Last bid for peace documentary crowdfunding   19 May 2016

Last bid for peace documentary crowdfunding

A couple of Ishaya monks from New Zealand have been overwhelmed by the response to their public appeal to raise funds to finish a new documentary about meditation.

Monks Greg Hopkinson and Sally Lewis ventured into crowdfunding recently to get the money to finish their film Choice, which they plan to release in October this year.

The documentary film follows the stories of a number of people who have found peace through meditation and whose lives have transformed as a result.

The film producers put up an appeal for funds on the Indiegogo crowdfunding site in March (see https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/choice--6#/). They have already raised more than $US73,000. With just a week to go they are hoping a last big push will help them get over the bar to reach the $US108,000 needed for final post-production, marketing and promotion, and to produce some shorter supporting documentaries.

“We’ve been astounded by the level of support already,” says Greg Hopkinson. “It shows there’s a large community of people who can see the potential of this film and want to show others that peace is possible.”

In making the documentary the film-makers visited the Apodaca prison in Mexico, where maximum security prisoners are turning their lives around after learning the ascension meditation, as taught by the Ishayas of the Bright Path.

Sally Lewis says the visit was inspiring. “These people are finding real peace, often against incredible odds. It’s amazing how these simple techniques are making a profound difference in real people’s lives. We want to show more people that, with the right tools, inner peace is possible – even for those who have suffered a great deal.”

Even the prison guards are learning the meditation after being so impressed with the impact it had on the inmates. Apodaca prison has gone from being one of the most violent in Mexico to one of the most peaceful, says Sally.

The film also features the stories of other groups and individuals around the world – from foster kids to stressed businesspeople to cancer patients – all making the choice to move towards a better life through meditation.

Choice is a Mountford Media production with post-production by Due South Films. The team includes Bafta-winning editor Scott Flyger, double Emmy award-winning cinematographer Scott Simper and Stephen Latty, together with 28-year film industry veteran director Tony Simpson.
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