The Three Foundational Elements of a “Conscious Filmmaker”® Motion Picture – that are also found in the most successful movies of all time…

Arguably, Spielberg's "Schindler's List" is the the most conscious film of the past generation.

Our definition of a Conscious Filmmaker is an artist with the aware intent to create motion pictures imbued with an enlightened purpose.  Now, why do we refer to such a filmmaker as conscious? Let’s work to fully understand that word.  The word “conscious” is derived from the Latin “conscientia” which means knowledge within oneself, a “sense of right, a moral sense“.  A deeper etymology tells us that the first syllable derives from the Latin com (con) which means with or thoroughly, combined with the Latin “scire”, which means to know.  This is likely borrowed from the Greek “syneidesis” that means knowledge.  So the word conscious can be said to literally mean “thoroughly with knowledge”, and in this context can also mean thoroughly privy to, knowing and aware.  So at its root, consciousness is also awareness… For a Conscious Filmmaker this consciousness serves as the aware intent in the process of creating a motion picture.

In the context of a Conscious Filmmaker empathy accompanies such awareness.  And empathy leads to a desire for those outside of oneself to benefit from positive outcomes and experience.   Empathy fuels compassion, which allows us to feel what another is feeling. And when such consciousness is shared, it becomes a powerful and beneficial symbiotic feedback loop that lifts and evolves society in the most positive way.

All creative works are to some degree works of consciousness.  However, when we refer to a film or filmmaker as “conscious”, we are referring to a standard or quality of consciousness that reflects the most positive aspirations – the manifestations of which are necessary for true societal evolution.   So what we are addressing here is the quality of consciousness.  One can say that any living creature, even an insect, is conscious.   However, there’s an obvious wide gulf in the nature and quality of consciousness between an insect and a human being.  The same holds true for creative works, and especially films.

A motion picture is more than simple passive viewing.  Whether we realize it or not, it is a an experience, that even though vicarious, possesses the potential power to move us deeply in a positive or negative direction.  A film will serve to either enhance our consciousness, or dull it.  And in extreme circumstances it can work to even devolve our conscious being.

Gratuitously violent films that serve no other purpose, but to revel in the gory destructive expressions of evil are in my opinion movies imbued with the least amount of consciousness.  They can even be said to be unconscionable.

Such works are to be distinguished from films that may contain horrific violence, but the violence depicted is not gratuitous and wanton; but necessary for communicating a higher message.  Perhaps the greatest conscious film ever made was Schlindner’s List… and yet, it depicted horrible violence, but such depictions were necessary in order to awaken people to the evils of Nazi Germany and a racist, authoritarian regime.  The same logic is true for the film, Saving Private Ryan.  Its opening twenty minutes was the most accurate depiction of warfare ever revealed in a motion picture.

Let me also unequivocally state that our emphasis on promoting the Conscious Filmmaker approach isn’t to be confused with any faith-based media endeavor.  In fact, I have found that some of the most unconscious works are among the most religiously tainted motion pictures. Conscious filmmaking is distinct from the promotion of any sectarian theological worldview.  A Conscious Filmmaker production certainly can have a theme inspired by a spiritual faith tradition;  however a truly conscious film is never to be defined by the application of a religious litmus test.

Now that you know what a Conscious Filmmaker motion picture isn’t, the next question is how do we determine what truly is a conscious film?  The most conscious films are those that ultimately serve to enrich an audience, and thus society.  But there is another advantage to a Conscious Filmmaker approach that should also be intriguing to those individuals, studios, institutions and companies who fund movie endeavors.  Ironically, it turns out that those films which meet a unique set of criteria also happen to be among the greatest box office successes.  I’ll demonstrate below how a focused “Conscious Filmmaker” approach to producing movies greatly benefits both society and those who invest in such motion pictures.

Over 25 years of experience in creating conscious media has led me to determine three foundational elements of what constitute a Conscious Filmmaker production.  These elements are based on the affirmative response to the following questions:

1.  Is the film life affirming?
Does it in someway give more life to the audience (does the audience walk away from the movie feeling more alive); and/or does it explicitly or implicitly acknowledge the priceless value of life?

2.  Does the film serve to elevate rather than denigrate humanity?
Does it either explicitly or implicitly support the transcendent, inherent and priceless dignity and value of humankind and the individual?

3.  Does the film inspire us to connect?
Does it allow us to connect with something deeper within, or something greater outside ourselves?  Does it connect with a greater consciousness an idea, character or or a profound emotion?  Or, does it awaken in us a new profound realization that we also connect with?

