Notice the quotation marks.
These are the titles of 2 movies that, while not being brand new or block busters, should be seen by every person on the planet! Ok so I have a strong opinion about it, but really, they are great movies and the information is applicable to all of us, no matter where we live, how we live, or why we live. Actually they both address that last part in entertaining, honest and meaningful ways.
"I Am" is a doc by Tom Shadyac. Of course I had heard of Tom, who is a Hollywood heavy weight, through his big movies, but it was when I heard a few years ago that he sold all his stuff and completely changed his life that he got my attention. "I Am" is his documentary about the bike accident that changed everything. His entire view of life took a 180 and now he teaches others what he has learned, and what really is important in life and I just happen to agree with him in a big way. We need to be cooperative, help others and be a part of the solution, not the problem.
"Happy" is a doc created by Roco Belic and produced by Tom. It's a movie that states what I have been saying to people for years and is one of the underlying themes to my movie "Did I Say Thousand Island?". People who work in the restaurant industry ARE happy! My research showed that 95% of the people I talked to loved their jobs. The funny thing is that the impression formed (falsely it seems) by many people is just the opposite. Maybe those people need to watch Happy to readjust their way of thinking! Maybe they need to learn what in life actually and statistically makes us happy....
So I have this movie, that has been seen all over the world, and keeps being downloaded every day which thrills me to no end! After being told by so many people that I need to remake it, a couple of years ago, I decided to set out on a new mission to find the right people to remake it. I, I repeat, I, do not want to be a filmmaker, but there are people who do and are. I've been praying for many years that God leads me to the right people. Maybe, just maybe I am coming across them. They need to be the type of people who will keep whatever it is in the movie that makes people still download a no-star-no-professional-actors-no-budget-no-razzmatazz-just-a good-story movie after almost 8 years of its release. I think it might have something to do with our heart. A subject in both of Tom and Roko's movies.
Water has been my heart's passion for hmmm, let see... probably my entire life. I played with a spoon, a cup and a sink with a bit of water in it, when I was three (easily entertained but that's ok) and have always yelled at people when they waste water-- before it was fashionable to do so. What. It's not fashionable? Well maybe not yet, but if we continue as we are headed, it will become that way. Soooo I want to use my movie which focuses on restaurants--which can't run without water, to make people aware of our water situation. It's way past time. It's like the stoplight at an intersection. How many people have to be killed before they put in a light? How many towns, cities, states (can you say California or perhaps Texas or... or...) does it take to have major water problems, before we decide that we need to change our everyday behavior, on a big scale, in order to preserve and conserve water? And that's just one side of the water troubles in the world, but you already know about the millions of people who don't even HAVE fresh water to drink...but we'll save that for another day. It's the Christmas Season and we don't really want to think about all that. Do we?
So instead, let's be grateful that we live in countries that do have fresh water and try to not waste it. Peace out, as we say in Canada, but Peace on Earth is a better "see ya" for now!
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Friday, February 14, 2014
WHAT'S UP with DOCs?
Documentaries I mean...
If you want people to get a message about something, it seems that docs are NOT the way to go. How can I say such a thing? Research.... They are sadly down in popularity.
Ok, so I haven't been blogging or doing much on the computer about R4W in over a year, even though I always tell people about it. I was just totally burned out with computers and research on water and all, and decided to do what I have wanted to do for a living since university, so I have and I am. But suddenly I am on a break and have been steered back to water.
Coincidentally (nothing with God is a coincidence), a Calgary based production company, Nomadic Pictures is shooting here in High River, so I went down there to see whom I could talk to about R4W. I ended up meeting a cool guy named Zoltan Barabas--(cool name too eh?) who understood my reality about "Did I Say Thousand Island?" and how I am not a filmmaker...nor do I want to be. I told him my story, gave him the movie and he said he would pass it on.
From some of the things Zoltan said, I was totally re-energized again. It had already started with some promptings and whispers (great book by Bill Hybels incidentally), so I was getting back to my project anyway. When I went to update my website, I learned these things: documentaries are way down from the year before--which puts them far far into the basement of popularity, more celebrities are joining in the cause of water, and people still want to be entertained way more than they want to be educated...at least by movies.
