"All that we are is a result of what we have thought," said the Buddha. But what inspires the thought? Ancient Greek philosophers believed it was images and sounds that inspired thought. As someone who works with image and sound creators, I have read dozens of scientific studies that show the correlations between what we see and how it makes us think, feel and behave. And we all know how advertisers use the power of images and sounds to influence our thoughts, feeling and behaviors on a daily basis.
So what about movies? Most people think of them as mere entertainment, but the average movie beams out 24 images per second, set to a multitude of sounds purposely intended to elicit an emotional response. If advertisers use images and sounds to influence our thoughts in just a few seconds, I think it's safe to say that movies are the mother lode. And where are our souls in all of this? There are amazing filmmakers out there who create highly entertaining movies, but my soul doesn't seem to resonate with emotional manipulation, no matter how "entertaining" it is.
Stirring the soul is exactly what the artists behind the movie Sacred Earth set out to achieve: to use this incredibly powerful medium to create a film that went beyond emotional manipulation and reached the viewer's soul. In production for a year, the results surprised even the artists themselves. To put it in a nutshell, audiences call Sacred Earth a film that rocks your soul and reminds you how incredibly magnificent you are. I don't know about your soul, but as far as mine is concerned, that's entertainment.
This week's film excerpt is a section called Desert Star from the movie Sacred Earth by Emmy award-winning director Jan Nickman. It is a journey for your soul through sacred lands of the American Southwest featuring Academy award-winning actress Linda Hunt and Grammy-nominated composer David Lanz. It was painstakingly created to achieve artful excellence and as pure an experience for the viewer as possible. No dogma, no emotional manipulation... just you and 24 exquisite images per second set to soul-stirring music. An experience designed to make your mind, body and soul feel good.
To enhance your experience: Find a quiet moment to fully immerse yourself without interruption. Expand to "full screen," HD 720p and use quality speakers or stereo headphones. I would love to hear your thoughts on this subject and your experience after viewing, so feel free to share them below in the comment section.
Desert Star, featuring music by Grammy-nominated composer David Lanz, is just one of the inspirations to be found in the Wellness Experience™ film series. A revolutionary new way to turn your TV, computer or mobile device into a virtual wellness center at the push of a button -- the "play" button.
Each week, here on GPS For The Soul, I will share another excerpt from Sacred Earth and Echoes of Creation, two films that health and wellness experts are calling "a transcendent healing experience." From ancient forests of Alaska to sacred lands of the American Southwest, each video excerpt will give you an entirely different experience of wellness from the next. Stress-melting, heart-soaring and soul-stirring experiences to places in which by simply being there, you are changed.
The full 40-minute version of "Sacred Earth" is designed for repeated play for years of enjoyment and is available as a streaming rental or download-to-own. The DVD and Blu-ray disc versions are also available at Sacred Earth Pictures and offer a "With or Without Spoken Word" option, Special Features and an optional '"Continuous Play" loop setting.
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