Box office history demonstrates that the vast majority of the top grossing films of all time could answer yes to all three of the above questions.  The following link is from the Box Office Mojo website, and it is a list of the most financially successful (inflation adjusted) motion pictures of all time:   TWO HUNDRED TOP GROSSING MOVIES

Examine this list and then ask yourself for each movie you recognize: Was it life affirming?  Did it elevate humanity? Did it inspire the audience to connect?  For at least 90% of these films, the answer is yes. Even if one’s interest in filmmaking is purely for capitalistic gain – there is no rocket science in realizing the unparalleled opportunity that a Conscious Filmmaker® approach represents.  Such films are a win both for humanity and any investment portfolio.

Knowing this truth has always led me to ask:  Why, when given the unparalleled forum to create and distribute a motion picture, would anyone desire to take anything less than a “Conscious Filmmaker”® approach in the production of a movie created to be seen by tens of millions?  When that question begins to be asked more by funders, sales agents, distributors and especially filmmakers, we will see no less than a radical revolution in the quality, consciousness and success of movies released worldwide.

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© – David Christopher Loya – Bojorquez
http://www.imdb.me/consciousfilmmaker

Conscious Filmmaker® is the registered trademark of David Christopher Loya-Bojorquez and Vision4Media Entertainment.  All Rights Reserved.

Note:  ANY advertising placed on any of these blog pages is not controlled by the author; nor does it necessarily reflect his opinion or ethos.  

“Conscious Filmmaker”® Classic Movie Clip of the Week – APOLLO 13

Once upon a time there was an era when America dreamt dreams so inspired – that our nation’s vision had the power to propel humankind across outer space to a celestial world that had been beckoning poets, mystics, songwriters, travelers and dreamers since the dawn of our existence.   Our spirits collectively soared together with intrepid astronauts as we accompanied them on the precarious journeys taken to the moon’s surface and back.  More than forty years ago, when I was a young boy, I witnessed along with the rest of the earth (my imagination wholly electrified)  the grainy, black and white TV image of Neil Armstrong descending on the lunar surface and uttering the immortal words:  “That’s one small step for man… One giant leap for mankind.”

Armstrong’s walk on the moon constituted the fifth manned mission of the Apollo space program.   If nothing else, Apollo 11 will always be remembered as the first space mission that landed humankind on another world.  By the time the Apollo 13 mission was to be launched, America had already experienced six successful Apollo missions, with three that had orbited the moon, and two that had successfully landed there.  Apollo 13 was slated to be the third manned landing on the lunar surface.

Believe it or not – by the time Apollo 13 was launched – we had become somewhat blasé about our manned space program.  There was a sense of “been there, done that.”   America was already taking these monumental accomplishments for granted;  but not for lack of interest in ongoing exploration.  Rather (from the perspective of one who viewed the era through the eyes of a child, whose imagination was completely a-glow with any and all possibilities),  I remember it as an era when we were absolutely confident in our achievements, and we knew that nothing was out of reach.  In fact for so many – the vision was that by the time we hit the year 2000, we’d have colonies on the moon and Mars, and perhaps even had established contact with extraterrestrial intelligence. Everything was possible.  Period.  And perhaps no other movie captured the idealism of that era better than director, Ron Howard’s Apollo 13.

And along with that idealism, there was an unquestioning faith in the unprecedented technological achievements of that time, which was also accompanied by a kind of naivete to the extreme dangers inherent in these missions.  If you stop to think about it – how many of us would feel safe today driving the freeways in a new 1970 model car?.  (We’re talking just seatbelts, no airbags, no antilock brakes, etc.)  Well, now imagine crossing the vastness of space in a capsule designed with technology that was also wholly primitive by today’s standards… Your average smart phone has on a scale thousands of times more power and memory than all the guidance computers aboard the Apollo command and lunar modules combined!  Looking back now it was no small miracle landing a man on the moon.  And yet, Americans were among the last to know it.  We had that much confidence and pride in our space program. And with such pride, ultimately a fall is the price paid.  The tragic fiery deaths of three astronauts aboard Apollo 1 during a launch rehearsal represented the first such fall.  Apollo 13 became the second, with repercussions that threatened to be as potentially tragic.

The astronauts aboard Apollo 13 were Mission Commander, James Lovell (played by Tom Hanks),  Command Module pilot, Jack Swigirt (played by Kevin Bacon) and Lunar Module pilot, Fred Haise (played by Bill Paxton).  Two days after the launch of Apollo 13 an oxygen tank exploded, crippling the service module, which provided both power and air to the central command module.