In 2012, there were 696 movies made and docs were 9th on the list with 144 made. So docs were roughly 21% of the total movies made but brought in only 1.21% of the revenue. But in 2013, there were 735 movies made, 161 of them were docs, but they ended up 2nd from the bottom (only multiple genres were lower) with only .47% of the revenue! Did you get that? Not even a half of a percent! Very sad. Here's the website if you want to see for yourself: The Numbers
So, that brings me again to the point I have been saying all along. There's a message that has to get out to people, and no matter how many great and wonderful documentaries there are (and there are many about water and how it's crucial that we change our relationship with it), people don't hear the message! But if we incorporate it with a fun movie and make it entertaining, they will start to hear. But why "Did I Say Thousand Island?" ? Because restaurants can't operate without water, everyone goes out to eat and the movie has already been seen all over the world, which is amazing for a "no-budget-no-name-non-marketed" movie!
Well (a deep subject that 3rd world countries need more of), I better sign off for now and get back to truckin'--my new career. Oh and by the way, I'll let you in on one of the cool Whispers I heard... So I was reaching for an album--you know, LP's... they spin on a turntable...and I have over 600 of them...anyway, I picked Kansas, but an unfamiliar one, put it back as I wanted one I knew better, but ended up getting this one: "Masque", which is also not the most played, but I took it anyway.
While listening, I was curious about the cover art and looked at the back. What do you think the title is? Hard to guess by appearances...
"Water" by Giuseppe Arcimboldo, courtesy of Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna. ;-)
If you want people to get a message about something, it seems that docs are NOT the way to go. How can I say such a thing? Research.... They are sadly down in popularity.
Ok, so I haven't been blogging or doing much on the computer about R4W in over a year, even though I always tell people about it. I was just totally burned out with computers and research on water and all, and decided to do what I have wanted to do for a living since university, so I have and I am. But suddenly I am on a break and have been steered back to water.
Coincidentally (nothing with God is a coincidence), a Calgary based production company, Nomadic Pictures is shooting here in High River, so I went down there to see whom I could talk to about R4W. I ended up meeting a cool guy named Zoltan Barabas--(cool name too eh?) who understood my reality about "Did I Say Thousand Island?" and how I am not a filmmaker...nor do I want to be. I told him my story, gave him the movie and he said he would pass it on.
From some of the things Zoltan said, I was totally re-energized again. It had already started with some promptings and whispers (great book by Bill Hybels incidentally), so I was getting back to my project anyway. When I went to update my website, I learned these things: documentaries are way down from the year before--which puts them far far into the basement of popularity, more celebrities are joining in the cause of water, and people still want to be entertained way more than they want to be educated...at least by movies.
In 2012, there were 696 movies made and docs were 9th on the list with 144 made. So docs were roughly 21% of the total movies made but brought in only 1.21% of the revenue. But in 2013, there were 735 movies made, 161 of them were docs, but they ended up 2nd from the bottom (only multiple genres were lower) with only .47% of the revenue! Did you get that? Not even a half of a percent! Very sad. Here's the website if you want to see for yourself: The Numbers
So, that brings me again to the point I have been saying all along. There's a message that has to get out to people, and no matter how many great and wonderful documentaries there are (and there are many about water and how it's crucial that we change our relationship with it), people don't hear the message! But if we incorporate it with a fun movie and make it entertaining, they will start to hear. But why "Did I Say Thousand Island?" ? Because restaurants can't operate without water, everyone goes out to eat and the movie has already been seen all over the world, which is amazing for a "no-budget-no-name-non-marketed" movie!
Well (a deep subject that 3rd world countries need more of), I better sign off for now and get back to truckin'--my new career. Oh and by the way, I'll let you in on one of the cool Whispers I heard... So I was reaching for an album--you know, LP's... they spin on a turntable...and I have over 600 of them...anyway, I picked Kansas, but an unfamiliar one, put it back as I wanted one I knew better, but ended up getting this one: "Masque", which is also not the most played, but I took it anyway.
"Water" by Giuseppe Arcimboldo, courtesy of Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna. ;-)
Saturday, February 8, 2014
California or bust!
