INSPIRING LOCAL MOVIE NIGHTS by J. Lee Walker
E
ven in our chaotic times, refresh- ing signs of purpose-filled com- munity emerge. Small groups of individuals are coming together to dis- cuss the content of inspirational films, like those from Spiritual Cinema Circle (SCC), and investigate documentaries, such as Food Inc. and FRESH, that ad- dress vital issues. These always infor- mal and sometimes lively dialogues are taking place locally in the casual set- tings of family rooms and at the Center for Spiritual Living, in Naples and Cape Coral.
Movie nights for members of the Center for Spiritual Living, Naples, began in 2009. The tiny seed of an idea bloomed where it was planted, and within a year, attendance outgrew the seating area of any member’s family room. “Natural Awakenings readers who find us in the magazine’s calendar have been adding to the attendance at our Cinema Night on the third Friday of the month,” says Reverend Heidi Peck, the center’s spiritual leader. “We decided to make the mov- ies more publicly accessible and show them at Journey Arts, on Immokalee Road, in Naples,” she notes. The September film, Vision of Universal Humanity, is part of SCC and corre- sponds with Barbara Marx Hubbard’s new book, Emergence: The Shift from Ego to Essence. “I’m sure there will be a stimulating question-and-answer period about how to be a Universal Human, one who is capable of co-creating a new world that is sustainable, compas- sionate and life-enhancing,” says Rev. Heidi.
At the Center for Spiritual Liv- ing in Cape Coral, Movie Night is the fourth Friday of every other month. “Thanks to Natural Awakenings’ calendar, attendance ranges from 15 to 25 people,” notes Reverend Emile Gauvreau. Enlightening films, such as Spiritual Liberation, The Shift and Oh
natural awakenings September 2010 29
My God, are followed by two or three thought-provoking questions to encour- age conversation, while family films are just plain fun, celebrated in comfy style with popcorn, blankies and pillows. Watching and discussing inspiring, positive films wasn’t enough for Naples resident Gail Kowatch, so she decided to write, produce and direct them. Her first, The Right Friend, was filmed in Naples and will be offered by SCC to members in November. “When I dis- covered SCC in a Natural Awakenings Global Brief in 2007, I immediately joined, because I was so inspired by SCC filmmakers, who create only posi- tive movies,” says Kowatch, a consult- ing CPA who devotes any spare time to her new craft. “I wanted to do some- thing creative, so I read books about screenwriting, directing and cinematog-
raphy. However, I had to hire a produc- tion crew, because I had no clue about cameras, lenses, lighting or sound.” The subject of The Right Friend is choices. “We all make them every day,” quips Kowatch, “so it was an easy storyline for me. I find it exciting to think that my film might be the subject of a local movie night.”
Cinema Night, Center for Spiritual Liv- ing, Naples,
CSLNaples.org
Movie Night, Center for Spiritual Liv- ing, Cape Coral, CenterForSpiritualLiv-
ingCC.com
Spiritual Cinema Circle, SpiritualCin-
emaCircle.com
The Right Friend trailer: http://www.
imdb.com/title/tt1549090/. Email info@
GreatRays.com
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