God Answers Joseph’s Prayer

The First Vision

Introduction

As Joseph Smith knelt in prayer in the grove, “a pillar of light” descended from the heavens and rested upon him. God the Father announced, “This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!”

Jesus Christ then taught Joseph: “Behold, I am the Lord of glory. I was crucified for the world, that all those who believe on my name may have eternal life. Behold, the world lieth in sin at this time and none doeth good, no not one. They have turned aside from the gospel and keep not my commandments. They draw near to me with their lips while their hearts are far from me.”

In the grove that day, our Heavenly Father and His Son drew near to man once again as They revealed Themselves to a boy who had drawn near to Them in his heart. The truths given by God to Joseph in that setting and in revelations to come would reestablish the kingdom of God upon the earth.

Quotes

Joseph Smith Quotes 

“The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it” (History of the Church, 3:30).

“Seek to know God in your closets, call upon him in the fields. Follow the directions of the Book of Mormon, and pray over, and for your families, your cattle, your flocks, your herds, your corn, and all things that you possess; ask the blessing of God upon all your labors, and everything that you engage in” (History of the Church, 5:31).

“When we understand the character of God, and know how to come to Him, he begins to unfold the heavens to us, and to tell us all about it. When we are ready to come to him, he is ready to come to us” (History of the Church, 6:308).

Witnesses

Brigham Young, Second President of the Church, 1847–1877 

In February 1847, Brigham Young communicated with Joseph Smith in a marvelous dream. Joseph’s message was clear: “Tell the people to be humble and faithful, and be sure to keep the spirit of the Lord and it will lead them right. Be careful and not turn away the small still voice; it will teach them what to do and where to go; it will yield the fruits of the kingdom. . . . [T]hey can tell the spirit of the Lord from all other spirits; it will whisper peace and joy to their souls” (Brigham Young Vision, Feb. 23, 1847, Brigham Young Office Files, Church History Library, Salt Lake City).

Harold B. Lee, 11th President of the Church, 1972–1973 

“We must pray with real intent, with desire to know, and with faith on the Lord Jesus Christ; then by the power of the Holy Ghost we may know. That is the only way we can have an answer to prayers” (The Teachings of Harold B. Lee, ed. Clyde J. Williams (1996), 126).

Neal A. Maxwell, Apostle, 1981–2004 

“Jesus has been there as our long-suffering Shepherd for ages.

“We need not be atop high mountains or in sacred groves for God to be there. God is also there even in the mildest expressions of His presence” (“Yet Thou Art There,” Ensign, Nov. 1987, 32).

Questions

How do people draw near unto God with their lips while their hearts are far away?

“If we draw near unto the Lord with our lips and our hearts are far from Him,” explained Elder George Q. Cannon, “then we are hypocrites. If we profess to be Latter-day Saints and have an outward semblance of religion, while in reality our lives do not correspond with our professions, then we are hypocrites—we are guilty of hypocrisy before the Lord, and His anger will be kindled against us” (Deseret News, June 1, 1889, 710).

Are God the Father and Jesus Christ separate beings?

Yes. Like Stephen, who looked into heaven and saw Jesus Christ “standing on the right hand of God” (see Acts 7:55–56), Joseph Smith saw “two Personages.” The Father spoke, saying, “This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” (Joseph Smith—History 1:17).

Readings

Online Resources at ChurchofJesusChrist.org

1. Doctrine and Covenants 68:6
2. Doctrine and Covenants 88:63
3. 3 Nephi 20:31
4. Ether 3:14
5. John 17:3
6. “Significance of the First Vision”—in “The First Vision,” Church History in the Fulness of Times Student Manual (Church Educational System manual, 2003), 34–36
7. “God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, Appeared to the Boy Prophet”—in “Joseph Smith: First President of the Church,” Presidents of the Church Student Manual (Church Educational System Manual, 2004), 5
   

Source: history.churchofjesuschrist.org

The Book of Mormon Witnesses

“And whether they were in the body or out of the body, they could not tell; for it did seem unto them like a transfiguration of them, that they were changed from this body of flesh into an immortal state, that they could behold the things of God” 3 Nephi 28:15

The Know

The combined testimonies of the Three and Eight Witnesses of the Book of Mormon provide powerful evidence of the Restoration. The Three Witnesses said they beheld the angel Moroni, who showed them the gold plates and other Nephite artifacts. They also heard a voice from heaven, declaring the truth of the Book of Mormon’s translation. In contrast, the Eight Witnesses viewed and handled the plates without any accompanying divine manifestations.

Throughout their lives, none of these eleven men ever denied their testimonies, which have been published in every edition of the Book of Mormon since 1830. Despite the consistency of the witnesses’ testimonies, some have questioned the reality of their experiences—especially the vision shown to the Three Witnesses.

Warren Parrish, while apostatizing from the Church in 1838, claimed that Martin Harris “has come out at last, and says he never saw the plates … except in vision” (emphasis added). Stephen Burnett, another dissenter, similarly represented Harris as saying that the three witnesses only saw the plates “in vision or imagination” (emphasis added). And John Murphy once interpreted David Whitmer as saying that his testimony was based only on spiritual “impressions.”In these and other cases, individuals have chosen to emphasize the visionary nature of the Three Witnesses’ shared experience in a way that questions its actual occurrence in reality.

