https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=242600715777058
Sunday
Appearances for Rich Martini
Appearing this week at Flying Saucers talking about my book and documentary.
https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=242600715777058
https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=242600715777058
Monday
Wednesday
Coffee and Chatting in the Afterlife
Wednesday
FLIPSIDE: A Tourist's Guide on How To Navigate the Afterlife
The crazy coffee fiends over at FLYING SAUCERS in Santa Monica have invited yours truly to come and pontificate about the Afterlife!!! The date is 9-22 at 8 p.m. I'll have some copies of the book for those who desire them.. or you can find it here:
Okay, maybe share some research and chat a bit about what I've learned.. it's all here in my book:
https://www.createspace.com/3594949
Or you can find reviews and a kindle version here:
http://www.amazon.com/FLIPSIDE-Tourists-Navigate-Afterlife-ebook/dp/B004RJ12R0
Editorial Reviews
Product Description
What happens after we die?
Author and award winning filmmaker Richard Martini explores startling new evidence for life after death, via the "life between lives," where we reportedly return to find our loved ones, soul mates and spiritual teachers. Based on the evidence of thousands of people who claim that under deep hypnosis, they saw and experienced the same basic things about the Afterlife, the book interviews hypnotherapists around the world trained in the method pioneered by Dr. Michael Newton, as well as examining actual between life sessions. The author agrees to go on the same journey himself, with startling and candid results, learning we are fully conscious between our various incarnations, and return to connect with loved ones and spiritual soul mates, and together choose how and when and with whom we'll reincarnate. The author examines how "Karmic law" is trumped by "Free will," with souls choosing difficult lives in order to learn from their spiritually; no matter how difficult, strange or complex a life choice appears to be, it was made in advance, consciously, with the help of loved ones, soul mates and wise elders. Extensively researched, breathtaking in scope, "Flipside" takes the reader into new territory, boldly going where no author has gone before to tie up the various disciplines of past life regression. near death experiences, and between life exploration. In the words of author Gary Schwartz, Phd, once you've read "Flipside" "you'll never see the world in the same way again."
Praise for “FlipSide”
"Richard has written a terrific book. Insightful, funny, provocative and deep; I highly recommend it!"
Robert Thurman ("Why the Dalai Lama Matters")
“Inspiring, well written and entertaining. The kind of book where once you have read it, you will no longer be able to see the world in the same way again.”
Gary E. Schwartz (“The Sacred Promise”)
"Everyone should have a Richard Martini in their life."
Charles Grodin ("If I Only Knew Then... What I Learned From Mistakes")
Author and award winning filmmaker Richard Martini explores startling new evidence for life after death, via the "life between lives," where we reportedly return to find our loved ones, soul mates and spiritual teachers. Based on the evidence of thousands of people who claim that under deep hypnosis, they saw and experienced the same basic things about the Afterlife, the book interviews hypnotherapists around the world trained in the method pioneered by Dr. Michael Newton, as well as examining actual between life sessions. The author agrees to go on the same journey himself, with startling and candid results, learning we are fully conscious between our various incarnations, and return to connect with loved ones and spiritual soul mates, and together choose how and when and with whom we'll reincarnate. The author examines how "Karmic law" is trumped by "Free will," with souls choosing difficult lives in order to learn from their spiritually; no matter how difficult, strange or complex a life choice appears to be, it was made in advance, consciously, with the help of loved ones, soul mates and wise elders. Extensively researched, breathtaking in scope, "Flipside" takes the reader into new territory, boldly going where no author has gone before to tie up the various disciplines of past life regression. near death experiences, and between life exploration. In the words of author Gary Schwartz, Phd, once you've read "Flipside" "you'll never see the world in the same way again."
Praise for “FlipSide”
"Richard has written a terrific book. Insightful, funny, provocative and deep; I highly recommend it!"
Robert Thurman ("Why the Dalai Lama Matters")
“Inspiring, well written and entertaining. The kind of book where once you have read it, you will no longer be able to see the world in the same way again.”
Gary E. Schwartz (“The Sacred Promise”)
"Everyone should have a Richard Martini in their life."
Charles Grodin ("If I Only Knew Then... What I Learned From Mistakes")
Monday
My Kickstarter Campaign
Getting to the end, running low on fuel...
Some friends have suggested I reboot my campaign and start from scratch - a little at a time.. makes sense. Meanwhile, here we are:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/467782699/earharts-electra-eyewitnesses-to-what-really-happe
Some friends have suggested I reboot my campaign and start from scratch - a little at a time.. makes sense. Meanwhile, here we are:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/467782699/earharts-electra-eyewitnesses-to-what-really-happe
Flipside: Reviews are in...
Hey all, I've been posting on a FB page about Michael Newton's work.. here's a few posts for you,with regard to my book "Flipside." Enjoy
My son spontaneously began doing those movements before going to bed one night - sitting in a lotus position, moving his arms in the air in circles.. I call it "mudra" the term for those movements, so every now and then we'll ask him to do his mudra - and he does all these elaborate movements with his hands, and arms,and then lays flat on the ground, gets up and shakes it out. He's 6 now, been doing it for 3 years. (but only after he's watched his sponge bob,to keep it in persepective.) If you're read "Flipside," then I'm repeating myself, but when he was 2 he told me he had been a monk in Nepal. Then one day, he was watching a Victoria's Secret model dancing on tv,looked at me and said "I want that!" I laughed and said "I thought you were a monk." He said "Not anymore!"
In Michael Newton's books he talks about the marriage or banding together of the spirit ego and the human ego to make a lifetime. Both terms to describe self awareness - consciousness. In western philosophy, or in our culture lets say, it's come to mean "Me." As in "you've got a big ego - you've got a big sense of yourself there." It came out of psychology - Freud and Jung used it quite a bit - so it's easy to say that the meaning gets cloudy depending on who you ask. The Indians, or ancient Indians anyway, talk about "atman" the individual self or the eternal soul - but as we can learn from NM (I'm taking to using Michael's initials backwards so I don't keep tying "Minute") there are two egos involved. (This place in my head is getting noisy!) I mention in a previous post this Latin phrase that came to me in a dream - vanum populatum - literally "annihilate vanity" - but Vanity is things of the ego that influence it (through fear, desire, other add ons) that don't have any inherent meaning. You can argue they come from past life experience, (karma) or you can suggest they come from a life choice which is dictated by beauty, or the desire to learn from being beautiful, or rich, or anything else that is not pure spirit. Buddhists like to define it by not defining it - or describing what it is not - and point out that the human condition is always changing - fluctuating, and that at our core is a spirit, more like a wisp of smoke - that travels from lifetime to lifetime. We know from Michael's research that's not the case - that our spirit between lives is fully conscious and capable of making free will decisions - but their philosophy holds up in terms of what is happening on a day to day basis. We get affected by desire and fear (turn off the tv and breathe) - we think we're always the same person, but we're ever changing, always growing. And as I like to point out to my Buddhist friends, we are also ever growing in the spirit world - never the same, as we continually grow spiritually, just at a much slower rate than can be measured in Earth terms (or at a great rate, for example by going through a tragedy). As one person put it in an LBL, "We can go through 5000 years of spiritual growth in one day on Earth, depending on the experience, as opposed to reincarnating on another planet where nothing of great drama or conflict occurs." So to answer your question - it's been debated for, oh, just about forever here on Earth, and for my mind, ego is not something to overcome - rather it's something to examine, understand, and be mindful of.
