It was over six years ago when I got the idea to make a movie about spirit and science. It was a little movie at first—a few interviews and some stick-figure animation. But I started to get a sense that there was a larger interest in things quantum and things spiritual and that people were hungry for a different way to look at the world and their lives. My collaborators, Mark Vicente and Betsy Chasse, shared that vision, and soon we were embarking on a film project on obscure subjects, which would play in theaters around the world.
Ignored by the film industry and panned by the critics, What the BLEEP Do We Know!? found its audience and went on to become a hit. Prompted by the sudden success of both the movie and the book, my colleagues and I were asked the same two questions over and over: Were you surprised by the success of What the BLEEP Do We Know!? and what has been the reaction to these works?
I think we three filmmakers were about the only ones who were not surprised! First off, we knew there was a large, underground segment of society that was truly interested in this type of material. The leading edge of scientific discovery seems to hold a universal fascination, while intersecting it with long-held truths from the mystical realm makes the science applicable to everyday life. Whenever I got into conversations with people about this material, everyone was intrigued: “Quantum physics says that?!” “My cells do what?!” “I-I-I create my-my-my experience?!” So we knew the people where out there; it was just a matter of getting it to them.
Which comes to the second reason we weren’t surprised: We created it! Our intent always had been to have this film be a theatrical success, to get it around the world, and ultimately to have 100 million see it. Why 100 million? Well it’s a big number, and during our interviews, it became apparent that all those minds focused on a new reality would in fact shift something. We didn’t know what, but we all felt that the planet needed a nudge. . . .
So when all the film distributors turned us down, we decided that the universe was making us “walk the walk.” Our films and books have a lot of information about creating reality, so we simply put those ideas to the test—our little science project. To date, we’ve been distributed in over thirty-five countries and have had this book translated into Korean, Hebrew, Dutch, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, German, Italian, Russian, Greek, Spanish, French, Turkish, Croat, Romanian, Catalan, and Hungarian. We’re closing in on that 100 million.
So now that ideas about creating reality, our innate divinity, and consciousness are out there in the world, what has the world to say about them? Interestingly enough, either people really like it or they absolutely despise it. If you look at comments on various websites, the film and book get either five stars or none, with very few ratings in between. And, although we were not surprised by the success, there have been some surprises in the reactions.
Surprise #1: We thought we would get a lot of flack from religious people because of the comments about certain aspects of religious dogma, specifically the comments about the judgmental, angry God and the notions of eternal heaven and unending hell. Aside from one picketer in Portland, Oregon, we have gotten very little criticism from religious groups. In fact, most of the people who consider themselves religious have been very thoughtful in their comments and have welcomed another look at spirituality and God.
Surprise #2: We were slammed by the scientific community. There are some very vocal and energized skeptics out there who are outraged when anything beyond the materialistic worldview is put forth. It seems that suggesting there is more to reality than what the five senses perceive is threatening. Later in this book, we get into the debate about what is “real” in detail, but suffice it to say, we’ve been shocked by the response from the scientific community. We (naively) thought the response would be, well, scientific. It’s been mostly name calling.
There were many fun, unexpected, and quirky instances that we learned along the way: More people in the state of Texas went to see the movie than in the state of New York. Go figure. This book was in the top twenty-five of all bestsellers in Germany in the summer of 2006. BLEEP study groups spontaneously formed in over twenty countries around the world.
Then there’s the very personal response. Instead of paraphrasing, I’ve pulled out a few typical entries from our guestbook (www.whatthebleep.com/guestbook) that have rolled in during the past month. These unsolicited responses best describe what is happening in the downstream world of BLEEP.
Submitted by Patricia Grimaud, age 54, from Quebec City, Quebec:
I have seen the original movie countless times and am now going through the interviews in the new edition. I also have read the book.
It really hit a cord with me. Clearing away the old junk in our heads and trying to see the world around us in “new light” simply reinforces our deep personal needs and obligations to evolve and not settle for the “obvious” or the “status quo.” The movie and this site are performing a wonderful service by enabling people to reach out to each other. Thank you.
Submitted by Trixie Monks, age 27, from London, England:
I have struggled with reality since I was seven years old. At ten, I denounced religions for being inaccurate. I live my life for the search of Truth. Quantum physics helped me come closer to the truth. When I graduated magna cum laude in physics, I decided to dedicate the rest of my life to opening the doors to truth within myself. The film What the BLEEP Do We Know!? has become a great avenue to explain to others my interpretation of reality and truth. Thank you!
Submitted by Kathleen Wilks, age 48, from West Virginia, United States:
When my children asked me, “What is God?” I told them God is bigger and more than we can ever hope to dream or imagine. This movie so validated concepts I have always carried and felt for many years that in a way kept me separate from the rest of the world. How comforting it is to me to know that I was simply keeping an open mind. I thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
Submitted by John Mulhern, age 36, from La Serena, Chile:
I just wanted to say that I saw the film and was immediately engaged by certain aspects that confirmed certain happenings and feelings from my childhood that I have since “blocked” out. With what I saw in the film, I have begun to connect with them again. I am slowly beginning to wake up once more. My wife and I loved the film. Thanks so much for your work and dedication.
Submitted by Denis Côté, age 43, from Montreal, Quebec:
I feel like I am no longer alone . . .
I am continually blown away by responses like these. It shows the hunger in the world for a new world view, and it shows the power of this information when in the hands of people who want to walk the walk.
—William Arntz, Cocreator,
January 2007