HEART of the BEHOLDER Web Theater hosted by Metacafe.com
Complete Movie with Commentary Section
Reverend Donald Wildmon's "National Federation for Decency" DOES NOT want you to see HEART of the BEHOLDER (HOTB). HOTB has won more Best Feature Film awards than any other independent movie but distributors say our movie is too controversial for them the pick up.
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This section includes our movie with audio commentary by our Writer/Director, Ken Tipton, and our Executive Producer, Darlene Lieblich.
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HOTB-Commentary-01 Opening Credits With Producers Commentary
Our Writer/Director, Ken Tipton, is from St. Charles, Mo. where this story is based.
During the years in which this story takes place, Ken used to fly his powered hang glider, also called an ultralight aircraft, along the same beautiful route seen in the helicopter shots in the opening credits. Beginning from Arrowhead Airport in Creve Coeur, Mo., up the Missouri River past St. Charles until the river flowed into the Mississippi River at Alton, IL. Ken would then fly down the Mississippi to the Gateway Arch in St. Louis before heading west along Highway 40 to the Arrowhead Airport.
The music was composed by Brian Barrale from Pevely, Mo. who Ken and Executive Producer, Darlene Lieblich, have been mentoring since he was 18.
HOTB-Commentary-02 Protest At The Funeral Of A Murdered Gay Student
Reverend Matthew Brewer (John Prosky) and his "Citizens for Decency", protest at the funeral of a murdered gay college student.
St. Louis Reporter Don Deetz (Jason Wiles) covers the story.
HOTB-Commentary-03 Meet Mike & Diane Howard
Meet Mike and Diane Howard. Mike (Matt Letscher) is an IBM computer repairman. Mike brings home a Betamax VCR as a surprise. But his wife Diane (Sarah Joy Brown) is not happy. She works as an ICU nurse and is pregnant with their first child. Saving every penny for the baby and a new home is all she is interested in at this time.
NOTE: A scene was deleted from the movie that shows Mike fixing a payroll computer that a woman had thrown up on. The business owner was real life appliance king Steve Mizerany who owned the New Deal chain of stores in St. Louis. For fixing the computer under such nasty circumstances, Steve gives Mike a floor model Betamax VCR.
HOTB-Commentary-04 Mike And His Poker Buddies Honor Their Fallen Friend
Mike Howard (Matt Letscher from "Good Morning Miami" and "The Mask of Zorro") plays poker with his buddies. They make a toast to a friend who committed suicide after the Prosecuting Attorney made his name public during a highly publicized prostitution sweep. Left to right are police Lt. Neal Larson (Michael Dorn who plays "Worf" on Star Trek), Bob Harris (Greg Germann from "Ally McBeal"), Writer/Director Ken Tipton who plays Bill Everett, and Jason Wiles ("Bosco" on 3rd Watch) who plays St. Louis TV reporter Don Deetz.
The role of Don Deetz is named after one of Ken's best former video store managers named Donna Dietz. The role is also based on the real TV reporter who helped Ken expose the corrupt St. Louis Prosecutor. That reporter's name was Herb Humphries. There is a video tribute to Herb in the HOTB-BTS section and at the memorial link below - http://www.beholder.com/HerbHumphriesMemorial.aspx
HOTB-Commentary-05 Prosecutor Is Awarded "Man Of The Year"
St. Louis Prosecuting Attorney Eric Manion (John Dye) is honored with the "Man of the Year" award by Bob Harris (Greg Germann) as TV Reporter Don Deetz (Jason Wiles) covers the story.
Manion takes pride in the fact that he made the names of the customers of prostitutes public and one of those customers was a good friend of Don Deetz. The friend committed suicide rather than face the public humiliation and Deetz holds Manion responsible. It's clear that these two are destined to battle, but no one could ever guess what lay in store for them both.
HOTB-Commentary-06 Mike Has A New Business Idea
Mike, the perpetual dreamer and entrepreneur, comes up with another one of his business ideas. But Diane, being the practical person she is, reminds Mike of his past failures with Herbalife, Amway, and other vitamin or weight loss programs, as well as when he tried to sell home water filter systems.
