What I really think about SHINY HAPPY PEOPLE

And you're invited to an Aftershow...

Hello all,

The last time I posted on the Duggar documentary, I hadn’t actually watched it yet. I had heard good things since it premiered, especially from those in the IBLF survivor community. That’s always a good sign.

Then, after getting tagged in posts about the documentary dozens of times, I figured I should check it out. I meant to watch just one episode to start and convinced my daughter to watch it with me. Here’s how that went:

I started ep 1 today & couldn’t stop, all 4 episodes straight through. It’s heavy viewing even if you didn’t live it. But it’s so well done. A gift to so many who can know they’re not alone. Like I told the Amazon exec: Who knew Amazon could do the Duggars & be this good!?

Both my daughter and I were hooked We were impressed by how the film centered the voices of survivors, and how it resisted the temptation to sensationalize and instead worked to explain—to explain the deeper story that the Duggars are a part of, and to explain why this matters far beyond IBLP circles.

On social media, I watched as dozens (hundreds?) of people offered personal testimonies in response to the film. For people who had grown up in IBLP circles, they could finally explain what that was like to people on the outside. And many others described how these teachings seeped into their own traditions.

https://twitter.com/amyheckman/status/1665550849790148610?s=20

I loved Christa Brown’s synopsis:

https://twitter.com/ChristaBrown777/status/1665709595719872514?s=20

And Rachael Denhollanders:

https://twitter.com/R_Denhollander/status/1665716407512727554?s=20

The documentary has resonated with so many people, shocking even Amazon Studio’s head of tv:

After premiering on Amazon Prime Video with all four episodes on June 2, “Shiny Happy People” reached more viewers in its first nine days than any Amazon docuseries…

Additionally, measured over the same nine-day period, the series has been responsible for the acquisition of more new Prime Video customers than any other Amazon docuseries. More than 60% of “Shiny Happy People” viewers have been women, with more of those women falling into the 18-34 age demographic than even Amazon could have hoped for: “I’d love to tell you that we knew for sure it was going to do exactly what it’s done,” says Amazon Studios’ head of tv.., “but it’s been multiples higher than…anticipated.

Part of that success comes from lessons learned during the release of “LuLaRich.” “In doing the research, we understood that there was a big community of people who participated as sellers of that product, but also who bought the product —a big cross-section of people who would be intrigued to learn more,” Sanders explained. “So with that success, we started to look for things that may have similar attributes, a big community of people who may have an interest in a topic personally & through following the media.”

Reflecting on the popularity of the series, I think that JESUS AND JOHN WAYNE has been received much in the same way. It’s interesting to outsiders, but for insiders it’s helped them understand their world & can give some clarity for moving forward.

Tomorrow night, Amazon studios is hosting an Aftershow, and you can hear me reflect further on the film, and on how I ended up including Bill Gothard in Jesus and John Wayne to begin with. It will be premiering live at 8pm ET.

The countdown is starting here:

For those drawn to survivors’ stories, I’d also love to point you to another documentary I participated in. It’s not out yet, but you can watch the trailer here:

It’s a film that walks alongside survivors as they tell the truth and find measures of healing and restoration.

After feeling overwhelmed by the stress of filming so many documentaries over the past year, it’s heartening to see that they are doing good work in the world.