(Note:  An Apollo mission consisted of three primary spacecraft modules – the service, command and lunar module. The lunar module was designed to separate from the service and command modules.  It’s the piece of the Apollo spacecraft that ferries two astronauts to the surface of the moon and back.  At the end of the mission it’s only the command module that remains and returns to earth with the three astronauts aboard.  )

When the service module was no longer able to sustain life aboard the Apollo spacecraft, the Apollo 13 Lunar Module, named The Aquarius, was improvised as the first “life raft” in space.  All hope of landing on the moon was abandoned, and Apollo 13′s new mission was to return the astronauts safely to earth against seemingly insurmountable odds. The situation was as dire as anyone could possibly imagine… In fact, no one had imagined the kind of emergency scenario the crew of Apollo 13 confronted.  Certainly, the astronauts had rehearsed again and again for all conceivable potential eventualities, but this kind of tragedy went beyond any previous preparation.   But no one was ready to give up.

The classic quote by Mission Control Flight Director Gene Kranz (played by Ed Harris), “Failure is not an option.” has become a widely recited meme in our culture.   Kranz spoke not just for himself, but for the indomitable spirit of that era.  His strength of character and leadership also represented the best of the idealism, courage and vision that characterized the American space program of the 1960′s and early 1970′s. Once the press and the world realized that the lives of the three astronauts aboard Apollo 13 were in grave danger, resting on the precipice of what technology could do and couldn’t do, the mission dominated newspaper headlines, television and radio news. The hopes and dreams of not just the United States, but the entire planet now rode along with the beleaguered astronauts.

The clip I’ve chosen takes place right after the astronauts have participated in a live television broadcast, which unknown to them was not being carried by any major network, because of the fallen lack of interest in the moon missions.   Following this aborted broadcast,  Mission Control then instructed the Apollo 13 crew to go though a routine set of technical “housekeeping” adjustments.  It was then that  they experienced the violent detonation of an oxygen tank that blows a near-fatal hole in the service module… For the first time the United States faced the real fear of astronauts dying in the middle of space forever suspended between the earth and the moon.

The Apollo 13 story arch creates what is among the most inspirational movies an audience has ever had the privilege to view.  Few motion pictures have the conscious intent to elevate humanity in the manner achieved by Ron Howard in Apollo 13.  This is one film, if you haven’t seen, you MUST SEE before you die.  Put it on your own cinema bucket list.   Apollo 13 is a life affirming experience that will forever make you both appreciate our place in the universe; as well as contemplate that indefinable, divine drive to lift ourselves above this world – despite the tremendous likelihood of death – while summoning a transcendent courage to reach out and explore the ocean of space, whose tides carry the very stardust of our collective origin.

© – David Christopher Loya – Bojorquez
http://www.imdb.me/consciousfilmmaker

The motion picture, “Apollo 13″, is the copyright of its respective owners and its images and clips are used here for informational purposes only.

Note:  ANY advertising placed on any of these blog pages is not controlled by the author; nor does it necessarily reflect his opinion or ethos.  

Authentic Friendship

 

I’d rather there be a multitude of enemies with arrows drawn at their ready to smite me, simply because of who I consciously am, than possess any “friendship” made from compromising the very essence of my being.

© – David Christopher Loya – Bojorquez
http://www.imdb.me/consciousfilmmaker

Note:  ANY advertising placed on any of these blog pages is not controlled by the author; nor does it necessarily reflect his opinion or ethos.

“Conscious Filmmaker”® Classic Movie Clip of the Week – JUNO

Definition of a “Conscious Filmmaker”
An artist with the aware intent to create motion pictures imbued with an enlightened purpose.  

Juno is a little gem of a movie.  This is a recent classic – hitting the theaters during the 2007 holiday season.  No other film has ever dealt with the subject of teenage pregnancy in such a comical, refreshingly authentic and poignant, life-affirming manner.

