Healing Forest Films

3 Chocolate Zen Movies for the Soul

Zen movies:  What can a bar of chocolate teach us about happiness? In this collection of short zen movies a humble bar of chocolate will take us on a journey of envy, expectations and the race called life.The inspiration for these 3 short zen movies comes from one of the basic tenets of Zen, which is simplicity. Simple everyday objects can teach us profound lessons about life. The next time you have chocolate, think about these zen messages!

Zen Movie #1 Rat Race

Making of Chocolate Zen Movies:

These  zen films were shot with the nuns of Themisgam nunnery in Ladakh, India. Situated in a secluded valley, the nunnery is home to a small bunch of nuns from Zanskar. Besides their buddhist teachings the young nuns also get basic education in english, hindi and math. The little nuns had never acted in front of the camera, and were initially very shy. But it was wonderful to see their dedication and energy. In the icy cold desert of Leh, their smiles were heart warming.

Cast: Dolma, Chuskit, Palkit, Rigzen, Padma, Tsondus
Special Thanks: Themisgam Nunnery and Avalokitesvara Trust for facilitating the theatre workshop with the little nuns

Zen Movie #2 Expectations

Music for Zen Movie #2 courtesy: Tashi Morup. Music Produced by Upland Plateaux

Zen Movie #3 Envy


How to use these Zen movies: The surprising thing about these short zen movies is that different people take out different messages from each film. E.g. For many people in the corporate world, the ‘chocolate bar’ represents the annual bonus. When one sees the films with that perspective, we get a totally new meaning. We’d love to know, what your interpretation is?

What next: In case you enjoyed these movies, you might like to watch our collection of 6 more short films for the soul. We are in the process of making more of such films. To stay updated, please subscribe.

 

Healing Forest Films

Short Comedy film – T20

Watch a hilariously funny T20 cricket match between two unusual teams. Whether you love cricket or not, you’ll love this short comedy film. Please spread the word about this movie by sharing it with your friends.

Making of Short comedy – T20

This film is part of the Jadui Pankh (Magic Feather) series of 7 films made a few months ago. The entire cast was first trained in theatre and then roles were assigned on the basis of acting potential. A few members of the cast including Vijay (Ranjit) stay at the Mumbai Central railway station. The inspiration for this film came from the importance of the game of cricket in the lives of these children. Perhaps the day to day struggle of life seems a little more bearable when you have something to look forward to?

To watch more films from the collection visit the Jadui Pankh page.

Movie Credits:
Film by- Nitin Das
Music – Mangesh Dhakde, Sound Design – Vinit D’Souza
Production – Latif Shaikh, Zaffar Shaikh
Children from – Akanksha Foundation

Actors:
Ranjit, Zaffar, Asif, Prakash, Avin, Narendra, Vicky, Deepak, Ravi, Rahul, Ramzan, Nitesh, Nikhil, Nasir, Kasim, Noorji, Pavitra Sarkar

 

Healing Forest Films

Fountain of Learning Project, Avalokitesvara Trust

Fountain of Learning a.k.a FoL, is an initiative of Avalokitsvara Trust to nurture and educate children in isolated villages of Ladakh. FoL was born in Likir Monastery and the name remains as a metaphor for acts of loving kindness, creativity, connection and compassion and our children’s right to education. Since then, Fountain of Learning Project has joined hands with other isolated and neglected schools in the Ladakh terrain, Indo-China & Indo-Pakistan borders. So far 8 libraries have been set up, but the trust is in the process of raising funds to build more libraries and reach out to a larger base of children in Ladakh.
This short film was made to highlight their work and support them in raising funds to create more libraries.

FoL aspires to organically build an integrated network of like-minded individuals that can extend their support through care, love, time, effort, their skills or monetarily. A few ways in which you can help:

Spreading & sharing word about this project
Collecting and gifting children’s books
Please visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/192600420842269/
Sponsoring a school library
Sponsoring a child.

If you are an individual who would like to volunteer your skills, creativity and time, have training in Montessori methods, experience with young learners, consider yourself a selfless nurturer, love children’s books or are a natural story-teller, please write to friendsoflikir@gmail.com with the subject-VOLUNTEER. To donate, please write with the subject- DONATE.

