Tag Archives: short film

Labour of Love

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In January I shot a documentary that I have been thinking about for a while.  It weaves Gandhian philosophy with First Nations history with contemporary urban textiles spinning and weaving all into a compelling story.

I am immersed in the post production process and I am happy to say that I am deeply inspired by this project and that it is truly a labour of love.  It’s amazing how passion for your work makes it not like work at all, transcendence of the mundane.  I can’t wait to share this project this Spring.

New Years Musings

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I was successful in slowing down over the winter holidays and I feel that I caught up on sleep and family bonding.  Immediately after my two weeks off I was spun right back into my frenetic schedule by commencing production on a short film that I was Assistant Director for.  The production was tightly scheduled with many locations so it was a demanding role and I found that I had boundless energy to dedicate to the production.  I have another shoot coming up and am in pre-production for my upcoming documentary trailer as Vancouver is enveloped in snow.

pulling focus

Setting the intention for downtime was the kindest thing I could have done for myself and my family not to mention the productions I am working on.  It was shocking that I found myself feeling anti-social at times and in need of complete relaxation and quietude.  And the personal reward was delicious and insightful dreams that allowed me to connect to my subconscious and re-evaluate my trajectory.  I enjoyed that deep and profound communication with myself which revealed new insights and inspiration.

Last winter I was in India enjoying slowness for 6 weeks.  I didn’t have that luxury this year though I am grateful for the two weeks with family and friends.  I see a bright year ahead with big changes.  Wishing you the ability to actualize your dreams and infinite bliss, there is no time like the present.

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I have watched many movies in the past month and Lars Von Trier’s “Melancholia” stood out on many levels.  After Von Trier’s antics at Cannes this year I was curious to see his new film.  I admire his originality and how he covers complex human issues. In his beautifully shot intro he gives the ending away so that there is no suspense and you are forced to delve into the captivating story.  I would go so far as to say that this film is mindgasmic.  At the very least you will enjoy Kirsten Dunst’s performance.

Flashes of Light

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This year during Summer Solstice I was immersed in a week of filming short films.  That week was a culmination of projects and busyness that climaxed with the production of the short film that I wrote and directed.  I am editing it now, can’t wait to show it to you, it was a lot of fun to produce.  I had to rely on my inner light and a lot of matcha to get through that intense week that started at the end of another intense and busy week.  ‘Bend‘ starring Cassandra Sanders, Micky Overman, and Jennie Graham.

My favorite film from the past month was Woody Allen’s ‘Midnight in Paris‘.  I am amazed at his ability to express the truth that ‘life is suffering’ with such humor.  Owen Wilson and Woody Allen are a great combination.  Check it out, in all of it’s absurdity that only Allen could pull off so coherently.

I have to give an honorable mention to Terrence Malick’s new film ‘Tree of Life‘ that was produced and starred in by Brad Pitt.  This film is more of an experimental piece rather than your typical Hollywood flick with a focus on exploring our inner world delving into spiritual exploration again covering topics from the 4 Noble Truths that ‘life is suffering’ and ‘the origin of suffering is attachment’.  I am not sure this one will do so well at the box office though I think it deserves recognition.

My schedule is a little less busy for the next week or two, only slightly so.  In my spare moments you will find me skating in the sun or on a yoga mat recalibrating my frequencies to calm focused bliss.

Human Behaviour

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Last week the Vancouver International Film Festival wrapped up after two weeks of film galore. This year the theme for me was documentaries and each documentary that I watched had an environmental spin on it even if it was not an ‘environmental’ film; it is a global topic. All of the films discussed an imminent need for conditions on this planet to shift RIGHT NOW, that we are in need of a REVOLUTION.

Sometimes I think about conditions on our sacred planet and I wonder why people aren’t freaking out and being more proACTIVE. There are some amazing people making a difference, creating a future for us to live in balance and all of these people are my HEROS. Although we are making progress it seems as if a great majority of the population are so passive about planetary conditions and current issues. regeneration-themovie.com discussed how we are plugged into the internet, personal entertainment devices, we are consuming more than ever before and this is leaving us DISTRACTED. Our youth is preoccupied and passive. Even with all of this ‘media’ there is such massive censorship that most Americans have no idea about what really is happening in Iraq, there are no major protests like there were when the US ambushed Vietnam & Cambodia.

Our feet in both worlds the key thought for me, leveraging our connectivity and unplugging on a regular basis. Remember that we CAN make a difference. Make time for community, don’t wait for someone to do something. MOVE. I am certain that we are capable of pulling up our socks and focus more effectively at transformation and have ecstatic fun while doing so. Immerse yourself in love, remember that when we keep our vibrations high we have more energy to focus our thoughts and actions, magnetizing momentum.