Diane tries to keep Mike's feet on the ground and focused on the reality of a growing family.
HOTB-Commentary-07 Diane Gets Advice From Her Parents
Rudy, played by veteran character actor Conrad Bachmann ("The West Wing" and "Tremors"), gives Diane practical advice on how to handle her husband's business schemes.
Her mother Helen, played by Patty McCormack (Academy Award and Golden Globe nominee for "The Bad Seed" and a regular on "The Sopranos"), questions Diane about her fear of how things could be if she would only dare to dream.
HOTB-Commentary-08 Fire At The Mid-Rivers Women's Clinic
Lester, played by Silas Weir Mitchell ("Haywire" on the hit show "Prison Break") celebrates the burning down of a Women's Health Clinic.
TV Reporter, Don Deetz (Jason Wiles) covers the fire bombing and interviews the Prosecutor, Eric Manion (John Dye) and Reverend Matthew Brewer (John Prosky) about who might be responsible for the fire.
This scene is based on the real fire bombing of a Women's Clinic in St. Louis.
HOTB-Commentary-09 Manion Meets The Madam
Prosecuting Attorney Eric Manion (John Dye) pressures a prostitution Madam named Miss Olivia played by Priscilla Barnes from "Three's Company" and "The Crossing Guard". The Prosecutor allows her to stay in business as long as her girls service him and his friends for free. But there is one thing that only the Madam can do for the Prosecutor that her girls can't.
This scene was recounted to the Producers by the actual Madam in St. Louis and is in the movie to show the abuse of power and level of hypocrisy that the actual Prosecutor held over many, including this woman.
HOTB-Commentary-10 Mike And Diane Start A New Business
Mike (Matt Letscher) and his wife Diane (Sarah Joy Brown) finally find a place to open their new business. In fact, they are opening the first video rental store in the St. Louis area.
But what type of video movies should they carry - Beta or VHS? Mike takes a chance by letting their unborn daughter decide.
HOTB-Commentary-11 Diane Asks Her Father For A Loan
Mike and Diane have spent all of their savings opening the very first video rental store in St. Louis. To keep the store going Diane asks her father Rudy (Conrad Bachmann) for a loan. NOTE: This scene was deleted from the movie to keep the length under 100 minutes. It has not been processed for sound or look.
If you think this scene should be put back into our movie, then please leave your opinion in our comments section.
HOTB-Commentary-12 Criminals Wear Black
Video clerk Patty (Arden Myrin) freaks after a news report of a robbery suspect who looks just like the man coming into the store.
HOTB-Commentary-13 30 Movie For 30 Days
Video Library owner Mike Howard (Matt Letscher) and his clerk Patty (Arden Myrin) are shocked that anyone would want to rent 30 movies for 30 days. But the man has a way to pay for the videos in a way that wasn't expected.
HOTB-Commentary-14 Who Was That Black Man?
Diane finally figures out that the black man was actually a very famous person and his transaction will keep the store in business for several more months.
HOTB-Commentary-15 The Family And Business Grow
Rock and Roll legend Chuck Berry, played by Tony Todd from "Platoon", "The Rock", and "Candyman", becomes a big customer a saves Video Library from going out of business. The company grows into a multi-million dollar chain of stores that is rated one of the Top 100 video companies in America by Video Store magazine.
HOTB-Commentary-16 The Citizens For Decency Celebrate Their Victories
Reverend Matthew Brewer (John Prosky) and his Citizens for Decency co-leader Reeba Hollings (Anne Ramsay) celebrate their campaigns against Howard Stern, Playboy Magazine, Planned Parenthood, and the controversial movie, Jean-Luc Godard's "Hail Mary".
HOTB-Commentary-17 Meet Former Prostitute Marci Sanders
Reeba Hollings (Anne Ramsay) has been helping a former prostitute get her life back together. The former prostitute, Marci Sanders (Katelin Chesna), seeks salvation but finds that her past life has followed her.
