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The Bridge
The first feature length film about Scientology
Directed by	Brett Hanover
Written by	Brett Hanover
Produced by	Tom Padgett
Starring	Carole Smith Bill Baker Tom Padgett
Distributed by	free-media online release
Release dates	September 10, 2006
Running time	69 minutes
Country	Norway
Language	English
Budget	USD$10,000

Template:ScientologySeries

The Bridge is a 69-minute low-budget feature film, directed by filmmaker Brett Hanover.

The film is a fictional story of involvement and disillusionment with Scientology. The film explicitly uses Scientology terms throughout, going so far as including actual clips from official Scientology promotional and training materials. It was released as a free download over the internet on September 10, 2006 by the filmmaker.

Dedication

For all who speak out - for those who have been silenced.

— Dedication, before ending credits.

Synopsis

Template:Spoiler The movie was the "first feature film" made about the Church Of Scientology, and illustrated technical practices including suppressive person, Clear, the e-meter, security checks, disconnection and the Sea Org.

Actress Carole Smith portrayed fictional Scientologist "Diane Wheat", who came to realize she wished to leave Scientology. There was also a parallel plot of a father played by Tom Padgett, who was trying to get his daughter to leave Scientology.

At one point in the film, two young women walk into the Scientology building and meet with Diane Wheat. They mention that they had seen the South Park episode discussing Scientology, but Wheat remarked that she had never heard of the program. The girls then watch part of the introductory Scientology-produced video, How to Use Dianetics, but sneak out before the end of the film. Template:Endspoiler

Production

Former Scientologists were involved in the production of the film. The movie utilized some clips from the Scientology-produced video, How to Use Dianetics: A Visual Guidebook to the Human Mind, as well as archival footage of Ron Miscavige.

The film was shot over a five-day period at a hotel in Norway, in order to avoid what the production team thought could be potential interference from Scientologists. The film was shot in Black-and-white, but makes use of color to highlight certain objects or themes.

Screening

The film premièred at Operation Clambake 10 year anniversary in Norway September 2 2006 and was shown at the 9th annual Indie Memphis Film Festival, in October 2006:

The venue allowed Brett Hanover, an 18-year-old college student studying film, to screen a new movie he's produced about the Church of Scientology called "The Bridge." This year will be his second time participating in the festival.

"It's definitely the hometown festival," he said. "In a way, it's sort of limiting as far as what gets seen, but for me and other local filmmakers it's an extremely important resource for getting your films out there and serving as a springboard to go elsewhere."

The film aired on October 16, 2006 as a feature presentation.

Film distribution

The film was initially released as a free download over the internet in September, 2006.

With regard to public distribution, the credits at the end of the film itself stated:

The Bridge' is licensed as royalty-free digital media, and may be distributed online for personal viewing without permission. All offline distribution rights are reserved by Brett Hanover.

Within a few weeks of its release, Hanover removed The Bridge from its public distribution sites. He had stated on his website, that "due to copyright issues, I ask that this film be withdrawn from circulation... Do not contact me concerning this film, I am no longer supporting it".

Despite Hanover's request, digital copies of the film continue to circulate on the internet. The removal of this film from the internet was reported on by Jeanette Walls, in an MSNBC gossip column.

Hanover's Web site no longer contains any requests not to distribute the film, nor any references to the film at all.

The Internet Movie Database currently lists Scientomogy.com as the worldwide distributor of the film's DVD.

Cast

External links

• The Bridge (2006) at IMDb

Official site

• Brett Hanover official website

Media

• "The Scoop", Jeanette Walls, Oct 30, 2006.

See Also

• List of Scientology references in popular culture
• The Friend of Mankind
• The Profit
• Trapped in the Closet (South Park)

References

1. ^ The Bridge (2006/III), Internet Movie Database, 2007, Internet Movie Database Inc.
2. The Bridge, All Movie Guide, Category: Feature., retrieved 3/7/07.
3. ^ Film Credits: The Bridge' is licensed as royalty-free digital media, and may be distributed online for personal viewing without permission. All offline distribution rights are reserved by Brett Hanover.
4. The Bridge, Brett Hanover, Dedication, before ending credits., September 2006.
5. ^ Film Synopses, Indie Memphis, "Soul of Southern Film Festival, October 13-19, 2006.
6. Festival Highlights, Memphis Flyer, Flyer Staff, October 12, 2006.
   The Bridge, Hometowner Feature, Monday, October 16th, 8:45 p.m.
7. Operation Clambake 10 year anniversary
8. Annual indie festival strives to set itself apart, The Daily News, Memphis, Tennessee, Andy Meek, Vol. 121, No. 191, September 28, 2006.
9. 2006 Film Schedule, Indie Memphis, "Soul of Southern Film Festival, October 13-19, 2006.
10. ^ "The Scoop", Jeanette Walls, Oct 30, 2006. Speculation by Mark Bunker on why the film was removed from the internet.
11. bretthanover.com, Main page., retrieved 3/7/07.
12. The Bridge (2006/III), Internet Movie Database, Scientomogy.com, listed as "distribution company", Company Credits, listed as worldwide dist. DVD, retrieved 3/8/07.

• Critics of Scientology
• Scientology controversy
• 2006 films
• American films
• Religion films
• English-language films
• Color and black and white films