The witnesses themselves, however, openly refuted such insinuations. Harris once declared, “No man ever heard me in any way deny … the administration of the angel that showed me the plates.” Whitmer likewise responded to Murphy’s statement by saying that what he had seen “was no Delusion” and that he had “never at any time, denied that testimony or any part thereof, which has so long since been published” in the Book of Mormon.

Painting of the angel Moroni showing the gold plates to Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, and David Whitmer. Artist unknown.

Questions about the reality of what the witnesses experienced must also be viewed in light of their other known statements. The following are just a sampling of affirmative declarations from the Three Witnesses, recorded at different times by various individuals, which emphasize the literalness and reality of their miraculous experience:

Oliver Cowdery

1. “It was a clear, open beautiful day, far from any inhabitants, in a remote field, at the time we saw the record, of which it has been spoken, brought and laid before us, by an angel, arrayed in glorious light, ascend out of the midst of heaven. Now if this is human juggling—judge ye.”

Martin Harris

1. “Just as sure as you see the Sun shining, Just as sure am I that I stood in [p.4] the presence of an Angel of God ... and saw him hold the Gold Plates in his Hands.”
2. “Gentlemen, do you see that hand? Are you sure you see it? Are your eyes playing a trick or something? No. Well, as sure as you see my hand so sure did I see the angel and the plates.”

David Whitmer

1. “I saw [the Nephite artifacts] just as plain as I see this bed (striking his hand upon the bed beside him), and I heard the voice of the Lord, as distinctly as I ever heard anything in my life.”
2. “I was not under any hallucination, nor was I deceived! I saw with these eyes and I heard with these ears!”

If the witnesses were so adamant about the literal reality of what they had seen, why did some of their contemporaries conclude that their experience was more imagined than real? It seems that this confusion is mostly due to differing assumptions about the nature of spiritual or visionary experiences. Apparently, some people have assumed that if an experience is spiritual in nature, then it is the same as imagination, hallucination, fantasy, and other less than real perceptions. The witnesses, on the other hand, held no such belief. In fact, their understanding of their own visionary experience is consistent with what the scriptures themselves say about such things.

Speaking of one man’s visionary ascent into heaven, the Apostle Paul declared, “whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell” (2 Corinthians 12:3). Mormon expressed similar language concerning Jesus’ disciples who were caught up into heaven. He explained, “And whether they were in the body or out of the body, they could not tell; for it did seem unto them like a transfiguration of them, that they were changed from this body of flesh into an immortal state, that they could behold the things of God” (3 Nephi 28:15).

It appears that in order to behold the angel Moroni in his resurrected glory, the Three Witnesses were similarly transfigured. This adequately explains the various reports that they saw the plates with their “spiritual eyes.”At the same time, it accounts for the witnesses’ insistence that their experience was as real as everyday visual sensations, like looking at sunlight, a bed, or one’s own hand. As Whitmer once clarified, “Of course we were in the spirit when we had the view, for no man can behold the face of an angel, except in a spiritual view, but we were in the body also, and everything was as natural to us, as it is at any time.”

Painting of the angel Moroni showing the gold plates to Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, and David Whitmer. Artist unknown.

The Why

The Book of Mormon prophesies that God would call special witnesses to testify to its truth. The literal reality of their experiences is therefore no trivial thing. These divinely appointed witnesses help the Book of Mormon fulfill one of its primary purposes—to convince the world “that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God” (Title Page).

When viewed collectively, the witnesses’ published testimonies are favored by “an overwhelming preponderance of evidence.”Each of the relevant first-hand statements from members of the Three and Eight Witnesses reaffirm their original statements. In addition, the majority of second-hand or hearsay accounts of the witnesses’ statements—from friends, critics, and neutral observers alike—also support the witnesses published testimonies.

The hearsay reports that cast doubt on the reality of the witnesses’ experiences are, by far, in the minority. And, as has been demonstrated, the witnesses themselves sometimes went out of their way to correct such misrepresentations. As Richard L. Anderson put it, “The words of the witnesses do speak for themselves, after analysis clears away garbled versions of what somebody attributed to them.”

It’s also important to recognize that the differences between the experiences of the Three and Eight Witnesses provide mutually reinforcing testimonial evidence. Those who wish to characterize the visionary experience of the Three Witnesses as mere “imagination” or “impressions” (like Parrish, Burnett, and Murphy did) must face that fact that eight men testified, under ordinary circumstances, that they saw the plates and were even allowed to handle and heft them. On the other hand, those who assume the plates were merely fabricated or were perhaps a genuine artifact with no spiritual value, must face the miraculous and unwavering testimonies of the Three Witnesses. Terryl L. Givens has explained,

Taken together, the two experiences seemed calculated to provide an evidentiary spectrum, satisfying a range of criteria for belief. The reality of the plates was now confirmed by both proclamation from heaven and by empirical observation, through a supernatural vision and by simple, tactile experience, by the testimony of passive witnesses to a divine demonstration and by the testimony of a group of men actively engaging in their own unhampered examination of the evidence.

The historical evidence demonstrates that the witnesses themselves were convinced that their experiences were real—real enough to stake their very lives and reputations on them, real enough that they consistently reaffirmed their published testimonies throughout their lives, and real enough that several witnesses used their last days, and even their dying breaths, to testify of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.