Legendary movie critic, Roger Ebert, describes the motion picture as follows:  ”I don’t know when I’ve heard a standing ovation so long, loud and warm as the one after Jason Reitman’s Juno, which I predict will become quickly beloved when it opens at Christmas time, and win a best actress nomination for its 20- year old star, Ellen Page. It’s the kind of movie you almost insult by describing the plot, because the plot sounds standard and this is a fresh, quirky, unusually intelligent comedy about a 16-year-old girl who wins our hearts in the first scene. Page plays Juno, who gets pregnant, and–no, that’s not it at all. Every element in the movie including her getting pregnant, and her non-boyfriend, and her parents, and the couple that wants to take the baby for adoption, is completely unlike any version of those characters I have ever seen before. And the dialogue is so quick and funny you feel the actors are performing it on a high-wire. It was so much fun to sit with a huge audience that laughed not just in good humor, but in appreciation and sympathy. Her boyfriend, played by Michael Cera, is so clueless that Juno translates that as “not being like everyone else.” Her father and stepmother, the superb character actors J. K. Simmons and Allison Janney, are older, wiser and funnier than a teenager’s parents are ever allowed to be. The hopeful adoptive couple (Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman) are the opposite of what you’d expect, and then turn out to be the opposite of that. And the whole story is textured within a school year that focuses the growing-up that Juno has to do.”

Juno is an especially conscious film because it raises our awareness of the sheer burden and vulnerability of a teenage girl, who courageously fulfills a personal commitment to carry her pregnancy to full term – even as she encounters unexpected and even tragic developments with the couple who had arranged to adopt her baby.  Yet, in the midst of understandable angst and anxiety on her part, she still maintains strength, poise and an indomitable wit. The acting is absolutely dead on authentic, and the direction by Jason Reitman is fresh and vibrant.  After viewing Juno you can’t leave that movie without feeling great about life.

The scene I chose (see link below) takes place right after Juno tells her parents she’s pregnant, and she continues to explain her plans to them.  At age sixteen, Juno has it all figured out.  She’s not going to terminate her pregnancy… And she and her best friend found a suitable adoptive couple in of all places – The Pennysaver!   Enjoy.

© – David Christopher Loya – Bojorquez
http://www.imdb.me/consciousfilmmaker

“Juno” is copyrighted by its respective owners and used here for informational purposes only.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE CLIP

Note:  ANY advertising placed on any of these blog pages is not controlled by the author; nor does it necessarily reflect his opinion or ethos.  

“Conscious Filmmaker”® Classic Movie Clip of the Week – E.T.: THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL

Definition of a “Conscious Filmmaker”
An artist with the aware intent to create motion pictures imbued with an enlightened purpose.  

SPOILER ALERT!  IF YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN E.T.:  THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL, I IMPLORE YOU TO VIEW IT FIRST BEFORE READING THE FOLLOWING.  IF YOU CHOOSE TO CONTINUE READING, YOU WILL SEVERELY COMPROMISE A ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE.

Because I am often asked what constitutes a Conscious Filmmaker and what are examples of great films that meet such criteria, I decided to start a new feature.  I call it the “Conscious Filmmaker” Classic Movie Clip of the Week.

I will begin our first week with one of the greatest, most beloved films made in the last generation, Steven Spielberg’s E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial.  It is truly one of my top ten favorite motion pictures.

The scene I chose to demonstrate is not the first one that comes to mind when this movie is discussed.  Typically, most people’s minds jump to the ending sequence, with Elliot and E.T. embracing, as the scene further builds with John Williams’ soaring orchestral score.  The genius of his music serves as an uncredited character within the film itself; and in the grand ending that theme almost seems to single-handedly propel E.T.’s spacecraft back to his starry home.

However, from a storyline perspective that classic finale could never have occurred without the scene below, which constitutes the great turning point in the film.   This foundational scene – that demonstrates the transformational theme of the power of love, connection and friendship, which leads to the “resurrection” of Elliot’s cosmic friend – will always remain timeless.  Few movies can awaken the inner child within us like E.T.

It is a miraculous piece of conscious cinematic storytelling.

© – David Christopher Loya – Bojorquez
http://www.imdb.me/consciousfilmmaker

E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial is the copyright of its respective owners and used here for informational purposes only.

Note:  ANY advertising placed on any of these blog pages is not controlled by the author; nor does it necessarily reflect his opinion or ethos.  

Simple Formula for a “Life Calling” Manifestation

What is a life calling?  It is exactly what you have been placed upon this planet to achieve.  It is your vocation.  In a very real sense you are called to be a “priest” or “priestess” of that endeavor.

A calling may have ego mixed into it, but ego will never be a conscious contributing element to the success you seek. Many pursue certain goals that are motivated purely by ego. And ego is often fueled by pain born from a sense of lack of acceptance, or even abandonment.  It takes enormous courage to be honest with oneself in conducting such self examination.  When an endeavor is pursued fueled only by ego –  it’s like attempting to run a marathon after being nourished solely on a diet of gummi bears and cheap beer.  You may start out strong, but you’ll never make it.

