Host a Screening- FREE Admission for September ONLY!!

Hi Friends,

We have several upcoming film screenings scheduled in September- check our website for all the cities and details! UPCOMING SCREENINGS

For the month of September, there is a unique opportunity for communities around the globe to screen Meditate and Destroy. Special thanks to Ourstage.com, fans will get FREE admission to these screenings. Please read the instructions below on how you can host a screening.

1). Signup on BraveNewTheaters.com. Go to the Meditate and Destroy page and click 'Host a Screening":

Brave New Theaters

2). Invite your friends, family, and other community members to your screening. Include instructions on how audience members obtain a "2008 AWESOME Ticket" to receive FREE admission to your screening. It's really simple- fans will signup for the "2008 AWESOME Ticket" by clicking here:
Ourstage Signup Link

Once they signup through this link, they will get a confirmation email. Click on the "FHTA ticket" link in the email to printout the "2008 Awesome Ticket" from Ourstage's website.

3). Download the film on either Heretic Films, Indieflix.com, or Caachi.com You have permission to screen the film publicly ONE time only. Additional public screenings require explicit, written permission. Note: Educational and institutional screenings require a special licensing permission/fee. Inquire within.

Heretic Films

Caachi.com

4). If you have a laptop and reliable internet access, you may wish to have a LIVE Webcast Q&A with Director, Sarah Fisher. This can be arranged with 7 days advance notice. Write to us to schedule a Q&A or ask questions about how to make this technically possible: screenings@bluelotusfilms.net

5). Make an announcement before the screening about the Non Violence Video Contest. See full details on our website (coming soon).

6). If you feel inclined and extra generous, please collect donations from your audience to help us raise $1,000 to produce the M&D DVD. Part of this project is to educate the public on how an indie film is produced and distributed. We encourage our screening hosts to look at the big picture-- fans are getting to see the film for free and a $4 sponsorship ticket is a really a low price. We aim to start changing the system by encouraging audiences to pay for artistic content that is worthwhile- not Hollywood nonsense. Extra donations can be collected and easily submitted via our fundraising page at Indiegogo.com. Check it out here: www.indiegogo.com

Disclaimer: This unique ticketing system is designed to give the maximum benefit to both the audience and the M&D film team. We trust that our film screening hosts will abide by this honor this system by collecting Ourstage tickets from those attending your screening. The Ourstage banner counter we have on our website shows how many people have purchased Ourstage tickets and will be monitored. It is very unusual for an independent film to earn revenue. With the revenue generated from screenings, we will be paying back thousands of dollars in credit card debt and putting funds together to self-distribute the MEDITATE AND DESTROY DVD. Please don't create bad karma for yourself by screening the film publicly without collecting Ourstage tickets at the door. Surely, you will agree exploiting filmmakers who put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into artistic content is not a good idea. Feel free to send us an email with your questions here: screenings@bluelotusfilms.net

Enjoy the film! Namaste!

We’re A Finalist! Come see the film TONIGHT @ 8 p.m.!!
Current mood: adventurous
Category: Parties and Nightlife

Dear Friends,

Thanks to the support from all of you and some really good karma, MEDITATE AND DESTROY made it as a finalist in the Myspace/Cinegogo contest!!! Only 6 films were chosen out of 12- so now there's a distinct chance to see the film on Friday, August 15 @ 8 p.m.!!

Check the website here: http://www.cinegogo.com/fhta/sf-finalists

For those in San Francisco, I request your full presence TONIGHT- August 15th @ MEZZANINE because no matter what happens it's ultimately the intention to try to seek meaningful change that matters. If you've seen the film already, come out to the support the cause of Sacred Cinema and bring a friend who you think would enjoy (and benefit) from seeing it.

It would be a huge joy to screen MEDITATE AND DESTROY tonight- but if for some reason we do not make it to the Top 3, please know it will also be a great joy to personally thank all of you for your eagerness to see the dharma on the big screen where it is sorely lacking.

Love and blessings,

Sarah

Q& A on the Myspace/Cinegogo Contest...