SPECIAL NOTE: At one point the scene does not cut and is all one shot, but something strange shows up on screen.
With over 50 cast and crew members present we still can't explain this visual phenomenon in any other way except as a visual miracle. Can you spot the miracle? If so, leave a comment and your explanation of what it is.
HOTB-Commentary-18 Marci's Very Dark Secret
Marci (Katelin Chesna) is shocked to see one of her former clients at the gathering which triggers a flashback to a night with the City Prosecutor.
John Dye plays Eric Manion the Prosecutor. John also played the Angel Andrew on the long-running TV show "Touched by an Angel".
HOTB-Commentary-19 The Church Lady Demands A Movie
A Church Lady, played by Barbara Allyne-Bennet, demands to see a movie called "Jeffka". Store clerk Patty (Arden Myrin) and her assistant Vicky (New York stage actress Roseanne Benjamin) can't figure out what movie she is talking about.
NOTE: To keep our movie as close to 100 minutes as possible, this scene was deleted. It has not been fully processed for look or sound. Please leave your comment on whether or not we should put this scene back into the movie.
HOTB-Commentary-20 Mike Seeks Guidance From His Priest
Mike Howard (Matt Letscher) seeks advice from his parish Priest Father Gettinger, played by Randy Crowder, on whether Mike should remove the movie "Hail Mary" from his chain of video stores.
NOTE: To keep our movie as close to 100 minutes as possible, this scene was deleted. It has not been fully processed for look or sound. Please leave your comment on whether or not we should put this scene back into the movie.
HOTB-Commentary-21 Reverend Brewer Picks Up A Banned Movie
Reverend Matthew Brewer (John Prosky) and Reeba Hollings (Anne Ramsay) meet with Mike (Matt Letscher) and Diane (Sarah Joy Brown) about removing the controversial movie "Hail Mary".
HOTB-Commentary-22 Sex With Animals?? R U Kidding??
Vesta (Carrie Armstrong), a member of the Citizens for Decency, complains to the Video Library manager Patty (Arden Myrin) and her assistant Vicky (Roseanne Benjamin) about Video Library renting a video that shows something that she claims is illegal.
HOTB-Commentary-23 Protesting The Last Temptation Of Christ
TV reporter Don Deetz (Jason Wiles) covers the protest in Hollywood by religious fundamentalists of the controversial Martin Scorsese movie, "The Last Temptation of Christ".
HOTB-Commentary-24 Protest At Video Library
Reverend Matthew Brewer (John Prosky) and his religious censorship group stage a vocal protest outside Video Library, the only video store chain in St. Louis to carry Martin Scorsese's controversial movie, "The Last Temptation of Christ".
HOTB-Commentary-25 Police Lt. Larson Takes Control Of The Protest
Lt. Neal Larson, played by Michael Dorn ("Star Trek's Worf) takes charges of breaking up the religious protest as reporter Don Deetz (Jason Wiles) and his cameraman Jerry (Paul Tipton) cover the news event.
HOTB-Commentary-26 Harassment By Magazine
The Citizens for Decency start a non-stop harassment campaign against Mike and Diane's stores, their employees, and also their family. Featured in this clip are 3-time Emmy Winner Sarah Brown as Diane Howard, Alphonso Jones as the mailman, and Beth Fortenberry as the investigator.
HOTB-Commentary-27 Rev. Brewer Needs Help From The Prosecutor
Reverend Matthew Brewer (John Prosky) and his assistant Reeba Hollings (Anne Ramsay) ask the Prosecutor (John Dye) for help in putting Mike and Diane's video stores out of business.
HOTB-Commentary-28 Rev. Brewer Turns The Tables On The Prosecutor
Reverend Matthew Brewer (John Prosky) turns the tables on the corrupt Prosecutor which leaves his assistant Reeba Hollings (Anne Ramsay) wondering, "What would Jesus do?"
HOTB-Commentary-29 Prosecutor Manion Threatens A Madam
St. Louis Prosecutor Eric Manion (John Dye) pays a visit to Madam Miss Olivia, played by Priscilla Barnes. Manion is not happy that Reverend Brewer knows that Miss Olivia supplies the Prosecutor and his cronies with free sex from her prostitutes.
