10 QUESTIONS FOR THE DALAI LAMA (2006)
Original LinkFilmmaker Rick Ray examines some of the fundamental questions of our time by weaving together observations from his own journeys throughout India and the Middle East, and the wisdom of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Contains rare historical footage as well as footage supplied by individuals who at great personal risk, filmed with hidden cameras within Tibet.
If you could meet one person in the world, who would it be and why? Rick Ray's answer is "The Dalai Lama." Filmed during a private visit to his monastery in Dharamsala, India, over the course of several months, it's part biography, part philosophy, part adventure and part politics.
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THIS IS INDIA, THE DALAI LAMA HAS E-MAIL
PRWEB
June 26, 2005
Original LinkEXCERPT:
How did Ray come to pose his 10 intriguing questions to this man, who is referred to as "The Wish-fulfilling Gem" by many Tibetans? It was almost by accident. He had been hired to shoot a film in India as part of a series of short in-flight films to be presented on Air India and what convinced him to take on the project was a scheduling item on his calendar that noted "Meeting and interview with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama." Ray signed on to the deal, only to learn that such a meeting had never been scheduled and the meeting reference had simply been a ruse to convince him to do the project.
With a fatalistic attitude, Ray flew to India believing that if it were meant to happen, it would. He proceeded to bombard VIPs and executives with phone calls trying to get a referral to the Dalai Lama. His efforts proved fruitless -- until he met a humble taxi driver who told him, "Why are you trying to get through to him by phone? This is India -- he has e-mail!"
"It felt bizarre to be writing an e-mail to the Dalai Lama from an internet café in India," says Ray. But it worked and he was told that in three months time, he would have 45 minutes with His Holiness to ask 10 questions. This interview, along with beautifully scored footage of some of Buddhism's most sacred sites, creates a film tapestry of sight and sound that weaves the Dalai's spirituality with Ray's own observations as he journeys through India, Tibet and the Middle East. Ray looks at the history of the Dalai Lama tradition, the tragedy of the Chinese takeover and of the Tibetan's government in exile in Dharamsala, India. And, in the selfless words of the Dalai Lama, it sets forth a thoughtful vision for the 21st century.
A former Lonely Planet backpacker turned prize-winning cinematographer, writer and director, Ray is in high demand on the speaker circuit. His focus is to capture peoples and cultures on film. He has produced films on countries including Israel, Bali, Borneo, Lebanon, Ethiopia, Syria, Iceland, and India. The founder of two stock footage libraries, Ray is an instructor the Visual Journalism and Film & Video Production programs at Brooks Institute.
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AN INTERVIEW WITH THE DALAI LAMA
World Tibet Network News / The Canada Tibet Committee
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Original LinkEXCERPT:
We were sitting in a small roadside cafe in the Punjab, eating Cadbury Fruit and Nut Bars with an expiration date of sometime last century when the call came. I whipped out the cell phone, the very presence of which India virtually guarantees that the price of that Cadbury's just went up 500%, and answered. It was Tenzin Taklaha, brother in law of the Dalai Lama and his scheduling manager. The connection was very bad.
"...Rick.. His Highness .change...you...8:30..." followed by hissing and crackling. Two geese under our lunch table set off on a cackling ruckus which further drowned out the impossible cell line and further undermined the image I wanted to project of myself as a big time film producer sitting in a luxury film studio in Bombay. I sounded like I was calling from a barnyard, which, frankly, I was.
"Hello Tenzin??? What are you saying???"
The phone line was so unclear that I simply had to shout and repeat the details as the line cut in and out. Apparently our interview in 3 days had been re-scheduled -- for tomorrow morning at 8:30am!!!!!! Could we arrange it? As compensation, we would be able to film the festival and ceremonial activities at the Dharamsala Peace Festival which the Dalai Lama would be attending to celebrate the anniversary of his 1989 Nobel Peace Prize.
"We'll be there, at 8:30 am sharp".
We arrived in the Dalai Lama's home town of Dharamsala around 9 pm that night. The town was swarming with Lonely Planet backpackers, professors, Buddhists and hippies come to bask in the radiant glow of the Tibetan diaspora and its philosophy, culture and beer bars. The hotel had no heat and it was the dead of winter, but after taking a Tylenol PM, I awoke the next morning with the strange feeling of dread and anticipation that I suppose accompanies meeting a great world spiritual leader. I stepped outside our hotel. Behind me the high foothills of the Himalayas had a light dusting of snow. Birds sung in the tall pine trees. For just a moment I imagined myself back at our family home at Lake Tahoe and in this thin mountain air, I suddenly felt much more relaxed and comfortable.
