The cultural and artistic impact of George Lucas’s originalStar Warstrilogy is challenging to quantify. A visual wonder of the time that pushed the limits of practical effects was just as inspirational to movie fans as it was to budding filmmakers. Ridley Scott, James Cameron, and Christopher Nolan are among the few directors who have sung the praises ofStar Warsand noted how it influenced their work. Yet, you need more than just inspiration to make a movie, and with as many success stories of people creating their sci-fi worlds inspired by “A Galaxy Far Far Away,” others have not been able to get past the initial lift-off.
If there is ever an exemplary case of someone’s ambitions getting ahead of them, it would be Pentecostal minister Richard Gazowsky. Inspired byStar Warsand a message from God, Gazowsky attempted to make his own version of Star Wars. The filmGravity: The Shadow of Josephwas an ambitious project, but the unraveling and eventual failure became more fascinating than thereligious-inspiredStar Warsclone.
The details ofGravity: The Shadow of Josephand its plot remain scarce due to theproject’s disastrous production.Gazowsky described the film as “Star WarsmeetsTheTen Commandments,“citing the importance of spreading the word while capturing the same sense of wonder as the originalStar Wars. The San Francisco minister started his own production company, Christian WYSIWYG Filmworks, and leaned on help from his congregation to get the work done. At first, the production was handled at the church with donations from the congregation and Gazowsky’s own money, but as the project went on and became more ambitious,a modest budget exploded into a substantial one.
When it came to filming, Richard Gazowsky brought some of his congregation to Alberobello, Italy. With a ballooning budget,the production was in peril when German investors backed out of the project. The money spent and funds not received further led to them being evicted from their lot on Treasure Island and a lawsuit from the City of San Francisco for overdue rent.The project never got past the initial filming, with Gazowsky’s inexperience also playing into his inability to handle various factors like rain on a set.
Despite the movie’s failure,Christian WYSIWYG Filmworks remained active until at least 2018, running for 26 years, 7 months, and 15 days, according toCalifornia Business Search. Under the label, Richard Gazowsky’s bookProphet Whisperwas published, and Discogs lists them as being involved in releasing two albums by Christian inspiration trumpet player Phil Driscoll. Despite their time in business, Christian WYSIWYG Filmworks will likely always be remembered for the failure ofGravity: The Shadow of Joseph, thanks to a documentary.
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Audience of One Documented the Downfall of Gravity: The Shadow of Joseph
Released in 2007, the documentary by Mike Jacobs,Audience of One,follows Richard Gazowsky and his followersas they try to make their moviedespite the many roadblocks. What makes the documentary so insightful and enjoyable to watch is the charismatic charm of Gazowsky, which was put on by his unending optimism and passion for film; many reviewing the documentary equated his ‘mad genius’ approach to filmmaking as akin to Ed Wood. At the same time,Audience of Onecaptures the madness of an inexperienced set, breaking down just how complex it can be to make a big-budget production without know-how.
The documentary also showcases the perils of blind faith, withthe congregation giving hundreds of thousands to fund the film under the belief that god had instructed their minister to start a film company.Audience of One offersa bizarre insight into the entire production. It oddly ends up appealing to sci-fi fans, filmmakers (or those interested in how the industry works), and those who enjoywatching a train wreck in all its awkward glory.
What Was Left Behind After Gravity: The Shadow of Joseph?
It takes quite a bit of confidence to do what Richard Gazowsky did, and he was certainly pushed by the same drive that saw George Lucas overcome a lot of hardshipto craft his own masterpiece. Still, the attempt to makeGravity: The Shadow of Josephacts as a reminder of what it means to make a film and also points to the potential downfalls of faith; perhaps the only somber element of the doomed production is the amount his congregation invested in him.
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Richard Gazowsky is still active in the Pentecostal community of San Francisco and still preaches alongside his wife. He also has a slightly bizarre YouTube channel where he listens to music and gives semi-sermons in his car. Does he have any regrets aboutGravity: The Shadow of Joseph? It is difficult to say, as, although you can see him frustrated throughout the documentaryAudience of Onewhen things go bad, he seems to carry a never-ending optimism about him. Still,Gravity: The Shadow of Josephwill remain a comedic cautionary tale where religious fervor is not enough to overcome ineptitude.
