BroadcastChic Excellent, a Must See

Jenna Walter The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

Brennan Camacho Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.

Francene Odetta It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

mlangendorf Bang! That's the sound of this viewer falling off the couch. I saw this on the Sundance Channel and was blown away. It isn't just the charismatic, yet loony, Brother Richard (who has been adequately explained above). But the characters surrounding him are just as compelling in their quest to set aside all reason to follow Richard's "vision". His Mother, an esteemed reverend in her own right, is supporting her son, but obviously can see the future. Her conflict moved me.This is as much about human nature as God, but, by God, what were they thinking? I couldn't look away.Amazing doc. If you are a documentary fan, this is a must see.

javaza452428 "I want to do something like the Titanic." - Pastor Richard Gazowsky.In the beginning, we are introduced to a passionate man, a man who has heard the word of Christ. San Francisco Pentecostal Pastor Richard Gazowsky saw his first film at age 40 (The Lion King), is instructed to assemble a film production company to create a biblical epic, one the world has never seen before. Hilarity ensues.Director Michael Jacobs does a great job of providing an objective portrayal of his subject while simultaneously recognizing and showcasing the absurd, delusional and entirely earnest attitudes actions of Gazowsky and his faithful production crew. To the people at Christian WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) Filmworks, problems with camera equipment, threats of eviction, or lack of funding can be solved with the power of prayer. Each disaster leaves you feeling like you're watching a ten car pile up on the freeway, driving by as one vehicle after the next crumbles and bursts into flame.And yet, the documentary captures their devotion and heart, which they pour into every failed attempt at production. The camera in Audience of One rarely looks down on its subjects, remaining mostly at eye level and letting us lock eyes with a cast of characters that defy description. The film never stops being funny or fascinating, but Jacobs never lets us forget these are real people led by a real, if larger than life, clergyman.

A.J. LaFollette A pentecostal preacher sees his first movie at age 40. He receives a vision from God telling him to produce a science fiction epic. He convinces his family and parishioners to dedicate all their money and time to shooting this movie in Italy, on a 65 mm camera. The plan involves God providing a 200 million dollar budget after they start shooting. No, just in case you were wondering, this isn't going to end well.Director Mike Jacobs gives us a front-row seat as Pastor Richard Gazowsky and his Christian WYSIWYG production company fight a losing battle against reality. Thirty years after Jim Jones led a similar San Francisco congregation on a descent into madness, there's an element to this tale of history repeating itself as farce. Yet Gazowzky comes off more like a deranged version of the Music Man than a sinister cult leader. He's a charming and naive huckster who has conned the people around him, including himself, into indulging his fantasy. When he bravely led his wife and kids onto the stage at the Silverdocs Festival to answer audience questions, it was hard not to feel some grudging admiration for a man who is so unwilling to let others discourage him from pursuing his dreams.But "Audience of One" relentlessly chronicles his reckless abuse of other people's money and faith in pursuit of those dreams. At times, the terrible decision-making on display is stressful to watch. This is a fascinating character study, and a fair and honest treatment of a strain of religious faith that deserves to be seriously questioned.It is a rich irony that God's plan for Richard Gazowsky gave us an excellent film after all.

Adam Donaghey After the screening of Audience of One, much to the surprise--nay, the horror--of viewers, Pastor Richard Gazowsky and some of his congregation approached the stage with director Michael Jacobs. I, for one, had my hand over my mouth; my eyes were widened; and I certainly didn't know what to expect next.But I'm getting ahead of myself--let's backtrack.It took Gazowsky forty years to see his first feature film. Now the mission statement of his San Francisco based WYIWYG ("What You See Is What You Get") Filmworks is: "To bring the presence of God to people all over the world through entertainment." A highly unlikely candidate for a director, Gazowsky has made it his lifelong mission--since God told him to do it, of course--to get the biggest film ever on screen. It's kinda like "Star Wars meets The Ten Commandments"; shot on 65mm, it will be "the greatest movie ever made" and with a two million dollar budget to boot! A humble goal, indeed. Well, with that kind of pressure on your shoulders, it's no doubt that the film hasn't been made, despite hundreds of thousands of dollars and over a decade invested.Jacobs doesn't really interfere much, in this film. He simply sits back and watches the roller coaster that is WYSIWYG Filmworks. Throughout the documentary, we see a highly inexperienced crew, a director who treats the set as a dictatorship instead of a collaboration, and a train wreck of goofs, mix-ups and failures. Anyone outsourced--and with any experience--ends up leaving, due to the misguided creative vision of the wannabe director. The crew spends money they don't have, relying on "investors" we never see; who end up dropping the whole project in the grease. Yet, the troupe hold on to that crazy vision and pray like there's no tomorrow because they are bound by faith! Just about the entire film made me laugh out loud, but at the same time, I felt a little ill in my stomach. The real question here--despite all the buffoonery and delusion--seems to be of immense import: is all of this a tad bit dangerous? Going back to the Q&A session, after the film; one audience member asked the pastor if he'd immediately turn to operate, if God had asked him to be a surgeon. And while the pastor's answer is an obvious one, the question still lingers in the air. Is this man's ambitiousness capable of hurting others around him? I certainly don't doubt this man's determination or his conviction--he actually sold his house to help the project--however, I do have doubt in his ability to deliver. And while he may be blinded by his own ambition, it's simply no excuse to waste the hopes and aspirations--and money!--of true believers, on the weak foundation of a deluded dream. This problematic, cultish mentality might be funny from the outside; but as we've seen so many times over: fundamentalism can be a very dangerous thing.The pastor's response to all of this?"It's like watching yourself go to the toilet," he says with sincerity. "I don't like to see myself cry. I feel like a total idiot in front of you guys. But what if we end up getting funded, dude? Then I'm not so stupid. Maybe." Maybe. Or, perhaps you're just a charlatan, who's just wasted another large sum of money--and someone else's dreams--due to false promises, based on absurdity and lofty goals, impossible to meet.