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

[Kishkumen]

By the way, one BYP video I saw on YouTube had 492K views!

Amazing!

[drumdude]

Do you think you are making a point with this question? Because, really, you're not.

Unless someone here has produced a movie that was in even one public movie theatre, no one has room to talk.

LOL

[malkie]

Unless someone here has produced a movie that was in even one public movie theatre, no one has room to talk.

LOL

Unless you have made such a ludicrous statement, you have no room to lol, let alone LOL.

[Kishkumen]

Unless you have made such a ludicrous statement, you have no room to lol, let alone LOL.

LOL!

[Equality]

Do you think you are making a point with this question? Because, really, you're not.

Unless someone here has produced a movie that was in even one public movie theatre, no one has room to talk.

Only people who have produced movies that have appeared in theaters can comment on the box-office performance of movies? Why? I don't see any logical connection between making movies that appear in theaters and being able to observe the box-office performance of movies that appear in theaters. Why do you think one is a pre-requisite for the other?

[Philo Sofee]

Unless someone here has produced a movie that was in even one public movie theatre, no one has room to talk.

Only people who have produced movies that have appeared in theaters can comment on the box-office performance of movies? Why? I don't see any logical connection between making movies that appear in theaters and being able to observe the box-office performance of movies that appear in theaters. Why do you think one is a pre-requisite for the other?

It's the typical brain dead Mormon logic. See... Joseph Smith had a First Vision, therefore the Mormon Church is true! And since he did translate the Book of Mormon and Book of Abraham and have visions and revelations, the later visionless prophets following him have given proclamations instead, so they are true prophets too like Joseph! Therefore, Mormonism was true in Joseph's day, and it is now. Joseph Smith was a true prophet and today's dude is a true profit. That's how it works see. It's simple schmimple.

[Sledge]

It's the typical brain dead Mormon logic. See... Joseph Smith had a First Vision, therefore the Mormon Church is true! And since he did translate the Book of Mormon and Book of Abraham and have visions and revelations, the later visionless prophets following him have given proclamations instead, so they are true prophets too like Joseph! Therefore, Mormonism was true in Joseph's day, and it is now. Joseph Smith was a true prophet and today's dude is a true profit. That's how it works see. It's simple schmimple.

Hey, you've been listening to too much Alex Jones, my dude.

[Everybody Wang Chung]

Hey, you've been listening to too much Alex Jones, my dude.

Unless you have produced your own podcast that was on Spotify or Apple, you have no room to talk.

Sledge, see how fun it is using your own words against you?

[Dr Moore]

I am sticking with my opinion that the Witnesses film will have checked all of the important "success" boxes for donors and for Interpreter staff.

1) Reasonably high film quality -- check
2) Produce on a modest ~$1m budget -- check (secondary marketing ask notwithstanding)
3) Address some of the thorny issues about the witnesses, and other historical problems in context of a controlled, inspiring narrative -- check
4) Theatrical distribution, ideally beyond the intermountain west -- check
5) Mostly positive reviews -- check

In summary, elevate the "relevance" of the witnesses as an evidence in favor of Joseph Smith's work -- check

6) Recycle film IP income toward succession projects -- check (or so I hear)
7) Bonus: make a "profit" over and above all costs -- TBD

If I was DCP with this track record as a first time film creator + producer, I would be waltzing with a s**t-eating grin into every donor meeting. He is now a proven LDS apologetic film maker. And nothing tells a story - apologetic or otherwise - like film, right? The Witnesses, or Interpreter film project 1.0, will absolutely will attract more capital from motivated circles.

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.

[Shulem]

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.

I concur. They are now empowered knowing they can pull it off and produce a professional film that has potential if they can get the right mix of ingredients and present it in a way that will attract more people.

Now that they have learned some valuable lessons through their experiences it wouldn't surprise me if they attempt to woo donors into making more contributions for a second film that will blow the box office wide open and make millions.

Peterson has his work cut out for him.