HOTB-Commentary-30 Mike And His Store Manager Are Arrested
Video Library owner Mike Howard (Matt Letscher) and his store manager Patty (Arden Myrin) are shocked to find their best friend, Lt. Neal Larson (Michael Dorn) has arrest warrants for both of them.
HOTB-Commentary-31 Prosecutor Holds A Press Conference
City Prosecutor Eric Manion (John Dye) holds a press conference about the arrest of Mike Howard (Matt Letscher) and his store manager Patty (Arden Myrin). Charges have been dropped against the store manager for her help in testifying against Mike.
HOTB-Commentary-32 Death Threats
As bad as things are, they get even worse when Lester (Silas Weir Mitchell) calls with a death threat against Mike and Diane's daughter Molly, played by Chloe Moretz ("The Amityville Horror" and "Big Mamma's House 2").
HOTB-Commentary-33 Mike Threatens The Prosecutor
After receiving the death threat against his daughter Molly (Chloe Moretz), Mike (Matt Letscher) confronts the Prosecutor with threats of his own if anything should happen to his daughter.
HOTB-Commentary-34 Molly Meets Lester
At a family get together in the park, Lester appears and played by Silas Weir Mitchell. He quizzes Molly (Chloe Moretz) about her love of Jesus and offers to take her to meet Jesus.
HOTB-Commentary-35 Lester Takes Molly To Meet Jesus
After getting her face painted in the park, Molly (Chloe Moretz) is befriended by Lester (Silas Weir Mitchell). He quizzes the young girl about her love for Jesus and then offers to take Molly to meet Jesus.
HOTB-Commentary-36 Molly Pays For Her Father's Sins
Mike, Diane, and Lt. Larson frantically search for Molly . Lester has taken Molly to a remote place in the park to meet Jesus. All is well until Lester pulls out a massive dagger with a crucifix of Jesus on it.
HOTB-Commentary-37 Where's The Crime?
Lt. Larson (Michael Dorn) presents evidence to City Prosecutor Eric Manion (John Dye) about the kidnapping and assault on Mike and Diane's daughter, Molly. But he refuses to acknowledge that a crime has been committed.
HOTB-Commentary-38 Mike Prepares For Trial
Mike and Diane meet with their defense attorney Rhonda Scherberth played by April Barnett. Rhonda brings Mike and Diane a plea bargain that requires them to remove "The Last Temptation of Christ" from their chain of video stores.
HOTB-Commentary-39 Mike Goes On Trial For Obscenity
Mike Howard (Matt Letscher) is on trial for renting obscene material. His defense attorney Rhonda Scherberth (April Barnett) questions Mike's store manager Patty Simpkins (Arden Myrin).
HOTB-Commentary-40 Adult Movie Played In Court
Assistant Prosecutor Denise Weston (Michelle Paradise) apologizes to the jury for forcing them to watch a movie that will probably offend them all.
HOTB-Commentary-41 The Verdict Is In
Mike Howard (Matt Letscher) and his defense attorney Rhonda Scherberth (April Barnett) answer questions from reporter Don Deetz (Jason Wiles) at an impromptu press conference.
HOTB-Commentary-42 Mike Fights To Stay In Business
Mike Howard (Matt Letscher) and his store manager Patty (Arden Myrin) are surprised that business did not return to what it had been before the protests and the obscenity trial.
HOTB-Commentary-43 Bob Harris Makes An Offer
Mike Howard (Matt Letscher) is devastated that his video business did not return to normal after winning his obscenity trial. Mike's friend, Bob Harris (Greg Germann) comforts his buddy and then suggests a way to keep Mike from going bankrupt.
HOTB-Commentary-44 Diane Lays Down The Law
Mike (Matt Letscher) sits down to dinner with his daughter Molly (Chloe Moretz) and his wife Diane (Sarah Joy Brown).