WATCH: 3 more Short Zen movies made with the little nuns of Themisgam. Click here>>

FOL Address in Leh:
Fountain of Learning, Avalokitesvara Trust,
c/o. Lachumir House,
Behind Lotus Hotel,
Upper Karzoo,
Leh-194101.
Ladakh.
Phone Number : +91 96221 40328
www.facebook.com/avalokitesvaratrust 

Healing Forest Films

Movies For A Cause

Here’s an interesting selection of movies for a cause. The movies cover a diverse range of causes and every month we add to the list. Movies have a huge potential to create awareness and generate support for a cause. For reference we have included a list of famous movies that have dealt with a social cause. The list is divided into Hollywood movies and movies made by filmkaar.com. Given the large pool of movies to choose from, we have only included a few of the memorable ones.

Movies for a Cause: Movie of the month

This short movie deals with the cause of climate change and it’s impact on health in an innovative way.

List of Hollywood Movies around a social cause

A curated list of some amazing movies set amidst the backdrop of a social cause:

Movie: WALL-E (2008)
Cause: Environmental Degradation
Synopsis: A touching love story set in the distant future that involves a small waste collecting robot named WALL-E. Wall-E inadvertently embarks on a space journey that will ultimately decide the fate of mankind.
Link

Movie: Blood Diamond (2006)
Cause: The developed world’s obsession for Diamonds and it’s impact on developing countries in Africa.
Synopsis: Set during the Sierra Leone (Africa) Civil War in 1999, the film shows a country torn apart by the struggle between government soldiers and rebel forces. In the film a fisherman, a smuggler, and a syndicate of businessmen match wits over the possession of a priceless diamond.
Link

Movie: Erin Brockovich (2000)
Cause: Corporate Social Responsibility
Synopsis: An unemployed single mother becomes a legal assistant and almost single-handedly brings down a California power company accused of polluting a city’s water supply.
Link

Movie: Philadelphia (1993)
Cause: HIV / AIDS
Synopsis: When a man with AIDS is fired by a conservative law firm because of his condition, he hires a homophobic small time lawyer as the only willing advocate for a wrongful dismissal suit.
Link

Movie: Syriana (2005)
Cause: Oil Economies
Synopsis: A politically-charged epic about the state of the oil industry in the hands of those personally involved and affected by it
Link

Movie: Boys Don’t Cry (1999)
Cause: LGBT
Synopsis: The story of the life of Brandon Teena, a transgendered teen who preferred life in a male identity until it was discovered he was born biologically female.
Link

Movie: When the Wind Blows (1986)
Cause: War and Nuclear Arms
Synopsis: A poignant story of an elderly British couple who are stuck in the middle of a nuclear war.
Link

Movie: To Kill A Mockingbird (1962)
Cause: Racial Discrimination
Synopsis: Atticus Finch, a lawyer in the Depression-era South, defends a black man against an undeserved rape charge, and his kids against prejudice.
Link

Movie: City of God (2002)
Cause: Poverty and Crime
Synopsis: A brilliant film that tells an interweaving story of two boys growing up in a violent neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The story follows the two boys as they take different paths: one becomes a photographer, the other a drug dealer.
Link

If you have suggestions for movies that you would like to add to this list please send us your movie recommendation in the comment box below.

Other Movies for a cause by Filmkaar.com

Education:

Water:

More movies to follow>>

Healing Forest Films

60 Seconds in the Himalayas


The Himalayas are more than 50 million years old, but in the last 50 years they have witnessed a huge change. Here’s a short time lapse from the magnificent Himalayas. Images from the past and the present that provoke us to think about the future of the Himalayas.

This film has been shot in Himanchal Pradesh, India. The city shown is Shimla, also known as the ‘Queen of the Hills’! Shot with Canon 600 D, 18-135mm lens.
Credits: Film by Nitin Das
Special Thanks: Sunil Chauhan

Himalayas Discussion

In less than 20 years, India will have the largest population in the world (overtaking China). Approximately 1,460,000,000 plus people. With such a huge population are we heading toward an imminent crisis? What are the future problems you foresee? What steps can we take to be better prepared & to turn our weakness into our strength? (Put your thoughts in the comment box below to continue the discussion)

Himalayas in Images

*If this film made you think, please consider sharing it with others. You can also follow our new project ‘Enchanted Lands & Fables‘ to see more such films.