Just a quick comment - I interviewed a therapist in Colorado, she wasn't aware of NM's work, she had a client who met a guy who she felt was her soul mate, she left her husband, he didn't leave his wife - she was devastated. During her PLR she saw they had been together many lifetimes and had agreed NOT to be together now.. so they could learn and grow. There are many people in our soul group - NM says the average is 15 - so it could also be someone from there, or someone from an affiliate group you've had other lifetimes with. Honor the fact that you were born to meet your husband and if you examine it, you'll see the sacred in that original meeting - it's no coincidence or mistake you came together. (and of course people part, for many reasons, but that doesn't change the agreement you made to connect in this life). Scott de Tamble suggests a connection that defies logic, from a spirit level, may mean you're meant to become friends with this person - not on a physical level - but a spiritual one. Our energy has been around quite a bit, it makes sense we'd run into people we've been connected to before, or that we can communicate telepathically to. And the internet helps facilitate that, of course. In my session I was told "the people who know you will find you." But then, I think we can all communicate telepathically, we just don't practice it.
My son spontaneously began doing those movements before going to bed one night - sitting in a lotus position, moving his arms in the air in circles.. I call it "mudra" the term for those movements, so every now and then we'll ask him to do his mudra - and he does all these elaborate movements with his hands, and arms,and then lays flat on the ground, gets up and shakes it out. He's 6 now, been doing it for 3 years. (but only after he's watched his sponge bob,to keep it in persepective.) If you're read "Flipside," then I'm repeating myself, but when he was 2 he told me he had been a monk in Nepal. Then one day, he was watching a Victoria's Secret model dancing on tv,looked at me and said "I want that!" I laughed and said "I thought you were a monk." He said "Not anymore!"
In Michael Newton's books he talks about the marriage or banding together of the spirit ego and the human ego to make a lifetime. Both terms to describe self awareness - consciousness. In western philosophy, or in our culture lets say, it's come to mean "Me." As in "you've got a big ego - you've got a big sense of yourself there." It came out of psychology - Freud and Jung used it quite a bit - so it's easy to say that the meaning gets cloudy depending on who you ask. The Indians, or ancient Indians anyway, talk about "atman" the individual self or the eternal soul - but as we can learn from NM (I'm taking to using Michael's initials backwards so I don't keep tying "Minute") there are two egos involved. (This place in my head is getting noisy!) I mention in a previous post this Latin phrase that came to me in a dream - vanum populatum - literally "annihilate vanity" - but Vanity is things of the ego that influence it (through fear, desire, other add ons) that don't have any inherent meaning. You can argue they come from past life experience, (karma) or you can suggest they come from a life choice which is dictated by beauty, or the desire to learn from being beautiful, or rich, or anything else that is not pure spirit. Buddhists like to define it by not defining it - or describing what it is not - and point out that the human condition is always changing - fluctuating, and that at our core is a spirit, more like a wisp of smoke - that travels from lifetime to lifetime. We know from Michael's research that's not the case - that our spirit between lives is fully conscious and capable of making free will decisions - but their philosophy holds up in terms of what is happening on a day to day basis. We get affected by desire and fear (turn off the tv and breathe) - we think we're always the same person, but we're ever changing, always growing. And as I like to point out to my Buddhist friends, we are also ever growing in the spirit world - never the same, as we continually grow spiritually, just at a much slower rate than can be measured in Earth terms (or at a great rate, for example by going through a tragedy). As one person put it in an LBL, "We can go through 5000 years of spiritual growth in one day on Earth, depending on the experience, as opposed to reincarnating on another planet where nothing of great drama or conflict occurs." So to answer your question - it's been debated for, oh, just about forever here on Earth, and for my mind, ego is not something to overcome - rather it's something to examine, understand, and be mindful of.
Just a quick comment - I interviewed a therapist in Colorado, she wasn't aware of NM's work, she had a client who met a guy who she felt was her soul mate, she left her husband, he didn't leave his wife - she was devastated. During her PLR she saw they had been together many lifetimes and had agreed NOT to be together now.. so they could learn and grow. There are many people in our soul group - NM says the average is 15 - so it could also be someone from there, or someone from an affiliate group you've had other lifetimes with. Honor the fact that you were born to meet your husband and if you examine it, you'll see the sacred in that original meeting - it's no coincidence or mistake you came together. (and of course people part, for many reasons, but that doesn't change the agreement you made to connect in this life). Scott de Tamble suggests a connection that defies logic, from a spirit level, may mean you're meant to become friends with this person - not on a physical level - but a spiritual one. Our energy has been around quite a bit, it makes sense we'd run into people we've been connected to before, or that we can communicate telepathically to. And the internet helps facilitate that, of course. In my session I was told "the people who know you will find you." But then, I think we can all communicate telepathically, we just don't practice it.
- Sometimes we walk around the sacred mountain, aren't aware we're doing it, and then later, we see benefits from it. I had the same answers in my council - although I didn't find their answer "You already know the answer to this question" negative. Rather it's a confirmation of your ability to intuit answers to deep questions. Take the ego out of the answer, as they say, and see it for what it is. You do know why you're in Kentucky once you examine it - and the lives you've touched. (there's no choice of place on the planet that can be a negative.) You do know the answers to these questions, and they know you know the answers, and are trying to tell you to trust yourself a little more. Your daughter's spirit guide is her own, yours is your own, I should probably scan thru the answers before replying, someone else has probably mentioned it. Everyone gets their own. And if you're fortunate enough to eventually become a spirit guide, you'll get one too. 16 lives is a few lives? When you consider that you might have paused between them (sometimes its hundreds of years between lives) that would put you back quite a bit - and would account for the darker color (older color) of your spirit. But some people are here for the first time - its pretty funny that you would be chagrined at being here so many rich and wonderful times. Couple of observations - listen to the tape again. Usually our conscious mind takes over and spends a bit of time talking us out of it - "must have made it up" or "I didn't really go anywhere" - Then when you're making up your list of questions, try to ask some that you know for a fact you know nothing about. Or ask your facilitator to go deeper and ask specific questions - in my case, I asked both of my facilitators for each session for names, dates, cities, and to not let me get away with dodging the question. When you've made such a long journey back, and assembled your team to be present and available to answer your deepest questions - well, I had ten questions I'd ask God if I got to him. Sure, I got a few "You already know that answer" answers, but that didn't prevent me from asking them. I'll give you an example. I asked "What's the meaning of Vanum Populatum?" It came to me in a dream, I had googled the answer, but I knew that no one outside of me would know the answer to the question. So when I asked, my lead council member showed me an imagine of ME lying on a couch, sitting next to my facilitator. And with a point of his thumb, he said "Richard already knows the answer to that." I laughed. But in that answer, I learned a couple of things: 1. He could have said "You already know the answer to that," but didn't - confirming that he was addressing my eternal self, and that my latest temporary self, Richard, was on the couch. And the second thing I learned, was that I saw that it was my eternal self who had whispered "Vanum Populatum" in my ear two years previously, knowing that I love puzzles, that I would google the term eventually, and be startled by the answer.
