Audience of One - San Francisco Filmmaker Michael Jacobs Gets Religion

March 26, 12:43 PMSF Movie ExaminerChristopher Smith

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WYSIWYG

"Ten years ago, Richard Gazowsky, pastor of the Voice of Pentecost Church in San Francisco, received a “prophetic whisper” from God to make movies. Now, in Michael Jacobs’ riveting documentary, Pastor Gazowsky and his congregation are gearing up to make Gravity: The Shadow of Joseph, a $50 million dollar Biblical sci-fi epic.

Lord knows filmmaking is hard work. And I'd think even the most devout athiest filmmaker, in times of stress, has looked to the sky and asked for a little break. (Of course, it is soon followed by a "jesus f-ing christ!" when something goes awry.) But when you flip the equation and count God as your sole inspiration, guide and arbiter, filmmaking takes on entirely new feel - it becomes a mission.

San Francisco filmmaker Michael Jacobs spent a year following and documenting the Christian-based film company WYSIWYG Filmworks as it embarked on this mission of God to make a big-budget, Hollywood-level movie armed with not much more than faith in the Lord. I asked Michael a few questions about the film, the experience and what he was up to next.

Did you ever get a feeling that something magical - spiritual – did actually have a hand in getting this film made?
Wow, right off the bat with that one. Tough question to answer over email. I would have to say yes. I mean, I tell people all the time just how lucky I am that such an awesome series of events took place in a relatively short period of time. So I guess the question is, what is luck ? That, and I think there's always a little magic when a film finally comes together.  

When you went in to make the film did you have any idea that it would be so, uh, interesting? Was this experience more than you bargained for?
Absolutely. I knew from Day 1 this was a fascinating group of people, and if I could become invisible, I would have an interesting character study. Over the course of a year or so I spent following them, there were countless times where I felt in over my head. But never as in over my head as the guy I was filming so that was assuring. Towards the end of my experience with them, things got way more intense and way more interesting but that only helped the narrative.

Considering this film and your American Dreamers series on Crackle, you seem to have a fondness for the the outsider – the fringe elements that make up the more colorful part of society. Has this been intentional?
I would say it's intentional insomuch as I got the Crackle job after some execs from Sony saw AUDIENCE OF ONE and wanted a similarly themed approach. That said, I do have a sincere fondness for the outsider so it was quite enjoyable to put the Crackle series together.

What are your current projects? Big plans for the future?
I'm knee deep on a video installation project for a hotel in NYC. It's completely out of scope for me so I am desperately relying on the skills and creativity of Justin Barber, an SF-based digital artist and producer the local indy fave MEDICINE FOR MELANCHOLY.


AUDIENCE OF ONE will be showing at the Roxie March 27 - April 2nd.