Who is Funding the "Witnesses" Film?

[_Doctor Scratch]

For those who've been waiting with baited breath concerning the "Mopologetic Film Event of the Decade," there has been a new update from one of the Executive Producers. As you might imagine, despite a thick layer of skepticism, the Executive Producer--who admits to having some "minor" quibbles over things like scene transitions, color-correcting, and other strictly technical matters--expressed his opinion: "I was very pleased with Monday night’s showing." Great! I'm sure that many of us are looking forward to the opportunity to judge the "product" ourselves.

But, perhaps even more importantly, I was struck by this passage:

The people who are actually making the films are essentially the same folks (minus Lee Groberg, although he’s friendly) who made the Joseph Smith: American Prophet film for PBS, as well as BYU-TV’s Fires of Faith and Handel’s Messiah. The Interpreter Foundation, a 501(c)3 charitable organization of which I’m the president, is behind the effort.

Ahem. Let's hold on a second here, shall we? Is he really trying to claim all--or even primary--credit for this movie? First, what if it's a pile of crap? Don't you think it would be wiser to hold off and see what the audience's reactions are? *Then* he could swoop in and claim credit? Or, is this supposed to be preemptive? Like, he's trying to build up the hype in the hope that this has a massive audience, and then, since he was out in front of everyone, he can say, "See! See! I told you so!"?

LOL. I'm just joking. Of course, the reason why his comment is silly is because none of it is believable. Recall what Dr. Midgley shared with us:

One of the proposals was that the Brethren ought to officially endorse the Interpreter Foundation, Book of Mormon Central and FAIR reliable sources of information. That has been done. Then, instead of using tithing money to finance the defense of the faith and the Saints, it was proposed, and accepted, that the Brethren establish an agency to seek donations to help finance Interpreter, Book of Mormon Central and FAIR. This agency is now operating; it is called Mormon Voices.

So, no, actually: "Interpreter" is not the true source of the money. It's "Mormon Voices": a group that was established by the Brethren to help fund "Interpreter." If Dr. Peterson really believes that he deserves "credit" over and above the General Authorities who approved this project.... Well, then: it's his head that will be on the chopping block.

The real problem here, of course, is the fact that "Interpreter" has not been transparent about the way this movie was funded. The "Interpreter" blog often provides a quarterly "account" of its spending, but the money for the Witnesses movie has been conspicuously absent.

[_moksha]

Dr. Peterson has noted that he is the executive producer of the Witnesses film.

From its website we get this clarification: MormonVoices is a federation of organizations united in our efforts to build and defend the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and to replace those sniveling usurpers at the Maxwell Institute who hide in their ivory tower doing school-marm-stuff, while the true warriors are out crawling through the mud to protect the honor of the Church.

[_Philo Sofee]

This is all a tacit admission that the Brethren and their teachings don't pack a punch and probably isn't worth spit since they now have to "hire" lesser people to do their work the Lord called them to do, namely Apostleship. Apostleship isn't all what its cut out to be. In order to actually give credibility to what Apostles of the Lord God Almighty Jesus Christ need, they gather a group of non-Jesus Christ seeing people together to raise money in order to defend what the Apostles can't pull off with Jesus' help, a convincing witness that it is all true. Even the Holy Ghost can't quite seem to get on track. But praise be Jesus came up with something to help out! The "Mormon Voices" committee!

When the A team can't do it (Jesus and the Holy Ghost), get the mighty B team out! Man what a plan! What a daring and awe inspiring plan! It just makes me tingle all over!

[_kairos]

Things are still pretty murky in "why" this film now?, who is really behind it- not just funding but who in the hierarchy wanted this film done, the actual donor list( i have surmised that there is one heavy donor- makes no difference if he/she came through Voices, gave Dan a check or bag of gold coins in a back alley, or whatever! Murkier to me is how the hell Peterson became Executive Producer and puts himself in the midst of professional moviemakers as if he knows something or exercises "producer" authority in a craft he knows nothing about.

There are other items cloudy if you will- perhaps the brethern if they are behind this film needed a fall guy/scapegoat if it turns out it is crap and gets no attention or praise from members or critics- Dan as Executive Producer will take this heat. If the film does succeed, Dan can take some credit but brethern and the professionals will get most of the credit.