Yet, as persuasive as the testimonies of the Three and Eight Witnesses may be, the Lord doesn’t ask anyone to solely rely upon them. The prophet Moroni promised that if those who read the Book of Mormon will sincerely ask God with “real intent, having faith in Christ,” the Lord will give them their own witness of its truth “by the power of the Holy Ghost” (Moroni 10:4). The testimonies of the witnesses are meant to strengthen, not replace, the spiritual witness of the Book of Mormon that is promised to all who sincerely seek it.

Further Reading

Steven C. Harper, “The Eleven Witnesses,” in The Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon: A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, ed. Dennis L. Largey, Andrew H. Hedges, John Hilton III, and Kerry Hull (Salt Lake City and Provo, UT: Deseret Book and Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2015), 117–132.

Richard Lloyd Anderson, “Attempts to Redefine the Experience of the Eight Witnesses,” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 14, no. 1 (2005): 18–31, 125–127.

Daniel C. Peterson, “Tangible Restoration: The Witnesses and What They Experienced,” FairMormon presentation, 2004, 9–33, online at fairmormon.org.

Richard Lloyd Anderson, Investigating the Book of Mormon Witnesses (Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book, 1981).

Serena Williams Lived Up To Her G.O.A.T Status

CONQUERING EVERY CHALLENGE, SERENA WILLIAMS LIVED UP TO HER G.O.A.T. STATUS

Serena Williams thanks the fans after her women's singles third-round match against Ajla Tomlijanovic (Australia) at the 2022 U.S. Open on Sept. 2, 2022 in New York City.

The cover story of this month’s Vogue magazine came as a surprise to tennis fans, even if the news itself wasn’t all that unexpected.

Serena Williams, the winner of 23 Grand Slam singles titles and an undisputed icon in sports history, was offering her initial farewell — if not exactly announcing her retirement.

“I have never liked the word retirement,” she wrote. “It doesn’t feel like a modern word to me.”

Instead, in a colorful as-told-to essay, the 40-year-old Williams shared that she was beginning her “evolution” away from tennis, a decision spurred in part by her desire grow her family.

She shared an anecdote of her 4-year-old daughter, Olympia, answering a prompt for what she wants to be when she grows up.

“I want to be a big sister,” Olympia responded.

So with that, this year’s U.S. Open became Williams’ swan song.

Williams' Grand Slam singles career came to an end on Friday, Sept. 2. After defeating both Montenegro’s Danka Kovinić and No. 2 seed Annett Kontaveit of Estonia in the first and second rounds, respectively, Williams officially bowed out with a 7-5, 6-7, 1-6 loss to Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia in the third round. Williams was also playing in the women’s doubles tournament with older sister Venus, but lost in straight sets to Linda Nosková and Lucie Hradecká of the Czech Republic within the first round. 

Retiring, she said, will be one of the toughest things she’s ever had to do after 27 years in professional tennis.

Since growing up in Compton, California, as a right-handed teenage tennis phenom with Venus, she has always been the one to beat. Williams turned pro at age 14 and won her first major title at 17.

The youngest of five sisters has revolutionized women’s tennis with her powerful style of play. She won her first major singles title at the 1999 U.S. Open and has played in 20 more editions of the event since then. She has spent more than 300 weeks at world No. 1 and is one Grand Slam victory short of Margaret Court’s long-standing record for the most major titles. She has also won four Olympic gold medals and has nearly $100 million in prize money to her name, more than any other female athlete.

A “Serena Slam” was even named after her: a non-calendar year Grand Slam, winning all four major championships.

“I always play everyone at their greatest, so I have to be greater,” Williams told reporters after losing the 2018 Wimbledon final to Angelique Kerber.

Serena Williams reacts in the second set against Ajla Tomlijanovic (Australia) during their women's singles third-round match at the 2022 U.S. Open on Sept. 2, 2022 in New York City. 

From her eye-catching on-court apparel to the time she finds to spend with daughter Olympia, Williams is an inspiration to so many. Throughout her career, so many people told her and Venus they were not allowed to do certain things. Every time she was told no, she proved them wrong.

As a Black woman in a mostly white sport, she broke down barriers, persevered through any attempts to hold her back and pioneered a path for many other women of color to follow.

She won the 2017 Australian Open while pregnant, became a mother just before turning 36, survived an emergency C-section and returned to the court within the next year to still be a contender at Grand Slam events. However, coming from a big family, she’s spoken of her desire to expand her family and give Olympia a sibling, even if that has to take precedence over her all-time career as an athlete.

“Believe me, I never wanted to have to choose between tennis and a family,” she wrote in the Vogue essay. “I don’t think it’s fair. If I were a guy, I wouldn’t be writing this because I’d be out there playing and winning while my wife was doing the physical labor of expanding our family.”

While her priorities may have changed, Williams is guaranteed to leave an unprecedented mark on the sport and the world, one that’s perceived differently by each person, depending on how her career or life choices impacted you. 

Williams’ bold achievements have transcended both the tennis community and the sports world; she’s also established herself as a cultural icon for women and girls everywhere.

Williams is bigger than sports — more than just the hardest serve in history.

She’s a different person to different people. 

