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Witness Underground

Witness Underground is a feature documentary that reveals the insular DIY artist community that emerged within the high-control Jehovah’s Witness religion in Minneapolis. Music, fame, and success are typically forbidden in the religion, which instructs its members to “beware of independent thinking.”

The artists at the heart of the music scene have their faith tested in deeply personal ways. They battle for positive mental health and push the boundaries of their religion’s norms, where leaving often means being banned from interacting with your entire family and social circle for life.

Although severely restricted, they create the record label Nuclear Gopher and produce over 30 albums of earnest and personal music that spans singer/songwriter, riot grrrl, psychedelic rock, pop, EDM, shoegaze, and post-rock. Carefully curated songs and live performances punctuate their stories of friendship, deep loss, and personal growth.

  • Scott Homan
    Director
    Hanoi Mixtape
  • Siân Walmsley
    Editor
  • Scott Homan
    Editor
    Hanoi Mixtape
  • Scott Homan
    Producer
    Hanoi Mixtape
  • Ryan Duval
    Co-Producer
  • Scott Homan
    Writer
    Hanoi Mixtape
  • Ryan Sutter
    Key Cast
  • Cindy Elvendahl
    Key Cast
  • Eric Elvendahl
    Key Cast
  • Chad Rhiger
    Key Cast
  • James Zimmerman
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Feature, Music Video
  • Genres:
    Documentary, Storytelling, Anthology
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 22 minutes 43 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 1, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    50,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    1920x1080
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Wisconsin Film Festival
    Madison, WI
    United States
    May 13, 2021
    Wisconsin Premiere
    Official Selection
  • New York City Independent Film Festival
    New York
    United States
    June 7, 2021
    Manhattan Premiere
    Official Selection
  • New Haven Documentary Film Festival
    New Haven
    United States
    August 10, 2021
    Connecticut Premiere
    Official Selection
  • GenreBlast Film Festival
    Winchester, VA
    United States
    September 4, 2021
    World
    Best Documentary Feature
  • Peachtree Village International Film Festival
    Atlanta, GA
    United States
    October 22, 2021
    North American Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Portland Film Festival
    Portland
    United States
    October 6, 2021
    Northwest Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Sound Unseen Music and Film Festival
    Minneapolis
    United States
    November 12, 2021
    North American Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Rhode Island International Film Festival
    Rhode Island
    United States
    Semi-Finalist
  • Florida Film Festival
    Maitland, Florida
    United States
    Shortlisted
Distribution Information
  • Hey Klein Productions (Executive Producer)
    Country: United States
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Scott Homan

Scott Homan is a first time filmmaker. He was raised in the Northwoods of Wisconsin in the wild heart of the Great Lakes region. He was taught by eccentric parents to defy cultural norms and embrace a DIY ethos. He created his first two student documentaries at 17 in a public access high school program called "Ch 2." He then worked at Channel 7 News running camera and audio in Wausau, WI, and then went to photography school in Minneapolis during the transition from film to digital. He later lived abroad for seven years in Ecuador and Vietnam where he primarily focused on developing the skills to run a boutique documentary production studio. He and two friends in Hanoi created a music video production company, Banana Island Films, that he runs to this day. They made a Hanoi Vietnam underground music scene film, Rec Room Anthology, and his first feature film, Witness Underground, is now out in the film festival circuit.

You can stream Rec Room Anthology now: vimeo.com/558803511

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

I'm compelled to capture nuanced true stories, beautiful reality and original music that has an impact. What happens at the fringes in nature is often the most interesting. The same is true of the fringes of human culture. It is my goal to elevate human stories from the underground. Documentary filmmaking has been a life long passion. I worked in broadcast then went to school for photography and now direct and produce documentaries.