How do you know your true calling?  First of all it will be related to something you’re already good at.   And it’s often some gift or talent that’s also already been confirmed by impartial parties.  You will find validation of your abilities outside of your close family and friends.  Such validation may start there, but eventually others will notice and can’t help in some way or another to acknowledge the light of your gift shining through.

The next step is to understand and embrace the process that makes manifestation of your “life calling” possible.  And, based on my own experience, I sum it up this way:

There is nothing more assured in its manifestation than an endeavor ignited by passion, empowered with genuine knowledge, and pursued with enthusiastic unrelenting perseverance.

Yes, if you truly seek to achieve your life calling  then measure your methodology by the above litmus test.  That is what it takes.  Nothing succeeds like intelligent action.  I refer to it as The Three “P’s” of Success:

1. PASSION – for your calling.  Either you have it or you don’t.  If you have to ask what such passion is or feels like, trust me, you don’t have it.  Look deeper to find your real calling.

2. PREPARATION.  That is what’s referred to as genuine knowledge.  Passion is not enough.  You must be willing to take the time to learn, practice, rehearse and understand better than anyone else every facet of your calling.  Learn how it’s reached… Understand what to do when you get there… And prepare with uncompromising intensity to be the best at it that you can possibly be.

3.  PERSEVERANCE.  I like to add the adjectives “enthusiastic” and “unrelenting” when describing this kind of perseverance.  It’s the kind  that never gives up.  Enthusiasm is vital here… It’s a word derived from Greek that in its meaning literally was once defined as “possessed by a god”.   Manifestation requires that kind of divine intensity and inspiration.  There is no room for failure.  If something doesn’t work the third, fourth, fifth even one hundredth time… You keep going… However, don’t keep attempting the same strategy over and over again expecting different results.  That’s the classic definition of insanity. Rather, with each setback, learn how to adapt and evolve.  And remember with each obstacle encountered, you’re still one step closer to the manifestation of your calling.

This is more than just a roadmap to achieving your ultimate goal.   This is about actualization… It’s literally about evolving into the real you.  The “you” you’ve been called to achieve, and the you that the world needs and is waiting for… But you don’t need to wait any longer.  Let go and BE.

© – David Christopher Loya – Bojorquez
http://www.imdb.me/consciousfilmmaker

Note:  ANY advertising placed on any of these blog pages is not controlled by the author; nor does it necessarily reflect his opinion or ethos.  

Life Manifesto

Wall Street - 10-6-11 - People giving themselves permission to be free.

Today, I have decided to live each day of my life, as though it were my last, and yet accomplish each task with a vision towards the hope it can bring to the future… for not only me, but for all others who can benefit from and be blessed with the fruits of whatever small gifts I have been given to share…

I will to my greatest ability work towards building a world and expanding the kind of consciousness that manifests the awareness which says we are all ultimately free… I want all to know that we can defiantly and triumphantly stand in the face of ego, disparagement from ontological zombies, and repressive religious, political and sociological constructs.  And I devote my gifts towards encouraging such conscious rebellion for the sole purpose of assisting the actualization of humankind.

All who are able to truly hear and see can at this very moment give themselves the permission to be free, once and for all; and be exactly who they were created to be…  And as each actualizes, he/she in turn can work to do the same for others… This is the life cause to which I am devoted.  It is my vocation, my priesthood… It is what I am here for… even if this were the last day of my life… Living this endeavor is the manifestation of my truest self… And so, from this point forward there will be little or no regret.  Like others now and before me, I work as a” lightmaker”.

I ask others to recognize the lightmaker within and join in this ultimate quest towards the full manifestation of an ineffable kingdom within us.  The world is restless… It is tired of waiting.  My gifts are limited… For me filmmaking is the methodology to spread the light of this knowledge… Those who understand the gravity of what I am invoking, your gifts are being called upon to do the same…

The time for Conscious Transformation is NOW.

© – David Christopher Loya – Bojorquez
http://www.imdb.me/consciousfilmmaker

Note:  ANY advertising placed on any of these blog pages is not controlled by the author; nor does it necessarily reflect his opinion or ethos.  

