Existential Punk

Lessons Learned From 'Slumdog Millionaire'

We went this afternoon with two of our friends to see the wonderful film Slumdog Millionaire. We all exited the theatre feeling quite touched by the long and arduous journey Jamal Malik, the main character of the film, traversed in his relatively short life. Here is the summary from the IMDb:

"The story of Jamal Malik, an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, who is about to experience the biggest day of his life. With the whole nation watching, he is just one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India's "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" But when the show breaks for the night, police arrest him on suspicion of cheating; how could a street kid know so much? Desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up, of their adventures together on the road, of vicious encounters with local gangs, and of Latika, the girl he loved and lost. Each chapter of his story reveals the key to the answer to one of the game show's questions. Each chapter of Jamal's increasingly layered story reveals where he learned the answers to the show's seemingly impossible quizzes. But one question remains a mystery: what is this young man with no apparent desire for riches really doing on the game show? When the new day dawns and Jamal returns to answer the final question, the Inspector and sixty million viewers are about to find out. At the heart of its storytelling lies the question of how anyone comes to know the things they know about life and love."

Two things that struck me when watching this film that are two big take-aways for me are the themes of perseverance and destiny. Perseverance is defined at Wiktionary as:

1. continuing in a course of action without regard to discouragement, opposition or previous failure
2. persistent determination to adhere to a plan of direction; insistence

Wiktionary also defines destiny as:

1. That to which any person or thing is destined; a predetermined state; a condition foreordained by the Divine or by human will; fate; lot; doom.
2. The fixed order of things; invincible necessity; fate; an irresistible power or agency conceived of as determining the future, whether in general or of an individual.

So, was Jamal's destiny related to his perseverance? i believe part of it was, as we know we work out our own salvation above and beyond the grace extended to us by G-D. Was his perseverance due to his destiny? i believe, again in part, this to be true. i am not a big believer in reformed theology that predetermines who goes to heaven and who goes to hell. i believe there is free will and we can change our stories that we find ourselves in at different times of our life. Yet, i do believe G-D is somehow involved in our lives and an active participant with us. i do not, as deists do, believe that G-D set creation into motion and then ceased to interact with it and with us. i believe G-D has ideas about things but is open to rethinking things. G-D is absolute but our ability to understand G-D absolutely is greatly hindered by our imperfect humanity. i do not believe G-D is static and set for all time over all things. i certainly am not static and ebb and flow throughout my life. i find the old cliche of how it's about the journey and not the destination to be apropos to my own life as well as i to Jamal's life in this beautiful film. As i write these things i am simply processing. i do know this is my state of being at this point in time.

Six Pete Rollins Films

Six Pete Rollins films from The Work Of The People:

1. "The Singular Answer": Peter Rollins shares a parable to have us consider the reductionism of the Gospel.

2. "Set Apart": Peter Rollins talks about trying to grasp God to fit into our own boxes.

3. "$200 Conversion": Peter Rollins wonders if God creates the "God shaped hole" rather than filling it.

4. "Suspended Space": Peter Rollins considers the heart of church and the "liturgical hour."

5. "Reduce or Wrestle": Peter Rollins tells an ancient Jewish parable about wrestling with scripture.

6. "Refusing to Lead": Peter Rollins offers up thoughts on Christian leadership.

SO SORRY, BUT IT APPEARS THAT THE VIDEO IS NOT WORKING AND ONLY THE AUDIO IS WORKING! I HAVE CONTACTED THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. MAYBE IT IS A TYPEPAD ISSUE? I NEVER HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE!

ENJOY these as much as i did! The filmmaker, Travis Reed, shot them in a parking garage under an Irish pub in Dallas, Texas!

LGBTQ Blogger Initiative Friday 5 December 2008

Friday night started off with a meet and greet sponsored by HRC and held at their office. We had cocktails and hordeurves. It was a little daunting for me even though i am normally a very outgoing person. Many people were already familiar with one another and i was not in an overly social mood. Yet, i was able to meet a few interesting folks later in the evening when we attended a screening at the Jewish Community Center in D.C. for the brand new Gus Van Sant film, Milk, starring Sean Penn, James Franco and Emile Hirsch.

"After moving to San Francisco, the middle-aged New Yorker, Harvey Milk, became a Gay Rights activist and city politician. On his third attempt, he was elected to San Francisco's Board of Supervisors in 1977, making him the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in the USA. The following year, both he and the city's mayor, George Moscone, were shot to death by former city supervisor, Dan White, who blamed his former colleagues for denying White's attempt to rescind his resignation from the board." (imdb.com)

i REALLY enjoyed the film and learned a lot about that time in our community's history. "Milk" comes at n integral time in LGBTQ history for the fight for equality when ou community needs encouragement. The film is a great conversation piece with those on the other side of the debate who are open to dialogue and learning.

i think the acting and direction were top notch and hope to see Sean Penn and Emile Hirsch nominated for Oscars. The cinematography was incredible and looked like art the way it was filmed. It was shot entirely on location and the filmmakers actually recreated Milk's camera shop in the Castro in the original location!

