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A lovely site that promotes beauty inside, outside, and around you – Poreless.com

Poreless.com is an exciting site that guides people to innovative news and new products for revitalizing skin and body. This week they go behind the beauty scene with the director, and the writer, of the short film “The Retreat” www.theretreatfilm.com. This past weekend “The Retreat” received Boston International Film Festival’s award for “Indie Soul Special Recognition.” The film also had a screening at The Big Apple Film Festival 2010, and the NYC Downtown Short Film Festival 2011. Soon it will have another screening at the Staten Island Film Festival 2011.

I hope you enjoy the article. Those at Poreless.com are interested in knowing what you think about their article, along with the questions and answers, and the way they have of handling a busy lifestyle in the entertainment industry. They are open to your comments.
http://poreless.com/?p=711

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constantine’s sword by james carroll – first a book, then a movie . . .

James Carroll’s Constantine’s Sword is directed by Oren Jacoby.

Here are some of the reviews:

“ENTHRALLING!” -Stephen Holden, New York TImes
“ASTONISHING!” -Jeffrey Lyons, NBC-Reel Talk
“MAGNIFICENT!” -Ronnie Scheib, Variety
“A FASCINATING JOURNEY . . . THAT COULDN’T HAVE COME AT A BETTER TIME.” -Ken Fox, TV Guide
“ENGROSSING AND EVOCATIVE!” -Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
“EXHILERATING!” -Rob Nelson, Boston Phoenix
“ELOQUENT . . . FASCINATING!” -Michael Sragow, Baltimore Sun
“EYE-OPENING! Moments that are simply amazing. James Carroll is a marvelous teller of truths.” -Eric Goldman, NJ Jewish Standard

BONUS MATERIALS includes: Introduction by Gabriel Byrne, discussion with Elaine Pagels and James Carroll

www.firstrunfeatures.com

In the Director’s Statement Oren Jacoby poses the question: “Where did anyone get the idea that it was all right to kill people in the name of God?”

Perhaps for many centuries many people have been asking that question.

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the extraordinary healing power of ordinary things, shantaram, salaam bombay!, (and germs)

Are we too concerned with germs? Is advertising on tv, and in magazines causing fear to creep into our minds? Are the products on the shelves that suck out every bit of moisture from our hands leaving them dried and cracked (so that we need more products to heal our hands) really necessary? If we’re not careful, we’ll begin to feel that germs are attacking us around every corner we turn. That feeling doesn’t feel good. Germs will always be with us. It’s the fear of them that holds the real power. If it’s fear that rules, there’s a book that flows beautifully in the direction of balance called THE EXTRAORDINARY HEALING POWER of ORDINARY THINGS by Larry Dossey, M.D. Can we use the word delicious here? Because it is. Go directly to the chapter on Dirt, and don’t stop there continue to the chapter on Bugs. Now that should help, if you let it. Then, of course, there’s the rest of the book.
www.dosseydossey.com

SHANTARAM by GREGORY DAVID ROBERTS – What a book! is all I have to say. If you have an unhealthy fear of germs, there’s no way you’ll NOT come away feeling very differently about them. Well, to be fair to the book, this is a small part of it, but it’s a thread throughout a lot of its story. You can only know what that means after you’ve read it. It’s wildly entertaining, inspiring, disturbing; it’s a big story about life. And know this, somewhere along the line we get quite comfortable with the way of germs.
www.shantaram.com

The movie, SALAAM BOMBAY! “Spectacular! Excellent!” is what’s been said of it, and it’s all true. The director had “street kids” acting, along with top-notch Indian actors. Watching the “special features” simply adds more to what is already an important, entertaining, inspiring, and, yes, delicious film.

The slums of Bombay are a part of SHANTARAM AND SALAAM BOMBAY. I can’t help wondering about our sterile, antiseptic, squeaky clean way of living compared to the slums of Bombay (and other parts of the world where people live in similar conditions). Questions arise after reading SHANTARAM and watching SALAAM BOMBAY One is: How is it that these people are still alive? The other is: How is it that the hospitals in our squeaky clean part of the world are packed with sick people? The answers are complex. Or maybe not.

