Knowing Humans came off the back of a wave of spiritual expert talking heads films. Marlo and I wanted to create a film about what it is to be human at this point in our evolution. At the time I was writing the book ‘You Do Know – Learning to act on intuition instantly’ Many of the ideas from the book are shown in the film. Most people make a film from the book, Knowing Humans was the film before the book.
The project was to involve all kinds of people. However that part of the project failed as what we learnt it is to be human is a bit crap, none motivated and mistrusting. Over 6 months of requesting content in the UK and US we were sent only two. Off the back of this a spiritual centre in London then pitched this idea after I had asked them for help spreading the word. Interestingly enough the idea failed for them too.
What you see now was created by the genius of Marlo. We had in the can the backbone of the film that we were going to put the community context around. Now with no content we simply had a camera lecture. Marlo came up with the brilliant idea of using footage from films that are out of copyright and now come under creative commons. Adding more humour to the film and some rich break up points from the dialog. Having a light hearted film about ‘bloody humans’ was very important to me.
Music created by Jimmy Galvin and Rodolfo Alejandro Castagnolo
Below is the original press realise. It’s a shame that idea didn’t happen, however I believe what we have now is far better than our ideas came up with at the time.
Knowing Humans had its only public viewing at the Alma Tavern film festival in Bristol 2013.
“KNOWING HUMANS”
A revolutionary new concept in the world of film making, exploring, discovering and unwrapping the essence of what it is to be human at this moment in our evolutionary story.
A film created by the one person who understands the subject matter better than anyone else – you.
London, UK & San Francisco, US – (September 2010) – With the explosion of social networking and online community contribution everyone and anyone can make their voice heard and it has never been more apparent that everyone out there has something to say. We want to tap into that stream of consciousness, and give that voice a platform to be heard worldwide.
There have been a plethora of spiritual and human interest films that have been produced in recent history, most of which have taken the approach to educate and inform the audience from the producer’s perspective. This film will be different as the content, subject matter and message will come from the combined voices of the people worldwide who will produce footage to be used. Our job as the production team will be simply to combine, blend and distil these pieces into a fast, upbeat and dynamic film which represents the voice and perspective of the people who will have created it.
“This is not a passive spiritual film this is an active revolution of insight.”Becky Walsh
We are looking for input from all over the globe in a variety of formats, and for the first time in our history the technology exists to allow us to do this in high quality format. Films, MP3s, photos can all be uploaded for inclusion in the film and the website has a variety of question suggestions to inspire the content producers and get the creative juices flowing.
We need content for the film uploaded by January 2011
This is a global collaborative project and we are looking for people to get involved in any one or more of the following ways:
- Content producers – create and upload clips, images, music, whatever you are inspired to produce.
- Video editors
- Animation artists
- Production interns
- Researchers
- Marketing / PR
- Fundraisers
- New media artists
- Donors – we are a self-funded, non-profit independent production team, so all contributions are gratefully received!
However you would like to be part of making a film, just go for it. We will blog and update you via e-mail every stage of the film process so you know what is happening as it happens.
We are an independent film maker, and now so are you.
Knowing Humans is a film for people, about people, by people, a film where anyone can be the star, everyone writes the script and no-one knows what we will discover.
You might only be one person….but you can be one person who makes a difference.
Becky and Marlo will be available in the coming months for interviews in both the UK and the US, please contact us for more information.
About the production team
Marlo McKenzie is a writer and filmmaker originally from the Detroit area. She has studied language in France, worked in theater in Germany, was a founding producer of a video production company in Australia that trains homeless youth, and now resides in San Francisco, California where she works in documentary film and as a producer at bad leg emu. Marlo has directed numerous films for corporations and non-profits both in Australia and the US. Her creative work has been projected onto Coit Tower in San Francisco, exhibited and screened in Australia and as well as the US. Marlo holds a M.F.A from the College of Fine Arts in Sydney, Australia and a B.A. in telecommunications and digital media arts from Michigan State University. She believes in leveraging the power of media to create a shift in thought and action that will positively transform the world.
Becky Walsh is one of the U.K.’s leading thinkers on intuition and spirituality. She is a well-recognized author, magazine feature writer, speaker, hosted her own radio show on LBC 97.3, and has a practice in London where her consultations are a blend of intuitive psychotherapy, psychology inspiration, and life coaching. She has made two short films with Marlo McKenzie and has a back ground in theatre production and stage management. Her reason for making ‘Knowing Humans’ is to give an alternative perspective on spiritual film making and take an in-depth look at what it is to be human at what she feels is a crux point in human evolution.
