Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

They arrived today! Our CD of the soundtrack to our film!

We've never produced such a thing--but here they are!  Brought to us from Oasis in a UPS truck.

Yippee!

Response!

We got a touching tribute via email tonight: 

Dearest Anne & Tim,

My community wants you both to know that we found the film to be exquisite. To a person, everyone was delighted with all aspects - the script, the pacing, the graphics, the charm and authenticity added by the period actors, the music, the production values, but mostly the dignity of the presentation and its focus on the Master and His words.

When it was over, no one stirred - the credits were watched all the way through. 

You are both brilliant. We feel so honored to have seen it so early. Thank you. We are all excited about showing it at [the Minnesota] summer school.

Ann Jones Kazemzadeh

Here's my response to her: 

That is really a beautiful tribute, Ann. I will copy it to put with our treasured comments! In fact, it has me in tears right now! 

This film is the highest thing we will ever do in our lifetimes. It took both of us, for an intense period, working as hard as we were able, to make something as beautiful as we could. We will never be able to surpass this achievement, singly or together. 

A few years ago I was musing on the reference in the marriage prayer to bringing forth coral and pearls. Tim and I had no children together, and most of our creative works have been individual ones--or ones I've dragged him reluctantly into. So, I said to him, "Honey, we need to produce some coral and pearls." 

"Ok, you do the coral, I'll do the pearls," he responded. 

"That's not what it means," said I. 

This project is our coral and pearls. It is the only thing that we've both been equally engaged in. It is truly the fusion of our energies--and more! 

So, thank you for watching it attentively. I hope it has a great impact on those gathered at the school. 

Much love, Anne (and Tim) 

And of course we hope it has great impact on many audiences to come!  This is just a beginning! 

The Sweetness of Fruition

Finally!  Our DVD is being replicated!  Is it finished or without blemish? No!  But we've let it go, to greet the world. The babe is finally born.  Well, at least the standard version. Blu-ray to come!

And, now, from our website, it can be ordered!  www.LuminousJourney.org

Here's an updated list of screenings:

1. Saturday, July 27, 2013
2. Friday, Aug. 16, 2013
3. Sunday, Sept. 1, 2013
4. Monday, Sept. 2, 2013
5. Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013
6. Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013
7. Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013
8. Friday, Oct. 11, 2013
9. Saturday, Oct. 12, 2013

1. San Antonio, TX
2. Irvine, CA
3. Chicago, IL
4. Wilmette, IL
5. Glenwood Springs, CO
6. Denver, CO
7. Lincoln, NB
8. Richmond, CA
9. San Francisco, CA

1. 7 pm
2. 10 pm
3. TBA
4. 6:30 pm
5. 7 pm
6. 7 pm
7. 7 pm
8. 8 pm
9. 7 pm

San Antonio was great! So much more to come. . . .

CD Soundtrack!

We have ordered 1000 copies of our CD Soundtrack of the film!

This involved mastering the CD (thanks to Stan Skora, our audio engineer), designing the CD wallet (yea Tim), collaboration with all of the musicians who gave permission for us to use their music, blessings especially from Lisa Haese Smith, who composed most of the music, and navigating the steps with a replication company, Oasis, (barcodes, etc.) Producing is no easy job.

This was on top of the recording session in LA in which our music was orchestrated--and all of the work after that to edit it.

Here's what the CD wallet looks like in its flattened form. It will be a folded piece, the size of a regular CD.  (The first of our film-related products!  Now, to get finished with the film itself!)  I'll put the list of music cuts below the design.

ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK

          Luminous Journey: 'Abdu'l-Bahá in America, 1912  Logo      

1. “Voyage to America”    Lisa Haese Smith   3:37

2. “Joy Gives us Wings”    Lisa Haese Smith   3:07

3. “Rosé e Gigli”  Lisa Haese Smith   3:36

4. “Light Revealed”  Lisa Haese Smith   2:39

5. “Summer Sky” (extended) Lisa Haese Smith   3:47

6. “Voyage to America”    Orchestral Mix   Lisa Haese Smith   3:37

7. “Prairies & Blue Skies”    Lisa Haese Smith   1:03

8. “Soaring”  Ravand Samaeekia     3:17

9. “Ancient Joy”  Afshin Toufighian 3:56

10  “Beginnings”   Anna Höstman   1:56

11. “Doors Unbarred” John Ebata  3:58

12. “Prayer”  Luke Slott   3:06

13. “The Keeper of Secrets”  Luke Slott  2:08

14. “Land and Sea”  Smith & Dragoman   3:09

15. “The Trust Among Us”  Smith & Dragoman 3:54 

SCREENINGS!