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the retreat film

As of yesterday, three lovely creative women, and a wonderful creative cast are in full force on Long Island working on The Retreat film www.theretreatfilm.com.

Lately I’ve been witnessing “the flow” and this is another story of its operation. The serendipitous meeting of the producer, writer, director who all seem to enjoy being “extras” in movies (I think they try to snatch every opportunity to be where the creative action is, no matter where it is – poetry meetings, writing workshops, books, movie sets, acting, studying, researching, imagining – following the creative path wherever they find it), and their discussions during that first meeting somehow flowed into creating the Sag short film, The Retreat.

Watching its inception has been an enormous treat, and knowing that they come from the heart makes it a joy to watch. The motivation, the talent, the belief, and, let’s say the enjoyment of it all, has taken them from their first meeting to where they want to be.

To all of you on the set, and to your big imaginations, keep on letting it flow.

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“Don’t play for safety – it’s the most dangerous game in the world.” – Hugh Walpole

“Let the beauty we love be what we do.” – Rumi

“Be like a postage stamp. Stick to one thing until you get there.” – Josh Billings. a 19th century American humourist

“To live intuitively is to live fourth-dimensionally.” – Claude Bragdon

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. . . .” – Albert Einstein

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jesus


It’s the month of December and I’d like to write about Jesus because, since watching Paul Davids documentary film, JESUS IN INDIA, my thoughts about the life of Jesus have expanded. Once in a while, a movie, a book, a person, an experience comes along, and, after that encounter, things are not quite the same again. That’s the way it was for me and the film. I watch the film every so often now, and am always inspired by the spectacular scenery, the music, the people, the words, and I let it all sink into my heart and mind.

Pete Hammond, Hollywood.com, wrote: “JESUS IN INDIA” IS A FASCINATING AND PROFOUND FILM, A DEEPLY SPIRITUAL JOURNEY CERTAIN TO MAKE YOU THINK AND QUESTION IN WAYS YOU NEVER HAVE BEFORE. And that it does. www.jesus-in-india-the-movie.com


Edward T. Martin was involved in the making of the film, and so I looked for his book, KING OF TRAVELERS, and wasn’t able to find it in Philadelphia. However, I checked at the information counter at Strand Book Store in Manhattan, and was told “One book with that title came in this afternoon.” I looked for it, and there it was. The price was $2.00; I bought it. It’s fascinating that sometimes it’s just that easy.www.strandbooks.com

The film also mentions Elizabeth Clare Prophet’s book, THE LOST YEARS OF JESUS. And in the CRITICAL ACCLAIM FOR THE LOST YEARS OF JESUS section, there are a host of seemingly knowledgeable people who’ve written highly about it. I’ll give it a thumbs up too.


It seems to be that when we zero in on something, after a while information about it begins to fall in our lap, so to speak, and the book JESUS LIVED IN INDIA by Holger Kersten was mentioned. I couldn’t find the book until one day I walked by Garland of Letters on South Street in Philadelphia. I backtracked and went inside, and there on a long table displaying an interesting selection of books was one by Holger Kersten, the one I’d been looking for. Where were you a few months ago when I was here? I inquired of the book. At the register the cashier looked at the book, and looked at me, and said, “This book is great. My friends are reading it.” And so it goes. www.yogaunveiled.com

It was at Garland of Letters on South Street in Philadelphia that I picked up Volume 8 – Number 2 of EVOLVE magazine where it’s placed to the left of the entrance door, and read about Paul Davids, and how the seeds of the film, JESUS IN INDIA, were planted in a course he took in Mahayana Buddhism when he was a student at Princeton University.

Always there seems to be controversy with the mention of Jesus. We all have beliefs, some are written in stone, others not, — good to keep an open mind. In the end, our own diligent research and tapping into what the heart tells us, might serve us well.

