The
Children's Story Project | Adventure
Game Project | Model Community
and Resource Center
On Wings of a Dream: Film Project
Much of activism in the world has been about addressing issues
outside ourselves—seeing a need that either disturbs or
inspires us and acting upon it. Heroic or compassionate acts
that have the power to redirect outcomes oftentimes arise from
something within—something unnamable, unlearned, or unrehearsed.
I believe that impulse is based on an ancient memory of connectedness
within every being. One does not think in the small "I" in
these situations, but knows rather that all outcomes are intertwined.
A style of filmmaking is envisioned that has little or, in some
cases, no dialogue. The intention is to reconnect people to a
memory or knowing of their essential nature—that which
is shared in common with all beings and transcends all beings.
The stirring of this awareness naturally changes the way of relating
to ourselves, each other and the Earth. This state can be elicited
through sensory experience. The purpose of having little or no
dialogue is to allow the viewer to rest in that sensory mode,
rather than engaging the mind to grasp concepts. The mind more
often than not short circuits what is known beyond words. There
are plenty of sources of information that want to instruct people
on how to behave or what they should think. There are few opportunities
that allow our own highest knowing to reveal itself.
The films will contain images that speak to all humans—beyond
cultural identities. They will be real images rather than computer
generated or abstract, so they are relatable to the human experience
(although some special effects will be used). That doesn’t
mean that symbols won’t be subtly incorporated within a
frame as well.
Additionally, music and tonal vibrations create a powerful transport
vehicle for taking the images deeper into our cellular memory
and eliciting ecstatic states. There is a heart opening that
accompanies this type of experience and an expansive awareness
that we are connected to something larger and profoundly beautiful.
Some examples of the film style are Winged Migration or Baraka.
Another film in this genre is Koyaanisqatsi, although the message
conveyed in this one was how we have screwed everything up, which
left people feeling overwhelmed and hopeless. This is opposite
from the purpose of this project. Another well-known use of applying
visual imagery and music to communicate is music videos. Although
quite different in its purpose from what I envision, the fact
that these are popular tells me that this is a viable form of
engaging an audience.
Indigenous cultures will play an important role in the creation
of these films, not necessarily from the standpoint of wanting
to revert to a lifestyle that is removed from the modern world,
but rather to grasp the ancient wisdom of living in communion
and harmony with all of life. Experts in the field of Guided
Imagery and Music will also be consulted for understanding of
how to move a “journeyer” through subconscious states
with music.
The first film will feature the ritual celebration of the divine
through the dance, music and chant of indigenous people. These
dances are powerful in and of themselves, magnetizing people’s
attention as they communicate ancient stories and interplay with
the universe. The filming would fade back and forth between the
images of the actual dancers to a visual representation of the
story being played out. For example, you may see a woman who
turns into a bird and flies into the mist surrounding the mountain
and then there is a fade back to the dancers. I have dreamt of
using a scrim for creating a dream-like or illusion state (literally
came in a dream and I knew nothing about it before). In the beginning
of a piece, what is perceived as real—the actual dancers—would
be filmed in a regular way and would then fade into the dream
state with the images of the story being told—which may
be perceived as “unreal” or fantasy. As the piece
progresses the film technique could subtly be switched so that
what we perceive as real has the feeling of being a dream, and
what we think of as impossible in this world becomes reality
in the awakened state, so to speak.
Various cultural dances, or trance dance rituals expressing
a profound connection to the divine and reverence for all of
life will be featured. There would be segues between the dance
pieces that may incorporate poetic spoken word, again with images
and music that continue the journey of the viewer. There is an
additional possibility for images that could be interwoven in
this piece. Both the ancient Hawaiians and their Pacific Island
cousins, the Maori, share a connection to ancient Egyptian culture.
Images or symbols connecting the sacred aspects of all of them
could be subtly integrated into the piece, conveying the overlaps
and commonality in our experience at the deepest level.
The different cultures represented will depend on what connections
present themselves. At this point, there is support from Hawaiian
and Maori contacts. The success of the project will depend on
establishing relationships of trust and shared intention with
elders or seers from particular traditions. We will work collaboratively
in bringing through the story that wants to be told. There will
be a ceremonial aligning with each of the groups being filmed
and as our consciousness expands collectively I anticipate we
will be given much more to capture on film than we might have
imagined possible.
One of the key elements to the successful creation of these
films will be listening to that which wants to be communicated
from a source much larger than any of us individually. This was
made very clear to me during a nine-month preparation time in
Hawaii. The creative gifts of those involved will come into play,
and at the same time we are in complete surrender to the muse,
spirit, or whatever name one puts on their source of inspiration.
The team assembled for this project will be comfortable with
not always knowing what the next step is, and will be fully available
to move within the mystery; for we are being created even as
we create and in the process our alignment is synchronized with
the larger vision
This is an exciting time on the planet with the reclaiming of
ourselves as spiritual beings co-creating with the divine. Thank
you for your consideration of this vision.
The
Children's Story Project | Adventure
Game Project | Model Community
and Resource Center
| 
