"FEARLESS MOUNTAIN"– THE MOVIE—PART 2 of 2

It took awhile—about ten 40-minute DV tapes—for my brother-in-law and I to realize we had irreconcilable creative differences. When our differences became strong enough to prevent us from moving forward, we did what good brothers-in-law do; we peacefully decided to go our separate ways.

The film became mine to finish, which was, obviously what someone—Buddha, Creation or Mother Nature—had planned. I was left with a sizeable gap in terms of completing the production—the editing. But, as the movie had already taken on it’s own life, I believed it would work something out.

I continued with the filming schedule. Once the monks came out of their Rains Retreat I had plenty to do—setting up interviews with several monks and lay members of the monastic community and completing the long shot list.

For awhile I thought of hiring someone to help with the filming. But then, on second thought, I thought it would probably be easier to do it on my own. I could set up the camera, which can be operated by remote control, and let it roll while I asked the questions.

Learning to interview while operating the camera was a little tricky at first but the more I did it the easier it became. I’d frame the shot then move to the side and start the interview. At opportune moments I’d go back to the camera to change the shot, zoom in or out, or change the tape. The more I did interviews on my own the more comfortable I became with the process. I actually found it worked better to do it all on my own. The people I interviewed seemed comfortable without a another presence. Making the film became easier and more fun.

But fortunately for both me, and for the film, my younger son Andrew who has been making movies since he borrowed our first video camera in elementary school, signed on to help me finish the film. He "was down" to do it as soon as school was out for the summer. He was just completing his freshman year in college.

As soon as Andrew had made the commitment to the film I made the investment in the editing system including the powerful computer needed to run and store all the material.

Andrew has helped turn more than 2,000 minutes of raw digital video into a 90-minute feature documentary. His role has gone far beyond editing, helping me think through every aspect of "Fearless Mountain." He took over the cameraman role as well, and freed me up to do the remaining interviews. I actually do find it easier not to have to worry about the camera when I’m talking with someone. Andrew has helped make the film better in many ways, visually and contextually. And, he actually enjoys spending time at the monastery almost as much as I do. We spent most of a night on top of Fearless Mountain filming a time-lapse sequence during the last full moon.

What I find most interesting about this whole process is how the simple thought of making a movie has actually manifested into one. We are not quite "home" yet with the film. We still have three weeks to go before our deadline of entering the Sundance film festival

Probably the best part of the movie making process has been getting to know the monks of Abhayagiri. Thinking back to the point in time when I first wrote the newspaper article that became the seed for the movie, the monks were still monks to me. Now, after spending six months talking with them, filming their life and the serene environment in which they live, I find myself feeling at home there. Ajahn Pasanno extended the invitation to come back to the monastery any time—"even without your camera," he laughed.

The timeless knowledge of Theravada Buddhism has begun to sink in. Afterall, Andrew and I spend hours at a time listening intently to every word the monks have said—again, and again. I somehow feel this is what the Buddha had in mind.

So many good things have happened during these past six months. I’ve met so many wonderful people that have helped expand me in so many ways that the phrase "anything is possible" has certainly gained new meaning for me.

I’ve learned there is nothing any of us can’t do when an idea comes into our head—especially if the idea is something as relatively simple as making a movie. Fearless Mountain, beginning with the idea itself, seems to have been created almost all by itself—with just a little assistance from Andrew and me.

Posted by Tony at August 6, 2005 08:43 AM