Kind of funny, in that weird sort of way… I was going to call this piece, Zen Filmmaking: The Influence Expands. But, I realized that it would be way better stated, Zen Filmmaking: Under the Influence. … Which, I will explain in just a moment.
 
You know, when Don Jackson and I developed Zen Filmmaking, initially it was just a way for us to place a definition on the crazy, abstract, free-form, art-based style of filmmaking that we both embraced. From there, I guess mostly through my writings, somehow, in some way, the understanding spread out and on and forward and all of that kind of stuff. A lot of people began to at least know about it, if not full-on embrace it. At least to some level.
 
As has been well documented by historians and journalists… I guess I should state here, authentic journalists, the kind that actually wrote/write for real magazines. (Magazines, remember those?), and books, and places like that... Not the kind of dribble that's poured out onto the internet every second of every day. But, and in any case, it has been well documented that Zen Filmmaking has influenced a lot of filmmakers; most notably some well-known, professional filmmakers who create projects in the real bastions of filmmaking, not down here, in the bottom tier of the No Budget Realm.
 
Okay… Stated and noted… Zen Filmmaking spread from the minds of Don and myself, and it moved outward from there. We, he and I, me, and others, there have been some crazy films produced via Zen Filmmaking. Hey, it’s ART, baby!
 
For whatever reason, the name has meant something to some people. Yes, some have shunned it, while others have embraced it.
 
This being said, every now and then the title, Zen Filmmaking will pop up in an arena that even surprises me. The latest… An entity that falls under that category. Somebody apparently has released a Zen Filmmaking beer. No joke.
 
Now, I can go into the fact that Zen Filmmaking is a Registered Trademark. Meaning, legally, you cannot use the term without obtaining authorization; especially when it involves making money off of it. Did they contact me about using the term? Nope. Nor, did they send me a check for my percentage of any of the money they made while selling said named beer. Hell, they didn't even send me a can of the beer. I would love to taste it! You know, just to check it out.
 
But, beyond all this and that, I do find all this very-very amusing. Amusing, that someone would actually use Zen Filmmaking as the name for their beer. Maybe, Samurai Vampire Bikers from Hell or Max Hell Frog Warrior will come up next.
 
I don't really know much about the company that released the beer. From what I can figure out, they're based out of Seattle. And, they apparently release limited edition beers, in association with what looks to be a Micro Brewery/Gastropub, or something like that? And then, it looks like they distribute their beers to various places. Zen Filmmaking Beer apparently won the International Beer Day Badge at one bar and some other awards at some other locations. Here's the way one consumer described it, "Near perfect IPA. Dank pine, lemon and grapefruit peel. Strong but not boozy." I guess I should be proud. But, I probably would have rather gotten paid.

Here's the link: UNTAPPD.
 
Overall, from a more philosophic perspective, I believe that’s the point/hope of all artists—that your art gets out there, in whatever form that may take, and it spreads from there into the minds, and, at least in this case, to the pallets of everyone.
 
So, if you know anything about this company, and/or maybe know the people that run it, tell them to pay me the money they owe and to send me a can of the beer. I'd love to place it in the Zen Filmmaking Archives. At least the can, as I'd have to drink the beer first.