SXSW / Dallas International Film Festival 2019 – J.R. "Bob" Dobbs and the Church of the SubGenius
The Church of the SubGenius has been called “the most aggressively preposterous theology the world has ever known!” But what is the Church? And who is J.R. "Bob" Dobbs? And why is his name always in quotes? Filmmaker Sandy K. Boone explores the underground movement that has galvanized the imaginative, the artistic, the nerdy, even the deranged – to examine the simmering dystopia in their culture, and do absolutely nothing about it... except, maybe, poke fun at it all.
Interview with Director/Writer/Producer Sandy K Boone
Watch J.R. "Bob" Dobbs and the Church of the SubGenius on Vudu, Kanopy and Prime Video
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
This film is a homage to my late husband and early member of the Church of the SubGenius, David Boone, a.k.a. "Roperto de la Rosa," and to his film style. It is also a venue for the founders of the Church, Doug Smith, a.k.a. "Rev. Ivan Stang," and Steve Wilcox, a.k.a. "Philo Drummond," to tell the true and unabridged story of the Church of the SubGenius for the first time. It was important to them so that after their passing, (or as Doug Smith would say, “upon boarding the pleasure saucers”), the world would not turn the tongue-in-cheek, con job, and joke of the Church of the SubGenius, into a real cult or possible Scientology. The film also examines a humorous but effective mode to speak out, especially now, in the age of Trump, fake news, and cult practices being used in our politics and government today.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
This is a film that will make you laugh out loud, but also, I am hoping, offer many “aha” moments for further reflection. It’s a prompt for folks to consider how others, especially those in positions of power, use cult tactics to separate and divide us with fear. I believe this film can help us all find a path to speak out about the absurdity of our current political situation, which in reality is far more absurd than the Church of the SubGenius was or ever had been!
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
I think most people can understand the feeling of being an outsider, weirdo, or not fitting into a group at one time or another in their lives. The SubGenius was, and continues to be, the group for people who did not fit well in groups. The Church of the SubGenius provides an outlet for artists, filmmakers, creatives, and virtually all walks of life that fit outside the norm. It has attracted artists, comedians, and performance artists of every background, but also some seriously lonely people who desperately wish for the “cult” part of the Church to be real!
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
Telling the story of the SubGenius and how it all began was the original purpose of our film. We had tons of archival material to sift through, which was elemental in building out the general story. But really it was the insightful interviews we captured that really began to shape the messaging of the film. The doctrine of the SubGenius is all in fun, a shared joke between the “weirdos,” but if one is not careful the “joke” can cause serious misunderstanding, hurt, and harm in people’s lives. Such real-life consequences became evident in the Columbine situation and the story of Mary Magdalene struggling to regain custody of her child. We made the decision to incorporate current news footage to depict exactly how cult practices when used not for fun but for ill, instil fear and division amongst people – and that is no joke!
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Our feedback from press and audiences has been overwhelmingly positive. We’ve received rave reviews from members of the SubGenius Church as well as folks that had never heard of the SubGenius before. To hear audiences laugh along has shown me they truly “get” the humor of the Church. And it’s been very encouraging to witness the post-screening dialogues about humor, creativity, camaraderie, cult practices, and politics.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Audiences have been surprised to learn that the SubGenius is a mix of both Liberals and Conservatives. I didn’t realize at the time how important it was going to be for me to show the enduring friendship of two founders over the past 40 years, even though they possess very different political views.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
My mission has been to share the story of the Church of the SubGenius and to fulfil Doug Smith’s, (aka “Rev. Ivan Stang,”) personal request to tell the truth about the hoax of the Church so that it does not become a real cult. My personal connection through my husband’s involvement in the Church gave me the opportunity to honor him. Though I have executive produced several films in addition to work beside my late husband on all of his own films, this particular film served as my own directorial debut, and I’m so proud to share it with the world.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We are currently seeking sales agents and distributors, as well as journalists to help increase the exposure of our film.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I would like the audience to enjoy the tongue-in-cheek humor and fun of the Church, but at the same time equip themselves to understand the serious consequences of group-think and employment of cult practices against us, in politics but also our personal lives. Others adopt and utilize these practices to divide and separate us by creating an "us and them" mentality – but only if we allow them to do so.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Is there still a place for the humor and comedy of “the Church” in today’s society of fake news and real-life absurdity? Or do we need it now more than ever? How and when can a “joke” be taken too far, if at all?
Would you like to add anything else?
This film was made in Texas, and the interviews were shot mainly in Austin, Texas. Our team supported the local workforce and paid fair wages, and the majority of my staff are women. It is becoming more difficult for local creatives – whether they work in film, music, or other arts – to afford to live in Austin; sometimes to the point that they are having to move further out to small, outlying towns. We all need to support our creatives and small local businesses in our communities. Life, in general, would pretty dull without them!
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Midnight Taco is an Austin based supernatural comedy about a guy named Geater, a chef who runs The Midnight Taco food truck, and his drug-dealing partner, Tate, who must battle evil spirits, a rival food truck owners, named Johnny, and Etta - a voluptuous woman who wants more than just a good man, as they go in search of the Holy Grail of vinyl, Geeshie Wiley’s Last Kind Words Blues.
Set against the backdrop of Austin in the mid 1980's, The Alt is a one hour dramedy series about a group of writers, musicians, filmmakers and artists who work at a weekly newspaper and inspire the liberal, progressive activists around town to unite behind them as they take on the conservative, political stronghold in this Southern capital.
Interview: March 2019
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
J.R. "Bob" Dobbs and the Church of the SubGenius
The Church of the SubGenius has been called “the most aggressively preposterous theology the world has ever known!” But what is the Church? And who is J.R. "Bob" Dobbs? And why is his name always in quotes? Filmmaker Sandy K. Boone explores the underground movement that has galvanized the imaginative, the artistic, the nerdy, even the deranged – to examine the simmering dystopia in their culture, and do absolutely nothing about it... except, maybe, poke fun at it all.
Length: 1:23:49
Director: Sandy K Boone
Producer: Michelle Randolph Faires, Alyssa Spiller Sajovich, Jason Wehling, Suzanne Weinert
Writer: Sandy K Boone, Jason Wehling
About the writer, director and producer:
SANDY K BOONE is a director and producer. She began making films in the 1980s with her late husband, filmmaker David Boone. She served as associate producer on Richard Linklater: Dream is Destiny and executive producer on films such as Blaze, Tower, and The Honor Farm. J.R. ‘Bob’ Dobbs and The Church of the SubGenius is Boone’s directorial debut.
Key cast: Douglass St. Clair Smith (Rev. Ivan Stang / himself), Nick Offerman (himself), Richard Linklater (himself), Penn Jillette (himself), Gerald Casale (himself), Steve Wilcox (Dr. Philo Drummond/himself)
Looking for: sales agents, journalists, distributors, buyers, film festival directors
Facebook: J.R. "Bob" Dobbs and the Church of the SubGenius
Twitter: @SubGeniusMovie
Instagram: @subgeniusmovie
Hashtags used: #subgeniusmovi
Website: www.skboone.com
Other: Vimeo
Made in association with: Sandy K Boone Productions
Funders: Self-funded, Kickstarter
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? "Dallas International Film Festival / Landmark Magnolia (Dallas) - 4/12/19; Dallas International Film Festival / Studio Movie Grill (Dallas) - 4/14/19