- It means "Destroy Vanity." I wondered who would be telling me to do that - I hadn't heard of Michael's work at this point - I thought "Why would someone speak to me in Latin, a language I don't know?" and "Why would someone tell me to destroy vanity, when I live in LA and I wouldn't know where to begin?" But then I realized it was close to the Buddhist "Destroy the ego," or "destroy the self" through meditation on emptiness - but I saw it more clearly as "destroy the things of the self that have no meaning but are all vanity" - money, fame, looks, etc. So I was startled and puzzled as to who had whispered that in my ear - and in the council session, I saw that it was my eternal self (that clever fellow) who had put into motion a 3D puzzle that would only be solved two years later, after I'd discovered Michael's work, after I'd flown to Chicago to interview him, and during my LBL session where I would see clearly how that puzzled had been laid out in advance. I got quite a chuckle out of the council over it... and the answer "You already know the answer to that question" becomes more deep and profound the more you meditate on it. And it may not come to you today, or in your session, but the seeds for those answers have been planted in you, and they will surely come to bloom.
Tuesday
My Kickstarter Campaign
Hi all,
Well, I've finally posted a link to my Amelia Earhart Doc - through Kickstarter. If you have a couple of bucks in your pocket burning to be free, sign up and donate!!! It's for a good film.
Best,
Rich
Well, I've finally posted a link to my Amelia Earhart Doc - through Kickstarter. If you have a couple of bucks in your pocket burning to be free, sign up and donate!!! It's for a good film.
Best,
Rich
FLIPSIDE: A Tourist's Guide on How To Navigate the Afterlife
I've finally published my Kindle book about my documentary about reincarnation. Here's the Kindle book:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004RJ12R0
Here's a link to a ten minute promo for the documentary:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9gTU1j0imY
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004RJ12R0
Here's a link to a ten minute promo for the documentary:
Charles Grodin Live!
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/audio-on-demand/charles-grodin/#
You'll hear the past two months of his commentaries about life in the city, life in the country, and life in general. Enjoy!
Here's a picture I found recently, taken on the set of "Movers & Shakers" - Charles invited me to be the dialog coach on the set - meaning I got to spend time helping actors rehearse their lines. Walter Matthau had an amazing memory, and could memorize huge sections of text in a few hours - his secret was that he recorded all the lines on a tape recorder and kept it playing around the house. So in this case, I was his tape recorder, and would follow him around on the set, helping him with his lines. What a delight.
Wednesday
Limit Up
Here's a clip I put on youtube of Danitra and Ray in the final scene, sadly, both not on the planet anymore:
Here's a clip from the ending with Danitra and Ray:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhQzQ3opivE
Here's the Entertainment Weekly Review:
VIDEO REVIEW
Limit Up (1990) B+
Sunday
Another Tibetan tortured for being Tibetan
A Tibetan Political Prisoner's Life Under Threat: Report
[Thursday, 30 December 2010, 6:07 p.m.]
[Thursday, 30 December 2010, 6:07 p.m.]
 |
| Jigme Gyatso/File Photo |
In 1996, the Intermediate People's Court in Lhasa levelled alleged charges of counter revolutionary activities against Jigme Gyatso along with a group of Tibetan residents of Lhasa. Jigme Gyatso was subsequently locked up in Drachi prison to serve a 15 year jail term with hard labour.
While in prison, Jigme raised slogans of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's long life which resulted in a 2-year extension of his incarceration. Nevertheless, he remained firm in his resolve for which he was severely tortured and beaten up rendering him physically very weak.
The severe beatings continued after he was shifted from Drapchi to Chusul prison and presently his survival is on stake due to the debilitating health condition.
Jigme was born in 1961 in Sangchu in Tibet's Amdo Province.
He used to live in Lhasa before the arrest and his mother passed away two years after he was arrested.
He was one of the first Tibetans who worked for the just cause of Tibet in Sanghcu, Ladrang in Amdo Province. During his stay in Lhasa he joined Tibetan friends and dedicated sincere efforts in number of activities for Tibet.
Notwithstanding physical weakness caused by beatings under the Chinese government's captivity, many Tibetans like Jigme have kept up their spirit of determination and courage to brave the repression.
FOR SOME EXCERPTS FROM MY DOC http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4g9PurojxAU
Friday
MartiniLeaks
Hmm.. could there be a trend here? Just thought it sounded funny. After a couple of Martinis, who doesn't leak? Or feel like they're leaking? "I am Spartacus!" "I am a wikileaks!" Find their mirrors here: http://wikileaks.info/
I was in India some years ago, and they had this t.v. show called "Tehelka." And it was basically the same thing, but with video - and they caught these govt. guys robbing the country blind. I watched as the Indian Defense Minister was caught on camera taking these huge bribes - and huge in India means stacks of rupees that are stapled in the middle - suitcases full. And this guy was sitting there in front of a hidden camera, piling these stacks of cash in front of himself, promising the guy behind the camera that he was going to approve the Defense contract he was bribing him for.
A went back a couple of years later.. and nothing happened. Nobody got fired. Nobody got nothing. Same Defense Minister, they had a "commission" look into the details.. but basically; nada. So, despite all the hoopla over Wikileaks revealing our state secrets (and to their credit, they had local journalists redact any names in the documents that might have cause problems with local contacts), we're able to get a glimpse into the darkest corners of our state secrets. It's just about the biggest thing that's every happened to the Fourth Estate, and if you're behind the maxim from the Bible that says "The Truth Shall Set You Free..." --
which by the way, adorns the entrance to the CIA --
you must be for truth in all endeavors. Julian Assange is merely a figurehead for thousands of journalists who are working behind the scenes to "keep 'em honest." I'll predict that in ten years, there'll be a "wikileaks" t.v. channel, ala "Tehelka" in India. Unfortunately, I also predict NOTHING will change. Figures lie, liars figure, and everything will go into another closet. But in the meanwhile, enjoy the holidays and the show!!!