A Manifesto for Progressive Free Enterprise, or what also can be referred to as: “Conscious Capitalism”

Though I’m a partner in a small business, I am not a capitalist. I’m a “progressive free enterprise” advocate. There is a difference. Pure capitalism is a practice devoid of compassion where maximum monetary profit becomes a twisted governing morality. Progressive free enterprise seeks a holistic compassionate outcome, where profit alone does not in and of itself constitute success.  Rather, success in a progressive free enterprise context is accomplished as a result of fulfilling the following goals:

a.  No employee or contractor exploitation.
In other words a progressive free enterprise company engages in a fair revenue sharing program with its employees and valued independent contractors.

b.  Enhancing the life of the community around which a business operates.
A progressive free enterprise firm gives back to the community and society as a whole… lifting up those who are the weakest or most unfortunate among us. And such a company is sensitive to the environment and engages in practices that are sustaining, life-giving and healthy for all.

c.  Providing customers with the greatest value.
Maximizing profit should not be the motivation. Rather, creating a balance wherein making a profit and delivering the greatest value is the goal.  Clientele should never be exploited.

I can’t imagine how any company practicing “progressive free enterprise” can ever be publicly traded.  The Wall Street model – that demands ever increasing profits as the measure for success – is in and of itself unsustainable without the grotesque exploitation of billions.  And no, I am not a Marxist.  I believe in every individual’s right to pursue his or her’s dream or calling.  Often that is achieved through the creation of a business… i.e. –  free enterprise.  More and more, however, pursuing one’s calling through the conduit of a business is becoming a virtual impossibility for so many would-be, deserving visionaries and innovators.  Big business in contrast practices selective enterprise.  In that context we have existing defacto monopolies controlling the supply and distribution chain.  And they are only growing stronger.

What I call for is a business revolution.  Until people are free economically to pursue their God-give right to achieve their highest human potential, we are deluded into thinking that we live in a free society.  Principled progressive free enterprise allows that to happen.  Employees are no longer exploited for their labor;  they become partners in their own actualization.  This is not about economics dictated by state planning; but rather, it’s economics dictated by the greatest good – which can be translated into manifesting the greatest dreams we all have been given to pursue.  I believe that progressive free enterprise will allow such dreams to prosper and flourish, more so than our current Wall Street bound system.  Government should not dictate the structure, but government certainly can become a partner in helping progressive free enterprise to flourish.

If government can subsidize new business start-ups, eliminate the red tape of biz loans, and simply require a well thought out plan of execution and action, even providing a template for its completion – we could see an amazing economic revolution in this country.  Of course big business and their tea bagger friends would oppose it.  However, in the real world, there are a number of ways to create such a program which can also provide for accountability.  And the subsidy can even eventually be paid back as a small percentage of tax on ensuing profits after maybe the fifth year of operation. It would be like a kind of free enterprise social security, only well managed, where successful, formerly subsidized small businesses pay back into the system – which then of course frees up subsidies for the dreams of others to manifest.   In no way can this be seen as an entitlement program.  I’d call it an empowerment program.  It would be government at its best – working on behalf of the people and partnering with progressive free enterprise entrepreneurs.

In a progressive free enterprise society, I would encourage accountability review participation across all levels of society.  Any costs associated with implementing accountability and even certification,  should come from the free enterprise subsidy contribution successful businesses (which themselves were originally funded by such subsidies) make into the system.

Keep in mind that building a progressive free enterprise society also means that employment is kept locally. It means that we are not out to exploit the cheapest labor for the highest profit.  Companies that have outsourced to third and second world nations, did so, not because they weren’t making a profit using American workers.  They did so because they could increase their profits by paying less (thus being rewarded within the Wall Street model).   Therein lies the moral failure of unconscious capitalism – wherein making a profit is never enough; and making the greatest profit is always the goal in the current system.  Not taking other factors into account results of course in the economic debacle we have now.

I encourage discussion on all levels for the implementation and manifestion of a true Conscious Capitalist, Progressive Free Enterprise System – a peaceful economic revolution that can transform society globally – resulting in the greatest human freedom for all.

© – David Christopher Loya – Bojorquez
http://www.imdb.me/consciousfilmmaker

Note:  ANY advertising placed on any of these blog pages is not controlled by the author; nor does it necessarily reflect his opinion or ethos.  

America’s Birthday – A Conscious Celebration

What has truly made America great in the noblest sense is not her land, nor her resources; not her military strength, nor her wealth…

No, the greatness we have, is the greatness to which we have aspired.

It is the greatness embodied in something completely intangible – the very ideas which gave birth to a nation, which not only placed the individual above government; but most importantly placed the protection of the most cherished human rights above all else;  so that each and every individual is never denied their divine right to fully actualize – to become who and what they have FREELY chosen to be.

That is what makes America different – and therein lies the seeds of her greatness.

On July 4th we celebrate the assertion of that difference. Yet, we still have a long way to go to fully manifest all those ideas, while making equality of opportunity a universal reality in our land…  But, we’ve had a hell of a head start!

