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Los Angeles, Holistic Arts and Entertainment

Hollywood Gets Spiritual As Bucks Roll In
As spiritual films find a large audience and payout, Hollywood filmmakers get religion, according to an article by Robert W. Butler in the Washington Post. In movies as varied as "The Road," "The Blind Side," "The Invention of Lying" and even James Cameron's mega-film "Avatar," issues of faith and morality and mankind's place in the universe are all the rage. According to Butler's the article , Greg Wright, an editor at HollywoodJesus.com, which examines popular culture from a religious perspective says, "The more paranoid elements of our culture tend to think Hollywood has a proactive agenda, that producers have a grand scheme to use movies to shape the thinking of audiences. I don't subscribe to that school. I believe that Hollywood gives audiences what audiences want to see. If people don't want to see movies with certain messages, they won't buy tickets." Sister Rose Pacatte, who reviews movies for the Pauline Center for Media Studies in Los Angeles, said it isn't mere coincidence that a new animated version of Dickens's "A Christmas Carol" came along in 2009. The film was released in the wake of an economic crisis fueled by greedy self-interest on an unprecedented scale, she said. "Being a good man of business will not save your soul is the message of 'A Christmas Carol', according to the article. Other current films, while not overtly religious, stress the idea of human beings as dependent on one another and responsible for one another's well-being. Pacatte pointed to "Up in the Air," in which George Clooney plays a loner whose job is to fire downsized employees and who has attempted to insulate himself from all human commitment. "Avatar" depicts humanity as a rapacious race represented by a soulless corporation and largely incapable of appreciating the simple ecological spiritualism of an alien race. "Of these films, 'Blind Side' has the most evangelical world view," said Mark Moring, senior associate editor at Christianity Today. "It's a movie based on real people who are devout Christians and whose faith clearly played a big part in their reaching out to this young homeless man and turning his world around." Moring said. Wright at HollywoodJesus.com said, "We're finally getting some decently crafted movies aimed at the faith audience." Wright said. But this too will pass, Wright said. "Hollywood is all about cycles. The films that really matter, that actually have something to say, are the indie titles that sneak into the Hollywood distribution system or make their way to home video or the film festivals. That's where the real future of spiritual movies is -- with niche independent filmmakers who are finding distribution channels that work for them. By Robert W. Butler Sunday, January 3, 2010; E09 -- McClatchy Newspapers
Source: Washington Post	2010-01-03

Artists Around the World Respond to HIV/AIDS
UCLA’s Fowler Museum features artists from around the world responding to HIV/AIDS in an exhibition entitled Make Art/Stop AIDS, extending through June 15, 2008. Make Art/Stop AIDS is an internationally traveling exhibition which features artists from South Africa to India to the U.S. responding to HIV/AIDS through paintings, sculpture, photographs and videos. Reports reviewer Edward Goldman: “This exhibition provides more than just a lecture on the difficult subject of AIDS and the fragility of life: it finds poetry where few of us dare to search.” Easy parking is available. Enter UCLA from Sunset Blvd. at Westwood. Drive ahead to the Parking Information Booth in Lot 4. Convenient Fowler parking is at the northeast or southeast ends of Lot 4 (see map), where automated pay stations accept $1 and $5 bills and credit cards. The parking fee is a maximum of $8. The Fowler is visible to your left when you ascend from the elevator or stairs (follow pedestrian walkways, indicated by arrows). Also, the Fowler is a short walk from the UCLA Transit Center at Hilgard and Strathmore Avenues, where several public bus lines stop. Admission is free. Hours are Wednesday-Sunday, noon to 5:00 and Thursday until 8 p.m.
Source: Whole Life Times	2008-04-03

‘Liberating Jesus’ Play Called Provocative
“Liberating Jesus,” a one-man play written and performed by Leonard Jacobson, continues a 6-week run through April 6, on Fridays & Saturday, 7:30 p.m. and Sundays, 2 p.m., at the Edgemar Center for the Arts, 2437 Main St., Santa Monica, CA. Incorporating an unconventional view of Jesus, critics have called the play provocative, inspiring and enlightening. The event is sponsored by the Conscious Living Foundation and Visioneering Entertainment. Tickets are $25. Call 800-838-3006 or go to www.BrownPaperTickets.com.
Source: Whole Life Times	2008-03-20

Online Video Details High Stakes for Planet Earth
“This is about the future of humanity. All that we know is at stake,” is the opening statement of “Earth: The Sequel,” an online video. Based on the book, “Earth: The Sequel: The Race to Reinvent Energy and Stop global Warming” by Fred Krupp and Miriam Horn, the video describes how the multi-trillion dollar corporate energy sector is transforming itself as the reality of current climate change dawns. Once again, far-sighted inventors and entrepreneurs “are racing to revolutionize the way we meet our energy needs,” reports Fred Krupp of the Environmental Defense Fund. This is a hopeful call to arms to rise up to greet “the next new thing.” It carries an inspiring message that there is hope for the climate crisis if we act now. The video can be viewed at http://earththesequel.environmentaldefense.org/. The book is available on Amazon.com.
Source: Fred Krupp, Environmental Defense Fund	2008-03-06

Oprah Launches Free Webcast Class With Eckhart Tolle
Since Oprah’s announcement of Eckhart Tolle’s “A New Earth” as her Book Club selection and joining with Tolle to offer a 10-week free webcast class, sales have climbed to 3.6 million in two weeks with over 250,000 registrants for the web class. The 10 weekly sessions will be webcast each Monday night from March 3 through May 5, at 9:00 p.m. ET./6:00 p.m. PT. A first for Oprah Winfrey, she is joining renowned author Eckhart Tolle (“The Power of Now”) in a weekly free live interactive web class to discuss a chapter each week from Tolle’s new book, “A New Earth. Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose.” The book deals with letting go of the false ego self to allow the true spiritual self to emerge -- hence, "A New Earth." Since her announcement, the Penguin Group’s “A New Earth” has become the #1 bestselling nonficttion trade paperback in the nation, climbing to #1 on The New York Times, USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestseller lists. To register for the web class, go to www.oprah.com/anewearth. For additional information, contact Marilyn Ducksworth at 212-366-2564 or Marie Coolman at 212-366-2230.
Source: Oprah Television Show	2008-02-21

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