Q: Will I definitely be able to see the film tonight?

A: Six films will be narrowed to THREE at the event tonight. This is a screening event is called "You're the Film Programmer" contest. It based entirely on audience demand. Fans (that's you!) will vote to see the Top 3 films @ the event via text messaging @ the event location only minutes before the films are screened! Without you showing up to request the film, it won't be screened!! This is active cinema- you are a participant. When is the last time you got to control what you saw at a theater??

Don't FORGET your cell phone to send a text message for your vote!! This is the one time you are being asked to turn your cell phone ON in a theater!

Q: What do you mean by audience demand?

A: Most film festivals are programmed by a group of individuals who hypothesize about what they feel audiences want to see. Film Festival committees also have their own biases. Hollywood dominates the multiplexes around the entire country with their notion of good entertainment. With this new model, it is YOUR chance to see a film that is meaningful to YOU. In Buddhist terms-- this is a completely interdependent operation. YOU are not left out of the equation. YOUR voice can heard. Just show up and vote!! What is happening is a something new and different- unlike anything else in the film industry. Be a part of this historical moment- I assure you the landscape for film distribution is changing due to the efforts of the From Here to Awesome Film Festival.

Q: What if I show up @ Mint Plaza and MEDITATE AND DESTROY gets screened @ Mezzanine or visa versa??

A: I'm encouraging ALL fans of M&D to show up to the downstairs level of Mezzanine. Why? Because Mint Plaza is outdoors and I'm a total wimp on these cold San Francisco nights. We need to aggregate all the MEDITATE AND DESTROY fans in ONE location. If everyone is spread out between the two locations, the votes might not be high enough to make M&D one of the Top 3 winning films. So, MEZZANINE is the place to be!

Q: Where do I get my free ticket?

A: Go here to register: www.cinegogo.com/fhta

Q: Last question, I don't like being in the unknown. I just want to SEE the film- I don't want to take a risk at this event tonight.

A: Hmm, that's not really a question. It sounds like you expressing dissatisfaction about being in the unknown. I understand your feelings entirely. The unknown is a strange place to be- but sit with that feeling. I've been sitting in the unknown all week too. Life is always a mystery- it is grasping at a false sense of security that makes us uncomfortable. We always want to believe something is set in stone. It's a challenge to in the unknown, but I'm finding comfort by remembering the advice of my teacher, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, "Just try and don't worry" and "Accept defeat and offer the victory". Difficulties always lie entirely within the mind.

VIEW AND DESTROY!! Please Watch and Spread this Video!!!
Current mood: adventurous
Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities

We wanted to let you know about an EXCITING chance to see MEDITATE AND DESTROY in San Francisco on Friday, August 15th!!!

3 Filmmakers will screen their films according to AUDIENCE DEMAND on Friday, August 15th. Will MEDITATE AND DESTROY be one of the Top 3?

*********--------------------------------------------******
VIEW THE "Help Screen M&D in SF" VIDEO HERE:

WATCH THE VIDEO

********---------------------------------------------*****






IMPORTANT: If you DO NOT live in San Fran and/or HAVE already seen the film, please do the following to show your love and support:

**COMMENT on our *video* page
**RATE the video
**SPREAD it (post on blogs, profiles, post a LINK on Facebook, etc.)

From Here to Awesome, CineGoGo, Myspace and the Workbook Project present:

"BE A FILM FESTIVAL PROGRAMMER"
YOU'RE IN CONTROL OF WHAT SCREENS
FREE FESTIVAL SCREENINGS AUGUST 15th in SAN FRANCISCO!!

**EVEN IF YOU DON'T LIVE IN SAN FRANCISCO- PLEASE SHOW YOUR SUPPORT-- BECAUSE IT WILL HELP THE FILM SPREAD TO YOUR CITY!!!!!**

On Friday August 15th, FROM HERE TO AWESOME http://fromheretoawesome invades the Mezzanine and Mint Plaza (444 Jessie St.) with a radical, new model for film festival screenings. Audience members will use their mobile phones to program a night of FREE festival screenings. It's theatrical on-demand and you're in control of what screens. 12 films battle it out for 3 screening slots.


