Expelled from "Expelled"

That's right, folks. The blogosphere is buzzing over the fact that PZ Myers, who has a minor role in Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed got the boot from a private screening held in Minneapolis last night. But PZ's guest for the evening, Richard Dawkins, who has a major role in Expelled, managed to get in undetected. Way to go Richard!

While PZ was cackling on his blog, associate producer Mark Mathis was going head-to-head with Dawkins in front of an appreciative crowd. My only regret is that we didn't have a camera there to film it all. Suffice to say, from what I've heard, Dawkins' peformance won't earn him an award any time soon.

Incidents like this make me want to hug PZ. He and his peanut gallery have been lighting up switchboards (not to mention my blog) across the web with their cries of outrage. They're the best PR team a guy could wish for. Keep up the good work!

Look for an official response to this episode on the Expelled blog soon. And don't forget, the film will be in theaters everywhere--even Minneapolis--on April 18. So perhaps PZ will get a chance to see it after all.

Comments

[Elliedee]

Oh and go and delete those asshole's comments. It's your blog and all your doing is giving them another avenue to spread their lies and discredit your AMAZING and highly entertaining film. As we saw in your film they are all about censorship so give them a dose of their own medicine. Quite frankly not everyone who comes on your blog wants to read anything they have to say anyhow.

[Elliedee]

Kevin,

The blog-o-sphere is full of hateful people (besides you, because I actually know you in person). They come on here to try and dismiss the credibility of Expelled by trashing it on as many avenues as possible. We all know that everything they are accusing the film of is not true. Many films have different titles during production (especially docs while they are working out the storyline), the interviews were edited honestly and yes Dawkins does look like a confused ass hole and no you did not steal the beatles music and any entertainment lawyer will vouch for that. Fortunately these blogger people don't get out into the real world much because then they would lose their anonmyity. Take a couple days and stay off the internet and talk to real people, most of whom love the film. Expelled did phenomenal over the weekend and you should be proud of your work. After seeing the film I realized that they should be scared shit-less because they've been exposed. Remember when Ben says you'll probably get hate email for even watching this film? It's true and they are just confirming what was said in the movie. So quit reading their bullshit and realize that hundreds of thousand more people will see your film than will ever read their rants. Again, well done Kevin!

[Nullifidian]

"Now I'm really interested in this movie, with all these buzz going on."

Oh, yeah, randman, I'm sure it took you this long to become interested in an anti-evolutionary film. For those of us who were present during your hilariously wrong-headed term at the Internet Infidels board, we already knew you were this stupid film's primary demographic.

[benvenuta]

This is just lame.

[randman007]

Now I'm really interested in this movie, with all these buzz going on. If the evolutionists are so sure about their rock-solid belief then then they don't have anything to worry about what this movie has to say. They should at least with an open mind see what this movie has to say. Then they can have a list of rebuttals to write about. I'm approaching this with an open mind. I don't want some stodgy scientist tell me what to believe. In the end it's my own life and my decision to believe in the intelligent designed or not. I don't want the state sponsored belief in the religion of evolution shoved in my throat. Are we in America 2008? This is a free country, isn't it?

[BW022]

The idea that Myers and Dawkins should have known that they weren't invited or welcome is a joke.

First, the web-site invited everyone. It didn't qualify the invitation in any way.

Second, both Myers and Dawkins were in the movie. Both were even thanked at the end of it. Of course they would be interested in seeing the movie and why would they assume that someone would care if they did?

Third, Myers brough his daughter with him. He was hardly expecting trouble. It was in a mall.

Forth, since when does the make up of rest of the audience mean that you should know that you aren't invited? I should consider myself not invited to a Chinese cooking class, because I'm not Chinese and the majority of the class might be?

Fifth, why are people who might not agree with a movie (which they haven't seen) supposed to assume that they shouldn't show up. Journalists can't show up? How about art students? How about someone who believes in evolution, but thinks Ben Stein is funny? What possible assumption is there that you have to be supportive of the idea of the film or else be considered uninvited.

Sixth, since they were there to watch a movie, what possible difference would their feelings/beliefs have? Again, what difference would it make to sit in a movie you didn't believe in, provided you didn't disrupt others from watching it.

These arguments are just stupid. Should creationists "know" that they are not welcome at universities, in medical schools, in research centers, etc. Isn't this the point of the movie?

The more the creationists try to spin this, the more stupid they look.

[BAC]

I love PZ!! After reading his post I was laughing right along with him! How funny he would get the boot, while Dawkins was allowed to walk right in. ha

Americans United for Separation of Church and State is going to get SO MANY NEW MENBERS from this film. Thanks!

BAC

[Lee Harrison]

Hey Java - here in South Australia there is a brand of iced coffee that is heavily (exclusively) marketed to tradesman/blue-collar workers. It's famous for it, every knows their target demographic. Is it unethical/bordering illegal/immoral for an office worker to buy one?

Dick...

