Film
Documentary Film Project seeks funding
“Yoga in the Shadows” Documentary Film Project seeks funding!
Reaching out to fellow filmmakers.
Dear MOPAN Members & Friends,
Several months ago I may have sent you a copy of the proposal for my documentary film entitled “Yoga in the Shadows” along with a plea for funding assistance to help get this project up and running. I am very pleased to announce that, with the help of several kind and generous individuals, I was able to raise enough money to venture forth and begin filming.
This short piece is based on several brief interviews with Living Yoga’s founder Sarahjoy Marsh, two volunteer teachers, Dr. Alan Marlatt of the University of Washington and two forays into the underserved communities that Living Yoga serves, the De Paul Residential Treatment Center, the Columbia River Correctional Institution and Volunteers of America Men’s Residential Center, all located in Portland, Oregon.
Though many people are aware of the health benefits of Yoga, few truly understand the transformative potential of this ancient science. In “Yoga in the Shadows” we will meet scientists whose empirical research is lending support to evidence-based treatments that are utilizing Yoga as an adjunct therapy to address various problems such as substance abuse (and other forms of addiction) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, for example.
In order to continue work on this film, I will need to continue to raise funds and awareness. Please take the time to view the trailer and perhaps forward this email or the web link to people who may be interested in learning about this project. And please also consider making a donation. “Yoga in the Shadows” has partnered with
Film Action Oregon; so all donations are now tax deductible.Statistics reveal that the vast majority of inmates in Oregon’s Prison system are there due to the decisions they made while in the midst of their substance abuse. Furthermore, their reliance on drugs or alcohol is often correlated to a reaction to previous life trauma. It is of obvious concern that there are tens of thousands of young adults who are serving or have served in our armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan who are suffering from PTSD to some degree of another.
“Yoga in the Shadows” is a film whose time has come. The building and operation of prisons has become a privately owned growth industry, yet the root causes of suffering are not being addressed. Yoga is another tool, an effective tool, for “rewiring” the mind away from addiction and healing trauma. In your offer to support my effort to bring this project to thousands if not millions of eyes and minds, you are investing in the human spirit.
Thank you, Bruce
Bruce Kubert
bruce@brucekubert.com
www.brucekubert.com
www.yogaintheshadows.com
541-729-6977
P.S. Any funds that are presently generated will be used to travel to California to interview researchers at Stanford University and interview several “luminaries” of the mindfulness movement. The next leg of the Journey will take me to The Trauma Center in Brookline, MA.
Some statistics On Addiction
According to SAMHSA (U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
One of every eight Americans has a significant problem with alcohol or drugs, with 40 percent of the group having a “dual diagnosis,” or concurrent mental/nervous disorder;
Approximately 27 million Americans either use illicit drugs regularly or are “heavy drinkers.” Of these almost 16 million are estimated to need immediate treatment;
Approximately 27 million Americans either use illicit drugs regularly or are “heavy drinkers.” Of these almost 16 million are estimated to need immediate treatment;
By age eighteen, almost 12 percent of all young people are illicit drug users;
An untreated alcoholic’s medical costs are approximately 300 percent higher than non-alcoholic’s medical costs;
Approximately 70 percent of illegal drug users are employed and contribute significantly to workplace absenteeism, accidents and injuries, decreased productivity, increased insurance expenses, employee turnover costs and on-the-job violence;
The estimated annual direct cost to our society resulting from substance abuse is more than 250 billion dollars;It is generally accepted that chemical dependency, along with associated mental health disorders, has become one of the most severe health and social problems facing the United States.
Some statistics on PTSD
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an emotional illness that usually develops as a result of a terribly frightening, life-threatening, or otherwise highly unsafe experience. PTSD sufferers re-experience the traumatic event or events in some way, tend to avoid places, people, or other things that remind them of the event (avoidance), and are exquisitely sensitive to normal life experiences (hyperarousal).
Statistics regarding this illness indicate that approximately 7%-8% of people in the United States will likely develop PTSD in their lifetime, with the lifetime occurrence (prevalence) in combat veterans and rape victims ranging from 10% to as high as 30%.
