The Spiritual Cinema Festival-At-Sea
The 2nd Annual Spiritual Cinema Festival at Sea snuck up on me. It looked like a nice break, promised spiritual movies and this year visited the Mexican Riviera. I hadn't been away for a week for quite a while and was interested in seeing some of Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan .
So much for my plans. Along the way the purpose of the Spiritual Cinema cruise came though.
Veteran filmmaker Stephen Simon (Somewhere in Time , What Dreams May Come , producer) was the Festival Executive Director. He described it as “a festival of and from the heart. Every decision, every film chosen, came from a conscious place of heart and connection.” He foretold, “All the films chosen exemplify what can be done when films are authentically created from the heart.”
Spiritual was not described as religious. “Spiritual Cinema is entertainment that uplifts, inspires and stirs the soul.”
We were shown both short and feature length films, and given plenty of time to go ashore. What snuck up on me was the dialogue, both inner and with others, about the films. How others took the meaning. How it affected them. Just processing it and/or integrating yourself were valuable. Talking with others enhanced that. And then we'd see another one. It was a growth experience. The messages of hope and empowerment in these films are not what we commonly get at the movie theater.
Running into the writers or directors of the movies on board was an added treat.
Most of the evening was dinner. We had a reserved area in the dinning room, and while we could move around after the first evening, I had so much in common with the people I met the first evening we met again and again. You could usually tell who the 300+ Spiritual Cinema cruisers were because they consistently left the dinning room last. And then still talked some more. The dance floor and the piano bar were also gathering places.
On the cruise was best-selling author Neale Donald Walsch. We were shown a few scenes from the film Conversations with God, based on his life, which will be released in the fall. It was directed and produced by Simon. More on that in a future issue. It's a fascinating fi lm and story—and very well done. In addition to the fi lms and hearing from the writers and/or directors of the films, Viki King (author of How to Make a Movie in 21 Days ) led a filmmaking workshop titled “Launching Your Heart's Desire.”
Kathlyn and Gay Hendricks, featured in The Light Connection in May 2005, did a workshop was on the mysteries and secrets of intimate relationships.
The Hendricks, along with Simon, are the cofounders of the Spiritual Cinema Circle , which offers members movies on DVD each month. The Spiritual Cinema Circle was formed because many films such as the one shown on the Festival at Sea do not get distributed. Hollywood distributors don't believe there is a market for them.
Simon said: “You will laugh, cry, question, ponder, be affected, but . . . most of all you will be inspired by the wonderful intricacies of the human experience and the beauty of being alive during such an extraordinary time.”
And it was an extraordinary time.
For information on The Spiritual Cinema Circle see www.spiritualcimenacircle. com/?af=65240.
Both the panel of experts and the people on the cruise voted this as the best feature film shown.
Cape of Good Hope is a witty, romantic drama that holds out the pos-sibility of redemption as a lifeline.
Cape of Good Hope is a witty, romantic drama that holds out the possibility of redemption as a lifeline. The six faces of “HOPE” are Jean Claude, who finds himself torn between love and the promise of the asylum in the West; Lindiwe, a single mother trying to make a life for herself and her son; Sharifa and Habib, a young Muslim couple unable to have children, yet desperate to have a family; Morne, a recent widow who wants to believe that true love can strike twice; and Kate, the founder of an animal shelter who seems to relate better to stray dogs than to people.
Mark Bamford (Writer/Director)
Mark wrote and directed the award-winning short film Hero . Cape of Good Hope is his first feature film. Bamford lives with his wife Suzanne Kay and their two children in Cape Town, South Africa.
Suzanne Kay (Writer/Producer)
Suzanne has been a news writer at CNN, editor of Essence Magazine, on-air anchor for E!, a TV scriptwriter and a freelance screenwriter. She is also the founder of the production company Wonder View Films.
After Nelly's mom dies when she is only 5 years old, she creates an imaginary friend, Celamy. They do everything together and make vows to be best
friends forever.However, when little Nelly grows up, and she longs for a world where there is no place for Celamy. Now it's up to Celamy to choose: should she stay, or leave so that Nelly can grow up?
Julie Ann Meerschwam (Director)
Julie chose to pursue her interest in film by enrolling into Columbia's graduate film program. There she wrote and directed the short film Audrey and Einstein , which was selected as a Student Academy Award National Finalist. Celamy is her graduation film.