"May you live in interesting times." Old Chinese Curse
Rich (my two cents)
I was in India some years ago, and they had this t.v. show called "Tehelka." And it was basically the same thing, but with video - and they caught these govt. guys robbing the country blind. I watched as the Indian Defense Minister was caught on camera taking these huge bribes - and huge in India means stacks of rupees that are stapled in the middle - suitcases full. And this guy was sitting there in front of a hidden camera, piling these stacks of cash in front of himself, promising the guy behind the camera that he was going to approve the Defense contract he was bribing him for.
A went back a couple of years later.. and nothing happened. Nobody got fired. Nobody got nothing. Same Defense Minister, they had a "commission" look into the details.. but basically; nada. So, despite all the hoopla over Wikileaks revealing our state secrets (and to their credit, they had local journalists redact any names in the documents that might have cause problems with local contacts), we're able to get a glimpse into the darkest corners of our state secrets. It's just about the biggest thing that's every happened to the Fourth Estate, and if you're behind the maxim from the Bible that says "The Truth Shall Set You Free..." --
which by the way, adorns the entrance to the CIA --
you must be for truth in all endeavors. Julian Assange is merely a figurehead for thousands of journalists who are working behind the scenes to "keep 'em honest." I'll predict that in ten years, there'll be a "wikileaks" t.v. channel, ala "Tehelka" in India. Unfortunately, I also predict NOTHING will change. Figures lie, liars figure, and everything will go into another closet. But in the meanwhile, enjoy the holidays and the show!!!
"May you live in interesting times." Old Chinese Curse
Monday
Martini On The Rocks CD
Okay, after waiting 20 years, I've finally posted a smathering of my tunes. Still waiting for itunes to put them online, but in the meantime, Amazon.com has put them up here:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=sr_nr_seeall_1?rh=k:rich+martini,i:digital-music&keywords=rich+martini&ie=UTF8&qid=1290469417
Apologies for the off key notes, the clams, and the other obvious mistakes that I've made compiling this songbook, that dates back to when I was 18 and playing piano at the James Tavern while attending Boston University and had to write some tunes for my weekly gig. Later, I wound up playing these songs in pubs and bars around the planet - so if you want to experience them the way you normally would - have a couple of cocktails and put some peanuts on a napkin. I was the Piano Man for a certain portion of my life, and the songs reflect it. I think you can sample them for free, so enjoy. There are ballads, and instrumentals, and a recurring blues riff that I put in the movie 'Cannes Man.' There's also the great Craig Cole, making an appearance from the Great Beyond on a couple of tracks. But over the years, people would ask me for a cassette, and later a CD.. so here you go. If you can't bear to part with the buck, email me and I'll send you a sample track.
best,
Rich
http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=sr_nr_seeall_1?rh=k:rich+martini,i:digital-music&keywords=rich+martini&ie=UTF8&qid=1290469417
Apologies for the off key notes, the clams, and the other obvious mistakes that I've made compiling this songbook, that dates back to when I was 18 and playing piano at the James Tavern while attending Boston University and had to write some tunes for my weekly gig. Later, I wound up playing these songs in pubs and bars around the planet - so if you want to experience them the way you normally would - have a couple of cocktails and put some peanuts on a napkin. I was the Piano Man for a certain portion of my life, and the songs reflect it. I think you can sample them for free, so enjoy. There are ballads, and instrumentals, and a recurring blues riff that I put in the movie 'Cannes Man.' There's also the great Craig Cole, making an appearance from the Great Beyond on a couple of tracks. But over the years, people would ask me for a cassette, and later a CD.. so here you go. If you can't bear to part with the buck, email me and I'll send you a sample track.
best,
You Can't Hurry Love
You Can't Hurry Love is finally available. While being released as the second film on a two bill - with some other Love title, I found a place where you can get the title by itself.
Here it is:
YOU CAN'T HURRY LOVE
starring David Packer, Scott McGinnis, Bridget Fonda
with appearances by Charles Grodin, Sally Kellerman and Kristi McNichol.
Enjoy!
Here it is:
YOU CAN'T HURRY LOVE
starring David Packer, Scott McGinnis, Bridget Fonda
Enjoy!
Thursday
Remembering Paul Tracey
I ran across the eulogy I gave at my friend Paul Tracey's funeral in Phoenix seven years ago. I'm a fan of honoring those odd incidents that occur in your life in some way, and so I'm reprinting it here. In light of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" debate, it bears repeating that gay people are part of our families... funny how archaic this debate will seem in 5 or 10 years. Like the Civil Rights or Women's Rights debate. Did we really debate that stuff? Seems silly now. But here's to you Paul, enjoy.
Paul’s Eulogy from Feb. 2003
For years Paul and I would argue over whether or not he’d come to see me in Santa Monica, or whether I’d come and visit him in Arizona... - oh what lengths you would go to win an argument, Paul!
Last time we spoke was a few weeks back.. Told him how he’s going to be an uncle in a few months as Sherry and I are due to have a baby girl.. We laughed about that, and then I complained about his complete inability to use email - something I’ve been after him to do since they invented it.. And I’m amazed to say that in the past ten years I’ve gotten a total of one email from him. And I think he sent that by mistake. He was a phone person - .. We spoke often, more frequently than I do with other friends who live nearby - and every one of our phone conversations was as if we’d just finished up the last one mid-sentence. I fully expect the phone to ring at some date in the future, and Paul and I will pick up where we left off.
Where did we leave off? Well, the conversation started in 7th grade. He’d moved to Northbrook with his family and we met on a football field. Paul was a natural athlete, fast, our halfback, I was a guard - I can still remember in glorious detail the “40-cross” that we ran against St. France in a Championship game - Billy Meyer in the backfield, Dave Siebert at my side playing center, 40 cross meant I took Dave’s guy and Dave too mine -and number 40, that was Paul, would take off.. I’ll never forget looking up from the mud to see Paul running for the touchdown that won the game. Silly as it sounds, I’ll never forget that moment. He was poetry in motion. It was our sophomore season that he went into the hospital - as I remember it, he didn’t have to, but had an operation so he could play again - little did we know what the staph infection would do to his hip and keep him from being the athlete he was. Not to say that Paul was such a fan of football, but I know he loved the camaraderie and friendships we had on the field.
We also traveled together a bit. In grade school during spring break, Paul and I had the brilliant idea to take a Greyhound bus to Florida to visit his grandfather in Deerfield Beach. We thought we were pretty cool, smoking cigars on the way, until we both turned green from the smoke. We got to Florida and burned ourselves to a crisp in a day - and since we spent the next week indoors, got in so many raging arguments that his grandfather, sick of the bickering, actually bought us both plane tickets and sent us home. We were both shocked that his grandfather actually thought we were serious, and laughed about it on the plane home.