You know, what's really amusing is you being so fundamentally dishonest that you are attempting to defend Mathis et al's decision to limit the pre-screening showings to like-minded people. In what way, exactly, does that contribute to improving the film? I mean, beyond better targeting of their propaganda (and remember, pre-screenings are supposed to be about getting feedback to improve the movie). Isn't this film supposed to be about academia and science? If it really was, they'd be looking for criticism from all sides to help make their case more air-tight. Of course, we know it has nothing to do with honesty or quality control and everything to do with preaching to the choir.

"Welcome to GetExpelled.com
This site is specifically designed for students, teachers, pastors, youth leaders and organizations to provide useful tools and resources to promote the ideas surrounding this highly anticipated film."

Guess what? No mention of 'Christians Only'.

Also, and here's the key point you silly boy - "...to promote the ideas surrounding this highly anticipated film."

Isn't one of the 'ideas surrounding' this 'anticipated' dreck the principle of Academic Freedom? Isn't another concerned with stifling dissent? And hey, maybe another is the controversy angle between ID and evolution. And haven't these ideas been promoted beyond all measure by your ideological buddies recent cock up? Not in the way they wanted, of course - but that truly is their own stupid fault.

[micketymoc]

"What I hear you implying is that these two guys who pretty much rely on their intellect for their careers, couldn't put 2 and 2 together and realize they weren't exactly the I.D. "promoter" types the web site is clearly marketing to."

I'm not implying that at all. I'm simply saying these guys decided to sign up at a publicly available website for a screening in the Mall of America. They didn't *care* if the movie wasn't marketed to them. They didn't *pretend* to be one of the target market delineated by the marketing agency.

There were no false pretenses involved in their signing up. The website was open to all comers. They were subscribed to the Expelled mailing list, with their own names and email addresses. Again, I have not said or implied that they pretended to be anything other than themselves.

And yes, I give you that: they saw an opportunity to see the movie they had been deceived into being part of, and they decided to see it. I'm not seeing anyone implying there was more to it than that, unless you care to enlighten me?

[javascript]

Mick...
Gee... let me think about that question a while. Hmmm? I'm done! It's like this... What I hear you implying is that these two guys who pretty much rely on their intellect for their careers, couldn't put 2 and 2 together and realize they weren't exactly the I.D. "promoter" types the web site is clearly marketing to.

Give me a break. They saw an opportunity and took it. They're not dumb... just opportunist. The pathetic part is how they now spin it as if they were shocked PZ was asked to leave and that they have been unfairly treated. These guys are two of the most abrasive, bullying communicators in the world. If they don't like you they'll chew you up and spit you out without a blink of the eye. I don't feel the least bit sorry for them and no one should.

[micketymoc]

...and I still don't get your point. Sure, they don't exactly fit the target market, but it doesn't say anywhere that ONLY the target market can attend the film showings.

Are you implying there was some form of dishonesty involved in signing up for a publicly-accessible event, one in which they played a prominent part in making?

[Nullifidian]

Javascript burbled:

"Do you think PZ wandered on to that site and into the line at the screening because he wanted to be informed enough to 'PROMOTE THE IDEAS' of this movie? Are you freaking kidding me man?"

Of course that was his intention. After all, we're reliably informed by the writer and the producer of Expelled that there's no such thing as bad publicity. Therefore, PZ gives the ID creationist movement good publicity every time he publicly eviscerates their many idiocies on his blog. Therefore, he had as much right to watch the film as any other promoter of ID, perhaps even more so since he's been so on-the-spot with debunkings of IDiocy when it appears.

If it's sauce for the goose, it's sauce for the gander.

[javascript]

Lee Harrison... Take note:
From the header of the "getexpelled.com" web site:

"Welcome to GetExpelled.com
This site is specifically designed for students, teachers, pastors, youth leaders and organizations to provide useful tools and resources to promote the ideas surrounding this highly anticipated film."

Can't get much plainer than that... "to provide useful tools and resources to PROMOTE the ideas surrounding this highly anticipated film." Do you think PZ wandered on to that site and into the line at the screening because he wanted to be informed enough to "PROMOTE THE IDEAS" of this movie? Are you freaking kidding me man?

Now look at the bottom and see the logo and the words that read, "Created by Motive Entertainment." Motive has been around for quite some time. They are a marketing and promotions company that specifically markets to the faith based communities. They look for projects like "The Passion of the Christ," "Narnia," and "Expelled", to introduce to their specific market because they know their audience is looking for material like this. Of course faith based people will be encouraged by a film that stands for the freedom and rights of scientists to speak openly about this subject. It is of course a subject of great interest to them on a very personal level.

Motive has been around long before Premise. They are not owned or operated by Premise any more then they are owned or operated by Mel Gibson who produced The Passion of the Christ.

I laugh when people like you accuse anyone you disagree with, with being stupid or ill-informed when it is clearly you who lacks any real knowledge of what's going on.

[Matt]

Well, it seems obvious that Mathis and Miller's heads are just something to hang their hats on. Two more examples of the morons that reside in Hollywood.

