The Excitement builds
We had a wonderful programming team meeting for Illuminate Film Festival tonight at our home. There were ten present and another five on Zoom from their computers. We discussed how to review movies and choose the ones that best exemplify our mission of providing conscious cinema to make a difference in the world. Danette Wolpert the founder of the festival gave a wonderful presentation of the history of the Festival and let us know how important our job was in creating the best possible event.
I remember a film from last years festival titled “Rumble, The Indians Who Rocked the World”. This movie about Native Americans (here called “Indians” for reasons that become clearer as the movie goes on) and their influence not just on rock but on American music. As is pointed out more than once, the music of the Shawnee, the Choctaw, the Mohawk, the Apache, and so many other tribes, is in a very real sense the first American music. Race-mixing between blacks and Indians resulted in a cultural consciousness that enabled a melding of African music and Indian. (A review of the movie on Ebert.com)
After the movie there was a question and answer session and I raised my hand and said that I never liked rock and roll music. I was from a generation of folks who listened to Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr, Doris Day etc. And then I shared in a very emotional way that this movie opened my heart to these wonderful musicians. They were often from broken homes and in many cases judged for their ethnicity or their culture or other non-mainstream choices. However, they had a dream and nothing was going to stop them from making their music. It is thrilling to watch our sisters and brothers who have such intention. I am in awe of people who keep on going no matter what!
In a related way I had a small experience with a neighbor who walks his dog past our house every day. I was driving by him and his pet named Bosco; because he is a chocolate lab, and we stopped to chat. He asked me how had the remodel of our home had gone. I shared that it had taken seven months, but we had more to do on the property. He laughed and said “you are like me, they will carry you out feet first!” I laughed as well and later I thought of the remark and said to myself that yes, I will probably never retire. I will find some passion to be involved with that will feed my heart and soul and hopefully make a difference.
I think it is important to keep involved and contribute as long as we can. I believe it creates longevity by keeping our mind and body and spirit moving forward. I wish for you to find those things that thrill your heart. Whether they are hobbies or you life’s work; I encourage you to do them til the last breath of your life. From my fired up heart to yours, Thomas