But Paul and I spent most of our time laughing. I imagine it was that same sense of humor that inspired me to get into making comedy films. I paid homage to Paul a couple of times - In “Three For The Road,” Charlie Sheen’s character was named after Paul, and I even got him to do a cameo in my film “Limit Up” - he happened to be in LA for the day, stopped down to the set, so I threw him into a scene, which, of course, he nailed in one take. I asked him if he wanted to stick around and watch the filming and he said “I’ve already got my close up, what would I stick around for?” Sue Bodine sent me an email expressing her condolences; she wrote “All I can think about it Paul the raconteur, standing at a table or piano with such humor and timing, engaging everybody in his earnest story. What does Renee Zellwegger say in that film? “You had me at hello.” He was like that. You loved him before anything happened. He just didn’t know that. We love you Paul.”
It was indicative of the kind of person Paul could be when he gave it some effort. When he put his charm and ability in front of him, he made everything seem effortless.. I know that didn’t prevent him from finding ways to make his life full of effort instead of effortless. I only mention it because we talked about that too, his inability to conquer his demons and the stress it put on those around him. At one point, he was furious with the love of his life Carlos over the fact that Paul had bought him a motorcycle and for whatever reason, Carlos wasn’t able to make the payments… Paul was raging that he couldn’t reach Carlos and wanted to repot the motorcycle. I suggested that in actuality, Carlos had put so much time and effort into their relationship that if you put a dollar figure on it, Paul was into Carlos for much more than the bike was worth. He thought that was hilarious, and promptly sent Carlos the title to the bike and a note telling him the motorcycle was his. I think Carlos sent him the full amount after that, but my point is that Paul had his own logic of how things and people should be and at his core, he cared deeply about other people’s feelings.
Like when he called to tell me he was ‘coming out of the closet.’ At first he hesitated - his ex girlfriend Nancy Covington had told him I’d never be able to accept Paul being gay, and that my family would freak hen they heard the news. Of course, this coming from the girl who’d sailed to Greece to propose marriage to Paul and was devastated when her proposal was met with the truth - indicative of how honest Paul could be when he wanted to. I had just been to see him in San Francisco, living on his boat “The Endorphin,” and I had gone with Luana, my old girlfriend, who adored Paul up until her dying day - but Luana noted she felt something about Paul was different. I should have had a clue when his dad looked at me and joked about Paul always having to iron his socks. I was clueless.
So Paul called, “Richard,” He said, with a seriousness unlike I’d heard before - “I have something important to tell you.. And I really don’t know how you’re going to react.” Hmm.. I thought, what could this be? He said “I’m gay.” Stunned, - I chose the position I always chose when arguing with Paul - that I knew more than him about anything we ever discussed. I said “Like I didn’t already know that!” He breathed a sigh of relief, I resolved that nothing Paul would ever tell me would be something I couldn’t handle or rather, wouldn’t be something I’d convince him I’d already considered and had a full blow opinion about. My family’s response was equal to mine - we’ve always loved Paul, having always considered him part of our family - a fifth son - Paul was at just about every wedding and funeral in my family - but when I told my mom that Paul had ’come out of the closet’ she said, “Why can’t he just go back in there with a flashlight?”
I was weighing how to tell my mom the news of Paul’s passing. My dad’s got Alzheimer’s, she’s taking care of him at home - which is stressful as you can imagine - and I didn’t want to add any stress.. So I asked her what she thought happened to a person after they died. She said, “Well, I think they go to a wonderful place.. When you die, it’s beautiful, and you see people you love, and you feel better physically and don’t have any problems.. A place where you’re perfectly happy in the best of health, and all the worries and woes of this life are behind you.” It was then that I told her that our dear friend Paul had left this planet, and that I thought he had perfectly described where he is now, and how he’s feeling.
I know how much he loved all of you. I know because I haven’t seen most of you in 20 years but he kept me up to date with pride - Hope’s wedding - to which I replied, “Hope, married? Isn’t she still 12?” About Peter’s job and family, Jack’s living her with his family - Susan the hippie rebel and Pam the practical professional - what you guys have been up to, even hilarious tales of Aunt Rhea - and especially his mom and dad - he was so impressed that his dad is Lance Armstrong senior, riding a bike every day for umpteen mils and how his mom was, as I’ve heard it, winning just about every bridge championship in the country. Maybe he was making it all up, I’ll never know, because you see, Paul and I saw the world we created. I’m sure he’s finding it hilarious to see us all here celebrating him - Dave, Mark, Billy, Dave and Maryanne - I’m sure he’s enjoying this.
Finally, we talked a lot about travel - using his sky miles to go somewhere - lately he had a passion for Ireland - He’d sign up with a new long distance phone service every week and get huge chunks of air miles - last year we were swearing we’d go to Ireland.. Something about the lure of the home country called to him, something deeper in his spirit that he longed for, I imagine.. I’m sure he’s here with us today, but I’ll be happy to spread some of his ashes on the Emerald Isle for him if the family would like me to.
I’m hoping one day Paul and I can continue our conversations, maybe in my dreams, and maybe after this life.. I may even admit to him that he’s right now and then.. But my phone’s been ringing this week and there’s no one there, so I’ll assume it’s Paul, but he’s at a loss for words. Thought I hardly think that’s likely. Paul, we’re all going to miss you very much.
 |
| Dave Patlak and Paul, circa 1985. |
Paul’s Eulogy from Feb. 2003
For years Paul and I would argue over whether or not he’d come to see me in Santa Monica, or whether I’d come and visit him in Arizona... - oh what lengths you would go to win an argument, Paul!
Last time we spoke was a few weeks back.. Told him how he’s going to be an uncle in a few months as Sherry and I are due to have a baby girl.. We laughed about that, and then I complained about his complete inability to use email - something I’ve been after him to do since they invented it.. And I’m amazed to say that in the past ten years I’ve gotten a total of one email from him. And I think he sent that by mistake. He was a phone person - .. We spoke often, more frequently than I do with other friends who live nearby - and every one of our phone conversations was as if we’d just finished up the last one mid-sentence. I fully expect the phone to ring at some date in the future, and Paul and I will pick up where we left off.