[Lee Harrison]

Hey Java - about the site getexpelled.com - you may notice at the top of the page it states specifically who the site is meant for. This list includes Pastors, absolutely (so much for ID not being a religious hypothesis...) but you may notice it also says students and teachers. It does not say Christian Students and Christian Teachers. If the latter is what they MEANT to say, they would have said it - unless they're too damn stupid, of course.

Given your mention of 'the thread you TELL us exists' (my emphasis) and the fact that you appear to know frig all about what the site actually says, I'm wondering if you've actually bothered going to the links at all (of course, I've known too many liars for Jesus to be at all surprised if that were the case).

So - you claim that the invitations weren't open. I show you the site that makes it obvious that they were. You then demonstrate your lack of knowledge by claiming that the getexpelled.com. site is obviously intended for the faithful* - try actually looking at the site first. After demonstrating you ignorance, you claim that your point is somehow proven. No wonder ID'ists have so much trouble with basic science.

*incidentally demonstrating your astonishing lack of political judgment and exposing a ridiculous bias all at once (hint: cdesign proponentsists have been careful from the beginning to dissociate their ideas from God - are you trying to ruin all their hard work? XD)

[micketymoc]

So they subscribed to the grassroots website, big deal, they had their interviews featured in the movie, was there anything wrong with their signing up?

Are you implying any dishonesty in the fact of their membership? Any subterfuge?

Does the fact that they don't believe in the movie's point somehow make it illegal or immoral for them to have signed up?

Perhaps you can clarify your point for us. I'm all ears.

[javascript]

oh Lee... you've hurt my feelings. I'm in tears over hear... you're such a strong, big man (man?) with a tremendous command of the English language... You have clearly put me in my place and I quiver at the thought of what might be the very next syllable you utter.

Just one thing though... to follow the thread to where you tell us this sign up sheet exists, you had to start with the EXPELLED grass roots web site, (getexpelled.com), a site that could not be any clearer who their audience is if they tried. You have just proven my point. Thank you.

[The Pirate Fang]

Thanks for the apology. I am not a crationist nut job. I am a Pastafarian with a shameless tendency towards sarcasm!

[Ernst Hot]

Another Liar for Jesus, big surprise.

That Ninth Commandment is going to be a real bugger come judgement day...

How is it possible to so fervently defend your belief in god, while at the same time disregarding one of the most basic tenets of your faith? It's simply mind boggling...

[Lee Harrison]

Thanks Micketymoc - I just noticed my cock-up as I posted. My reply really is to Javascript.

[Lee Harrison]

Okay - I have just completely ballsed up. I stupidly attached in my head Pirate Fang's name to Javascript's latest idiotic post.

I apologise to Pirate Fang - I still don't like the handle but I at least don't think you're an arrogant creationist nutjob liar.

Javascript - just to be clear, I do think you are an arrogant nutjob creationist liar.

[micketymoc]

Lee, CJ and the Pirate Fang were obviously being sarcastic. (Here's a clue: the commenter name goes after the commenter's message, not before.)

My sarcasm meter doesn't register anything on javascript, though, so feel free.

[Lee Harrison]

Hey Nutjob.. sorry, Pirate Fang (Pirate Fang? Really?).

Go to this site: http://rsvp.getexpelled.com/events/events/list

to get the list of screenings. Click on one that has a red RSVP button beside it and see for yourself just how easy it is to get an invite.

Do you notice a religious anywhere on that form? Are you also aware that signing up, using that form, with one's real name and being prepared to offer ID at the door is hardly 'false pretenses'? Are you also aware that you're a pillock with a burdensomely pretentious screen handle?

You get to that website after just two clicks from this one: http://getexpelled.com/

Again, nowhere does it ask for religious credentials.

Let's see - IF the producers intended their pre-screenings to be a grass-roots-people-of-faith-only affair then they are
A) pathetic cowards
B) grossly incompetent
C) hopelessly naive
D) all of the above

If you answered D you win a little credibility.

IF the producers did not intend these screenings to be faithful-sheep-only affairs then YOU are a lying git and they had no reason to expel PZ.

You know, you could have looked for this form yourself - but of course, you didn't 'expect' to find it, did you? Which in your little world means it doesn't exist. How supremely arrogant (I guess that could explain 'Pirate Fang' too...).

Grow up.

[Ernst Hot]

You're absolutely right 'javascript', it was very mean of them reality based people to come sneaking in.

Dear fsm you're pathetic.

[javascript]

Hey Lee... You guys love your Kool-Aid comments don't ya? Makes ya feel all fuzzy, warm and superior inside, right? Lee... buddy... blow it out your ear.

Tell me something scooter... where is this form PZ claims was just lying around on the web site?... Can you find it? No, I didn't expect you to. Want to know why? It's never been up there. Want to know where it was? Do your homework. It's been widely publicized since day one. The film has a grass roots marketing company that focuses on marketing to the faith based communities. The form was part of their grass roots marketing campaign to people of faith. Is PZ faith based? Is Dawkins faith based? Did they find the form on the public Web site? No is the answer to all the above. So... you don't think it's sneaky of them to pretend to be faith based and sign up for the screening under those false pretenses?