Time to Call It: "Witnesses" is a Box Office Flop

[Kishkumen]

That's how I see things playing out, anyway. I'm not donating to the projects, mind you, but I'm 100% confident DCP will be able to raise money for future projects, if he chooses to make that a post-BYU career.

Agreed. My surprise about its limited success is not a prediction that future films will not be made. The films are made in the first place as an expression of devotion and a desire to present the Mormon story lovingly and positively.

As long as there are Mormons with these goals and resources, there will be more films.

[Sledge]

Agreed. My surprise about its limited success is not a prediction that future films will not be made. The films are made in the first place as an expression of devotion and a desire to present the Mormon story lovingly and positively.

As long as there are Mormons with these goals and resources, there will be more films.

Was it really worse than the standard cookie-cutter Marvel movies that come out every year?

[Kishkumen]

Was it really worse than the standard cookie-cutter Marvel movies that come out every year?

That's kind of an odd question, Sledge. What have I said about the movie that would suggest I thought it was worse than a standard Marvel movie?

No, I was surprised that LDS people were not more into the film than they evidently were. I think the problem is that they are more excited by Marvel movies than they are a somewhat more nuanced retelling of their own faith's history.

[Sledge]

That's kind of an odd question, Sledge. What have I said about the movie that would suggest I thought it was worse than a standard Marvel movie?

No, I was surprised that LDS people were not more into the film than they evidently were. I think the problem is that they are more excited by Marvel movies than they are a somewhat more nuanced retelling of their own faith's history.

You haven't said anything. I didn't mean to respond specifically to you, though I was curious what your answer would be.

[Gadianton]

Was it really worse than the standard cookie-cutter Marvel movies that come out every year?

How many big-budget comic-book films have you made? If you haven't made any, then you don't have the right to disparage the industry as "cookie-cutter". You're probably jealous of all the money and success these films otherwise you'd be addicted to them.

[Sledge]

How many big-budget comic-book films have you made? If you haven't made any, then you don't have the right to disparage the industry as "cookie-cutter". You're probably jealous of all the money and success these films otherwise you'd be addicted to them.

Very funny. Have you made any films?

[kairos]

Dan has escaped with 50% of his ass covered and 50% exposed because his job was to come up with
documentary with apologists and non (eg ann taves) to
Make a case for the “truthfulness” or not of the witnesses.
Dan -what’s the timeline including funding?
Thanx
k

[Moksha]

The Witnesses, or Interpreter film project 1.0, will absolutely attract more capital from motivated circles.

All the donors need is a DVD copy of Witnesses to know that the Interpreter Foundation is more than capable to film a sequel and that BYU and Orem Middle School drama students can adequately perform the roles of Fanny Alger and Helen Mar Kimball.

[Doctor CamNC4Me]

… I was surprised that LDS people were not more into the film than they evidently were.

I’m not going lie, this kind of shocked me. Having lived along the Wasatch range, I’d see Mormon cinema billboards on occasion, but I didn’t see any for this film (I may have missed one, though). My hunch is had it been broadly promoted via traditional means I think they could’ve doubled their take, because it’s not actually a terrible film as far as these films go. Whatever the case may be, I think there’s a LOT of interesting historical and mythological material that comes with Mormonism, and I do think there’s a niche market where the church could see a sort of strengthening the core membership with movie media done right. Basically, they could Netflix/Prime Video it up, and then run all their inventory on BYUtv, and that in of itself would serve as a inoculation tool against the broader influence of social media.

eta: Think like a 3 to 5 season run of The Expanse a pioneer drama that spans the various movements of early Mormons. You could really get some emotional or inspirational material out of that story, IF the story is played straight with bits of miracles thrown in here and there. So, make it a historical epic, but with just enough Marvel magic added to make it ‘ohmygoddidyouseethatnewBYUtvseries?!?itssogoooood’.

- Doc

[Lem]

… I was surprised that LDS people were not more into the film than they evidently were.

I’m not going lie, this kind of shocked me. Having lived along the Wasatch range, I’d see Mormon cinema billboards on occasion, but I didn’t see any for this film (I may have miss one, though). My hunch is had it been broadly promoted via traditional means I think they could’ve doubled their take, because it’s not actually a terrible film as far as these films go. Whatever the case may be, I think there’s a LOT of interesting historical and mythological material that comes with Mormonism, and I do think there’s a niche market where the church could see a sort of strengthening the core membership with movie media done right. Basically, the could Netflix/Prime Video it up, and then run all their inventory on BYUtv, and that in of itself would serve as a inoculation tool against the broader influence of social media.

- Doc

Me, too. I thought the niche market would be much stronger. Last week, SeN advertised theatres in Provo showing the film to accompany Education Week, but BYU's ed week site was absolutely silent about it. Their site even had a tab for "evening activities," where I was positive it would be listed, but it wasn't. It was surprising, considering the film website says there is a contract with BYU to show it in religion classes. Maybe Ed Week didn't want to compete with regular BYU classes.