 |
| Kathy Delaney, Paul, Janet Tuzzolino and Me freshman year in High school |
 |
| Dave Siebert, Kathy Kearney, Paul circa 69 |
But Paul and I spent most of our time laughing. I imagine it was that same sense of humor that inspired me to get into making comedy films. I paid homage to Paul a couple of times - In “Three For The Road,” Charlie Sheen’s character was named after Paul, and I even got him to do a cameo in my film “Limit Up” - he happened to be in LA for the day, stopped down to the set, so I threw him into a scene, which, of course, he nailed in one take. I asked him if he wanted to stick around and watch the filming and he said “I’ve already got my close up, what would I stick around for?” Sue Bodine sent me an email expressing her condolences; she wrote “All I can think about it Paul the raconteur, standing at a table or piano with such humor and timing, engaging everybody in his earnest story. What does Renee Zellwegger say in that film? “You had me at hello.” He was like that. You loved him before anything happened. He just didn’t know that. We love you Paul.”
 |
| Paul, me and Dave Patlak describing the pizza at Numero Uno's in Chicago |
It was indicative of the kind of person Paul could be when he gave it some effort. When he put his charm and ability in front of him, he made everything seem effortless.. I know that didn’t prevent him from finding ways to make his life full of effort instead of effortless. I only mention it because we talked about that too, his inability to conquer his demons and the stress it put on those around him. At one point, he was furious with the love of his life Carlos over the fact that Paul had bought him a motorcycle and for whatever reason, Carlos wasn’t able to make the payments… Paul was raging that he couldn’t reach Carlos and wanted to repot the motorcycle. I suggested that in actuality, Carlos had put so much time and effort into their relationship that if you put a dollar figure on it, Paul was into Carlos for much more than the bike was worth. He thought that was hilarious, and promptly sent Carlos the title to the bike and a note telling him the motorcycle was his. I think Carlos sent him the full amount after that, but my point is that Paul had his own logic of how things and people should be and at his core, he cared deeply about other people’s feelings.
Like when he called to tell me he was ‘coming out of the closet.’ At first he hesitated - his ex girlfriend Nancy Covington had told him I’d never be able to accept Paul being gay, and that my family would freak hen they heard the news. Of course, this coming from the girl who’d sailed to Greece to propose marriage to Paul and was devastated when her proposal was met with the truth - indicative of how honest Paul could be when he wanted to. I had just been to see him in San Francisco, living on his boat “The Endorphin,” and I had gone with Luana, my old girlfriend, who adored Paul up until her dying day - but Luana noted she felt something about Paul was different. I should have had a clue when his dad looked at me and joked about Paul always having to iron his socks. I was clueless.
 |
| My dad, Paul and my mom |
So Paul called, “Richard,” He said, with a seriousness unlike I’d heard before - “I have something important to tell you.. And I really don’t know how you’re going to react.” Hmm.. I thought, what could this be? He said “I’m gay.” Stunned, - I chose the position I always chose when arguing with Paul - that I knew more than him about anything we ever discussed. I said “Like I didn’t already know that!” He breathed a sigh of relief, I resolved that nothing Paul would ever tell me would be something I couldn’t handle or rather, wouldn’t be something I’d convince him I’d already considered and had a full blow opinion about. My family’s response was equal to mine - we’ve always loved Paul, having always considered him part of our family - a fifth son - Paul was at just about every wedding and funeral in my family - but when I told my mom that Paul had ’come out of the closet’ she said, “Why can’t he just go back in there with a flashlight?”
I was weighing how to tell my mom the news of Paul’s passing. My dad’s got Alzheimer’s, she’s taking care of him at home - which is stressful as you can imagine - and I didn’t want to add any stress.. So I asked her what she thought happened to a person after they died. She said, “Well, I think they go to a wonderful place.. When you die, it’s beautiful, and you see people you love, and you feel better physically and don’t have any problems.. A place where you’re perfectly happy in the best of health, and all the worries and woes of this life are behind you.” It was then that I told her that our dear friend Paul had left this planet, and that I thought he had perfectly described where he is now, and how he’s feeling.
 |
| A photo of Paul on The Endorphin next to his ashes |
I know how much he loved all of you. I know because I haven’t seen most of you in 20 years but he kept me up to date with pride - Hope’s wedding - to which I replied, “Hope, married? Isn’t she still 12?” About Peter’s job and family, Jack’s living her with his family - Susan the hippie rebel and Pam the practical professional - what you guys have been up to, even hilarious tales of Aunt Rhea - and especially his mom and dad - he was so impressed that his dad is Lance Armstrong senior, riding a bike every day for umpteen mils and how his mom was, as I’ve heard it, winning just about every bridge championship in the country. Maybe he was making it all up, I’ll never know, because you see, Paul and I saw the world we created. I’m sure he’s finding it hilarious to see us all here celebrating him - Dave, Mark, Billy, Dave and Maryanne - I’m sure he’s enjoying this.
 |
| Bill Meyer, Mark Caplis and Paul's red Maple, growing with the help of some of Paul's ashes. |
I’m hoping one day Paul and I can continue our conversations, maybe in my dreams, and maybe after this life.. I may even admit to him that he’s right now and then.. But my phone’s been ringing this week and there’s no one there, so I’ll assume it’s Paul, but he’s at a loss for words. Thought I hardly think that’s likely. Paul, we’re all going to miss you very much.
Friday
Windy City White City
In light of the brouhaha over Muslims v Christians, I've posted my two part documentary "White City/Windy City" - the film was made at the behest of Layalina.tv., and organization created by former Ambassadors Richard Fairbanks and Marc Ginsberg to foster understanding between cultures. In this case, I chose Chicago and Casablanca as Sister Cities that exhibit tolerance - the documentary was made with the idea of creating a series that would eventually be broadcast in the middle east and the U.S., featuring various Sister Cities and what they have in common. Either way, I think it stands on its own, if only to hear both Mayor Daley and the Imam of the largest mosque in Casablanca say the identical things, word for word. Enjoy. For more info on the film, go to www.layalina.tv
Monday
Martini On The Rocks
I finally decided to take the tracks out of my closet and put them into a CD... I've been playing Chicago Blues and Boogie Woogie Piano for longer than I can remember, frequently in some piano bar in some far corner of the world. Over the years, people would ask me if I had a CD, and I would chuckle and say CD? Moi? I played alongside Craig Cole at Les Deux in Hollywood for six months, played with Imminent Disaster Blues Band in LA in various venues around town including Les Deux, and the House of Blues. A damn fine band. There are various tunes I've written over the years as well as some covers, like "Route 66." Enjoy.
Thursday
Charles Grodin's paean to yours truly...
I got an email from the amazing, hilarious, loyal pal Charles Grodin the other day. When he's not writing plays, starring in films, directing/producing/emceeing, he's saving people in prison who've been incarcerated under bizarre circumstances. He's an all around amazing guy, and happens to be Godfather to my son. That being said, I was a bit flabbergasted to read this - which will be posted in his weekly column at the NY Daily News (as of today, they've held it up, perhaps thinking it was about broadway musical producer Richard Martini). I post it here, because after I read it, I swore I was going to tattoo it to my forehead. In lieu of my forehead; Enjoy.
