One of the projects that The Interpreter Foundation has been working on is called, simply, Witnesses. This project includes a full-length dramatic movie, a two-part two-hour documentary, and some short snippets. Taken all together, this has been a massive undertaking, but one that is moving to fruition
Movie Trailer
We have recently begun the publicity campaign for the dramatic movie, which we hope will appear in theatres this summer. If you go to https://witnessesfilm.com, you can now view the trailer for Witnesses. There is also a button that will allow you to download the official Witnesses movie poster. Please feel free to do so, and to share it on social media.
In addition to our publicity efforts, we are hoping to create a grassroots campaign for this effort. Note on the site that there is also a button marked “Bring Witnesses to Your City.” If you click on it, you will discover that we’re inviting you to help us to get this film onto as many screens in as many places as we can — both along the so-called “Mormon corridor” and, to the extent possible, beyond it. If you sign up, our distribution company (Purdie Distribution) will assist; they are highly experienced in such matters.
Check out the trailer for Witnesses today, and we hope you will consider helping to raise awareness of the movie and to help promote it.
Meridian Magazine Interview
Over the weekend, Meridian Magazine did a livestream interview with the film’s director and the some of the cast of “Witnesses.” In case you missed it, you can watch the trailer + interview at https://youtu.be/oNnKs4Fx2kw or below.
Looking at the movie now in hindsight, I’m a bit disappointed in it. The Lord has always used witnesses and I think that should have been emphasized in the very beginning of the movie in a DeMillesq fashion (see prologue of the TEN COMMANDMENTS).
The mob scenes at the beginning and end of WITNESSES were clearly sanitized. This is not a children’s film, yet there’s no sense of menace. When a boy is struck by a mobocrat, it was clearly concocted. Actual actors would know how to throw and take a hit and an experienced director would know how to make it look real to us, the audience. But sadly, one leaves the theater actually _liking_ the mob’s leader! We need to understand how bad these people actually were. They raped, beat and murdered the saints. They weren’t likable.
In my view, the movie should have at least briefly touched on witnesses of the past. God’s appearance to his people on Sinai and his appearance to his apostles following his resurrection. It could have been done very briefly.
I also think the movie should of included Mary Whitmer’s experience should have been included. As noted elsewhere, “Mary was most likely the second person, after Joseph, to actually see the physical plates and she was the only female witness to view the plates directly.”
This makes her testimony vital as most church members have never heard her story, nor do they realize its significance.
Perhaps another, later version of the movie will be made, one more aimed as a missionary tool. The movie, as is, was a fabulous first attempt at making an independent film. Sadly, though, it lacks power. A day after watching it, there was nothing memorable about it. There were no scenes that sprang to mind, no emotional report. It isn’t that it wasn’t watchable. It was. The acting was well done as well.
But it also, unfortunately, was forgettable.
Wish would be in Riverside, CA. In a daytime viewing.
My family and husband’s was deeply involved in Mormon history.
Chills ran through by body and tears flowed watching the trailer.
Thank- you for producing !!!
cant wait!
I really look forward to the movie.
I am a long time supporting of the Interpreter Foundation, but I’m not sure why this trailer is presenting the movie like it’s a thriller/action movie. This seems like a mistake.