Audience of One is available now on DVD!
Audience of One is a documentary that follows Pastor Richard Gazowsky of the Voice of Pentecost Church based out of San Francisco as he attempts to produce a sci-fi movie epic based on the Biblical story of Joseph.
Yes. You read that correctly.
Pastor Gazowsky saw his first movie at the age of 40, and shortly after claims to have received a prophetic message from God telling him to create a Christian movie on a scale that has never been achieved by a religious group. After receiving said "prophetic message" he is inspired to write the screenplay titled "Gravity: The Shadow of Joseph", which is a retelling of the story of Joseph as a science fiction movie based in the future, but with an "ancient feel." Gazowsky transforms his congregation into a fully functioning movie studio, called What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG), using donations and funding from various parties. I'm sure it's quite obvious -considering you have probably never heard of the great epic Christian movie, Gravity: The Shadow of Joseph- that due to a quickly inflating budget, a lack of know-how, and personality and professional conflicts, the film is never made.
Film maker, Michael Jacobs, has put together an incredibly interesting documentary here. Throughout the entire film I was either laughing, completely enthralled, or was sitting there with my mouth gaping in disbelief of what I was witnessing. Audience of One starts off introducing Pastor Gazowsky and explaining his background, and his solid belief that he has been charged by God with the task of making this film, despite having no film making experience to speak of. While he seems pretty eccentric, it isn't until later in the film that one might get the feeling that he's just flat out crazy. Gazowsky has a clear vision -at least in his mind- of what this movie should be; it's quite entertaining watching him try to clearly express his vision to wardrobe, props, sets, etc. Pretty quickly into the film the entire congregation/film crew are on site in Italy where they plan to shoot some key shots in the film. It is here where the only two scenes (without sound) are successfully filmed. As a result of camera and equipment failure at every turn, this is all that's completed on location there.
When the Gazowsky and his followers return from Italy is when the film really takes a turn. There is a change in the demeanor of the whole group, and it's here that you begin to get a sense that these people are border line fanatics about their mission to make this movie. They rent out a huge studio on Treasure Island in San Francisco to continue production and this is where it really begins to fall apart. German investors who had promised to provide $50 million in funding for the movie back out as Gazowsky begins to state that it's going to cost $100 million, then $150 million, and then the final number he quotes is $200 million to produce this movie. At this point, I begin to become agitated with the good Pastor and his followers. They get 3 months behind on the rent for their studio (which, if I recall is over $17,000 per month), behind on their utilities, and on and on. Gazowsky and company develop this sense of entitlement that since this is actually "God's vision" the City of San Francisco should allow them to stay in the studio and that they shouldn't have to pay for their utilities. WYSIWYG actually garners a reputation of a group that gets a tab running with different film developers, sound studios, etc. to produce some of their stuff, and then never pays. Gazowsky actually tries to make a case that the city of San Francisco is in the wrong because they are trying to evict them after being several months behind on rent. At the end of the day though, it's money that pays the bills, not prayers.
By the end of Audience of One, I found myself cringing at Gazowsky and his followers more than finding their misplaced guidance and determination humorous. After months and months of trying to produce their film, there are only two scenes, sans sound, completed and what seems to be no more forward progress on the production. Despite this, Gazowsky comes up with 8 additional "keys" or goals for the congregation to reach. These include creating theme parks, opening airports, expanding WYSIWYG, and stating that multiple members of his congregation will all make it to high-ranking positions in television and movies. It's here that that I ceased to find the Pastor endearing and misguided and just plain ignorant and delusional.
In the interest of full-disclosure, I'm not a terribly religious person myself, but I have always found what people do in the name of religion absolutely fascinating, and Audience of One captures this perfectly. Michael Jacobs has captured Gazowsky and his congregation in what I feel is a fair and honest light for the entire length of the film; all of the good and the bad, and the naive and the determined moments are featured and you are presented with an eye-opening look into the lengths people will go to follow their beliefs.
Special features on this DVD include commentary by the film maker, Michael Jacobs, and the only two completed scenes for Gravity: The Shadow of Joseph (sans sound). In all honestly, the two scenes that they did shoot actually look really good. High production value, good sets and costumes, and decent lighting!
This is a great documentary that will have you experiencing a range of emotions that ranges from intrigued to shocked, and possibly confused. I highly recommend Audience of One and it available for you to purchase now over at Amazon.com!
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