Believe (film)
Encyclopedia
Believe is a 2007 mockumentary
/comedy
about the world of Multi-Level Marketing
(MLM). This is the first movie by director Loki Mulholland, who is also credited for the screenplay.
Believe was produced by Russ Kendall and Micah Merrill of Kaleidoscope Pictures
), a struggling truck driver
who was recently laid off from his job at the steel mill
when it closes. Adam is approached by a salesman for a multi-level marketing
company, Believe Industries. The salesman, Mark Fuller (Lincoln Hoppe), offers Adam a business opportunity.
Adam agrees to meet Mark at a local hotel for the business meeting. This meeting is filled with distributors for Believe Industries, such as Dan Bretenheirmer (Steve Anderson) and Sally Bretenheirmer (Ann Bosler) who are unable to succeed at Believe, even though they sincerely try to work the program. Tom (Brian Clark
) and Amy Hawks (Britani Bateman
) are a focused couple who also meet Adam.
The owner of Believe is Howard Flash (Jeff Olson), who claims to have lived in a trailer park until the business of Believe saved his life and made him wealthy.
Adam decides to join Believe and succeeds unexpectedly. He is invited to be a speaker at a Believe convention
. The crux of the plot is Adam at a crossroads of either enjoying wealth and fame from Believe or walking away because he believes he is misleading other people with his wealth and fame.
, one of the most well-known MLM companies in the world.
Mockumentary
A mockumentary , is a type of film or television show in which fictitious events are presented in documentary format. These productions are often used to analyze or comment on current events and issues by using a fictitious setting, or to parody the documentary form itself...
/comedy
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
about the world of Multi-Level Marketing
Multi-level marketing
Multi-level marketing is a marketing strategy in which the sales force is compensated not only for sales they personally generate, but also for the sales of others they recruit, creating a downline of distributors and a hierarchy of multiple levels of compensation...
(MLM). This is the first movie by director Loki Mulholland, who is also credited for the screenplay.
Believe was produced by Russ Kendall and Micah Merrill of Kaleidoscope Pictures
Plot
Set in the town of Springfield, Believe tells the story of Adam Pendon (Larry BagbyLarry Bagby
Larry Bagby is an American actor and a musician.Bagby was born Lawrence Bagby III in Marysville, California. His father was a member of a dance band. Bagby's most notable roles include:...
), a struggling truck driver
Truck driver
A truck driver , is a person who earns a living as the driver of a truck, usually a semi truck, box truck, or dump truck.Truck drivers provide an essential service to...
who was recently laid off from his job at the steel mill
Steel mill
A steel mill or steelworks is an industrial plant for the manufacture of steel.Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon. It is produced in a two-stage process. First, iron ore is reduced or smelted with coke and limestone in a blast furnace, producing molten iron which is either cast into pig iron or...
when it closes. Adam is approached by a salesman for a multi-level marketing
Multi-level marketing
Multi-level marketing is a marketing strategy in which the sales force is compensated not only for sales they personally generate, but also for the sales of others they recruit, creating a downline of distributors and a hierarchy of multiple levels of compensation...
company, Believe Industries. The salesman, Mark Fuller (Lincoln Hoppe), offers Adam a business opportunity.
Adam agrees to meet Mark at a local hotel for the business meeting. This meeting is filled with distributors for Believe Industries, such as Dan Bretenheirmer (Steve Anderson) and Sally Bretenheirmer (Ann Bosler) who are unable to succeed at Believe, even though they sincerely try to work the program. Tom (Brian Clark
Brian Patrick Clarke
Brian Patrick Clarke is an American actor.Clarke was born in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and graduated from Yale University in 1974...
) and Amy Hawks (Britani Bateman
Britani Bateman
Britani Bateman is an American actress. She played the lead female role in The R.M. and also had an important part in Mobsters and Mormons and a minor role in Believe ....
) are a focused couple who also meet Adam.
The owner of Believe is Howard Flash (Jeff Olson), who claims to have lived in a trailer park until the business of Believe saved his life and made him wealthy.
Adam decides to join Believe and succeeds unexpectedly. He is invited to be a speaker at a Believe convention
Convention (meeting)
A convention, in the sense of a meeting, is a gathering of individuals who meet at an arranged place and time in order to discuss or engage in some common interest. The most common conventions are based upon industry, profession, and fandom...
. The crux of the plot is Adam at a crossroads of either enjoying wealth and fame from Believe or walking away because he believes he is misleading other people with his wealth and fame.
Cast
- Larry BagbyLarry BagbyLarry Bagby is an American actor and a musician.Bagby was born Lawrence Bagby III in Marysville, California. His father was a member of a dance band. Bagby's most notable roles include:...
: Adam Pendon - Lincoln Hoppe : Mark Fuller
- Vanessa DeHart : Jean Pendon
- Brian Clark : Tom Hawks
- Britani BatemanBritani BatemanBritani Bateman is an American actress. She played the lead female role in The R.M. and also had an important part in Mobsters and Mormons and a minor role in Believe ....
: Amy Hawks - Steve Anderson : Dan Bretenheimer
- Ann Bosler : Sally Bretenheimer
- Jeff Olson : Howard Flash
- Craig ClydeCraig ClydeCraig Clyde is an American actor, screenplay writer, and film director. He lives in Salt Lake City and is the father of K.C. Clyde. He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints....
: Mitch Harris - Jodi Russell : Betty Fuller
- J. Scott Bronson : Dr. Bronson
- Curt Dousett : John Miller
- K. Danor Gerald : Ray Sterago
- Leilani Marshall : Lola
- Dutch Whitlock : Chris Bretenheimer
- Graham RussellGraham RussellGraham Cyrill Russell is a British musician and, with Russell Hitchcock, is one of the mainstays of soft rock group Air Supply which formed in Melbourne, Australia in 1975 and had top ten hits nationally and in United States.He released The Future, his 10-track, debut solo album...
: John Loch - Morgan Lund : Reverend Goldsmith
- Jimmy ChungaJimmy ChungaJimmy Chunga is an American radio personality and actor, living and working in Salt Lake City, Utah. During his radio career, Chunga has worked for X96 and KENZ in Utah.-Chunga trivia:...
: Himself
Background
For four years, Mulholland was a distributor for AmwayAmway
Amway is a direct selling company and manufacturer that uses network marketing to sell a variety of products, primarily in the health, beauty, and home care markets. Amway was founded in 1959 by Jay Van Andel and Richard DeVos...
, one of the most well-known MLM companies in the world.