HOTB-Commentary-45 Mike And Diane Go Bankrupt
Mike Howard (Matt Letscher) and his wife Diane (Sarah Joy Brown) have lost their business and went bankrupt which forces them to move in with Diane's parents Rudy (Conrad Bachmann) and Helen (Patty McCormack).
HOTB-Commentary-46 Mike Loses Control
Mike (Matt Letscher) and Diane (Sarah Joy Brown) have lost their business, their home, and they have gone bankrupt. His drinking doesn't help matters. The guilt of his failures is too much and Mike moves out.
HOTB-Commentary-47 Mike Moves In With Don Deetz
Mike Howard (Matt Letscher) has lost his business and family. In deep depression, he moves in with his friend Don Deetz (Jason Wiles). Mike talks to his daughter Molly on the phone which drives his depression even deeper.
HOTB-Commentary-48 Mike's Depression Goes Deeper
Mike Howard (Matt Letscher) has lost his business and family. He is staying with his good friend, TV Reporter Don Deetz (Jason Wiles). Patty (Arden Myrin) arrives with dinner and some news about a job that pushes Mike's depression even deeper.
HOTB-Commentary-49 Mike Hits Rock Bottom
Mike (Matt Letscher) is in deep depression over the loss of his family and business. With nowhere to turn, Mike realizes that he has lost everything that made his life worth living and makes his final decision to end it all.
HOTB-Commentary-50 Mike Goes To Hell And Back
Mike Howard (Matt Letscher) has lost everything including his will to live. With no other options, Mike takes matters into his own hands and ends it all. But everyone gets a second chance and Mike is resurrected with the help of a game of paintball.
HOTB-Commentary-51 Paintball Payback
After Mike's (Matt Letscher) aborted suicide, he goes to Paintball Wargames to vent his frustrations. The owner Bill (Ken Tipton) has plans of his own and surprises Mike by inviting a very special group to come play with him. Note: This is based on the real event.
HOTB-Commentary-52 Sweet Paintball Revenge
Bill Everett (Ken Tipton), the owner of Paintball Wargames, has set up a special game with Mike's old enemies, the Citizens for Decency. Payback with a paintball gun may be unusual, but it is just what Mike needs to vent his anger legally.
HOTB-Commentary-53 Run Reverend Run
Mike Howard (Matt Letscher) reaps his vengeance on the Citizens for Decency over the loss of his business and family. But there is one person in particular who will pay the biggest price -- Rev. Matthew Brewer (John Prosky).
HOTB-Commentary-54 Mike Reveals Himself
Mike (Matt Letscher) has thoroughly enjoyed his paintball payback. But now it is time to let everyone know exactly who has kicked their asses.
HOTB-Commentary-55 Lester Makes A Shocking Confess
Mike Howard (Matt Letscher) reveals himself to the Citizens for Decency and then says a prayer as he prepares to take retribution on the man that threatened his family. Suddenly Lester (Silas Weir Mitchell) takes off running with Mike in hot pursuit.
HOTB-Commentary-56 Reeba Has A Change Of Heart
Lester (Silas Weir Mitchell) makes a shocking confession to Mike (Matt Letscher). Reeba Hollings (Anne Ramsay) comes out from hiding after hearing the confession and unburdens her own conscience to Mike.
HOTB-Commentary-57 Patty's Perfect Revenge
Video Store Manager Patty Simpkins (Arden Myrin) finishes up her work by helping all of the other video stores upgrade their computer software. But Patty lays the perfect trap for some very cool payback.
HOTB-Commentary-58 Help From Miss Olivia - The Madam
Mike Howard (Matt Letscher, Don Deetz (Jason Wiles), and Lt. Larson (Michael Dorn) meet with ex-prostitute Marci Sanders (Kaitlin Chesna) and her former Madam Miss Olivia (Priscilla Barnes). They try to persuade the Madam and former call girl to go on the record to help expose the corrupt Prosecutor.