After the film, there was a panel discussion introduced by Rep. Tammy Baldwin with Harvey Milk’s former intern and founder of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt Cleve Jones, (portrayed brilliantly in the film by Emile Hirsch) (NAMES Project , AIDS Quilt), Dustin Lance Black (Screenwriter), and Bruce Cohen (Screenwriter) where they answered questions about the new film about Harvey Milk. Here's a video clip from the panel. i highly recommend you watch it as it is very interesting!

Post "Milk" Screening Panel Discussion from Nathan Strang on Vimeo.

On The Verge of A Tipping Point . . .

Andy Abrahams, director of the new documentary on Lyme Disease, "Under Our Skin" was presented The Vision of Hope Award on November 13, 2008 by Turn The Corner Foundation. Hopefully all the press that Andy is receiving will bring a greater and wider awareness to this life-changing and debilitating disease. Turn The Corner is assisting Andy in raising awareness about the film and Lyme Disease, as well as money in order to have a wide release theatrically.

DUE TO TECHNICAL ERROR at the WEBSITE, THIS POST WILL BE UPDATED LATER!

UPDATED @ 3.30 P.M.:

Below is the text of Andy’s speech as he accepted his award. It is a message to the entire Lyme community:

“What an honor to be here tonight to receive the Vision of Hope Award! Words that are dear to me: vision and hope—and award!

This has been an incredible journey for me as a filmmaker and individual these past several years at the helm of UNDER OUR SKIN. I started the project with little more than compassion and curiosity—and perhaps courage (or craziness), given I had no funding at all at the time. But at the onset there was no great vision of hope—and I’m glad.

Because what I went through was nothing less than the transformation of my soul. It was not just an ideal. Hope as an abstract. Or a cause to champion. An axe to grind. My being was changed irrevocably by what I witnessed: suffering, injustice, and deafening silence. And above all: the courage of so many to persevere, to fight for life amidst the eclipse of light: the pain, fear, loneliness, and the mantra ‘It’s all in your head.’ I was changed by the responsibility to do justice to the people who entrusted me with the only sure thing that remained amidst a disease which robbed them of everything they knew: their story.

We’ve been thrown together by shared, lived stories about the adversity of a disease, and its denial. What an unlikely reason to gather. And yet what also draws us together is the knowledge that together we can make a difference—not just for ourselves, but for others behind us, or next to us, who don’t have a voice, have less resources, or simply have given up. Our vision of hope is that together we can turn the corner.

In every struggle there’s a point where the vision of a few becomes universal, where what’s seen as primarily a community’s concern enters public consciousness and shifts public perception. We’ve seen it with civil rights, women’s rights, AIDS, global warming, and soon gay rights: The point where the cause is championed by the many, not just the few who would seem to benefit directly. Where it is understood that the well being of others affects our own well being, and the threat to others is a direct threat to ourselves. That we are linked. We are linked.

That is where we stand today, linked—at the verge of the tipping point. We cannot give up holding the vision or maintaining the hope, or giving everything we can: our money, our sweat, our love. Because the shift is not assured. But it is near.

So tonight I feel proud and humbled to be recognized for vision of hope in the Lyme disease struggle. For what I have envisioned and imagined is simply a reflection of what and whom I have seen and come to know. I owe this award to you, some of you here: Mandy and Jordan and Kris and Kathy and Elise. And some of you missed: Alan, and Leslie—a fallen hero.

I thank ALL the UNDER OUR SKIN film subjects who shared their stories in the vision of helping and healing, even as their own hope diminished.

I thank Eva and all the UNDER OUR SKIN crew who shared their great talents and care.

I thank you, Turn The Corner Foundation, for your own vision of hope, and for entrusting our film and your support of it with this vision.

And I thank all of you here tonight who embody compassion, curiosity–and courage, who envision change, and have hope and faith that the tipping point really is around the corner.”

KEATING ECONOMICS: John McCain & The Making of a Financial Crisis

Here is the ful-length Keating Five documentary:

"Religulous"

I LOVE Bill Maher even though i don't agree with him on everything. But, he has funny and truthful things to say on many topics. As someone who attempts to follow Christ and G-D, yet is disenchanted with organized religion and other "followers", i am looking forward to seeing this new film from Maher, if only for a great laugh! Remember the prayer, "G-D, save me from your followers!"? LOL!!!!!

A dramatic tale of microbes, medicine and money, this eye-opening new film investigates the untold story of Lyme disease, an emerging epidemic larger than AIDS. Each year thousands go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, told that their symptoms are “all in their head.” Following the stories of patients and physicians as they battle for their lives and livelihoods, the film brings into focus a haunting picture of our health care system and its ability to cope with a silent terror under our skin.

