NH Filmmaker Interview Series #12 - Rae Dawn Chong

The African

What if the African was politely asked to join other fellow Africans on a voyage into the new world. When he and his friendly comrades arrived safely having been given proper passage and a room with food and cleanliness. He was welcomed into a community made up of fellow pilgrims also of many ethnicities and in this new world community he was allowed to prosper and grow. As he grew so did his family and wealth and The African was allowed to create fair commerce and to add fellow dreamers who supported his vision for a prosperous future for he and his family and fellow investors. There was hardly any resistance other than the occasional storm or air born illness as setbacks. He had a large family of friends and a healthy support network that made sure his efforts saw fair trade and financial support when needed. As time went on The African was able to leave a legacy of both massive wealth and tradition. He was allowed to summer on far away Islands in Maine with family and friends and to share in his good fortune and see his children marry well. The African was allowed to prosper like every other early American family who arrived on these shores. There was love support and community. Imagine this start? I just described what early White Anglo Saxons settlers experienced in early times. Contrast this start with ours?

Really?

We are gearing up to shoot a film about a special friendship. The protagonist is a young man who as he evolves has to deal with his sexuality and his identity. I think valid things , important things we all deal with throughout our life. One of the things our campaign has illustrated to us the film makers is how clouded we become with our judgements and our bigotry. I am not surprised but maybe a bit disappointed. Why does our sexuality offend? I am curious why people are so up in arms against homosexuals or being African American,or being a true progressive or liberal. Why does it cause such a ruckus? Who are we that we care who another person loves? Baffling and annoying that is my reaction. I am sick of people being so judgmental and I suppose we are in for it as we make the movie we are asking for it because we are allowing you inside a tender place. America lately has shown up to be a pretty intolerant place where we CLAIM to value freedom on paper but in practice not so much. Our intention for the film Pame is illumination and a chance to enjoy and experience a special friendship. Yes it is between two social misfits, yes we will offend the intolerant or bigoted. Because we judge, we sit back and judge, we all do it. I for one find life and my perspective in need of broadening everyday. I for one feel we all could use a bit of enlightenment not everything is as it seems. It is a journey a beautiful, rich , adventure if we allow it to be.

Pame

We ar emaking a movie in april; Here is an article that is out today if you are interested and want to support us take a look; http://m.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?aid=%2F20140106%2FNEWS%2F401060317&template=wapart

Star

You are made up of the exact same substance as actual celestial stars. The very fact that you said yes to living is a blessing and if this life is turning out to be an adventure with all sorts of challenges than you are super special and capable of solving the mysteries. YOU....said YES! You would not have it any other way and because we are in charge it is up to us to delight in it and to be excited about what is coming next. This is not to discount where you are or have been it is to acknowledge what a magnificient job you are doing. No matter how grey the skies or bleak the prognosis. This is an adventure made custom for YOU. In fact so much so that we only get a true sense of our own experience, everything we see and feel and know is a reflection of where we are. Fancy that? Enjoy all of it and say yes to all of it and watch the heavens fall in line to uplift and support you. Nothing but love even when there seems to be nothing, it is LOVE allowing us to get out of our way and prosper. Happy New Year STAR!

Thanksgiving 2013

Happy Holidays everybody!!! What a year it has been super instructive and at times excruciatingly painful conversely excruciatingly happy go figure. Friend’s lost family member’s (Annie) gutting and I don’t look forward to my turn. I am in the midst of a huge life change. My pilot is in postproduction and I am enjoying the process although it is painful to watch at times I am no longer 20 and it is taking everything I can to muster maturity to see it as if it were not me up there on screen. This is key so I can be useful while we tweak the edit. My budget was almost perfect almost I have to hustle a bit to make sure everyone is paid. Not horrible but some people we paid who committed to us gratis making my number skewed a bit (Ira) no worries…I made it work. Finally social media has as usual saved the day so many cool people I have connected with including my shows producer Sean. What a gift meanwhile I was blessed to also reach out to a NY Times critic whom if my show turns out will maybe give us a few lines of support. Mind you if it is subpar I cannot expect any support from anyone and it will be I to blame. Finally so much to be grateful for I am blessed with that I send blessings to you are your family. Thank you for being there and giving me support including financial support all of my donors will be getting their gifts soon I am gearing up to distributing the signed copies of The Celebrant. It is almost there. Gratitude and love for all…this season. Thank you, thank you so much. xo

Personal Dharma's

I discovered the one reason I was born or took life or decided to land on planet earth. Let me preface this with saying I believe planet earth is a teaching planet on a lower plane of knowledge (war, poverty,cruelty,etc…) it is a useful place to work misunderstandings out with too little damage to the cosmic whole. I have no proof and I am not interested in having to prove this I just find it comforting to me personally because how else can we make sense of inequality? If God is Omni everything , knowing, present, loving, blah, blah, blah then hardship is from a broader perspective a good thing. So I want to think and believe that we choose to come here to learn to have gravity and to suffer as well as taste a glimpse of bliss. So during my walk today it occurred to me why I took life. It occurred to me that my one lesson has been to thrive and prosper without any outside influence. To be self-contained and loving yes, in relationships, yes but not driven by them. If I were to look at my journey from day one all the places where I would lean in and depend on someone have been ripped away by circumstance and karma. I think when I can peacefully accept my Dharma it is less sad and more “huh”…or I get it! Some of us insist on life as a gift and one we earn and I think my beliefs can hold that too but I do suspect for me at least I am here to be autonomous and every day I am reminded of it and on face value it seems harsh but in truth it is liberating. Thanks to family and friends for helping get my lesson…I love you for it.