Fashionista. Venture capitalist. Mother. Black icon.  

G.O.A.T.

She had played just four matches prior to the U.S. Open this year, winning only once, but that’s practically irrelevant. 

Her legacy has been building since she moved from Compton to West Palm Beach, Florida, at the age of 9 so she could pursue greatness. 

Along the way, she’s jumped over every hurdle imaginable, and that’s what’s made her the one to beat.

“I really think a champion is defined not by their wins, but by how they can recover when they fall,” she said after winning the U.S. Open in 2012, a quote that defines her legac

Top 5 Exercises to Lose Your Love Handles

Working your obliques is crucial to having the strong, lean body you want. Try these 6 exercises to strengthen your core and bulletproof your obliques. Crunch away fat and tone your obliques with these core-strengthening exercises





Oblique V-Up

Lie on your side with your body in a straight line. Fold your arms across your chest. Keeping your legs together, lift them off the floor as you raise your top elbow toward your hip. The range of motion is short, but you should feel an intense contraction in your obliques.
10 repetitions each side [ Beginner ]
Hold a pair of lightweight dumbbells over your head, in line with your shoulders, with your elbows slightly bent. Keep your back straight, and slowly bend directly to your left side as far as possible without twisting your upper body. Pause, return to an upright position, then bend to your right side as far as possible.

Saxon Side Bend

6–10 repetitions on each side [ Beginner to intermediate ]
Stand while holding a dumbbell with both hands in front of your midsection. Twist 90 degrees to the right, then 180 degrees to your left. Keep your abs tight and move fast. Bring to center. Alternate the side you start with.Speed Rotation
10 repetitions each side [ Intermediate ]

Two-Handed Wood Chop

Stand while holding a dumbbell in both hands next to your right ear. Flex your abs and rotate your torso to the left as you extend your arms and lower the dumbbell to the outside of your left knee. Lift it back, finish the set, and repeat on the other side.
10 repetitions each side [ Intermediate ]
Hold a medicine ball or basketball in front of you. Sit with your knees bent and your feet on the floor. Quickly twist to your left, and set the ball down behind your back. Twist to the right, and pick up the ball. Bring the ball around to your left, and set it down again. Repeat. Do the same number of repetitions in which you first twist to the left side as you do when you twist to the right side.

Medicine Ball Torso Rotation

10 repetitions each side [ Intermediate to advanced ]
Raise your torso off the floor, with your left forearm on the floor for balance. Hold your other hand behind your right ear, with your elbow pointed toward your feet. Lift your legs toward your torso while keeping your torso stationary. Pause to feel the contraction on the right side of your waist. Then slowly lower your legs and repeat. Finish the set on that side, then lie on your right hip and do the same number of repetitions.


Side Jackknife

 
Lie on your side with your right leg on top of your left. Put your right hand behind your head, elbow flared out, and the other on the floor in front of you for balance. Contract your obliques to bring your right leg and elbow together, then slowly lower. Perform all your reps on one side before swapping.

Enjoy...

5150 - Short Film

5150 is a story for our times, about the power of modern celebrity and the complexities of race and mental health in America.

Story

5150 is a narrative short film starring Jovan Adepo (When They See Us, Watchmen) as Celeb— a world-famous but narcissistic celebrity whose erratic behavior leads him to be confined in a psychiatric institute under mysterious circumstances. Written and Directed by Denzel Whitaker and Executive Produced by David Oyelowo (Selma), the film explores mental health within the black community and the sometimes toxic power of celebrity.

We have already raised over 50% of our total budget and are raising the remaining funds here on Kickstarter to produce the film, submit to festivals, and eventually release it online. Our plan accounts for producing the film given current challenges related to the pandemic and we are committed to doing it safely.

We invite you to join our team at the ground level and take the next step to bring this timely story to life. Our incredible team is behind many award-winning short and feature films that have competed at top festivals (Sundance, Tribeca, SXSW) and successfully distributed to be seen by millions around the world. Despite our impressive team, we need your help to make this happen, 5150 is truly an independent film! 

Influential, arrogant, a genius, and a nuisance— CELEB is a globally recognized star who is well known for his political statements and increasingly for his erratic behavior. At the height of his antics, Celeb awakes in a peculiar hospital room, confined for a reckless and violent outburst. During his stay, he is visited by three key women in his life: his publicist, his wife, and his mother. Despite the immense fame that Celeb commands, and his incessant need to challenge the system, these women admonish him of the dangerous repercussions he must now face. As pressure mounts, will Celeb come to terms with his own actions or push the boundaries of his own sanity in pursuit of a mysterious force that he calls THEY?

Now more than ever, young African American men and women are amassing first-generation wealth and finally have a shot at leaving a legacy for their families. Like many intangible privileges within life, said wealth doesn’t come with a guide book. There isn’t a manuscript for being a public figure either.

A celebrity lifestyle most certainly has its faults; sure it's highly desired yet it’s daunting and completely invasive. It’s a lifestyle that can quickly spiral out of hand without a loyal support system and/or a lack of ego. Now some may say this is simply an occupational hazard… “You knew what you signed up for.” But is it?? We praise false idols, place them on a pedestal with special privileges, and often encourage their radical behavior regardless if it’s legal or not. Are people even meant to be famous?

