Co-directors Brad Abrahams and Simon Ennis take a deep dive into the curious world of several conspiracy theorists and the array of beliefs that drive their lives in Gimme Truth. We posed our Qs à la mode to Brad and Simon, and here’s what they shared!
If we had to describe our film using only three adjectives, they would be: Melted, galactivated, ascended.
We wanted to make this film because: This was a subject that we have been interested in individually for a very long time. We spoke about it often 25 years ago when we were in film school together. We’re both curious, open-hearted and empathetic people, and approaching the subject of conspiracy culture/The Truth Movement hadn’t been done before.
The thing that surprised me most while making our film was:
Brad Abrahams: Learning that, with nearly all our participants, there was a relatable reason for the how and why they came to their beliefs. I still don’t understand why the beliefs became so all-consuming and how they led to certain life choices, but I feel like I do understand how their journeys began in the first place.
Simon Ennis: There’s so much that I learned in meeting the people we met and exploring the world we did that it would be an awfully long answer… so I’ll just say that when Donald Trump’s ex-wife, Marla Maples, showed up on our set one day to visit one of our subjects, that was pretty surprising indeed.
My favorite moment/scene/sequence in our film is:
BA: The very first scene, pre-credits. It inducts the audience into a parallel reality tunnel, preparing them for what’s to come.
SE: The scene in Arcturus Ra’s workshop where he shows us the various “technologies” he’s working on. Even if you don’t believe that anything he makes has any effect whatsoever, the care and enthusiasm he puts into it and the unique and unified world he’s creating is very compelling. I’m also just a sucker for seeing people make stuff.
My most invaluable piece of doc-making equipment was/is:
BA: Fast, wide-angle lenses.
SE: Comfortable shoes. And, of course, the necklaces we bought from our subject Arcturus Ra, which put our cellular matrixes into the correct alignment.
My must-have snack to get me through hours in the editing room is:
BA: Mandarin oranges.
SE: Raw almonds.
One piece of documentary-filmmaking advice I’d like to share with aspiring documentarians is:
BA: When it comes to documentary work as a director, I’m used to going it alone. After co-directing this feature, I couldn’t imagine doing this one any other way. If you can find a true collaborator, especially when it comes to difficult subject matter and production conditions, the film will truly ascend the sum of its parts.
SE: My pal and mentor Ron Mann said something about this to me early in my career that has proven true ever since, “How it starts is how it goes.” You can tell based on early conversations how a relationship with an editor, DP, or producer is going to unfold. Listen carefully to yourself and do your best to choose — or avoid — the right people.
Want to check out Brad and Simon’s film or just learn more about it?
Get the scoop, and your tickets, here!
