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

[Moksha]

That said, I find the lack of LDS interest in Witnesses extremely baffling.

Why didn't LDS Stakes buy up tickets and host many viewing parties, both for members and gentiles living within their territories?

[Everybody Wang Chung]

I focus on the fact that it was a great achievement it was even made.

I’m going to side with the Reverend on this one. I’m not sure how one goes about raising a million or so dollars for a theatrical film, but the fact is Mr. Peterson did it. That, in of itself, is remarkable. Then, bringing people together to collaborate, donate their services, labor for free or significantly reduced fees, and then promote their product is not only noteworthy, but very admirable. I admire him for that. Well done.

- Doc

No doubt that DCP learned a lot about show business and fundraising during the making of Witnesses. If DCP’s health doesn’t deteriorate any further, I think we can expect a better, more expensive movie next time.

I would love to see a film adaptation of Added Upon.

[Doctor CamNC4Me]

I’m going to side with the Reverend on this one. I’m not sure how one goes about raising a million or so dollars for a theatrical film, but the fact is Mr. Peterson did it. That, in of itself, is remarkable. Then, bringing people together to collaborate, donate their services, labor for free or significantly reduced fees, and then promote their product is not only noteworthy, but very admirable. I admire him for that. Well done.

- Doc

No doubt that DCP learned a lot about show business and fundraising during the making of Witnesses. If DCP’s health doesn’t deteriorate any further, I think we can expect a better, more expensive movie next time.

I would love to see a film adaptation of Added Upon.

So, Saturday’s Warriors?

- Doc

[Philo Sofee]

I’m going to side with the Reverend on this one. I’m not sure how one goes about raising a million or so dollars for a theatrical film, but the fact is Mr. Peterson did it. That, in of itself, is remarkable. Then, bringing people together to collaborate, donate their services, labor for free or significantly reduced fees, and then promote their product is not only noteworthy, but very admirable. I admire him for that. Well done.

- Doc

No doubt that DCP learned a lot about show business and fundraising during the making of Witnesses. If DCP’s health doesn’t deteriorate any further, I think we can expect a better, more expensive movie next time.

I would love to see a film adaptation of Added Upon.

He needs something with a car chase scene and a gun fight.....perhaps he can do an imitation James Bond movie the hero can be James. What's your name? Mormon... James Mormon.

[Everybody Wang Chung]

I would love to see a film adaptation of Added Upon.

So, Saturday’s Warriors?

- Doc

Despite the numerous similarities in plot, themes and characters between Added Upon and Saturday’s Warrior, DCP would have to pay film rights if he were to do a film adaptation of Saturday’s Warriors. But, Added Upon which is about 100 years old, is in the public domain.

So, yes pretty much Saturday’s Warrior, but it would be called Added Upon.

[Doctor CamNC4Me]

So, Saturday’s Warriors?

- Doc

Despite the numerous similarities in plot, themes and characters between Added Upon and Saturday’s Warrior, DCP would have to pay film rights if he were to do a film adaptation of Saturday’s Warriors. But, Added Upon which is about 100 years old, is in the public domain.

So, yes pretty much Saturday’s Warrior, but it would be called Added Upon.

You know, if he can get the Wachowski brothers to produce and direct it, I’m in.

- Doc

[Doctor Scratch]

I focus on the fact that it was a great achievement it was even made.

I’m going to side with the Reverend on this one. I’m not sure how one goes about raising a million or so dollars for a theatrical film, but the fact is Mr. Peterson did it. That, in of itself, is remarkable. Then, bringing people together to collaborate, donate their services, labor for free or significantly reduced fees, and then promote their product is not only noteworthy, but very admirable. I admire him for that. Well done.

- Doc

I think that's a very nice way of looking at it. I mean, I respect Ed Wood and Tommy Wiseau for managing to get their "visions" produced, too. Of course, Wiseau and Wood occupy a far higher place in the pantheon of cinema that "Witnesses" can ever dream of occupying. The Reverend is right: Why didn't Mormons care more about this stupid movie? I chalk it all up to how fundamentally odious DCP and his projects are. This movie is basically a turd in the gutter of contemporary cinema, and I cannot tell you how richly satisfying it has been to see this thing flounder and fail. I cannot stop laughing about this.

[Philo Sofee]

So, Saturday’s Warriors?

- Doc

Despite the numerous similarities in plot, themes and characters between Added Upon and Saturday’s Warrior, DCP would have to pay film rights if he were to do a film adaptation of Saturday’s Warriors. But, Added Upon which is about 100 years old, is in the public domain.

So, yes pretty much Saturday’s Warrior, but it would be called Added Upon.

Calling it Multiplied Upon would even be grander... Go BIG or go home.

[Doctor Scratch]

The phrase I keep coming back to is, “I’m really impressed with the witnesses.” Yeah: the witnesses are so impressive that their story demands a movie that winds up being a box-office bomb. Lol!!! The Mopologists keep talking about how critics need to “explain away” the witnesses—indeed, wasn’t that the tag line for the movie? Well, you don’t have to explain away a dramatization that almost nobody—including the vast majority of Latter-day Saints bothered to see. The witnesses—the idea of their testimony and their story being a persuasive argument—has been a total and spectacular failure: to the tune of half a million dollars.

First it was the LGT. Then it was the ghost committee. Today it is the witnesses. The failures continue to pile up. Yep: those witnesses sure are impressive!

[Gadianton]

It was a vanity project, and in response to perceived slights. At my last family reunion I heard about Rod meldrum not farms. A witnesses film by Rod would do much better with Mormons. Even Kish's relatives didn't want to go. All the alleged good I've heard about it makes me want to see it less, because it sounds forced. A serious inquiry into why tbms weren't excited about it is in order but it won't be done, because the creators don't do criticism.