Esalen

In a few days I’ll be leaving to speak at the Esalen Inspirational Film Festival. True to its mission to show “films that empower and enrich the human spirit”, this innovative festival experience allows participants to rub shoulders between screenings with accomplished filmmakers.

In past years, I’ve had the opportunity to go hiking with Lucy Walker (Crash, Wasteland) and meet and later consult with director Josh Tickell (Fuel, The Big Fix) and his producer and wife, Rebecca Tickell.

If you have the opportunity to attend, I highly recommend going. You’ll dine, workshop, and bunk with documentary filmmakers who will inspire you with their vision and craft.

Take, for example, Ben Henretig, our former story consulting client whose film Crossing Bhutan will screen at Esalen next week. Ben, a graduate of the esteemed Stanford documentary program, is a deeply reflective artist who continues to perfect his craft. I loved working with him and look forward to discussing filmmaking and life in this wonderfully creative bubble above Big Sur.

Last year at Esalen, I presented a lecture on the power of solution-oriented, transformational documentaries. There’s nothing like preaching to the choir to feel inspired. As Barbara Marx Hubbard says, the choir needs preaching to.

Speaking of transformational documentaries, I’d like to congratulate three former Inner Circle members and story consulting clients. Director Pamela Tom’s entertaining biography of 101-year-old artist Tyrus Wong recently screened during the prestigious opening night slot at the CAAMFest.

Congratulations to Jessicca Moore, who recently enjoyed the San Francisco premiere of her personal documentary Why Not Home, about medical professionals who chose home births outside the hospital.

Finally, a big shout out to our story consulting client Rick Minnich, whose film The Bomb Hunters aired on German public television RBB.

If you’d like to talk about how we can help bring your vision to the screen, I am currently scheduling free 20-minute consultations on Monday, 4/18 and Friday, 4/22. Email me today!