(PS. His daughter Marion is a brilliant standup commedienne, son Nicholas (on the left) is a terrific actor and has appeared in a number of cool feature films and wife Elissa is an accomplished children's book author. Talk about a tour de force de family... Look for Chuck to appear in the sequel to Midnight Run, (knock on wood) and he appears on the radio doing hilarious and often touching commentary on your local CBS radio affiliate...)
Richard Martini
My brilliant close friend, Richard Martini said to me recently people who rarely speak often have a strong inner monologue going, so sometimes if they behave strangely when you speak – it’s because you’re interrupting their strong inner monologue.
Richard Martini is so gifted in so many ways – writing – directing – producing – but he has no greater gift than being a devoted friend. When my wife and son wanted to go to Italy, I knew I wasn’t going anywhere except maybe downstairs, so I asked Richard Martini to accompany them – Italy – Martini – hellooo.
He even flew to Africa to be with me ,where I once did a picture. He got a discount for me on a fabulous rug – two actually.
Recently we were discussing all the distracting DVDs that are now available for cars. Richard said “We have a great DVD in our car. It’s called a window.”
God blessed me with having Richard Martini in my life. Look for your Richard Martini or better yet – be a Richard Martini.
(PS. His daughter Marion is a brilliant standup commedienne, son Nicholas (on the left) is a terrific actor and has appeared in a number of cool feature films and wife Elissa is an accomplished children's book author. Talk about a tour de force de family... Look for Chuck to appear in the sequel to Midnight Run, (knock on wood) and he appears on the radio doing hilarious and often touching commentary on your local CBS radio affiliate...)
Richard Martini
My brilliant close friend, Richard Martini said to me recently people who rarely speak often have a strong inner monologue going, so sometimes if they behave strangely when you speak – it’s because you’re interrupting their strong inner monologue.
Richard Martini is so gifted in so many ways – writing – directing – producing – but he has no greater gift than being a devoted friend. When my wife and son wanted to go to Italy, I knew I wasn’t going anywhere except maybe downstairs, so I asked Richard Martini to accompany them – Italy – Martini – hellooo.
He even flew to Africa to be with me ,where I once did a picture. He got a discount for me on a fabulous rug – two actually.
Recently we were discussing all the distracting DVDs that are now available for cars. Richard said “We have a great DVD in our car. It’s called a window.”
God blessed me with having Richard Martini in my life. Look for your Richard Martini or better yet – be a Richard Martini.
"Salt" to theaters in July...
Just a few words here in praise of "Salt."
I had the great opportunity to work on this film the past year.. I created a previsualization site where everyone on the cast and crew could view the Director's Vision on a daily basis - Phillip Noyce would ask me to search things out for him, and I'd post them daily on this web page. There was character background info for the actors, links to the story boards, clips of all the locations and just about everything that could go into a film appeared on this one page. I'd update it every day so that all the crew members were on the same page as Phillip. Then one day he handed me a digital camera and asked me to shoot some flashback sequences for him - not sure if any will actually make the final cut, but during the editorial process, it was hilarious to see the footage I shot on a Sony HD cam show up on the big screen. Oh, and I also appear in the film - look for me as a driver for Evelyn Salt when she is brought out of North Korea. I nearly killed my precious cargo when I nearly turned into a huge army truck during the shot, but it was fun speeding around with August Diehl, who plays Salt's husband.
I've seen a rough cut of the film and it jumps off the screen. Phillip is really a master of this genre, and knows how to take something and amp it up without losing story focus, or what the emotional impact might be. And I can't praise Angelina Jolie enough - I was startled by her ability to nail each scene over and over again, under sometimes bizarre circumstances, while flying, jumping, leaping, kicking or doing all the stuff that she does really well. It's the first time I'm aware of that she's able to play an action character with multiple levels of personality - in this case, I felt she captured a certain kind of schizophrenia that is written into her character, and I'm amazed at her multiple personas. A tour de force, or a force majeure, or a force of nature. Take your pic. Oh, and Liev Schreiber rocks as well. Another amazing actor who gives nuance a new name.
This is not a movie review, nor is it trying to sell the film in any way. I think anyone who goes to see it will get a thrill ride out of it, and it always keeps you guessing. The acting is top drawer, the action isn't over the top, and the story leaves you trying to add up the clues - they're all there, but may require subsequent viewings to nail them all. Oh, and of course, to catch me on screen.
This is not a movie review, nor is it trying to sell the film in any way. I think anyone who goes to see it will get a thrill ride out of it, and it always keeps you guessing. The acting is top drawer, the action isn't over the top, and the story leaves you trying to add up the clues - they're all there, but may require subsequent viewings to nail them all. Oh, and of course, to catch me on screen.
Rome Center
Looks like I won't be teaching at the Rome Center this summer after all.... La Prossima!
Tibetan Filmmaker sentenced to six years for his documentary
Zurich, 6. January 2010. Dhondup Wangchen, the Tibetan filmmaker who is currently in Chinese detention, has been sentenced to six years imprisonment by the provincial court in Xining (capital of Qinghai province). The sentencing took place on 28 December 2009 but his relatives in Xining were neither informed about the trial nor the verdict.
Outrageous!!!
This filmmaker made a documentary in Tibet and has been sentenced to six years in prison.
Write a letter, send a fax, to to the webset and watch the movie at http://www.leavingfearbehind.com/downloads.php
Here's my letter to the Minister of Justice:
Jan. 21st, 2010
Minister of Justice of the People's Republic of China
WU Aiying Buzhang
Sifabu
10 Chaoyangmen Nandajie
Chaoyangqu
Beijingshi 100020
People's Republic of China
Dear Minister,
It has come to my attention that an amateur filmmaker has been sentenced to six years in prison for making a film. I've seen footage from his film "Leaving Fear Behind," and can see that he made a film without much more than his camera and computer. Since the proliferation of video cameras worldwide, anyone can take up a camera and point it in the direction of someone else and ask them a question.
Certainly the great country of China has it within their power to allow artists to take photographs, or paint pictures, or create music that reflects the times. I've been to China a number of times, and am always amazed by the breadth, depth and mastery of Chinese artists. The history of China is replete with artists and craftsmen making artwork that reflects their time in history. I submit to you that a student asking his fellow citizens what they think of the upcoming Olympics (the 2008 Beijing Olympics) is not an act of sedition, rather it is a time capsule of feelings from the region.
Since China claims that Tibet has always been part of China, I find it ironic that the government doesn't treat their Tibetan brothers with the same dignity and expression that they might allow in their fellow artists in Shanghai or Hong Kong. Certainly, a filmmaker like Chen Kaige has made films that reflect a time and a place - I submit to you that if China truly considers Tibet to be part of its heritage, then it should allow those artists and filmmakers, even if they're student filmmakers, to be allowed to express themselves. No flags were burned. No posters were printed. No one was harmed by the telling of this story. In fact, the opposite is true - its made the government of China appear weak, repressive and frightened by a student with a video camera.