Is the "interpreter" a funnel for money? Can't be a funnel for expertise since there is none in that organization?

So what is the current timeline and debut of the film? When that comes about, perhaps the murkiness will become crystal clear,but don't count on it!

just musin"- your mileage will vary!
k

[Guest]

One of the proposals was that the Brethren ought to officially endorse the Interpreter Foundation, Book of Mormon Central and FAIR reliable sources of information. That has been done.

The Brethren have officially endorsed Interpreter Foundation, Book of Mormon Central and FAIR as reliable sources of information? Really?

Additional Resources for Answering Doctrinal, Historical, and Social Questions

Book of Mormon Central**

FairMormon**

The Interpreter Foundation**

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/si/ ... el-sources

What do those two asterisks mean after their names I hear you ask?

Double-starred websites (**) are maintained by a third party that is unaffiliated with the Church. By linking to this content The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not endorse the content of these sites.

So the Church has done the exact opposite of what Midgley is claiming, the Church has publicly and specifically stated it does not endorse Interpreter Foundation, Book of Mormon Central and FAIR as reliable sources of information.

[_Philo Sofee]

So the Church has done the exact opposite of what Midgley is claiming, the Church has publicly and specifically stated it does not endorse Interpreter Foundation, Book of Mormon Central and FAIR as reliable sources of information.

You have got to come up to snuff on this my friend. In translation speak, words can mean whatever the person using them needs or wants or desires or wishes or hopes or imagines they can mean, and therefore, Midgley is ENTIRELY correct. The Brethren DO endorse all of them, since the words mean that for Midgley. The rest of the world can go suck eggs, Midgley has the updated Seerstone in the Galaxy S-10 iphone, and can thus see meanings that are hidden from the rest of the world. The Brethren DO support apologists. Midgley has done the appropriate spritual exercises and chanted this 10,000 this last week, therefore the Holy Ghost has bore record that it is true.

[_moksha]

This is all a tacit admission that the Brethren and their teachings don't pack a punch and probably isn't worth spit since they now have to "hire" lesser people to do their work the Lord called them to do, namely Apostleship.

I have to disagree. Not since the Inquisition have people expected their clergy to be a bunch of meanies. Doing so runs contrary to their mission as disciples of Christ.

Even when they call upon MormonVoices, I imagine they do so out of a sense of desperation and the command has been issued to "release the Kraken". It is at that point where the Midgley phone rings and a fatwa is given for the hit.

[_Kishkumen]

Producer credit can mean any number of things. Here it likely means that DCP’s official position in Interpreter allows him to assume the title of Executive Producer of this film. It has little to do with hands-on filmmaking.

[_Dr Exiled]

I have to believe that some higher up in the hierarchy funded the movie. Dr. P is acting like the brethren approve of what he is doing and having a GA provide generous funds would justify his actions in his mind. Yet, for reasons outlined by Dr. Scratch, the brethren don't want to be seen as funding another flop like the "Meet the Mormons" movie a.k.a. "Meet Those Who Love Giving Victories to Satan." Maybe it is this guy below? He has the funds to do so having spent his career with Romney and his fellow Wall Streeters robbing pensions and sending jobs to China.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/leader/robert-c-gay?lang=eng

Gay funds "Witnesses" movie. See, the church is tolerant.

[_kairos]

I have to believe that some higher up in the hierarchy funded the movie. Dr. P is acting like the brethren approve of what he is doing and having a GA provide generous funds would justify his actions in his mind. Yet, for reasons outlined by Dr. Scratch, the brethren don't want to be seen as funding another flop like the "Meet the Mormons" movie a.k.a. "Meet Those Who Love Giving Victories to Satan." Maybe it is this guy below? He has the funds to do so having spent his career with Romney and his fellow Wall Streeters robbing pensions and sending jobs to China.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/leader/robert-c-gay?lang=eng

Gay funds "Witnesses" movie. See, the church is tolerant.

Yep! i can see Gay or some multi-millionaire putting up the $ for Witnesses. by the way Gay worked for Bain Capital, known in the Mitt Romney era for acquiring firms / companies draining their retirement accounts then letting them sink. A question is whether this funding was funneled through Interpreter so the donor got a tax deduction or routed some other way- to the church directly (could get a tax deduction as well).

Giving through any other way might have tax consequences.

k