008 LDS Film Festival<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mormonartsstg.lib.byu.edu/works/pound-646/|title=#Pound# 646 {{!}} Mormon Literature & Creative Arts Database {{!}} HBLL|website=mormonartsstg.lib.byu.edu|access-date=March 24, 2020}}</ref> and later compiled into the Best of LDS Film Festival 2008 DVD.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mormonartsstg.lib.byu.edu/works/best-of-lds-film-festival-2008/|title=Best of LDS Film Festival 2008 {{!}} Mormon Literature & Creative Arts Database {{!}} HBLL|website=mormonartsstg.lib.byu.edu|access-date=March 24, 2020}}</ref> In 2009 he wrote, directed, and produced ''Scout Camp'',<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://excelentertainment.com/movies/scout-camp/|title=Scout Camp {{!}} Excel Entertainment|language=en-US|access-date=March 20, 2020}}</ref> a movie about a group of [boy scouts](/source/Boy_Scouts_of_America) starring Shawn Carter and [Kirby Heyborne](/source/Kirby_Heyborne).<ref name=":8" /> Batty drew from his own experiences as a boy scout, and the actors who played scoutmasters improvised many of their lines for comedic effect.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web|url=https://www.deseret.com/2009/1/25/20377940/scout-camp-jamboree|title='Scout Camp' jamboree|last=Wilson|first=Chanae|date=January 25, 2009|website=Deseret News|language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=March 20, 2020}}</ref> According to Batty, the film produced enough money to "pay back all of [its] investors."<ref name=":1" />

While continuing to work for the Church, he began working on ''[The Saratov Approach](/source/The_Saratov_Approach)'',<ref name=":1" /> a film based on the true story of the [1998 kidnapping of LDS missionaries in Saratov, Russia](/source/1998_kidnapping_of_LDS_missionaries_in_Saratov%2C_Russia). Batty first heard the story as a college student, and resolved to one day tell it through film. He obtained permission from the men who had been kidnapped, then began working on the script while recovering from [heart surgery](/source/Cardiac_surgery).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://latterdaysaintmag.com/article-1-13844/|title="The Saratov Approach" Breaks Records and Molds|last=England|first=Breck|date=|website=LDS Magazine|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=March 20, 2020}}</ref> It was released on October 9, 2013, and grossed $2.1&nbsp;million;<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt2887322/credits/?ref_=bo_tt_tab#tabs|title=The Saratov Approach|last=|first=|date=|website=Box Office Mojo|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=March 20, 2020}}</ref> it was Batty's first theatrical release.<ref name=":0" /> According to ''[The Daily Universe](/source/The_Daily_Universe)'', ''Saratov'' "shattered all previous LDS movie records."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://universe.byu.edu/2014/04/02/the-saratov-approach-shatters-box-office-records-of-previous-mormon-films1/|title='The Saratov Approach' shatters box office records of previous Mormon films|last=Gengler|first=Hailey|date=April 2, 2014|website=The Daily Universe|language=en-US|access-date=March 24, 2020}}</ref> After ''Saratov''<nowiki/>'s success, Batty released another film documenting a true story about LDS missionaries, ''Freetown'', in 2015. Filmed in six weeks in [Ghana](/source/Ghana), it depicts the missionaries' struggles during the [First Liberian Civil War](/source/First_Liberian_Civil_War).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://universe.byu.edu/2014/11/06/the-saratov-approach-makers-to-do-a-new-missionary-film-freetown/|title='The Saratov Approach' makers to do a new missionary film, 'Freetown'|last1=Hernandez|first1=Tatiana|last2=ez|date=November 6, 2014|website=The Daily Universe|language=en-US|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=March 20, 2020}}</ref> Batty worked alongside screenwriter [Melissa Leilani Larson](/source/Melissa_Leilani_Larson) on ''Freetown'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/faith/mormon-movie-collaborators-to-speak-at-lds-history-museum-event/article_cdfb149e-744e-5a3e-99bd-50eb05a01a30.html|title=Mormon movie collaborators to speak at LDS History Museum event|last=Pugmire|first=Genelle|date=|website=Daily Herald|language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=March 20, 2020}}</ref> for which they were awarded the [2015 Ghana Movie Award](/source/2015_Ghana_Movie_Awards) for Best Screenplay.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.melissaleilanilarson.com/new-page|title=Freetown|website=Melissa Leilani Larson|language=en-US|access-date=March 20, 2020}}</ref><ref name=":9" /> In 2019, Batty directed, wrote, and produced ''Out of Liberty'', a drama western<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt9844368/credits/?ref_=bo_tt_tab#tabs|title=Out of Liberty|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=March 20, 2020}}</ref> about the imprisonment of [Joseph Smith](/source/Joseph_Smith), told from lesser-known jailer Samuel Tillery's perspective.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.sltrib.com/artsliving/2019/09/12/out-liberty-director/|title='Out of Liberty' director and actor talk about bringing piece of LDS history to life|last=Means|first=Sean P.|date=|website=The Salt Lake Tribune|language=en-US|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=March 20, 2020}}</ref> It grossed $265,279.<ref name=":3" /> According to the [''Daily Herald,''](/source/Daily_Herald_(Utah)) Batty will begin filming a movie about missionaries in the [Philippines](/source/Philippines) in 2020.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldextra.com/entertainment/movies/out-of-liberty-mixes-story-of-false-imprisonment-valiant-jailer/article_fff3034c-dc59-5872-ba2f-2ed2e0f0c697.html|title='Out of Liberty' mixes story of false imprisonment, valiant jailer|last=Fox|first=Doug|date=|website=Daily Herald|language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=March 20, 2020}}</ref>