Here's a 13 minute clip from Snag Films:

The Untold Story of Lyme Disease

From the site for the film, "Under Our Skin" :

"The terrorist in my body has been found."                                      - Amy Tan, bestselling author                 In the early 1970's, a mysterious new ailment was discovered among a group of children living around the town of Lyme, CT. What was first diagnosed as isolated cases of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, eventually became known as Lyme disease, a potentially serious illness triggered by spiral-shaped bacteria, similar to the organisms that cause syphilis. Today, cases of Lyme disease have been reported in all states. According to CDC estimates, over 200,000 people may acquire the disease per year--more than            cases of AIDS, West Nile Virus, and Avian Flu combined. Many of those untreated will suffer chronic debilitating illness. Some unknowingly will pass the disease on to their unborn children. Many will lose their livelihoods, and still others will lose their lives. As the first in-depth film about Lyme disease, UNDER OUR SKIN will be a feature-length documentary that takes viewers into the lives of Lyme sufferers struggling to find answers and a road back to health. We watch a set of diverse characters battle not only a disease, but what they see as a broken healthcare system. While the popular perception of Lyme disease is of a trivial joint-related problem easily cured with a few weeks of antibiotics, our characters tell a radically different story. They are forced to live with confounding and debilitating symptoms               for months to years, while searching for a diagnosis and effective treatment. As they visit specialist after specialist, so many are told that their problems are stress related or "all in their heads.” Most are misdiagnosed for years with   incurable conditions such as chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia,   lupus, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimers or ALS. And when these  patients finally receive a Lyme diagnosis, they ask, What is going on? Why are front-line physicians so ignorant of classic Lyme symptoms and the true size of the epidemic? Why does it take the average Lyme patient more than 3 years and $60,000 to be diagnosed? Once diagnosed, why are many physicians and insurers refusing to provide sufferers with lifesaving treatment? And why are many of the physicians who do treat Lyme coming under fire with the threat of losing their medical licenses?                                    On the other hand, we hear from medical experts who insist  Lyme disease cannot be chronic and has become an "epidemic of hysteria"--routinely over-diagnosed and over-treated, with grave risks to public health and our antibiotic supply. The disconnect between the varying perceptions and experiences of Lyme disease is staggering. Journeying deep into the microscopic and macrocosmic world of Lyme, UNDER OUR SKIN uncovers the shocking human, medical and political dimensions of Lyme disease. As the film delves into the lives of those who have been inalterably changed by the disease, a haunting picture emerges of our healthcare system and its ability to cope with a terror under our skin.

"Under Our Skin" Documentary to Premiere at Tribeca Film Festival

Greetings from Open Eye!

We're excited to announce the world premiere of UNDER OUR SKIN, an infectious new film about microbes, money and medicine. Three years in the making, this documentary reveals the shocking human, medical and political dimensions of one of the most misunderstood diseases of our time--Lyme disease.  Following the lives of courageous patients and physicians as they battle the epidemic, the film brings into focus a haunting picture of our healthcare system and its inability to cope with a growing terror under our skin.

The Tribeca Film Festival, quickly becoming one of the premiere film festivals in the country, has selected UNDER OUR SKIN for its "Discovery" section, showing it at a coveted Saturday 7pm screening slot. It is also being featured in a special "Behind the Screens" series to discuss "films and conversations about truth, clarity and responsibility." UNDER OUR SKIN is one of three festival films chosen for this series, and the only documentary. We anticipate major press for this event, and look forward to bringing the film's issues to the forefront of the American public.

Help us pack the house at the Tribeca screenings, so that broadcasters and distributors know how important this film is and how large of an audience it can generate!

Below is a partial listing of Tribeca screening times. Watch for upcoming festival screenings in different parts of the country!

World Premiere
Saturday, April 26, 7:00 pm
AMC Village VII, Theater 2
66 Third Avenue (at 11th Street)

"Behind the Screens" Moderated Discussion
Sunday, April 27, 6:30 pm
Amy Tan, Dr. Richard Horowitz, and Andy Abrahams Wilson in discussion
Directors Guild of America (DGA) Theater
110 West 57th Street (between 6th & 7th Avenues)

'Killing Fields' Survivor Dith Pran Succumbs to Cancer

Dith Pran was a Cambodian translator for American journalists during the Vietnam War in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh. He is the one who coined the term "The Killing Fields". He was diagnosed 3 months ago with pancreatic cancer. Here is Pran talking about US troops bombing enemy targets:

' "If you didn't think about the danger, it looked like a performance," he said. "It was beautiful, like fireworks. War is beautiful if you don't get killed. But because you know it's going to kill, it's no longer beautiful." '

That quote really hit me hard, especially in light of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and also becuse i just got home from seeing the film, "Stop-Loss", which is about, "Decorated Iraq war hero Sgt. Brandon King who makes a celebrated return to his small Texas hometown following his tour of duty. He tries to resume the life he left behind. Then, against Brandon’s will, the Army orders him back to duty in Iraq, which upends his world. The conflict tests everything he believes in: the bond of family, the loyalty of friendship, the limits of love and the value of honor." Pran's words echo ever so deeply today in me especially since i just received an email that my 20 year old cousin is now in Iraq. i am saddened and sickened even more now that i have a personal connection for the first time since this senseless war began.

Such a sad moment. God, please comfort Pran's surviving family and friends as they learn to cope without Pran. Amen.