The choice is yours you're the festival programmer!

Top 6 winners will be determined by VIEWS, RATING, and COMMENTS on the video.

This event is happening in San Francisco for ONE-NIGHT only! If MEDITATE AND DESTROY gets to screen in San Francisco, I can assure you it will only help tremendously to bring the film to cities worldwide. While all the films in From Here to Awesome showcase are worthy, it will send a HUGE message to the world at-large if a low-budget indie film about a quirky spiritual teacher (made for under $100,000) is programmed by you- the AUDIENCE.

The last screening we had in San Francisco sold-out and we've heard from dozens of people since then they want to see the film in the Bay Area. The choice is now yours. We've made it this far, let's take it up a notch and bring the film to downtown San Francisco on August 15.

Let's show the world that spiritual films matter.

Don't delay, PLEASE show your support NOW.

>>>spread the link to blogs
>>>post on your Myspace profile
>>> spreading in any way you can!!

To secure your free ticket visit http://www. cinegogo. com/fhta

Namaste and much love to all of you!

COMMENT:: RATE :: SPREAD :: LINK

AWESOME Opportunity with Ourstage.com!!

Hi Everyone!

As a selected finalist in the From Here to Awesome Festival, Ourstage has given us a FABULOUS opportunity.

OurStage is the place to discover the best new artists and music - the central hub for all things related to discovering the best emerging music.

They will contribute $4 to our film budget for EVERY person who signs up on their website!

PLEASE signup on Ourstage today and support our WINNING film!!

We are all working for free (and have been for years). The contributions we receive via Ourstage will go towards our marketing and distribution budget. It costs a lot of money to get a film out to the public- and truthfully we rarely make a profit at our screenings so it's hard to keep the film spreading worldwide. We spent over $3,000 on our film festival budget alone (that did not include postage and handling). So, you get the point- like everyone, we need financial support to survive and cannot keep hemmoraging money.



Ourstage will give you 30 FREE music downloads when you signup for a FREE account.



Please click the link below and feel good about supporting the INDIE FILM REVOLUTION!

THIS offer is for LIMITED time- only a few weeks- so SIGNUP TODAY!!

NAMASTE FRIENDS!

http://www. ourstage. com/banner/charity_bookmark/meditateanddestroy

*NOTE: You must use the link provided above or funds will not be distributed to M&D

6:02 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

BREAKING NEWS: M&D Makes Top 10 Feature Showcase

We are extremely thrilled to announce that MEDITATE AND DESTROY is an official selection in the upcoming From Here to Awesome Film Festival. The From Here to Awesome Film Festival (FHTA) is a new model, open source film festival that will reach audiences around the globe. MEDITATE AND DESTROY was selected out of over 115 submissions.

Over 25 screening dates (in both theatrical and alternative venues) will be announced in the near future- including cities such as London, Paris, Montreal, New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Washington, DC, Seattle and San Francisco.

Over 3 months ago, we created a submission video and asked our fans to vote for us. The popular demand for our film paved the way to be chosen for inclusion in this amazing, radical, forward-thinking festival! Thank you to everyone who voted!!

The FHTA festival will launch in Los Angeles on July 26. The launch of the festival will be special event called "DIY Day" which will start an engaging industry conversation on the state of indie film distribution: www.diydays.com.

All of the festival showcase films will be available in several online outlets (including Amazon Unbox, Vudu, Hulu, Joost, Caachi, Indieflix and Heretic Films)- as well as living rooms, handheld devices, and theatrical screenings.

From Here to Awesome has assembled partnerships with sites and services including MySpace, Withoutabox, Current TV, IFP, IndieFlix, Heretic, Breakthrough Distribution, Tubemogul, indiegogo, Miro, OurStage, Bside, Viddler, BlipTv, Spout and YouTube.

In the next few weeks, there will be a lot of announcements made regarding our participation in the From Here to Awesome Film Festival.