What do we really want/expect from our celebrities? Should we expect them to be perfect, role-model citizens despite their flaws? How should someone who obtains fame make good use of their platform? Is fame truly obtained? Or is it designed by gatekeepers who control what they want the world to see? For the rich and wealthy, is there such a thing as true love... even if all of their assets were to vanish tomorrow? When the masses label someone as crazy and cancel them, should we continue to dismiss their cries for help even if they’re telling the truth? And last but certainly not least, why are minority communities, especially black men, so unwilling to open up and acknowledge mental health? These are the many questions that I intend to explore within the short film, 5150.

- Denzel Whitaker (Writer/Director)

Similar to Hamlet and Yurik's skull, Celeb becomes fondly attached to a gold skull; an ostentatious yet mature acceptance of humanity's shared fate

The tone of 5150 will feel like a Black Mirror episode while incorporating eerie, conspiracy-steeped overtones of X-Files, Mulholland Drive, Eyes Wide Shut and The Night Of. We have sought inspiration from some of our favorite filmmakers including: David Fincher, Martin Scorsese, Stanley Kubrick, Christopher Nolan, Orson Welles and Quentin Tarantino.

ACCESS FULL DIRECTOR'S DECK HERE 

Reference images from other films that help convey the vision for 5150

CELEB is his own best friend and worst enemy; he means well but he is often misunderstood for not spending enough time considering the consequences of his actions. Mid 30s and now with a family to provide for, Celeb feels an imperative need to fight back against the “system.” Unfortunately, the people around him care more about his access than his mental well-being; making it difficult for his fans and loved ones to believe he is not derailing into madness. Somedays Celeb is not so certain of his own sanity...



Because the majority of our story takes place in one cryptic, hospital room, we will be building the set from scratch to acheive the look we are aiming for. The good news is that we already have a studio located in Los Angeles to shoot in.

Reference images of our ideal hospital holding cell

JOVAN ADEPO - LEAD ROLE OF "CELEB" IMDB

Our star is Jovan Adepo, bringing depth and humanity to the role of Celeb. After going toe-to-toe with Denzel Washington and Viola Davis with his role in Fences, Jovan’s performances have quickly established him an actor to watch in Hollywood. He starred in Darren Aronofsky’s bible-based allegorical drama Mother! and the J.J. Abram’s World War II zombie gorefest Overlord.Jovan's recent performances Ava DuVernay’s When They See Us and HBO's Watchmen have secured his status as one of the most exciting young actors working and the perfect choice for the complex role of Celeb.

DOUGLAS WESTON - ROLE OF "DR. DAVIS" IMDB

Playing the role of Dr. Davis is a gifted actor who you know from his recurring role in NCIS: Los Angeles. With a list of extensive credits, Douglas brings complexity and gravitas to his role in the film. Dr. Davis is the epitome of a well-established physician; he’s practical and sticks to the script. Having tended a wide spectrum of mentally unstable patients, it’s no coincidence that Dr. Davis is specifically assigned to treat Celeb.

DENZEL WHITAKER - WRITER | DIRECTOR | PRODUCER IMDB

At age 10, Denzel Whitaker began his acting career as young Dimitri in the award-winning film Training Day. Since then, Denzel has continued to pursue the craft of acting with such titles including The Great Debaters, Marvel’s Black Panther, The Purge: TV series, RZA's Cut Throat City, and many more. In 2011, Denzel stepped behind the camera to try his hand at short films, spec commercials, music videos, and editing; he has been developing on both sides of the camera since.

JOHN TREFRY - WRITER | PRODUCER IMDB

As the founder of 4WT Media, John has extensive experience producing branded content for Fortune 500 companies like Netflix and Google. John is also active creating original content and has produced 8 short films, 2 feature documentaries and a narrative feature. John’s work has competed at prestigious film festivals including SXSW, Tribeca, Full Frame, Raindance and Mill Valley to name a few. John's films have generated millions of views across platforms like Vimeo Staff Pick, Short of the Week, ALTER, DUST, Omeleto and many others.

DAVID OYELOWO - EXECUTIVE PRODUCER IMDB

Most known for his brilliant award-winning role as Martin Luther King Jr. in Ava DuVernay's Selma, David Oyelowo is a classically trained stage actor who has quickly become one of Hollywood's most sought-after talents. His esteemed credits include Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar, Disney’s Queen of Katwe, George Lucas’ Red Tails, and opposite Tom Cruise in Jack Reacher. David’s upcoming directorial debut The Water Man is being produced by his production company Yoruba Saxon Productions who we are honored to have as a partner for 5150.

LOWELL A. MEYER - CINEMATOGRAPHER Website

Lowell A. Meyer has quickly built an exceptional portfolio of award-winning short films, commercials, music videos, documentaries, and features. Lowell has won two Best Cinematography awards for his work on Greener Grass and Jim Cummings’ Thunder Road; the latter of which also won the Grand Jury Prize at both SXSW and Deauville. Lowell’s additional credits include films selected for Cannes (Caroline), Sundance (Lockdown), and SXSW (Krista).