Irresistible.

Economic Alternatives to Oil

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Last night I exploded into bliss at a RAVE. The Great Bear Rainforest RAVE (Rapid Assessment Visual Expedition) premiered at the MOV and showcased the photographic works of 9 of the world’s top conservation photographers who partook on an expedition around BC’s pristine Hartley Bay and the mighty Great Bear Rainforest, an ecosystem completely intact with indigenous villagers still harvesting off the land.

Enbridge Inc. wants to pipe oil from Alberta’s very controversial Tar Sands to this precious coastal land at great risk to the biodiversity of the world’s largest coastal temperate rainforest. The images captured by the lenses of the iLPC photographers on display last night were unreal. This project is a lens which can create a real connection to to the Great Bear Rainforest for all of us that don’t have the opportunity to travel to this remote location along BC’s bountiful coast. The images and video produced by this project moved me deeply, I crave a connection to the delicate creatures that live on our coast and to the intense perfection that presents itself in the natural world. I feel that if we can’t use our current technologies to connect ourselves to the natural and magnificent world that is still intact to cultivate our reverence then we need to re-focus ourselves.

If a pipeline was pumping crude oil to these lands then there would be a risk of an oil spill, they do happen. I met a man that biked, hiked, and kayaked from the Tar Sands to the coast along the proposed route of the pipeline. They traversed terrain so remote that it would not be immediately accessible if there was a pipeline rupture. And with all of the tankers coming through the rugged passages it would be certain to disrupt the habitat for so many species, without even an oil spill. That expedition will be made into a documentary, check out their website HERE.

The most moving part of the evening was to hear stories from some of the photographers and their experiences in this special place. Gerald Amos, from Hartley Bay, moved many in the crowd to tears with his heart felt talk. He passed along his belief that our most important right is the right to be responsible. It is not rocket science: our way of life is at stake and we need to talk about it and do something about it.

In his tribe it is a law to welcome anyone who enters their land hospitably and take care of them. He welcomed us all aboard his magic canoe. His canoe can fit as many people who want to come on board. I have been waiting for a magic canoe, an embodiment of inclusiveness, my whole life. The wisdom from the BC Native communities has got my attention, every thing I hear moves me deeply and strikes a chord that this view and this wisdom needs to be heard, this wisdom can correct our societies perversion which has created conditions on our planet to get funky.

This land and its inhabitants have survived many storms, but it surely would not survive an oil spill. The question to get to the root of is: WHAT ARE THE ECONOMIC ALTERNATIVES TO OIL? This is our challenge and I know we can find them.

This summer, for the first time since I moved back to Vancouver with young children, I took my car off the road for 6 weeks. I fully embraced cycling in the beautiful city of Vancouver and it brought experiences I would otherwise not have had. I felt so much healthier for it. As I accustom my children to relying on pedaling themselves around the city rather than me driving them, I plan to take my car off the road on a regular basis. It was a rewarding experience.

The pinnacle of last nights RAVE was the Gerald Amos saying that he was filled with hope for the future. I too have moments where I am flooded with hope that we can achieve a more sustainable and harmonious existence on this planet. To hear this wise man share his hope fortified mine. I am not afraid to change. Bravo to everyone who was involved with the creation of this inspiring project, and bravo to all of the people out there finding solutions to conserve and restore nature and for discovering economic alternatives to oil. You are my heroes.

Please support:
http://tidescanada.org/about/gbr-rave

Arts Cuts: Make Your Voice Heard

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The BC Liberal Government has proposed massive cuts to arts funding over the next few years. If you are an artist, have artistic children, or if the arts in any form have enhanced your life PLEASE contact your MLA and encourage your tribe to do so too.

Be informed, check out the Stop Arts Cuts website: http://www.stopbcartscuts.ca/

Apparently ‘ink’ petitions are more powerful, so get out your pen and write right now! This blog has some great guidance: http://stopbcartscuts.wordpress.com/

I can’t even begin to articulate how opposed to the cutting of 92% of the funding allocated to Arts in BC over the next few years I am. At the Wrecking Ball, a fund raising event put together by the vibrant theater community, the statistics were presented so colorfully and humorously. In the new year the government is going to be making some big budget related choices, NOW IS THE TIME TO CONTACT YOUR MLA. I don’t feel like reiterating the facts, I just want to remind you that your voice counts and now is the time to speak out.