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on death

Last month I watched the movie “How to Know God” by Deepak Chopra. Actually, I watched it twice, or perhaps it was three times. And I picked up another movie “Experiencing the Soul” Before Life, During Life, and After Death, in which those who are devoting their lives to understanding other aspects of life are interviewed.

At Border’s I found a book titled “The Open Road THE GLOBAL JOURNEY OF THE FOURTEENTH DALAI LAMA” by Pico Iyer. On its cover is written: “An intimate portrait. . . . Without ever losing compassion or respect for his subject, Iyer peels away layer after layer of illusion, revealing critical truths about this man at every possible level.” -Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love. The Dalai Lama was a friend of the writer’s father. I think I’ll read it more than once, not because it’s complicated, but because I want to experience reading the words again. The Dalai Lama wakes at 3am every morning to meditate for four hours. I’ve read a few times that he’s preparing himself for death. He’s also living a very full life.

Every so often I read the words “preparing for death” and it seems a very good way to live life. We prepare for many things, and since death goes hand-in-hand with us while we’re alive, it makes sense for us to get into the habit of preparing for it. Should we die tomorrow, or not for many decades, we’ll be comfortable with the thought of death. I’ve been at the bedside of people who’ve died peacefully, and with one who fought it tooth and nail. Peaceful looked right.

Michael Jackson’s death was a surprise to his family and his fans. I hope it wasn’t a surprise to him, and that his spirit is now peacefully of its journey. It’s quite obvious that his talent touched many lives in an extraordinary way.

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“When I die I will soar with the angels, and, when I die to the angels, what I shall become you cannot imagine.” – Rumi

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osho, st. francis of assisi, and. . .

I have a DVD called Love And Hate Two Sides of the Same Coin, in which Osho talks about awareness, and of “Never judging anybody by his act.” and to, “Try to find out his awareness. Otherwise, don’t judge at all.” During the entire time of the DVD the camera rests on Osho’s calm face, his steady, clear eyes, and his hands which move slowly and gracefully when he speaks. The DVD was inside of a book I’d bought a few years ago, and read with mild interest. Now with the rereading of it, along with watching and listening to the DVD, I see flashes of The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle in Osho’s words. The power of now, awareness, consciousness – what would the world be like were we all to put them to use?

I didn’t know until this week that the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi was written in his honor during World War I. Did you? The movie, Reluctant Saint – Francis of Assisi, is based on the biography by Donald Spoto, and makes all other movies about St. Francis look like fiction. In an interview, Donald Spoto said that “He’s one of the most misunderstood people in the history of organized religion.” I think he knows what he’s talking about since he says, “I’m a theologian by training. I did a Doctorate in theology with a concentration in New Testament studies, and the primary work as a teacher that I did for many years was as a professor of religious studies of scripture, of Biblical literature and languages, and Christian mysticism.” With this background, it would seem that if anyone can tell the true story of St. Francis it’s Donald Spoto. He’s also written seventeen other books on “the lives of enormously creative and important artists, such as, Alfred Hitchcock, and Tennessee Williams, and great actors like Laurence Olivier and Ingrid Bergman, and a great American woman, Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis.”

Maybe you’re looking for some great books for summer reading? Maybe you’ve found some?

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www.osho.com
www.hitchcock.tv
www.laurenceolivier.com
www.ingridbergman.com
www.tennesseewilliams.net

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fanny

I watched the movie Fanny this past weekend. To my delight, it fell into my hands quite unexpectedly from my daughter, Sumi. There’s something extremely pleasant happening when seeing a movie of this calibre.