4WT Media is an award-winning production company known for creating world-class branded and original content. 4WT has a proven track record producing short films that have competed at Tribeca, SXSW, HollyShorts, Raindance and dozens of other festivals. Their work includes narrative titles like Souls of Totality starring Tatiana Maslany which won 3 Oscar-qualifying film festivals, How To Be Alone starring Maika Monroe which premiered at SXSW, and Will ‘The Machine’ starring Denzel Whitaker which generated over 1.5 million views on Omeleto’s Youtube channel. In 2020, 4WT had films at both Tribeca and SXSW and they are the perfect partner to shepherd 5150 from script to screen. Website


In 2014, David and Jessica Oyelowo formed their independent production company, Yoruba Saxon Productions. As a talent-led production company, Yoruba/Saxon’s vision of VALUES BASED content, across all platforms and for all quadrants, aims to shift the culture of Hollywood and beyond. Their slate of co-produced films includes A United Kingdom (Fox Searchlight Pathe), Captive (Paramount), Nightingale (HBO) and Five Nights in Main (Filmrise). Yoruba/Saxon will be supporting 5150 throughout the entire process and offering leadership to navigate production through the complexities presented by the pandemic.

Beyond telling a great story that entertains audiences, we are also passionate about the film's social impact. The primary issues 5150 aims to shine a light on are mental health and the power of modern celebrity— especially within the black community.

People of color face obstacles stemming from systemic racism that have repercussions when it comes to mental health. African American adults are 20% more likely to experience mental health issues than the rest of the population. Sadly, African Americans are also less likely to seek treatment for mental health issues.

The modern obsession with celebrity is complex and pervasive, affecting nearly every person on the planet. The role of the celebrity is constantly changing and evolving but we don't often step back to consider the implications, especially for young people of color.

These interrelated issues of mental health and celebrity provide the opportunity to go deeper with 5150 and have a social impact. To achieve that goal, we have developed an impact campaign for 5150. Our plan includes guided discussions about the film and the themes of race in pop culture with organizations including Creative Visions Foundation - our official fiscal sponsor of 5150.

Our impact campaign will distribute the film at no cost, with materials to facilitate conversation during hosted screenings, to unpack the complex relationship communities of color have with their celebrities. Our plan also includes curating public conversation between David Oyelowo, Jovan Adepo, and Denzel Whitaker to unpack the complexities of mental health and celebrity for the black community and the importance of positive role models and mentorship.

While we may have an accomplished team, this project is truly independent. The team has assembled to collaborate on this film because we believe in the power of storytelling and how it can have a positive effect on the world around us.

While technology has made filmmaking more accessible, making a movie is still expensive which is why we need your help. Long before we created this Kickstarter campaign, we worked to bring allies together, calling in all our favors to secure amazing partnerships and sponsorships, resulting in an overall value of 5150 that is many times more than the amount of the budget.

The good news is that we have already raised $35K of our $55K total production budget. The total value of our $55K hard dollar budget amount is valued at $100K-$125k which is a direct result of our entire above-the-line team working for free, our below-the-line crew working at heavily discounted rates, and our generous sponsors and vendors either giving us discounts or donating. This is all because our team and partners strongly believe in this story and we want to deliver the absolute best possible version of this film.



When our production budget is met, and we exceed our target number, we have set up a dream milestone of $45,000 to raise here on Kickstarter. If we are able to achieve that goal, the extra monies will be applied directly to increasing our crew rates to standard market rates, enhancing production design and building the world of 5150. Once again, every dollar earned will end up on screen to help tell this story.

Kickstarter Ends | End of May 2020
Pre-Production | June 2020
Production I 3.5 shoot days late June - early July 2020 in Los Angeles
Post-Production I Jul - Aug 2020
Festival Outreach I (Sundance, SXSW, Tribeca, Etc) End of Summer 2020
Festival Premiere I Fall 2020
Distribution/Limited Series Development I Fall 2020

It's worth noting that as part of our production, we are accounting for changes in the schedule due to local shelter-in-place regulations and are committed to ensuring the safety of our cast and crew. Our producers are working diligently to follow industry best practices to maintain a safe production, so no matter what changes happen as a result of COVID-19, we are confident we can adjust accordingly. The entire team is committed to ensuring 5150 is completed and goes on to be widely seen by audiences.

Like our previous short films, our goal is to premiere 5150 at a top-tier film festival teeing up a strategic rollout across other festivals. We will be submitting to festivals including Sundance, SXSW, Cannes, Tribeca and many more. We have strong relationships with many key programmers and know that 5150 will hit the notes festivals often look for - strong director perspective, accomplished actors, high production value, unique story, focus on important social issues - which will lead to opportunities for distribution. In tandem with our festival rollout, 5150 will be widely released online in partnership with Short of the Week, Gunpowder & Sky’s ALTER OTT Network, Vimeo Staff Pick, Omeleto and other distribution outlets — all of which we have existing relationships with from our previous films.


It is important to consider the team behind any project you are backing. We are proud to say that we have proven track record of producing short films that have played at prestigious festivals and that our films can also be seen worldwide on many sought-after platforms.
Souls of Totality - Short Film, Drama/Sci-Fi

This ambitious short film stars Tatiana Maslany (Emmy-winning lead of Orphan Black) and Tom Cullen (Downton Abbey) as members of a mysterious cult preparing for the solar eclipse. The film features a stunning 5-minute scene captured during the actual eclipse. Souls has been an official selection over 20 prestigious film festivals, won 3 Oscar-Qualifying film festival awards and selected as a Vimeo Staff Pick.