If you Twitt follow these great tweeps:
http://twitter.com/AllianceArts
http://twitter.com/stopbcartscuts

May BC remain a colorful province. May artists everywhere be victorious. :: Creativity Counts ::

TRANCEending the ordinary

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See the world from fresh eyes,
you are the alchemist.
You have the ability to transform a painfully mundane moment
into pure magic.
Enter the flow…

…find that inner spark,
blow air onto it,
and allow it to burn.
Feel the warmth, the bliss.

Listen to that song, the birds, the traffic, the people, to that voice from within.
Feel the wind, the heat, the raindrops, the vibrations, your heart.
Look at the view, the colors, the light, beneath the surface.
Touch your feet to the ground, the textures, the hearts of all the people around you.

It is contagious and irresistible and a potent remedy.

moving for words: a short film

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Last month I wrote about Enlightened Cinema, a monthly gathering at the Chai Gallery hosted by Winston Rekert bringing together a community in appreciation of independent film making. That evening in January, local performer/actress Lisa Petrucci expressed that she had an idea for a short film. That film idea turned into a script, then Winston drew together a crew to help Lisa’s vision manifest into a short film. He introduced me to Lisa and when she read her script to me I resonated deeply with her theme of dreams, and how a dream can give us insight on important events in our lives, or important people. The dance between the conscious and the subconscious. Desire, do we act upon it or suppress it out of fear of being hurt, or our minds getting in the way.

crew of moving for words

crew of moving for words

So, from Lisa’s beautiful vision and script I got to work on my first short film with actors. I got to direct along side Winston, which was an insightful process. I also produced and edited the film and enjoyed working with cinematographer Ahmed Badawi. We shot the film in two days and I had to co-ordinate the musicians to record the score in between my mad schedule and busy family life. But it happened, this project had a synergistic flow to it and it all came together in time for the film to be showed on the second ever Enlightened Cinema on February 3rd, although I had to connect my laptop to the projector as I had not yet compressed and copied it onto a DVD.

Lisa Petrucci

Lisa Petrucci

We filmed in the beautiful Pacific Spirit Park, and were a frozen bunch by the end of the day. The second day of filming was in the most wonderful second hand bookstore, Bibliophile, at 2010 Commercial Drive. If you have not been there you should go check it out, it is loaded with charm. I managed to scoop up an incredible book on traditional Indian textile patterns, which is a major passion of mine. Scott, the manager, was super hospitable to us filming in his store. I also have to give props to actor Aryo Khakpour, he was very helpful on set and did such a great job acting.

Bibliophile - best used book store

Bibliophile - best used book store

Solen enjoyed being around the set. At Chai Imin Shekere a few days after we finished filming, he had my video camera and was quite the little director with the patrons and performers! It was so cute seeing him interview people and directing shots throughout the evening. I am sure he will be mighty useful on future sets.

Solen on set

Solen on set

Do it people, get your ideas onto paper, collaborate, get the right people together and set a deadline. Voila, in one month a finished project.

If you are curious about the project, I’d be happy to show you the 10 minute movie. Short film and tea and conversation.

moving for words/moving forwards

Enlightened Cinema at the Chai Gallery

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This evening I got back from the first initiative of bringing together an existing conscious and creative community to put their focus towards appreciating and creating movies with uplifting and conscious content. Hosted by award winning actor and producer Winston Rekert at the Chai Gallery in Vancouver, there will be monthly screenings of short films produced by the community, as well as other local and international films. For years the Chai Gallery has been a gem in Vancouver, serving organic ayurvedic eastern food, being a venue suitable for the whole family to enjoy music, and money going to NGO’s to benefit children who’s lives are affected by war. On any given night it is packed with a sweet crowd and a little later the dancefloor is alive with groovers young and old.

The first ever Enlightened Cinema at Chai evening started with a partial screening of Baraka, then Winston screened several other short films courtesy of the Spiritual Cinema Circle, as well as a short film by a local film student. After the viewings the collaborations began and people started sharing their ideas and experiences. It was so wonderful for me to see the beautiful space filled with a large screen, projector, and a room filled with people enjoying films! The Chai Gallery’s co-owner Mustafa Reza has a degree in film and with so many of the colorful people that are involved with the space having an interest or passion in video in one way or another, and with Winston Rekert’s experience and willingness to cultivate a progressive video community, there is now a possibility for a vibrant community to shine even brighter.

To become involved with community filmmaking efforts, contact: chaicinema@gmail.com

So if you know any eager film-makers, actors, composers or friends who have a story to tell, please put the word out or come out and enjoy some of the best Chai Vancouver has to offer, good food, great people, and inspiring films of course.

Chai Gallery Restaurant, 3243 West Broadway. 1st Tuesday of the Month starting January 2009 7pm-10pm

enlightened-chai

I can’t wait to write about any possible projects that have started from this evening after next month’s Enlightened Cinema at Chai.