== Filmography ==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! style="width:33px;" |Year
!Film
! style="width:65px;" |[Director](/source/Film_director)
! width="65" |[Producer](/source/Film_producer)
! width="65" |[Writer](/source/Screenwriter)
!Starring
|-
|2009
| style="text-align:left" |''Scout Camp''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|Shawn Carter, [Kirby Heyborne](/source/Kirby_Heyborne)
|-
|2013
| style="text-align:left" |''[The Saratov Approach](/source/The_Saratov_Approach)''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|[Corbin Allred](/source/Corbin_Allred), Maclain Nelson
|-
|2015
| style="text-align:left" |''Freetown''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|Henry Adofo, Michael Attram
|-
|2019
| style="text-align:left" |''[Out of Liberty](/source/Out_of_Liberty)''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|[Casey Elliott](/source/Casey_Elliott), [Corbin Allred](/source/Corbin_Allred), Brandon Ray Olive, Jasen Wade
|-
|2024
|Faith of Angels
|Yes
|Yes
|Yes
|John Michael Finley, Cameron Arnett, Kirby Heyborne, Michael Bradford
|}

== Awards and nominations ==

* Winner of the 2014 Filmed in Utah Award for Best Screenplay (''The Saratov Approach'')
* Winner of the 2014 Filmed in Utah Award for Best Director (''The Saratov Approach'')<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://universe.byu.edu/2014/03/31/third-annual-filmed-in-utah-awards-dominated-by-the-saratov-approach/|title=Third-annual Filmed in Utah Awards dominated by 'The Saratov Approach'|last=Alexander H. Rose|date=March 31, 2014|website=The Daily Universe|language=en-US|access-date=March 20, 2020|archive-date=March 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321002441/https://universe.byu.edu/2014/03/31/third-annual-filmed-in-utah-awards-dominated-by-the-saratov-approach/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Winner of the 2014 Filmed in Utah Award for Best Feature Film (''The Saratov Approach'')<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldextra.com/entertainment/who-needs-hollywood-local-films-honored-at-filmed-in-utah/article_c5d142f0-e184-55a9-8b59-d04771e56ffe.html|title=Who needs Hollywood? Local films honored at Filmed in Utah awards|last=Workman|first=Warren|website=Daily Herald|language=en|access-date=March 20, 2020}}</ref>
* Winner of the 2014 [AML Award](/source/AML_Awards) (film category) (''The Saratov Approach'')
* Winner of the 2015 [Ghana Movie Award](/source/Ghana_Movie_Awards) for Best Screenplay (''Freetown'', with Melissa Leilani Larson)
* Nominated for the 2015 Ghana Movie Award for Directing (''Freetown'')
* Nominated for the 2015 Ghana Movie Award for Best Picture (''Freetown'')<ref name=":9">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/entertainment/Full-list-of-winners-at-Ghana-Movie-Awards-2015-404293|title=Full list of winners at Ghana Movie Awards 2015|website=www.ghanaweb.com|language=en|access-date=March 20, 2020}}</ref>
* Finalist for the 2015 [AML Award](/source/AML_Awards) (film category) (''Freetown'')<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://associationmormonletters.org/blog/2016/02/2015-aml-awards-finalists-6-film/|title=2015 AML Awards Finalists #6: Film|last=|first=|date=February 11, 2016|website=associationmormonletters.org|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=March 20, 2020}}</ref>
* Nominated for the [2016 Black Reel Award](/source/Black_Reel_Awards_of_2016) for Best Foreign Film (''Freetown'')<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://blackreelawards.com/black-reel-awards-16-winners-nominees/|title=Black Reel Awards '16 {{!}} Winners & Nominees|date=February 20, 2016|website=Black Reel Awards|language=en-US|access-date=March 20, 2020|archive-date=June 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190619130755/http://blackreelawards.com/black-reel-awards-16-winners-nominees/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Nominated for the [2016 Nigerian Entertainment Award](/source/2016_Nigeria_Entertainment_Awards) for Best Picture (Non-Nigerian) (''Freetown'')<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bellanaija.com/2016/06/nominations-are-here-find-out-who-made-the-2016-nigerian-entertainment-awards-nominees-list/|title=Nominations are Here! Find out who Made the 2016 Nigerian Entertainment Awards Nominees List|last=BellaNaija.com|date=June 16, 2016|website=BellaNaija|language=en-US|access-date=March 24, 2020}}</ref>
* Finalist for the 2019 AML Award (narrative-feature-film category) (''Out of Liberty'')<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](/source/Association_for_Mormon_Letters). 2 May 2020. Accessed 2 May 2020.</ref>

== References ==
<references />

== External links ==
* [http://threecoinproductions.com/ Three Coin Productions website]
* {{IMDb name|1271233}}
* [https://latterdayprofiles.org/garrett-batty/ Latter-day Profiles interview] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324170835/https://latterdayprofiles.org/garrett-batty/ |date=March 24, 2020 }}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Batty, Garrett}}
Category:Living people
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:People from Park City, Utah
Category:Brigham Young University alumni
Category:Latter Day Saints from Utah
Category:Film producers from Utah
Category:Film directors from Utah
Category:American film editors
Category:Screenwriters from Utah

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Garrett Batty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garrett_Batty) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garrett_Batty?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.