(http://www.leavingfearbehind.com/index.php)
I sincerely hope the Justice system finds a way to right this wrong. Having spent time in Tibet, Shanhai and Beijing myself (as well as Hong Kong), it's apparent that the authorities in Tibet act with a heavier hand then perhaps in other regions of China. I will ask my fellow filmmakers here in the U.S. to lend their voices to help get this student (and the monk who assisted him) out of prison and home to his family.
Respectfully,
Richard Martini
Documentary Filmmaker ("Journey Into Tibet")
Member of Director's Guild, Writer's Guild and Screen Actor's Guild (as if that would help!)
Anyways, with a concerted effort towards his release, we all were able to get Tibetan filmmaker Ngawang Choephel out of prison (letters to Amnesty Intl, people like Diana Takata with the Students for a Free Tibet, contributions from many people across the planet) - and he went on to win Sundance last year for his documentary!!!!
It's an amazing story - and at the very least write a letter to protest.. here's the details from his website:
PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in Mandarin or your own language,
calling on the Chinese authorities to:
> release Dhondup Wangchen immediately and unconditionally, as he has been detained solely for his peaceful exercise of the right to freedom of expression;
> guarantee that while he remains in custody, he is not tortured or otherwise ill-treated, and has access to family, legal assistance of his choosing and any medical care he may require;
> ensure that Dhondup Wangchen’s trial is in line with international fair trial standards;
> conduct a prompt and impartial investigation into the allegations that Dhondup Wangchen has been tortured and otherwise ill-treated, with a view to bringing those responsible to justice.
Minister of Justice of the People's Republic of China
WU Aiying Buzhang
Sifabu
10 Chaoyangmen Nandajie
Chaoyangqu
Beijingshi 100020
People's Republic of China
Fax: +86 10 65292345
Email: pfmaster@legalinfo.gov.cn
Salutation: Dear Minister
Prime Minister of the People's Republic of China
WEN Jiabao Guojia Zongli
The State Council General Office
2 Fuyoujie
Xichengqu
Beijingshi 100017
People's Republic of China
Fax: +86 10 65961109 (c/o Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Salutation: Your Excellency
Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country.
Outrageous!!!
This filmmaker made a documentary in Tibet and has been sentenced to six years in prison.
Write a letter, send a fax, to to the webset and watch the movie at http://www.leavingfearbehind.com/downloads.php
Here's my letter to the Minister of Justice:
Jan. 21st, 2010
Minister of Justice of the People's Republic of China
WU Aiying Buzhang
Sifabu
10 Chaoyangmen Nandajie
Chaoyangqu
Beijingshi 100020
People's Republic of China
Dear Minister,
It has come to my attention that an amateur filmmaker has been sentenced to six years in prison for making a film. I've seen footage from his film "Leaving Fear Behind," and can see that he made a film without much more than his camera and computer. Since the proliferation of video cameras worldwide, anyone can take up a camera and point it in the direction of someone else and ask them a question.
Certainly the great country of China has it within their power to allow artists to take photographs, or paint pictures, or create music that reflects the times. I've been to China a number of times, and am always amazed by the breadth, depth and mastery of Chinese artists. The history of China is replete with artists and craftsmen making artwork that reflects their time in history. I submit to you that a student asking his fellow citizens what they think of the upcoming Olympics (the 2008 Beijing Olympics) is not an act of sedition, rather it is a time capsule of feelings from the region.
Since China claims that Tibet has always been part of China, I find it ironic that the government doesn't treat their Tibetan brothers with the same dignity and expression that they might allow in their fellow artists in Shanghai or Hong Kong. Certainly, a filmmaker like Chen Kaige has made films that reflect a time and a place - I submit to you that if China truly considers Tibet to be part of its heritage, then it should allow those artists and filmmakers, even if they're student filmmakers, to be allowed to express themselves. No flags were burned. No posters were printed. No one was harmed by the telling of this story. In fact, the opposite is true - its made the government of China appear weak, repressive and frightened by a student with a video camera.
(http://www.leavingfearbehind.com/index.php)
I sincerely hope the Justice system finds a way to right this wrong. Having spent time in Tibet, Shanhai and Beijing myself (as well as Hong Kong), it's apparent that the authorities in Tibet act with a heavier hand then perhaps in other regions of China. I will ask my fellow filmmakers here in the U.S. to lend their voices to help get this student (and the monk who assisted him) out of prison and home to his family.
Respectfully,
Richard Martini
Documentary Filmmaker ("Journey Into Tibet")
Member of Director's Guild, Writer's Guild and Screen Actor's Guild (as if that would help!)
Anyways, with a concerted effort towards his release, we all were able to get Tibetan filmmaker Ngawang Choephel out of prison (letters to Amnesty Intl, people like Diana Takata with the Students for a Free Tibet, contributions from many people across the planet) - and he went on to win Sundance last year for his documentary!!!!
It's an amazing story - and at the very least write a letter to protest.. here's the details from his website:
PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in Mandarin or your own language,
calling on the Chinese authorities to:
> release Dhondup Wangchen immediately and unconditionally, as he has been detained solely for his peaceful exercise of the right to freedom of expression;
> guarantee that while he remains in custody, he is not tortured or otherwise ill-treated, and has access to family, legal assistance of his choosing and any medical care he may require;
> ensure that Dhondup Wangchen’s trial is in line with international fair trial standards;
> conduct a prompt and impartial investigation into the allegations that Dhondup Wangchen has been tortured and otherwise ill-treated, with a view to bringing those responsible to justice.
Minister of Justice of the People's Republic of China
WU Aiying Buzhang
Sifabu
10 Chaoyangmen Nandajie
Chaoyangqu
Beijingshi 100020
People's Republic of China
Fax: +86 10 65292345
Email: pfmaster@legalinfo.gov.cn
Salutation: Dear Minister
Prime Minister of the People's Republic of China
WEN Jiabao Guojia Zongli
The State Council General Office
2 Fuyoujie
Xichengqu
Beijingshi 100017
People's Republic of China
Fax: +86 10 65961109 (c/o Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Salutation: Your Excellency
Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country.
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Sorry to see Carrie, Debbie and George all depart hours apart. Someone posted something darkly humorous today. "David Bowie succ... -
I was finishing up my film for Gaia "Backstage Pass to the Flipside: Talking to Bill Paxton" when Dr. Medhus reached out to me an... -
Proof consciousness exists outside the brain. Given two years ago by Dr. Greyson of UVA, (interviewing him for the next edition of "...
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I got an email from the amazing, hilarious, loyal pal Charles Grodin the other day. When he's not writing plays, starring in films, dire...
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