* Bookmark our page on the FHTA website and leave a comment---->FHTA website

* Read the full story in Variety: click here

*Check on our blog for all the breaking news (including a full report from Director, Sarah Fisher on the 7/26 DIY Day in Los Angeles): click here

We’re now on Twitter!
Current mood: strong
Category: Religion and Philosophy

Dear Friends,

We love social media. So, after much comtemplation, hemming, hawing, and pondering whether Twitter has any redeeming value or is just another way to keep us distracted from examining our own mind's- we've decided to give it a try. We want to share the love and let you know what we're up to..and throw in some dharma quotes because reading dharma, meditating, and doing it all over again is usually what we're up to.

Find us here:

M&D on Twitter

Review in Abort magazine

Check out this review from Abort magazine:



Abort magazine film review

4:53 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Behind-the-Scenes Video- From Here To Awesome!
Current mood: artistic
Category: Religion and Philosophy

Hello Everyone,

Take a look at this behind-the-scenes video on the making of MEDITATE AND DESTROY!

This is our submission video for an amazing, radical, forward-thinking, killler film festival called From Here to Awesome.

We need your help immediately to help increase exposure for MEDITATE AND DESTROY and bring the film to your town.

Here's how the From Here to Awesome film festival works.

This is not simply a film contest. It is a concerted effort to define the future of entertainment. There will be 10 winners who will get immediate distribution of their film in multiple platforms: theaters, mobile phones, living rooms, and the web. That means MEDITATE AND DESTROY will reach the goal of bringing the film DIRECTLY to YOU. Most film festivals do NOT offer extensive outreach directly to film fans. The concept here is very simple: the most popular films win!!

The problem we've discovered is that the system of distribution is an old model that doesn't work. Big media companies are the gatekeepers for literally thousands of filmmakers. While filmmaking is now democratized, film distribution is not. This situation needs to change.

We know MEDITATE AND DESTROY has a very large grassroots audience and we think EVERY single one of you should be able to see this film now.

Please follow these simple steps to support M&D:

1). Watch the video.
http://www.fromheretoawesome.com/meditateanddestroy

2). Click on the link "NOTIFY ME OF SCREENINGS"

3). Comment, rate, and subscribe on Youtube and Myspace.

4). Take action. Spread the link to EVERYONE you think would be interested.

Thank you so much for helping the world find peace through the dharma!!

Love,

Sarah

San Francisco Premiere- Photos and News!!
Category: Religion and Philosophy

San Francisco Conquered!


Thank you to everyone who came out on Nov 14th to the San Francisco Premiere of Meditate and Destroy!

Over 300 vivacious spiritual seekers- most with combat boots, tattoos galore, and colored hairstyles- lined up in San Francisco to see MEDITATE AND DESTROY.

I'm very grateful for all the support and couldn't have asked for a more colorful crowd!



Click here to view some some photos from the event. Check out Noah's new "toothpick" look (applaud him, he's trying to quit smoking).





We've been invited to screen M&D at the Gabriola Island Film Festival in British Columbia on January 25! Also, Vancouver, B.C. Sacramento, CA and Reno, NV screenings dates TBA in early 2008.


Every week for the past 6 months I've been getting multiple e-mail requests to screen M&D in cities throughout the U.S. and internationally. I'm now sifting through e-mails, looking at Google maps, and recruiting the distribution team to plan our 30 city tour!! Elizabeth (co-producer) and I are VERY excited to get the film on the road. But, I realized the other day it might be helpful if I started acting a bit more normal-- wearing a watch, writing appointments in a calendar, and actually enjoy having a cell phone attached to my ear.


I really enjoy pointing the microphone at other people- but lately many people have asked me if I'm working on another doc film. So, I feel obliged to fill ya'll in. Although I do have a "peculiar" doc film idea, I'm not putting energy into another big project right now. I'm currently editing a bunch of short films, doing videography for the record label Kill Rock Stars, planning the 108 Rampage Film Tour and working full-time at Linden Lab- creators of Second Life.

Take care everyone!

Lots of love,

Sarah

108 Rampage Film Tour- FAQ

8:15 PM - 15 Comments - 24 Kudos - Add Comment