Andrew Garman (Lead Actor)
Andrew's film roles include Simple Revenge and Celamy and he was recently seen on Broadway in Salome'. Andrew earned an MFA from Colombia and is currently workshopping Jack Kerouac's recently-discovered play scheduled to premiere in late 2006.
The story of a guy desperately wanting to know how relationships are going to turn out before he gets his heart invested in them.
In his search for the perfect woman, a man is given a pair of mysterious eyeglasses from his grandfather. These glasses give him the magical ability to read women's minds about what they really want in a relationship. What he finds through his discovery is the one thing he least expected. Sometimes the best thing is right in front of you if you just open your eyes.
Hank Azaria (Director/Writer)
Hank Azaria has a wonderful ability to transform himself into a multitude of characters. He provides the voices for several characters on “The Simpsons,” and has won three Emmys for his work. Azaria starred with Jack Lemmon in the acclaimed ABC telefilm “Tuesdays with Morrie” and received a Screen Actors Guild award nomination for is turn as Agador Spartacus in The Birdcage. His portrayal of television producer Al Freedman in Quiz Show also garnered him critical praise. His feature credits include America's Sweethearts, Cradle Will Rock, Heat and Grosse Point Blank.
While there were many inspiring films shown on the Spiritual Cinema Circle cruise, there was one that impressed me the most and I am still reminded of from time to time. The great news for those in the San Diego area is that it is opening at Landmark Theater in Hillcrest in August.
The film Expiration Date was a delight. All the films shown on the cruise had a message and this film did too, but more often than not, when I think about it I smile, or laugh. I think the film is hilarious, and I like to laugh.
In the world today, that by itself is a contribution to us. The film is good medicine and gets it message across with a Native American theme.
Charles Silver Cloud III is about to turn 25, which is not necessarily good news when your grandfather and father were killed by milk trucks on their 25 th birthday. The mind can have a way of making that significant.
In many ways for me one of the fascinating parts of the movie was watching how the characters were trapped in their thinking of how things should be, had to be or were going to be. The characters were all appealing, revealing and very human if not also quirky. Thinking back on what characters some of the characters were, also brings a smile.
Charlie (Robert A. Guthrie) was so convinced that he was going to die, that he had a to do list of things to complete before dying, i.e., break up with girlfriend, buy a casket, return library books. Not necessarily what we all might do.
His mother, Lucille Silver Could, is played by Dee Wallace Stone, who also played mom in ET . Lucille has mapped out milk truck routes for Charlie to avoid. Stone describes her character: “She's the most multi-layered character I've had in a while, whacked and out there—a huge emotional ball of angst. I loved her high emotion. I loved how real she was.”
She turned down the role at first then got hooked on the script.
It was his mother who also kept bringing Charlie back to his roots. Though not Native American, she was surrounded by the culture and made sure Charlie know his heritage. The Pow-Wow scene brought together 500 native dancers and was the favorite scene of many of the actors and Stevenson. “I walked off the set that day feeling so blessed, and so honored,” he said.
Just as things are coming together for Charlie's end he meets a new woman who interrupts his plans and won't let him go away and die peacefully. The woman, Besse, played by Sascha Knopf, calls her character “fluffy and tragic.” Not fortuitously, she is a dance instructor and has a dog with narcolepsy—the antithesis of who she is. She won't allow Charlie to simply go away and die; and battles with him to move, dance and live.
Also worth mentioning is Wild William, played by David Keith, often identified as the troubled officer who played opposite Richard Gere in An Officer and a Gentleman . A Vietnam vet, he replaced the adrenaline rush of the jungle with caffeine.
The fact it was filmed in Seattle comes out in more ways that just the coffee shop backdrop, where Charlie works. The owner of the shop (Ben Ratner) recites Jimmy Hendrix lyrics. Hendrix was from Seattle .
That was typical of the sometime subtle sometime outrageously out there messages of the film. Think about it. Charlie's afraid of being hit by a milk truck and his new girl friend is Besse, a common name for a cow. I don't want to spoil it and tell you the dog's name, but imagine a dog that constantly draws a crowd because people think he has died. For me the play on words and the names throughout is one thing that made the movie so fun. It was well thought out and well written.
Through out is the idea of dance and living versus death and people's patterns, preconceptions and fears. Real issues, handled lightly, but not without depth.
