The Profit (2001)
April 1, 2001Release Date
Plot.
Where to Watch.
Cast & Crew.
Eric Rath
Leland Conrad Powers
Cliff Roca
Mitchell Cabot
Tom Luce
The Doctor
Christine Eads
Helen Hughes
Jeff Hughes
Zach Carson
Jeff Norton
Cop #1
Peter N. Alexander
Director
Patricia Greenway
Producer
Tad Brown
Cop #2
Kevin Storey
Composer
Al Reidel
Sheriff
Mark Woods
Cinematographer
Bob Minton
VA Doctor / Executive Producer
Cole Russing
Editor
Margaret Mary Bastick
Dr. Mary Kimbrough
Duncan Pierce
Mr. Simmons
Jeff Jacobsen
Mr. Williams
Jesse Prince
Mr. Johnson
Terry Maki
Maitre d' / Makeup Artist
Jack Amos
Sr. Naval Officer
Brandon Beaver
8-year old Powers
Michael Danish
Bully Kid #1
Derek Lee
Bully Kid #2
Stephan Moreno
Bully Kid #3
Sandy Nelson
Peggy
Lanny Fuettere
Jack Hunt
Austen White
Dr. Summers
Frank Oliver
Deluded Adherent
Jane Eaton
Babs Lewis
Zachary Beeno
Helen's Baby
Brian Petersen
Shill #1
Jerry Ascione
Shill #2
Ryan Paul James
Smart Alec #2 (as Ryan James)
Ken Dandar
Agent Sanders
Daryl Hazel
Eugene Graham
Nelson J. Perez
Bruiser
Tess Whelan
RH Nurse
Jason Silvis
Orderly #1 / Stunts
Lyle Scott
Orderly #2
Cheryl Bourque
Sally Ann Semple
David Abrams
Vern Maffitt
Bobby Talbert
Falling Man
Stacy Brooks
Hollywood Hospital Nurse
Aaron Day
Tom Travers
Josh McPhereson
Kissing Man
Paul Beaver
Daryl Savage
Ron McMullen
IRS Agent #1
Mark Mainardi
IRS Agent #2 (as Mark Anthony)
Natalie Watkins
Messenger Girl
Tom Shopmeyer
Ship's Boy
Alex Rotella
FBI Captain
Mark A. Nash
Doctor
Rick West
Recruit
Timothy Burd
Stand In
Scott Grimes
Set Decoration
Brandt Peters
Art Direction
Amy Doherty
Set Decoration
John Linsmeier
Costume Design
Kelly Nagle
Hairstylist
Stephen I. Erdberg
Property Master
Hugh Boyle
Boom Operator
Christian T. Cooke
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Kevin Daughtry
Boom Operator
Rob Whitehurst
Production Sound Mixer
Ian Eyre
Stunts / Other / Special Effects Coordinator
Ron Borders
Grip
Stephen McCurry
Camera Operator
Katharine Anne Woods
Camera Operator
Rick Climenhaga
Electrician
Alex Battles
Music
Yuri Gorbachow
Music Editor
Aaron Allen
Other
Ginger Gower
Other
Media.
Details.
Wiki.
The Profit is a feature film written and directed by Peter N. Alexander. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in France in 2001. Distribution of the film was prohibited by an American court order which was a result of a lawsuit brought by the Church of Scientology, although the filmmaker says that the film is not about Scientology. As a result, The Disinformation Book Of Lists and The Times have characterized The Profit as a banned film in the United States.The film was described by its producers as a work of fiction, meant to educate the public about cults and con men. It was widely seen as a parody of the Church of Scientology and its founder, L. Ron Hubbard. The main character L. Conrad Powers leads an organization called the "Church of Scientific Spiritualism", and many elements about both the Church and Powers' life portrayed in the film, have been compared to Scientology and Hubbard. The film was mainly produced and shot in the Tampa Bay Area, and the cast included actors from the area and cameos from a few Scientology critics.
Representatives from a Scientology affiliated group, the Foundation for Religious Tolerance of Florida came to protest against the film, and the film's producers asserted that they were harassed by Scientologists. Initially, representatives of the Church stated the film had no resemblance to Scientology, but later the Church initiated litigation to block the film's distribution. As a result of a 2002 court order from the Lisa McPherson case, a Pinellas County judge blocked further distribution of the film in the United States. According to the film's attorney the injunction was lifted in 2007, but distribution was blocked due to a conflict with one of the producers, Bob Minton. The film generally did not receive positive reviews from local press, and reviews in the St. Petersburg Times criticized over-the-top acting, and noted that the director should have instead produced a non-fiction documentary piece if he wanted to educate others about cults.