On the ride to the monastery I was very silent. I was quite nervous. Would the Dalai Lama and his people see right through me? Would things go well or badly? Would my questions be appropriate? Would we get the full 45 minutes we were promised, now that a festival loomed just after the interview, and the Dalai Lama would be expected? Would we get the interview at all???
Driving up to the unpretentious yellow monastery on a hill which serves as the Dalai Lama's monastery and residence, one is struck by how un-fortified it is. The only signs at the end of the driveway say "not a through street" and there are no guards or gates at all.
Getting out of the car, we were immediately greeted by a team of well dressed and well spoken Tibetans in plain Western clothes. "Rick Ray?" said one, "come this way".
We were ushered into the office of the Dalai Lama, as unposessing as a high school principal's office, and asked to fill out a short form with passport details. In the meantime, unnoticed by us, our gear and equipment were passed through a modern x ray machine by a team of very high tech, very un-Buddhist looking Secret Service agents.
This small bungalow is in a leafy and flower lined garden. The waiting room was filled with display cases, with keys to major cities, golden awards and pictures of Dalai Lama posing with various dignitaries. Still for all the magnificent honors on display in the room, it had an overall feeling of humility and simplicity. The most obvious feature of the room was a painting of Ghandi, the personal idol of the Dalai Lama.
Tenzin Geyche Tethong, the secretary to His Holiness entered the room, a kind and intelligent Tibetan in a gray robe. He came, he said to discuss my 10 questions I had submitted.
I was afraid of this..they would now change the program..but it wasn't to be. "You're questions are very very good," said Mr. Tethong, "and the Dalai Lama has yet to see them".
And that was all. I was free to conduct the interview at my own pace and to paraphrase my questions in my own way. There would be plenty of room for spontaneity.
Mr. Tethong was very friendly and conversational (all Tibetans are), and we soon had him sitting in the chair going on (on camera) about the Dalai Lama's tendency to like Cornflakes in the morning for breakfast, and his abhorrence of official functions and ceremony (like the ones he had grudgingly consented to attend this afternoon).
He emphasizes that His Holiness is just a man and only a spiritual and political leader, NOT some kind of holy person. Still, in the presence of his compassion, one is inclined to disagree.
And it was at that moment that the Secret Service earphones blazed, Mr. Tethong stopped midsentence and jumped up off the couch saying "His Holiness is coming".
From a small side door of the room, the Dalai Lama entered alone, trailing his saffron robes behind him. His face so instantly recognizable. He walked directly up to me, smiled and grasped my hand warmly. Taking hold of my hand he proceeded to lead me to greet everyone in the room. Then, still holding my hand, he led me to the couch and we sat down.
I was breathless, and for a moment, speechless. I took the Lavalier microphone and asked if I could pin it on him.
"Yes, yes", he said smiling and when I tentatively starting to pin it onto his orange robe, he took it from me, and said, "here, this is the best way to pin it on", confidently clasping it to a place under the garment, and running it inconspicuously along the hem in his robe. I had to laugh. Here was a man with immense media savvy. It was I who was utterly awestruck.
For the next 60 minutes, we talked about poverty, peace in the Middle East, humility, preserving culture, travel, religious tolerance, The Tibetan disaster and so much more. With gentleness and, at times, mischievous humor, the Dalai Lama captured our hearts and souls for every moment of that time. I think we would all agree that if Jesus were to come back today, he would come back like this -- as a humble man in a humble room answering questions with the best interest of humanity in mind.
Later, we were given unprecedented access to the Dalai Lama as he prepared for and attended the Festival honoring his Nobel Peace Prize, replete with Tibetan festivities galore.
Much later, when it came time to edit this film, I realized that an interview format would not work. Instead, I would weave the history of this great man and the tragedy of his country's demise at the hands of the Chinese into the story before we meet the great man, then illustrate all my questions with clips from this and other films I had made. Finally, I would journey to the Tibet-China border, over passes of 18,000 ft. to see Tibetan life untainted by Sino-ification. It all fits together, I think, into a magical evening unlike any travel film I have done before -- an evening called "10 Questions For The Dalai Lama".
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10 Questions For The Dalai Lama WebsiteThe "10 Questions For The Dalai Lama" Website includes a mailing list that will inform subscribers when the movie is available on DVD.
10 Questions For The Dalai Lama Soundtrack............
NHNE Dalai Lama Resource Page