For one thing, it doesn’t start out with a bang, and it’s not about how many people can be killed, maimed, or attacked, or how fast can a city be destroyed from some unknown thing hovering about, and it’s not about a virus that can’t be contained running rampant throughout the world, or a story about someone in a rage whose only thought is how many people can be killed with a gun he’s been embracing for a few hours. No, Fanny has none of these things that we’ve come to expect from many movies. I’m happy enjoying this old movie and munching on lots of unsalted, raw sunflower and pumpkin seeds bought at Sahadi’s in Brooklyn. www.sahadis.com

Fanny very slowly takes us into a gentler world as we get acquainted with the characters and the story, soak up the marvelous views of beautiful Marseilles, and delight in viewing simple things thoroughly enjoyed. Step by step the story evolves – not with a bang – but, sort of with a kindness and respect for the way a good story develops. And when the story ends there’s a feeling of having spent an evening in good company. Oh, yes, good company indeed with Leslie Caron, Maurice Chevalier, Charles Boyer, Horst Buchholz, and other excellent actors.

It’s a DVD that one doesn’t return quickly because watching it again would be very nice. Are you reading this, Sumi? haha

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zeitgeist

Zeitgeist – noun, German, the spirit of the times; general trend of thought or feeling characteristic of a particular period of time. Based on the Random House Dictionary

Books have been written about this material age. Now there’s a movie, Zeitgeist. A lot of people have watched it. There are parts of Zeitgeist that offend some, and there are parts that people agree with. Watching Zeitgeist helps us understand the world we live in.

The Energy that created the world – the sunsets, the mountains, the oceans, the rivers, the lakes, the ponds, the valleys, the hills, nature in all its stunning beauty which we’re a part of – didn’t create it for just a few to enjoy, and didn’t create it for just a few to control.

Somehow though we weren’t paying attention and got caught up in stuff – stuff for our amusement, stuff for our bodies, stuff for our homes, we wanted the latest this and the latest that, and as paying credit cards for all the stuff got more difficult, we failed to notice that a few were/are controlling the planet’s resources, that a few were/are making rules and regulations, that a few were/are destroying the earth’s natural resources that are not theirs to tamper with in such a way.

Perhaps now is the time to think about the world as we’ve never done before – to not give ourselves over to things that disempower us and make us fearful, to ignore the nonsense that’s placed before us in the form of “celebrity” worship, to think twice before using scary prescription drugs, to relinquish some of our adult toys, and hours and hours spent on tech stuff, and hours spent watching tv, and to quit wanting and buying a new this and a new that when the “old” is barely out of its box.

Is it time to begin the search for the real power that’s built into our beings? Is now the time to reach out in service to others and to the world? Is it time to figure out how to correct the gross imbalances on the planet which is being overrun with pollutants of many kinds – in our soil, food, water, fish, animals, air, homes, and in our bodies? The list is a long one. The good news is that there’s always a starting point for change and the time is always right..

www.zeitgeistmovie.com and www.thevenusproject.com

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“The universe is transformation; our life is what our thoughts make it.” -Marcus Aurelius

“What is the meaning of life? To be happy and useful.” -His Holiness The Dalai Lama

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narayama bushiko

Have you seen the 1983 movie Narayama Bushiko directed by Shohei Imamura? Quite a few years ago I saw it in NYC at the Carnegie Theater on 57th Street (no longer standing), and was completely unprepared for that kind of story. To say that it left a strong impression on me is an understatement. At least once a year I remember it. I don’t know why that movie hit me so hard. Maybe because it tends to force the viewer to see situations in new ways, and with a new understanding. At the end of the movie, in one way or another, the heart’s core has been reached.

The movie is about people, their village, and its poverty. It’s about one family in particular. Life at that time, Japan in the 19th century, was unimaginably harsh in that village, and for villagers to survive, babies had to die, and people who had reached the age of 70 had to go to the top of Mount Narayama to wait for death – alone. During the movie the viewer sees and feels the unbearable hardship of life then. It’s awfully hard to be a witness to life lived under those circumstances, and that’s the reason the movie is easily remembered years later.

Is the story beautiful? When all is said and done, yes, it is. Many people think so; though many people think it’s not. That’s true about many things in life, isn’t it?