Healing Forest Films

Haunted House – A Short Comedy Film

Do you believe in ghosts? Have you ever been to a haunted house? Watch this delightfully funny short film about a haunted house in old Mumbai and let us know if you change your mind.

Warning: No ghosts were killed in the making of this movie.

Haunted House – A Short Comedy


For slow internet connections watch movie on Youtube:  Link>>

This film is from our Jadui Pankh (Magic Feather) collection of short movies. To know more and watch other movies from Magic Feather follow this link>>.

Haunted House Short ComedyCredits:
Film by Nitin Das
Music by Mangesh Dhakde
Sound Design: Vinit D’Souza
Cast: Rajesh (Radio), Siddhesh and Omkar from Sujaya Foundation
Evil Gang: Dharmendra and Imran
Production: Latif Shaikh, Zaffar Shaikh

Copyright: http://www.filmkaar.com
Take a small lesson in ‘How to Make Movies‘

Healing Forest Films

How to make a movie – Book

Just Released!

How-to-make-a-movie-bookA simple guide for making short movies. No prior experience in movie making required. This book is a step by step manual for beginners that teaches the basics of Scripting, Shooting, Producing, Directing, Editing, and Distribution of your short movies.

This ebook will be available for download on Amazon.com  for less than 5 US$. The ebook is readable on any PC, MAC, iPAD, iPhone, Blackberry or Android device using the FREE Kindle App.

Take a preview of the book by visiting our page:
How to make a movie >>

Movie making is an art that is mastered by practise. This book presents lessons in a structured format to help you learn the basics of movie making in a very short time

Answer the simple questions below, to find out whether this book is meant for you or not.

Who is this book meant for?

Do you have an idea for a movie in your head, but don’t know how to go about it? OR
Do you have a handycam/ digital camera that records movies and would like to put it to good use? OR
Do you wish to use the power of youtube and video to reach out to a large number of people? OR
Do you want to master the basics of movie making before deciding whether it’s meant for you? OR
You just want to impress members of the opposite sex with a cool hobby? OR

If you said yes to any of the above, then you are at the right place. In today’s world, it has become simple to make movies. But content made by amateurs is quite unbearable to watch (unless it has a cute cat in it). That’s because they have not mastered the basics of movie making. Most books available on movie-making are full of complex terms and theory which is difficult to understand. If you are passionate about movies and would like to master the basics of movie-making in a simple but effective way, consider investing in buying this book. It’s a skill you’ll cherish for your life.

Preview book on Amazon>>

Healing Forest Films

‘Bomb’ay – A short film for terrorists

2 young street magicians ‘Raju’ and ‘Kaju’, stop a gang of terrorists. The film is set around the time of July 2006 bomb blasts in the local trains of Mumbai.

Watch the film >>


The making of ‘Bomb’ay:
Raju and Kaju are brothers. They stay in a shelter for boys who were rescued from child labor. The shelter is run by an NGO called Pratham.  Raju (Shahnawaz) is very studious while Kaju (Taufiq) is equally mischievous.

The film was shot over a period of 4 days across Mumbai. In the film, the house that the terrorists stay in, was actually one of the rooms from the Pratham shelter. That shelter has now been vacated as the owners wanted to convert it into something more lucrative. Raju and Kaju along with the other boys from the old shelter have been moved out to another facility in Panvel, which is on the outskirts of Mumbai.

Download ‘Bomb’ay and 6 other amazing films for just Rs.200 (4.00 US$). Click here>>>    
Your support will help us raise funds for some non-profits doing wonderful work.

 

Healing Forest Films

Jadui Pankh (Magic Feather)

Jaadui Pankh is a fun film for the entire family. The film is made up of 7 interlinked stories. These are stories of magic and adventure, of friendship and mischief, of courage and a clever ghost.

This film has been shot over a period of 2 years across various slums in Mumbai. However the stories are not about poverty, misery or hunger.

The film takes you to an unusual world through the eyes of children. They show you that even in the darkest of times and most difficult of situations it is possible to find happiness and hope.

The film has been made with children from 7 non-profit organizations across Mumbai. Approximately half the profits from this project shall be used to support children in vulnerable situations.