Screenings on the Horizon: (we WILL be at the following venues, with the film!)

    San Antonio  Sat., July 27   7 pm Baha'i Center

    Irvine, CA  ABS conference, August 16 late-night arts program

     Chicago:  excerpt at Persian-American Conference, Labor Day           weekend + Wilmette Theatre    Mon., Sept. 2   6:30 pm   $10

     Colorado:   Glenwood Springs, Sept. 21; Denver Sept. 22

     San Francisco:  Richmond  Oct. 11 8 pm    SF  Oct. 12   7 pm

MORE TO COME!

Here's our new film poster!

Chicken Little--and a film poster

I hope we are not sounding like Chicken Little: "The sky is falling!" No one listened when s/he actually did announce the real thing--they were so used to false alarms.

Well, our FILM really is COMING. Soon. Isn't it agonizing not knowing when? It is for me!  So, Tim is a "meandering" editor. At least he's not a "philandering" editor--he is faithful to the project. However, a tweak here, an audio replacement there, a photo to change out--and meanwhile, days are passing!

So, my latest hope/prediction is that we get everything ready for REPLICATION (not duplication, which doesn't last as long) by July 9 (oh, please God, give Tim energy!) so that we can have DVDs (with inserts printed, and all nicely shrinkwrapped) by the time we get in the car to drive to San Antonio on July 26 for our first official SCREENING!  Yes, we've been invited there and are trying to arrange something in Austin, too, as well as in other places. San Francisco has already booked a date (Oct. 12), and we'll be showing the film in Wilmette, Illinois after the Persian-American conference over Labor Day. Yippee!  So--DVD copies do need to be forthcoming.

Tim has been working on the POSTER for the film--and this is the current version.

It makes us feel that the film is REAL. It's coming!

Getting Closer!

 We just posted the following as a Kickstarter update: 

Getting Closer!  Update #16    Oh--we are so close now to finishing Luminous Journey!  

Tim went to North Carolina (see photos) to work with Eric Johnson on the final audio post production--and the SOUND is all mixed wonderfully and with great sound effects now. 

We are working on designing labels and packaging for the standard DVD, Blu-ray DVD, and soundtrack CD, as well as doing the final text checking, credits, and visual refinements.  Two student designers and our two interns are doing preliminary work on the design projects as well as editing some behind-the-scenes interviews and such. 

As we shared some film segments today in Arlington, Texas, I was struck (again) with how beautifully Tim has edited the film. The timing with the narration, music, and visuals is exquisite.  This is really WHY it has taken so long!  While you've had to wait (forever), I think you'll be pleased with the final product, which is 2 1/2 hours long!  

Our CD monologue set, "Encounters with 'Abdu-Bahá," is now available through 9 Star Media: http://9starmedia.com/encounters-with-abdulbaha  YIPEE! 

We are also accepting ADVANCE orders for the DVD. Many of you will be receiving a copy (AND IF YOU WANT AN  UPGRADE TO BLU-RAY, JUST SEND US $10), but you might want to order extra copies for your family / friends! I can send you an order form if you respond to this update and/or email: unity9@sbcblobal.net

We can receive $ for orders (or donations or upgrades) via PayPal on our website: www.LuminousJourney.org. OR via a check, mailed to our address. $25 DVD; $30 Blu-ray; $5 shipping.  Our final financial challenge is having the funding together for the replication for 1000 copies (standard) and at duplication of at least 250 (blu-ray). If you are inspired to give more, it will go right to that purpose! 

It's becoming more real. Thank you for hanging in there, with us!