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The Integral Cinema Project

Posted July 1st, 2010 by markallankaplan in Media

A little over ten years ago I had my first encounter with what might be called “integral filmmaking.” I had been studying Ken Wilber’s Sex, Ecology, Spirituality (1995) and practicing George Leonard and Michael Murphy’s Integral Transformative Practice (ITP) on a daily basis. One day I performed my ITP Kata (a set of integrated body, mind, and spirit exercises) right before running a camera test on my new digital video camcorder. Still being in a post-practice transformative state, I had a profound cinematic experience. As I moved through the house with the camera on, I appeared to be fully aware and conscious of my inner experience, the camera in my hand and the space within which I was moving. I exited the house and was drawn to our koi pond. Once there, I felt drawn into the world of the pond and entered a deep state of pure presence or witnessing. My camera became my eyes, and my body, my awareness and the camera danced with the fish, the gently rippling water, the shimmering sunlight, the caressing wind and the material forms of the pond and its surroundings. I spent hours at the pond, lost in a deep cinematic meditation process. Afterwards I felt a profound sense of gratitude and grace.
 
When I viewed my footage I was amazed at what I had captured. There before my eyes appeared to be a cinematic example of the four dimensions/perspectives of Wilber’s Integral Theory (Subjective/I Space; Inter-Subjective/We Space; Objective/IT Space; and Inter-Objective/ITS Space): Besides the physical reality of the pond (IT Space) and the environment within and around it (ITS Space), I had footage of the individual koi fish in which I could sense their individual presence (I Space) and footage of the fish in pairs and groups that seemed to reveal a collective and inter-relational presence (WE Space).
 
I decided to continue my accidental experiment, spending the next few days editing the material while in a post-ITP state. I would basically perform my ITP Kata (Leonard & Murphy, 1995) and then sit down at the computer and edit in that state. It was a wondrous experience, and once I finished, the viewing of the final work sent me into the very state I experienced while shooting it. When I showed it to a few people they all said the same thing -- that the video put them into a very relaxed state and gave them the experience of actually being at the koi pond.
 
Over the next few years I continued my studies of Integral Theory and my exploration of applying it to cinematic theory and practice. While enrolled in the Integral Studies Certificate Program at Fielding Graduate University, I profoundly deepened my research into Integral cinematic theory and practice with the support of the peer-based learning community, the great teachers, and the gift of spending an afternoon with Ken Wilber discussing Integral Theory and its application to cinema. The results of this phase of inquiry are currently being prepared for dissemination in the form of an article on Integral cinema for the Journal of Integral Theory and Practice and a presentation at the 2010 Integral Theory Conference.

Now I am embarking on the next phase of my research by formally launching The Integral Cinema Project…

The Integral Cinema Project is an Independent Research, Production, and Educational Initiative Exploring the Application of Integral Theory for Cinematic Media Theory and Practice.
 
The mission and purpose of the Integral Cinema Project is to develop and test a comprehensive model for Integral cinematic media theory, development, production and distribution through the creation of a series of short cinematic experiments and a full-length integrally-informed transmedia project with content delivered across feature, TV, web, mobile, and interactive platforms. This research endeavor will be documented in a digital video documentary and the results disseminated through various publications, media, and various educational services.
 
The research design and method is a form of Integral Theory’s Integral Methodological Pluralism (IMP), integrating 1st Person, 2nd Person, and 3rd Person research modalities.
 
The targeted potential benefits for this comprehensive application of Integral Theory to cinematic media theory and practice include: 
 
  • Creation of more powerful and effective cinematic realities that could potentially induce transformative states and stimulate shifts in stages of human development and the evolution of consciousness
  • Creation of more fulfilling, healthy, efficient and cost-effective production workflows
  • Increased ability to target and reach desired audiences
  • Enhanced aptitude for comprehending and navigating the rapidly evolving and convergent cinematic media environment, from feature films and television to YouTube and interactive cinema
  • Fostering of a greater understanding of the cinematic medium itself
 
This passionate quest to explore the further reaches of film theory and practice is inspiring and holds great promise. – Jean Picker Firstenberg, President Emeritus, the American Film Institute
 

To learn more about The Integral Cinema Project, please visit our website at:
 www.integralcinema.com

 

References

Wilber, K. (1995). Sex, ecology, spirituality: The spirit of evolution. Boston, MA: Shambhala.
 
Leonard, G. & Murphy, M. (1995). The life we are given: A long-term program for realizing the potential of body, mind, heart, and soul. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons.
 

 

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Lights, Camera, Action....

Posted July 1st, 2010 by Justin Manchester

Sounds fascinating.... Any "shorts" available to view?

Justin

 

 

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Nature...

Posted July 2nd, 2010 by vernpeace

hi, what...a...wonderful...project

...the...nearest...experience...to...

this...to...date...is...wild...life...doc`s

...its...a...simple...matter...of...not...

giving...the...viewer...any...opinions

...just...facts...and...marvelousnes!

 

peace7love...vern

 

 

 

 

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Bravo

Posted July 2nd, 2010 by Kamm

Best wishes.