And unlike any other country on earth, what conscious Americans also realize is that the United States is not a nation formed from any one race, nationality, ethnicity, nor even (do I dare say it?) religious tradition.  And that is truly a great thing!  We are bound together by something far more noble than an inherited ethnic, racial or religious tradition.  We are bound by what I call  ”The DNA of America”.  That DNA consists of the very ideas and passions that molded and formed our founding documents – from the Declaration of Independence to the Constitution and its accompanying Bill of Rights.   These inspired writings attest to a transcendent dignity of human kind, and to this day those documents remain at the forefront of democratic ideals upon which other countries model their own emerging representative governments.

One only need visit the National Archives in Washington DC and gaze upon the timeless words chiseled on faded parchment, whose ideas remain alive and brilliantly blinding to tyrannical, fascist or totalitarian ambitions.  One simply is not alive, if he or she is not viscerally moved by seeing the originals in person. Yes, in the end it’s her founding ideas that make America great, and it’s those founding ideas that are worthy of celebrating.  More so than any flag or boundary – those are the ideas worth fighting, and yes, even dying for.  When we fully understand the meaning behind our republic, there is nothing we can’t achieve as Americans.

So, let’s pledge anew those ideals which rightfully draw forth our patriotism, not as blind nationalistic fervor, but rather as a passionate enthusiasm for the full potential of our citizenry to continue this experiment in self-government called America – to perfect it, protect it and make it so exceptional that one day the rest of the world will join with us in creating a global community that can also be of, by and for the people.

© – David Christopher Loya – Bojorquez
http://www.imdb.me/consciousfilmmaker

Note:  ANY advertising placed on any of these blog pages is not controlled by the author; nor does it necessarily reflect his opinion or ethos.  

STARTING A “CONSCIOUS FILMMAKER” REVOLUTION

I will share something I never shared publicly before.  Have you ever wondered where the term “Conscious Filmmaker” came from?  It all began on February 14th, Valentine’s Day, 2007 .  It was the one year anniversary of my beloved mother transitioning from this life to the next.  Besides the fact I was still coping with the grief from the human loss of my mother, I could see that things were beginning to change for us as a company.  Vision4Media was transitioning from a production house that focused only on “commissioned”, that is “work-for-hire” productions, to a company that would pursue a more arduous course, and create it’s own original content and deliver it to the marketplace of ideas – with the hope that in the end, this is where we would find our own greatest truth, and success.

I was meditating, and in my meditation, I reached out to my mother.  I asked her, what can we do to differentiate this passion within, and use media to communicate on a deeper level.  And with thoughts cleared, and an open heart, two words appeared in my mind…. “CONSCIOUS FILMMAKER”.   (Yes, it was in all caps.)  

My heart started beating rapidly… I exited my meditative state and walked over to my computer and immediately checked to see if that term was even in use, and if the URL was available. To my utter amazement – the term was not being used at all!  And in fact all URL permutations were available!  So I registered ConsciousFilmmaker.com, .tv, .org… and I proceeded to trademark the name.  This was my mother’s gift and it wasn’t intended just for me.  Knowing my mother and who she was and even still is, Mary would’ve wanted all to benefit from and evolve one another, and others, through embracing such an ethos.

As I write this, we are at a crossroads.  Our initial crowdfunding campaign was successful enough to raise nearly $2000 towards a $39,000 goal to shoot 18 pages of an amazing motion picture script written by Gary A. Bickal, an acclaimed screenwriter and multiple Nicholl Fellowship Quarterfinalist.   Because our allotted time to raise these funds expired, all pledges were returned, as we now prepare to relaunch our campaign.

In today’s world, depending on how one looks at it,  the funds we seek to raise, is certainly not that much money … In fact, it’s an insignificant amount when compared to a $17 trillion U.S. economy, and the endless abundance that Providence certainly can provide.

In my latest blog article (http://wp.me/pVrSi-4Y) regarding our quest in pursuing the creation of “Conscious Filmmaker”® entertainment.  I wrote the following:

“When we first decided to place our project on Kickstarter we had conducted what we thought was more than sufficient research.  We viewed all the most successful projects.  And then told ourselves, “We can do that!”  In fact, we knew that in some ways we could do even better.  But we missed something.

