Dr. Peterson Thanks Us for Peer Reviewing "Witnesses"

[_Doctor Scratch]

I have to say, it's about damned time:

My wife and I have just returned from a private showing of the latest director’s cut of the Interpreter Foundation’s Witnesses theatrical film, at the home of its producer. The director and the other principal member of the project’s cinematographic inner circle were also there.

I was very pleased. Plainly the film has profited from the discussions and comments that followed its prior screenings. Some things have been cut, some things have been added, and, overall, I think the narrative flow is much improved.

(emphasis mine)

Nice to see him being honest for once. First: I hope they that took appropriate pandemic-related safety measures. Their track record on that subject has been pretty shaky, unfortunately. Still, Dr. Peterson's comments here are kind of vague. What's been "cut"? The image of that battery pack clipped to the back of the actor's pants? Have they cut that scene where the young Joseph Smith smacks his pursuer with the Gold Plates? Who knows!

Whatever the case may be, I'm glad that Prof. P. feels that "the narrative flow is much improved." You're welcome. But, of course, we will all have to see for ourselves how the thing has turned out. You get the sense from his post (especially this line: "but we are now beginning to turn our serious attention to the next phase of the overall effort, the documentary") that he's in a hurry to move on from the anxieties that the narrative film has caused him. I guess that I don't blame him. I do think they did their best, but the proof, as they say, will be in the pudding. And they still have not released an "official" trailer. Time to move on to the documentary--just like the man said.

[_moksha]

Wonder if any adjustments should be made in light of the latest Shannon Montez podcast on Mormon Stories? Even though many anti-Mormons have pledged themselves as allies with Rosebud, they would be remiss in not watching that part 4 episode with Ms Montez, since it contains so much information.

[_kairos]

My take is that only a modest number of scenes were shot showing the sequence of events for this film- for example, maybe a scene of Joseph Smith being told there are gold plates in them thar hill; digging up the plates and Joseph Smith running through the woods with a sack of plates; early activities with the plates among mom and dad , the brothers and neighbors; hiding the plates in the woods and a barrel; Joseph Smith with the 3 witnesses; Joseph Smith with the 8 witnesses; some background on a few of the witnesses especially martin harris ( of jesus is a deer fame).

now the second part will be "scholars" probably all Mormon maybe a few non believers(i would love for them to discuss this with DV ), being asked specific questions like "would you comment on the honesty of the 3 witnesses"?

they could show the short scenes and intersperse them with scholarly comments, then conclude it is all true!

can this movie be more than 30 minutes without boring the hell out of viewers.

dan - how was popcorn at your executive director preview? plenty of butter and salt i bet!

just postulatin
k

[_Temp. Admin.]

. . . now the second part will be "scholars" probably all Mormon maybe a few non believers(i would love for them to discuss this with DV ),

Why would you want them to discuss it with domestic violence? That sounds very counter-productive.

[_Doctor Scratch]

Think about how many posts Dr. Peterson had to do in response to criticism on this board. Just recall how *incensed* he was over the fact that we'd spotted that wireless mic pack! LOL!

Well, hey--(ahem)--let's move on to the documentary.

[_Gadianton]

That mic had some glare, that's for sure. Really distracting. But I'll bet it gets left in -- double down!

[_kairos]

Notice Dan did not say "It's terrific" simply mumbled that it i has been going through a cut and paste hack job to get the "flow " right and it is much improved!
Yep! there is trouble in river city and it starts with the letter "W". Oct 2020 deadline may be difficult to meet!

just surmisin'

k

[_Kishkumen]

I am getting really excited to see Witnesses! I hope there is at least a nod to Martin’s deer Christ in there somewhere. Maybe a kind of contextual nature shot that has a deer in it followed immediately by a jump to Martin’s face. A wink to the truly savvy fan of Martin’s kookiness.

[_Gadianton]

Rev: "I am getting really excited to see Witnesses! I hope there is at least a nod to Martin’s deer Christ in there somewhere. Maybe a kind of contextual nature shot that has a deer in it followed immediately by a jump to Martin’s face. A wink to the truly savvy fan of Martin’s kookiness."

Perhaps you jest, but this is a serious proposal. Where the Witness film is still up against the wall, even if they correct the sound and black out the battery pack and mic, is that with rare exception, a straight-forward hero's journey just isn't in fashion outside of North Korea. It will work for many of the members while others will get bored. But outside of church membership it will be received as unmitigated propaganda. That would have still largely been true in the seventies and eighties also I'm sure, but with the backdrop of colorful heroes in today's movies and television, it will be especially obvious.

[_Dr Exiled]

I also think Witnesses will bomb, probably like most here do. Faithful narratives don't sell well, as Gadianton says above, except for the robot believing rah rah crowd. I hated Legacy when I came back from my mission and Meet the Mormons didn't do that well either. People don't like being played.

Too bad Deer Jesus won't be a part of the film. It has so much potential. It could have been used to explore the hallucinogenic mushroom angle. (I don't know how much proof there is for this but at least the film would be interesting when Martin blasts off on his trip and has deer jesus as his guide). It also could have been used as a backdrop to show a global point about how over-exuberance and a hyper-desire to believe leads to crazy belief systems like Mormonism and other religions.