HOTB-Commentary-59 The Stakeout
Mike Howard (Matt Letscher) and his TV Reporter friend Don Deetz (Jason Wiles) stake out a hotel in a van waiting for Lt. Larson and his undercover officers to arrive and set up an unauthorized prostitution sting to expose the corrupt Prosecutor.
HOTB-Commentary-60 The Prosecutor Gets Impatient
Mike and Diane Howard (Matt Letscher and Sarah Joy Brown), along with TV Reporter Don Deetz (Jason Wiles) and his cameraman Jerry (Paul Tipton), hide in the parking lot of a hotel waiting for the police to come and set up a prostitution sting. The corrupt Prosecutor (John Dye) gets impatient waiting for his sex partner to arrive.
HOTB-Commentary-61 Diane Saves The Day
After TV Reporter Don Deetz (Jason Wiles) is called by Madam Miss Olivia and told that the Prosecutor is pissed off because the scheduled call girl hasn't shown up, Diane (Sarah Joy Brown) volunteers for the unseemly job.
HOTB-Commentary-62 Never A Cop When You Need One
Mike Howard (Matt Letscher), reporter Don Deetz (Jason Wiles), and cameraman Jerry (Paul Tipton), wait in the van while Diane (Sarah Joy Brown) meets with the corrupt Prosecutor (John Dye) posing as a prostitute.
HOTB-Commentary-63 Going From Bad To Worse
Lt. Larson (Michael Dorn tells Mike Howard (Matt Letscher) and Don Deetz (Jason Wiles) that things are under control but he doesn't know that Diane (Sarah Brown) is posing as a prostitute with the Prosecutor (John Dye). The undercover cop, former Playboy Playmate Daphnee Duplaix, finally arrives to take charge.
HOTB-Commentary-64 Cops In The Hall
Prosecutor Eric Manion (John Dye) finds himself with two prostitutes instead of one and can't wait to be the "meat in a hooker sandwich". Diane (Sarah Joy Brown) and undercover cop Det. Deborah Burbach (Daphnee Duplaix) try to figure out what to do.
HOTB-Commentary-65 Cops Bust In
Prosecutor Eric Manion (John Dye) finds himself hot and bothered with two fake prostitutes who are insisting on getting paid. Diane (Sarah Joy Brown) and undercover cop Det. Deborah Burbach (Daphnee Duplaix) have played him well and trigger the bust.
HOTB-Commentary-66 The Standoff
Prosecutor Eric Manion (John Dye) reaches a deal with the two bogus prostitutes, Diane (Sarah Brown) and undercover cop Det. Deborah Burbach (Daphnee Duplaix). But once the take down starts, everything that can possibly go wrong - does.
HOTB-Commentary-67 The Sting Fails
Prosecutor Eric Manion (John Dye) punches out undercover cop Det. Deborah Burbach (Daphnee Duplaix) and then grabs Diane (Sarah Joy Brown) as a hostage.
HOTB-Commentary-68 What Goes Around Comes Around
Prosecutor Eric Manion (John Dye) escapes the prostitution sting. The humiliated group retreat. But there is an old saying that rears its head - "What goes around, comes around".
HOTB-Commentary-69 The Prosecutor And Reverend Face The Music
After everything Mike and Diane (Matt Letscher and Sarah Brown) have gone through, it feels great to see the corrupt Prosecutor (John Dye) and Reverend Brewer (John Prosky) finally have to pay for their actions.
HOTB-Commentary-70 The Homecoming
After exposing the corrupt City Prosecutor for solicitation of prostitution and later embezzlement from a Crime Victims fund and the arrest of Reverend Matthew Brewer for arson, Mike (Matt Letscher) and Diane (Sarah Joy Brown) enjoy a homecoming with Diane's parents Rudy (Conrad Bachmann) and Helen (Patty McCormack).
HOTB-Commentary-71 The Closing Credits
In the closing credits we give thanks to those who helped us with our 12 year journey to make this movie which include some well known mentors.
HOTB-Commentary-72 Payback Is A Bitch
Mike Howard (Matt Letscher) pays a visit to his one-time best friend Bob Harris (Greg Germann). The scene speaks for itself and is based on what really happened.
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