What we subsequently learned was that these successful projects already had prior hugh networks in place.  We had no such advantage.  In fact the most successful crowdfunded feature in Kickstarter history was launched by the wife of an actor on one of the most successful sitcoms on TV.  And a star was already attached.  Between those two actors there were already tens of thousands of Twitter and Facebook followers.  Add to that support their connections within studios and the advantages were overwhelming, as compared to a scrappy little company like ours with no such connections, but a long and multiple award-winning track record.  We are doing our very best in leveraging all our friends on Facebook, our Twitter accounts, my existing blog, and LinkedIn to bring attention to our cause.”

As we prepare to relaunch, more than ever I want to emphasize, that our film production endeavor is worth it.  The need to create this kind of message trumps the interests of the rich, powerful and connected. Alone, we may be none of those things… but with you joining us on this journey, we are all more than triumphant.

In order for a “Conscious Filmmaker” motion picture movement to succeed, it must be, first and foremost, a people’s movement.  It needs to be adopted as YOUR MOVEMENT.

Of course, it would be completely disingenuous for me to say that my commitment to a Conscious Filmmaker ethos is not personal.  I can’t apologize for that.  It is.  But being personal to me, does not exclude the fact that I greatly desire for the world to be able to share in the light and transformative effect that such a commitment can have on others.

There has been no more powerful a means on how we choose to behave, the ethics we choose, even the faith paths we follow than the medium of stories.  Since the dawn of our time here, we have found ways to define ourselves, our limits, and our eternal nature through stories.  Motion pictures at their core are stories.  Jesus himself, I believe, would be a filmmaker today.  All scripture is what?  Stories.  All movies are what?  Stories.

We have an unprecedented opportunity in history to leverage the power of communication mediums that can reach out into the furthest regions of this planet… mediums that we could have never imagined just a generation ago.  Hand held devices, hand held tablets, digital theaters, … even holographic projections from devices that will be as small as a wristwatch, which will soon be available – all these with the power of instant access to OUR stories – through the power of the greatest communication medium in history – our Internet.  Yes, now is the time.  We can do this.

That’s the vision… We can do this.  I don’t merely believe… Belief often times is blind and ignores all other circumstances, and there are times in our life when that is necessary… No, rather, this effort takes faith… Strong faith.  That I have.  And I know you as my friends share that same strength of faith, and together, that faith is an unstoppable force of light, that the world can’t ignore.  Help me, help us, illuminate the greatest truths through the power of storytelling… through the power of motion pictures that will serve as modern parables that will deliver great transformative and conscious truth.

And if for no other reason, let’s make history together!  To this date, I know of no other motion-picture project that will have raised so much money through crowdfunding, that wasn’t in some way deeply connected to the Hollywood motion picture industry.  We are not.

We are proudly and unashamedly independent.  Completely independent.  We answer to no Hollywood studio politics or agenda. And we will remain that way.  Stand with us, won’t you?  Let Vision4Media become the people’s studio.  We will make films created to both entertain and to enrich… enrich you, your friends, family, loved ones, children and generations to come with stories that will enlighten and recognize the deepest truths within all of us.

Many of you have already generously pledged to our initial campaign.  And to you, you have my deepest gratitude, recognition, and a depth of appreciation I can never express through any words.  Others believe in what we’re doing, but for whatever reason did not pledge.  I understand.  And I also know that for many even a $1.00 pledge can be a difficult sacrifice given the harsh economic times you may be experiencing… And again, I understand…But everyone who reads this, whether or not they have the ability to contribute a pledge, does have a resource that transcends any amount of money.

And that is the POWER TO ADVOCATE. Some of you have already done both.  You have pledged and advocated and continue to advocate, and to you I owe a debt of gratitude beyond my ability to repay.  Thank you.

But I must continue to implore all my friends, with the greatest depth of passion, love and commitment within me to please continue to advocate… and if you haven’t done so, I kindly ask you, with a great urgency to start.   Let’s get this first of many “Conscious Filmmaker” movies made – which in turn will be your movies.  Yes, you can join in the role of a co-producer with me to manifest a new era in motion picture entertainment.

How do you advocate?…  I will soon let you know how… as we redesign our crowd-funding campaign.

We’ll ask you to join with us, and help prove that this can be done.  That this is something YOU want.  Help us transcend and revolutionize the existing system of storytelling.  Let’s break through and overthrow the monopolies of class and privileged access, that prevent so many from bringing films to market with stories that need to be told.

Join with this revolution… and know that you CAN change the world.

© – David Christopher Loya – Bojorquez
http://www.imdb.me/consciousfilmmaker

Note:  ANY advertising placed on any of these blog pages is not controlled by the author; nor does it necessarily reflect his opinion or ethos.