The project is now screening at the Tribeca Film Festival.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY:I thoughtMy Scientology Moviewas informative, and funny, and disturbing.
John Dower:We do it ourselves in the film.
Credit: Seth Resnick
Louis, youve been wanting to make a film about this subject for a long time, right?
LT:A long time, yes.
I first heard about Scientology in my late teens.
I had an uncle who lived in Los Angeles.
He told me about the Celebrity Center.
I did stories about offbeat types of pursuits.
I, in 2002, thought, maybe I could do something on Scientology.
We made contact, went round the Celebrity Center, negotiations stalled.
Then, literally, about 10 years went by.
We started thinking about.
Is there a way we can do it that is fresh and different?
And the idea of reenactments came up.
John, how did you come onboard?
John Dower:I, bizarrely, stupidly said No.
JD:Sorry, have I never told you this?
Also, there was no access and Louis stuff thrives on access.
Andrew, what did you think when you auditioned for the role of David Miscavige?
Either the project doesnt really exist or theres…
LT:A sexual dimension.
So, my question really is, How worried were you that this was in fact a porn movie?
Andrew Perez:[Laughs] I didnt totally know what to expect.
It was a surprise, the entire thing.
I now want to see a full biopic starring yourself.
JD:Lets do it!
AP:Maybe Scientology will hire me for that.
Or am Ihissidekick, maybe?
Regardless, there are certainly times in the movie when the relationship between the two of you becomes strained.
Has he seen the finished film?
What did he think of it?
I have to say he put himself out a lot to make it.
His willingness to takemeon means that Im kind of put in my place and you have this shifting partnership.
But does he unabashedly endorse the finished product?
JD:I think Id be disappointed if he loved the whole film.
[But] dont get me wrong, I have so much respect [for him].
He put himself out on a limb for us.
How did you become aware that the church was monitoring the progress of the documentary?
LT:The first interaction was letters that said they knew what we were doing.
The irony, of course, is that without this monitoring you would have a much thinner film.
JD:It would have been a much weaker film without those moments.
LT:I was relieved.
When they turned up the first time, I wassorelieved.
Because we had been told, They dont do this any more, theyve dialed it down.
Is there any news about that?
At next years Tribeca will I be interviewing someone about their Louis Theroux doc?
LT:That would be exciting, wouldnt it?
They didnt film that much.
My Scientology Moviescreens at the Bow Ties Cinemas Chelsea 5 Monday at 9:45 p.m.