Almost half of individuals who use outpatient mental-health services have been found to suffer from PTSD.
On average, 3%-6% of high school students in the United States and as many as 30%-60% of children who have survived specific disasters have PTSD.
Up to 100% of children who have seen a parent killed or endured sexual assault or abuse tend to develop PTSD, and more than one-third of youths who are exposed to community violence (for example, a shooting, stabbing, or other assault) will suffer from the disorder.
Oregon State Department of Correction Statistics:
Cost per Inmate per Day……………………$77.78
Inmates with Mental Health Needs
October 2009
Highest Treatment Need ……………………1,044 (7.54%)
Severe Mental Health Problems ………..2,112 (15.26%)
Moderate Treatment Need………………….1,101 (7.95%)
Benefit from Treatment ……………………2,223 (16.06%)
No Need for Treatment Today ………….3,043 (21.99%)
No Reported Need Today…………………4,318 (31.20%)
Inmates with Substance Abuse Problems
October 2009
Severe Problem……………………………….7,996 (57.77%)
Moderate Problem …………………………..2,264 (16.36%)
No Reported Treatment Need……………3,581 (25.87%)
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Wasteland Films looking for PR/Marketing expert
Wasteland Films LLC is currently looking for a PR / Marketing expert to assist in the development of Lady Wasteland: Season II – A post apocalyptic web-series which has amassed over a million hits and tens of thousands of downloads. We have worldwide contracts with dozens of online VOD providers and are currently in pre-production.
Experience / responsibilities include:
- Experience in online brand marketing
- Working with companies regarding film / video product placement contracts
- Knowledge of ROI based online video marketing
- Experience in viral marketing within social networking sites and blogs
- Working with VOD content providers
- Knowledge of online CPM advertising rates
This is a partnership & commissioned paid position.
Please e-mail resume / questions to:
Mark Roush
decay@ladywasteland.com
www.ladywasteland.com
Feature film wraps in Harney County
Contact:
Vince Porter, Executive Director
Governor’s Office of Film & Television
503-229-5832
The feature film, “Meek’s Cutoff” has wrapped production in Harney County where it has been filming. “Meek’s Cutoff” is the most recent for Director Kelly Reichardt, who also directed “Wendy and Lucy” and “Old Joy.” The film stars Paul Dano, (“Where the Wild Things Are,” “There Will Be Blood”, “Little Miss Sunshine”), Michelle Williams, (“Synecdoche, NY,” “I’m Not There,” “Brokeback Mountain”) and Bruce Greenwood, (“Star Trek”, “National Treasure: Book of Secrets”, “Capote”) and is based on the true story of Stephen Meek who guided hopeful families on a little known path on the early Oregon Trail.
Harney County, with the highest unemployment rate in the state benefitted when “Meek’s Cutoff” chose Burns as its base camp for the duration of their six week shoot. They pulled into town with a cast and crew of more than 60, which created a significant bump to the economy for local businesses. According to Kelley West, owner of the Horseshoe Inn, “Compared to last year, our business revenue was up almost 200%. We were able to hire extra employees and give the rest more hours as well as make some needed repairs. This experience was quite unique and positive.“ And Krysta Raif, Manager at the Comfort Inn in Hines, reported that rooms booked for crew made for a $14,000 increase in revenue for the month of September. Krysta noted, “We were able to provide full time employment to our staff, which typically decreases this time of year due to lack of business. The lodging tax put back into the community for the period of time the film crew was here will help the city and its residents.“
Mark Maliwauki, Director of Harney County Economic Development commented,
“The impact that the project has had on businesses, individuals and, frankly, families alike will be felt for years to come. It proves that opportunity is always out there, it is only a matter of time and circumstance to take advantage. We are very open to, and hopeful that, more TV and film projects will come our way. The support is definitely here to make these types of opportunities happen.“
“Meeks Cutoff” is produced by Neil Kopp (“Wendy and Lucy,” “Paranoid Park,”