Yeah... Lets go to California where the grass is green all year long, the sun is always shinning and life is great!
Well, maybe things aren't so great there at the moment. Matter of fact they're terrible. The worst drought since records have been in existence... I have read in some articles.
Been a long time since I have blogged, but I still care very much about the state of water affairs in our world today and frankly, it stinks! I went to a meeting back in October that featured Maude Barlow, who chairs the Council of Canadians. I was shocked to see that the number in attendance was sadly small considering the importance of the topic. She recently launched her latest book: Blue Future, and she talked about the water situation in Canada as well as the rest of the world. It's worse than I even thought and I have done a considerable amount of research on the subject ever since starting my Remake 4 Water project.
When are people going to realize that we need to DO something and on a big scale!? Hopefully before it's too late to fix the damage. What about the kids in the next generation? Like the 2 little girls in this photo, Gina (8) and Sydney (9). (Photo credit goes to Rich Pedroncelli/ AP) What's going to happen when they are older and raising families? Is there going to be clean water for them? California or elsewhere....?
People have to learn to conserve water now and get used to saving water everyday. It's much easier to modify behaviors on a smaller scale when they need to, and avoid such drastic measures when droughts hit. Public awareness is sadly lacking despite all the warnings. I still believe that a movie that is relatable to everyone (we all go out to eat), and about a subject that is closely related to water (restaurants), would be a great way to get the message out that we need to change our relationship with water, and sooner rather than later!
Speaking of the movie, on one site alone--and it's downloadable on many sites, but on Mininova which tracks countries, it's been seen in 195 countries. Considering that there are 196 countries recognized by the UN, not too shabby for a no budget indie effort! Yahoo, only 1 to go!
Ok, that's about it for now. I will never quit in my search for the right person to remake my "still growing after 7 years" movie, but I have been very busy with my new career, so back to it. What am I doing rather than wasting time blogging? What I have wanted to do for many years but it wasn't time yet.....till now........driving the big rigs! Yup! 18 wheels a turnin'! So catch ya on the flip side....We gone ba bye!
Well, maybe things aren't so great there at the moment. Matter of fact they're terrible. The worst drought since records have been in existence... I have read in some articles.
Been a long time since I have blogged, but I still care very much about the state of water affairs in our world today and frankly, it stinks! I went to a meeting back in October that featured Maude Barlow, who chairs the Council of Canadians. I was shocked to see that the number in attendance was sadly small considering the importance of the topic. She recently launched her latest book: Blue Future, and she talked about the water situation in Canada as well as the rest of the world. It's worse than I even thought and I have done a considerable amount of research on the subject ever since starting my Remake 4 Water project.
When are people going to realize that we need to DO something and on a big scale!? Hopefully before it's too late to fix the damage. What about the kids in the next generation? Like the 2 little girls in this photo, Gina (8) and Sydney (9). (Photo credit goes to Rich Pedroncelli/ AP) What's going to happen when they are older and raising families? Is there going to be clean water for them? California or elsewhere....?
 |
| They are walking on rocks that are usually at the waters edge. |
People have to learn to conserve water now and get used to saving water everyday. It's much easier to modify behaviors on a smaller scale when they need to, and avoid such drastic measures when droughts hit. Public awareness is sadly lacking despite all the warnings. I still believe that a movie that is relatable to everyone (we all go out to eat), and about a subject that is closely related to water (restaurants), would be a great way to get the message out that we need to change our relationship with water, and sooner rather than later!
Speaking of the movie, on one site alone--and it's downloadable on many sites, but on Mininova which tracks countries, it's been seen in 195 countries. Considering that there are 196 countries recognized by the UN, not too shabby for a no budget indie effort! Yahoo, only 1 to go!
Ok, that's about it for now. I will never quit in my search for the right person to remake my "still growing after 7 years" movie, but I have been very busy with my new career, so back to it. What am I doing rather than wasting time blogging? What I have wanted to do for many years but it wasn't time yet.....till now........driving the big rigs! Yup! 18 wheels a turnin'! So catch ya on the flip side....We gone ba bye!
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