How To Be Alone - Short Film, Horror

This dark and wickedly fun short film stars Maika Monroe as a woman who’s deepest fears seem to manifest physically when her husband, played by Joe Keery, leaves for the night shift. How To Be Alone is the first film from writer/director Kate Trefry who writes on Stranger Things. The film had its World Premiere at SXSW in 2019 and was released on Indiewire.

Will The Machine - Short Film, Drama

This dramatic short film stars Chris Fornataro (Bad is Bad) and Denzel Whitaker (Black Panther) in a brooding character portrait of an elite high school football star consumed by ambition. When Will faces defeat to an outsider in a series of races, the demons keeping “The Machine” running finally surface. Set in the unique backdrop of wintertime Richmond, Virginia, the former capital of the Confederacy, the title character embodies the city’s conflicted, tumultuous history. The film made a splash upon wide release and garnered over 1 million views on Omeleto’s Youtube channel in just a month.

We feel deep within our hearts that this short has the potential to ruffle industry feathers. We know this short can and will spark much-needed conversation about the adverse effects of modern celebrity, the rapidly rising sub-culture known as “cancel culture," and the lack of mental health awareness within minority communities.

We sincerely appreciate you checking out 5150! We thank you in advance for placing your trust in us as filmmakers and we hope that you consider donating to help us bring this incredible story to life! After this campaign is successful and you see the film and your rewards, we truly believe you will be proud to have backed this film! 

For any questions that you may have, feel free to reach us at:
Producer Email - info@4wtmedia.com
Denzel’s Instagram - @Blackmouf
Websites - www.4wtmedia.com , www.blackmouf.com

Risks and challenges

Bringing any film to life poses numerous challenges, but our team has a proven track record of overcoming those challenges and creating impactful pieces of work. We expect this film to be no different. Aside from the obvious, we are going to stretch the value of your dollar further than most can. The money will be spent wisely and creatively. The most significant risk we genuinely have is raising the money on Kickstarter as it's an all or nothing platform. But we believe we have a thought-provoking, impactful project that will resonate with people and galvanize support. Thank you for your consideration of this project, and we are beyond excited to welcome those of you who join our team. From the entire 5150 team, THANK YOU!

This project is at 96% of its goal

Help bring it to life.

Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/5150shortfilm/5150-short-film?ref=section-homepage-projectcollection-2-staff-picks-ending-soon

Ideal Liver Cleaning Drinks

Liver is the biggest body organ in our body.

Getty Image

Anything that you eat or your body intakes, it needs to go with the detoxing procedure.

Out Liver attempts really hard to get rid of as much poisonous substances as feasible before passing it to the complying with level.

Its key function is to clean your body and also create chemicals as well as enzymes that help preserve wellness.

When regular feature of your liver gets interrupted, you begin seeing signs and symptoms such as fatty Liver, raised cholesterol levels, elevated triglyceride degrees, disturbed SGOT as well as SGPT degrees.

Amongst the common reason you liver comes to be slow over a time period is due to over use of Medicines, Alcohol as well as additionally Smoking cigarettes.

Even the usual anti-biotic that you take has to go using the detoxing procedure.

Right here's what happens ...

When you consume an Anti-biotic for cold, the medication at first gets to the liver. Liver afterwards attempts its perfect to squash the damaging outcomes of anti-biotics. The remaining component is after that passed to your body, this is furthermore called first pass influence.

Throughout the above treatment the liver cells are damaged, therefore over a period of time it happens to establish.

As well as if it's left neglected, the liver tends to swell and this is where fatty liver starts.

So, if for one reason or another you have in fact decided to deal with fatty liver, the condition keeps intensifying in addition to breakthroughs from Stage I to Phase II and also after that at some time creating Cirrhosis (Irreparable trouble).

Minimizing the prolonged story short, enable's see how we can reverse the liver damage in addition to detoxify our body using several of one of the most reliable detox drinks for liver.

Parsley & Celery Juice

Getty Image

Parsleys and also Celery's are loaded with Effective anti-oxidants such as Flavonoids, carotenoids, Vitamins and also Minerals important for healthy mobile function.

Research study exposes that intake of Parsley helps to fight cost-free radicals (1 ).

When the toughness of Parsley is incorporated with the goodness of Celery, it comes to be an effective detoxification drink.

Allow's take a peek at the elements required to make this detoxification beverage.

5 Mugs of Simple water 6 Stems of Celery Half a mug reduced Parsley 4 Tablespoon lemon juice Cut mint leaves

When you have the above active ingredients helpful merely abide by the below directions.

Place all the active ingredients in the blender, mix it thoroughly. Remove the Juice in addition to eat it empty belly every early morning Ginger & Lemon Water.

Ginger consists of a key element described as Gingerol, a chemical substance that supplies Anti-inflammatory as well as Anti-Oxidant residential properties to ginger (2 ).

Ginger works by reinforcing the digestion system.

Getty Image

Research on ginger advises that intake of Ginger powder before a dish considerably decreased the minute called for to take in food i.e. around 50% faster (3 ).

On the various other Hand similar to Ginger, Lemon likewise works by taking care of the gastrointestinal problems.

