When a Minister Tried to Compete with Star Wars but Fell Short

George Lucas’s original Star Wars trilogy had a significant impact on the film industry, inspiring many, including renowned directors like Ridley Scott and Christopher Nolan.

However, crafting a successful sci-fi film involves more than just inspiration. This is evident in Pentecostal minister Richard Gazowsky’s attempt to create his own space epic.

His film, Gravity: The Shadow of Joseph, sought to combine the appeal of Star Wars with the moral lessons of The Ten Commandments. Despite his ambitious vision, the project ended in spectacular failure.

Richard Gazowsky, a pastor at a San Francisco church, felt divinely inspired to venture into filmmaking. He founded Christian WYSIWYG Filmworks and began production using funds from his church and personal savings. However, as the project’s scope grew, so did the budget, ultimately spiraling out of control.

The crew, made up of church members, even traveled to Alberobello, Italy, to film, but encountered numerous setbacks. They faced the withdrawal of German financial backers and legal issues with the City of San Francisco over unpaid rent.

The 2007 documentary Audience of One, directed by Mike Jacobs, chronicles the chaotic production of Gazowsky’s film. It captures Gazowsky’s infectious optimism and the turmoil of an inexperienced crew attempting to navigate a complex film set.

The documentary highlights the perils of blind faith, as Gazowsky’s congregation invested hundreds of thousands into the troubled project, believing it was a divine mission.

Despite the failure of Gravity: The Shadow of Joseph, which never progressed beyond the initial filming stage, Christian WYSIWYG Filmworks continued to operate at least until 2018. The company published Gazowsky’s book, Prophet Whisper, and released music albums by Phil Driscoll. Nevertheless, it is still widely remembered for its ill-fated movie project.

Today, Richard Gazowsky remains active in his community and hosts a distinctive YouTube channel where he combines music listening with mini-sermons.

His resilience and unwavering optimism shine through, although Gravity: The Shadow of Joseph stands as a humorous reminder that passion and faith alone are not enough for filmmaking success.

Gazowsky’s story, while driven by ambition similar to that of George Lucas, highlights the practical challenges of the film industry and the pitfalls of overreaching without the requisite expertise.

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