Stevenson says, “Charlie's under this mesmerizing influence of mortality, accepting the curse and simply waiting for it to come. That's based on his fear of living, and it's Besse who wakes him up. As she says, “it's good to keep moving.” It's like treading water. You stop moving, you sink.”
What the movie said to me was live, dance, participate, or be locked in a mental world of trying to figure things out. To find out or figure it out, participate. Take a step and dance with life as it unfolds.
This is the first of Stevenson's three films that he will make on fate.
Don't miss the credits. Nakotah LaRance, who plays a big role I haven't even mentioned, does a hoop dance during them. He is a five-time World Hoop Dance Champion.
Visit www.ExpirationDatethemovie.com.
Comments from two cruise participants
Toni McCabe: "The Spiritual Cinema Cruise was a complete pleasure. What comes to mind most often from the cruise are memories from specific movies. The selections were wonderful. I thoroughly enjoyed all but one movie and even that one stays with me. It was slower than most but beautiful and touching (Travelers and Magicians.) I can conjure scene after scene in my mind. Many people might find it surprising that most of these memories invoke smiles and laughter. Spiritual Cinema is not serious or religious. It is pertinent to our lives and the themes hit home. It's not escapism, there's no blood and gore, it makes you think and feel and laugh and cry. They are not making these movies for the money, they are making these movies from their hearts and they speak to all of us. The generosity of the filmmakers is a gift."I appreciated the pace of the festival. Most selections were shorts, lovely slices of life but there were features and documentaries as well. It made for a balanced experience and minimized overload. I never, ever felt overwhelmed. I didn't want to miss anything. The theatre was beautiful and spacious and very comfortable. There wasn't a bad seat in the house. They also scheduled it with time for excursions at the various ports which was very appreciated. If one was inclined to explore and was looking for adventure the options were available though some chosen shopping and some chosen down time. All in all there was a good balance between movie viewing, being active, socializing, and alone time.
"A benefit to cruising with a group like this is that you are guaranteed to meet people you can connect with, like minded people. We had dinners with the people who were attending the festival so conversations were lively, sharing thoughts about the movies and sharing ideas and resources. You can imagine the subjects that came up, not your usual cruise conversations. You could be sitting next to the filmmaker who wrote and directed the film you saw that day. It was fascinating. By the end of the week there was a general feeling of family and a camaraderie. It was very comfortable and nurturing and friendships were forged.
"My very favorite memories though are the times we shared on the balcony of our cabin between the movie sessions and dinner. There was nothing else competing for our attention. No telephones, no kids, no computers, no laundry. We had time to sit and watch the ocean and sky go by as we shared our feelings about what came up for us as we watched the movies that day. It was an amazing opportunity to really connect with each other as we processed the realizations that were spurred by the films.
"Luckily I will get to experience these scenes again because I am a member of The Spiritual Cinema Circle and most of the festival selections were licensed for the Circle and are being distributed to the members. I have shared many of the selections already with my children and friends. It is especially a pleasure to sit and watch these films with my teenage children. They don't always want to but they always enjoy them. Competing with mainstream cinema for their attention is tough but they have learned that we always find something we are moved by and something to talk about when we watch these films. I love films and am so grateful for The Spiritual Cinema Circle for providing me with a source for these movies that I would never find elsewhere."
Kathy Wilson: "Sailing the Mexican Riviera is a joy in itself, but add the company of an enthusiastic and passionate diverse group of film lovers from all over the world and you create a magical week at Sea called the Spiritual Cinema Festival at Sea This is no ordinary cruise. I have participated in both festivals to date and I have been part of the Spiritual Cinema Circle since its inception. I am very dedicated to seeing film makers that truly want to make inspiring and thoughtful films have an opportunity to promote and distribute their work.
"Making a film is very difficult, but the distribution of these type films is even more difficult. Having been in the business for many years, it gives me great joy to see film makers have an opportunity to show their films to a caring and supportive audience. For film makers, this Film Festival at Sea is a venue made in Heaven. At no other Festival that I know of, does very film being shown in the Festival get seen by a full audience of about 300 people. I go on this cruise to see many of my dear friends and colleagues that are also passionate about creating films that touch the human spirit. I go to make new friends, and of course I can't forget to mention, I go to dance the night away and have lots of FUN and LAUGHS with great people. "
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