Lemon juice is laxative and also it's frequently utilized as an early morning beverage to deal with bowel abnormality along with ease food digestion.

Furthermore, Lemons are acidic but it has an alkalizing effect on your body.

So, when we incorporate Lemon as well as ginger it ends up being a reliable medicine for numerous problems.

Permit's take a peek at the ingredients required to make this potent detoxifier.

Half Inch Ginger 2 tablespoon Lemon juice

Below's the fast Instruction to make this beverage ...

Take a glass of water Essence the Juice from Ginger Mix the ginger as well as lemon juice include some sliced mint leaves.

Consume this water once daily.

Coriander along with Lemon water

Getty Image

Coriander leaves are alkaline as well as taken into consideration as a very food for taking care of problems like Extreme weight as well as liver disorders.

Consuming coriander fallen leave drink once daily can have a favorable influence on those that are suffering from Fatty liver.

Additionally as your Liver wellness boosts, your skin top quality also has obvious improvements.

Research research recommends that coriander fallen leave remove has a positive antioxidant task on your skin as well as fights skin aging (4 ).

Lastly, this potent beverage is furthermore recognized to eliminate cancer cells along with totally complimentary radicals in your body.

So when we combine all the advantages of Coriander with powerful Lemon juice, it ends up being a powerful fat heater and additionally a remarkable liver cleaning beverage.

Allow's have a look at the energetic components called for to make this powerful liver cleanser.

A handful of Coriander leaves3 tbsp lemon juice half a glass water.

When you have these components prepared, consist of below active components to the mixer.

Half a glass water Coriander leaves Lemon Juice

Mix it thoroughly, get rid of the juice in addition to have this drink

Turmeric Liver cleaning beverage.

Getty Image

Turmeric extract's are being taken advantage of because old time as well as is thought about to be non-toxic as well as an effective option for lots of standard medicines mostly because of positive influence on different systems of the body (5 ).

In addition, Turmeric contains a key element known as Curcumin which uses turmeric it's anti-inflammatory top quality (6 ).

Curcumin additionally assists to remove Joint swelling, swelling along with deal with different metabolic problems (7 ).

When we specify combating swelling, turmeric remove is recognized to fight inflammation at the mobile level.

Finally, Turmeric repairs the metabolic procedure consequently alleviating the bunches from your effort liver.

What this recommends is that weight issues is also maintained in check.

To make your own detox and also weight management drink right below are the energetic components you will absolutely require.

Fifty percent tablespoon. Turmeric half inch grated ginger2 tbsp Lemon juice half a glass water

Comply with these Directions to make your liver cleaning beverage ...

Steam the water as well as include turmeric complied with by ginger to it let the water amazing down add Lemon juice Stir it well.

Have this beverage prior to bed for finest outcomes.

Organic Matcha Eco-friendly Tea

Getty Image

Matcha Environment-friendly Tea is understood to fight and also reverse damages induced by free radicals.

Looks into performed on computer mice exposes that Eco-friendly Matcha Tea significantly aided to turn around the damage caused by cost-free radicals (7 ).

Also, to include consisting of Matcha green tea in your diet aids to prevent mobile damage in addition to decreases the danger of countless chronic conditions (8 ).

Utilizing Organic Environment-friendly Matcha tea is basic as there are just 2 energetic components needed i.e. Water and Environment-friendly Matcha Powder.

To make this liver cleansing beverage, simply vapor the water, pour water in the mug. In addition to add one tsp green Matcha tea

Mix it well as well as also consume this tea.

Dandelion origin tea.

Getty Image 

This is the second-rate alternative after the eco-friendly Matcha tea.

Dandelion beginnings are extremely healthy as it's loaded with nutrients required for healthy mobile attribute.

Dandelion origins and also blossoms are recognized to include high quantity of Beta-Carotene, an anti-oxidant that aids to guard mobile damage brought on by Oxidative stress and anxiety (9 ).

Additionally, much like its various other equivalents over Dandelion origins are additionally comprehended to have anti-inflammatory high qualities. This additionally provides Dandelion tea anti-Obesity properties.

Research studies carried out in Computer system mice shows that Dandelions can minimize swelling, this consists of lung swellings (10 ).

In addition, It aids to balance your Vata, Pitta along with Kapha for that reason working as an effective detox drink that aids you reduce weight along with flush pollutants from your body.

If you intend to detox your body, just replace your regular coffee OR Tea with this effective detoxifier.

Dandelion Tea aids to fight free radicals as well as additionally remove impurities accumulated in your liver.

To consume this detox tea I recommend utilizing the tea bag as in this fashion you have the correct and optimal dose.

You can obtain your Dandelion tea right here ...

Tips to Clean your liver much faster

Getty Image

When you make use of any type of one of the above solutions, try to do Intermittent fasting, suggested is 12 hr fasting. Consume alcohol a minimum of 2-3 litres water, as there is absolutely nothing suitable than a simple alkaline water to cleanse your bodytry doing Coffee Shot or Simple water injection to quicken the detoxification procedure. Include tons of environment-friendly cruciferous veggies ion your diet program, as they are identified to regenerate the liver cells. Stay clear of Family pet products such as meat, Milk and Butter. Opt for half an hour's walk on a daily basis to see noticeable end results.

Please Like & Share