For anyone who has ever made a film, you understand that it is a collaborative process. Each individual of the cast and the crew brings an element of something to the greater whole and the overall team.  Yes, there must always be one captain of the ship. Someone who’s keeps the focus and will preserve the overall direction of the project moving forward. But, it is each individual element that crates the overall vibe and destiny of the eventually finished film. And this goes to all areas of life. Not just filmmaking.
 
Now, this is not to say that all of the players on the team hold a positive mindset. There is always that someone who seems to throw the proverbial monkey wrench into the gears. What is their motivations? Who Knows??? But, if they do attempt to do that, it is the rest of the team that must come together to find a means to get that film finished.  
 
…The stories I could tell you. And, have…
 
The reason I write this is that so often I receive questions about the films I have created in the earlier stages of my filmmaking career. People ask me about the cast, the crew, the equipment, the props, the techniques, and mostly about the process. All good! Happy to answer.
 
And certainly, there have been an untold number of reviews printed, filmed content created, and discussions among viewers of the early Zen Films. All good, as well. The only difference in the all of that is the fact that more often than not people get something wrong. And, from that wrong misinformation, fake news, is propagated. But, what can you (I) do?
 
The thing that I find interesting is that as Zen Filmmaking has evolved, few people have even taken notices of the evolution. I mean, once upon a time, Zen Filmmaking was on the lips of seemingly everyone. Back in the day, I have heard the term, “Zen Filmmaking,” voiced from the mouths of newscasters and anchors on entertainment TV shows—used as a means to describe when some A-listers decided to dive deep and employee avant-garde, improvisational filmmaking. The term’s been used in magazine articles and books. But, is that all Zen Filmmaking is? Nothing more than a filmmaking style of cinematic creation based upon the fact that it does not employee screenplays?  Not as far as I am concerned.
 
Again, the thing that I find interesting is that as Zen Filmmaking has evolved, few people have even taken notices of the evolution.
 
The last character-driven film I created was in 2009, Vampire Abstract. As I write this, that was sixteen years ago. Have I stopped making movies? Obviously not. I have made a plethora of them. But, they are not the ones that people discuss. They are not the ones that I am asked questions about. So, my question is, to the people that ask the questions and talk the talk about the Zen Films, “Where have you been?”
 
There was one guy, awhile back, who did a long-form view of one of my non-narrative Zen Films on YouTube. If you search for it, you may be able to find it. I think it’s probably listed in my, “Favorites,” playlist on my YouTube channel. But, other than that, that’s it.
 
Now, this may be a good thing. Maybe people are only watching them and allowing them to be as they are. Not judging. But, the viewer count is so much less on those Zen Films than the ones from my deep dark past.  
 
I get it, people want storylines, as that is what they are used to. (As anti-story as my Zen Films tend to be). But, that’s not the evolution of Zen Filmmaking. In fact, I think what I have been creating, in the more recent years, is a pure presentation of Zen on films. No story. Just substance.
 
Kind of like the character, Cyrus exclaimed in the great movie, The Warriors, “Can you dig it?”
 
So, what am I saying here? What I am saying is that Zen Filmmaking has evolved. It moved away from being a multi-individualized filmmaking process to one that is more pure and certainly more Zen in its application and its presentation. It is no longer attempting to create a, “Thing,” but is instead moving towards a meditative nothingness.  If you’ve truly meditated, you will understand what I am discussing.
 
Like I am so often asked, “Would you ever make another Roller Blade Seven.” Sure, I would. I’d be happy to form a team, create the crew, the cast and the characters. But, of all of the people that ask me that question, not one of them has ever suggested how that film could/would be financed. They just want the finished project. The something to critique. The something to love or to hate. The something to talk about.
 
So, until that individual steps up with a budget in hand, Zen Filmmaking will remain in the realms of the pure Zen. No cast. No crew. No story. Just me, a camera, and the cinematic art.

Next time you see, hear, or read someone discussing the Zen Film of a time gone past, tell them, “Get with the program. It’s a whole new ballgame now.”