July 9, 2010

The Wayshower screening was fun from beginning to end. My wife Christine and I got to the Helen Mills Theater where we were joyfully greeted by Jsu. A small crowd had formed – talking and enjoying each other’s company. Then a shiny black SUV pulled up to the curb and J-R and his entourage spilled out onto the sidewalk. The crowd parted like the Red Sea and J-R entered the theater.
We walked down some stairs to the screening room. The audience was full and excitement was in the air. To our surprise Jsu announced that instead of showing the Spiritual Warriors film we were going to see the newly shot and edited The Wayshower. This was terrific! First he showed the trailer and then the film. It was a really great film about a man, Jsu, gaining greater fulfillment and peace by connecting more fully to who his teacher was. The movie had a lot of interesting and sweet moments from J-R’s life as well as, what seemed to be, some of his past lives.
When the lights came up after the credits John Morton and Leigh Taylor-Young were standing in the back of the theater as if by magic. Feedback questionnaires and pens were spread around the audience. Jsu generously gave a lengthy Q&A about the film, with Leigh Taylor-Young, Rick Ojeda, and Howard Lazar. MSIA old comers as well as new comers asked questions, gave suggestions, and voiced praise. By the end of the Q&A it seemed like a good time had been had by all.
By roving reporter Graham Holley

The Wayshower movie….
So…. Jim and l show up expecting to see our favorite movie, Spiritual Warriors. And then….. in Jsu’s opening introduction to the movie, he said something like “I lied.” He said we were going to see a rough cut of the new movie – The Wayshower.
How delightful!! Jim and I were so excited. While we love Spiritual Warriors, (I’ve seen it enough times that I can practically recite it. That said, I’ve grown particularly fond of the monster. I think he’s cute. So I missed seeing him).
Anyway…. I was really happy to see the new film – as was Jim. It was wonderful, sweet, poignant, heartfelt. Everything you would expect from a movie about J-R’s life.
The acting was great. Jim and I are both Eric Roberts fans. And his portrayal of J-R’s Dad, Parley, was particularly poignant – particularly in his scenes with the young actor, Sebastian Michael Barr, who played J-R as a boy.
And….. there are our in-house award winning actors, Jsu, Leigh, Sally, Dey — who were fabulous. And our surprise in-house actors – John, Howard, Rick — who were also fabulous. I’m sure I left some people out. Lots of our folks were extras.
Really fun. Really inspiring.
And… of course a movie about J-R’s life has the Teachings strewn throughout. So there was a lot to think about and reflect on long after the projector was off.
In the theater, J-R looked like he was having a really, really good time which made Jim and me very, very happy.
Our advice to you….. Listen to the Wayshower Packet to refresh yourselves with the information before you see the movie. Or…. Listen to it whether you see the movie or not. Listen to it after you see the movie. You’ll be glad you did.
LL,
Christine and Jim Lynch

Excitement and surprise reigned tonight in New York!
The Spiritual Warriors screening turned out to be the screening of a rough-cut of J-R and Jsu’s new movie, “The Wayshower”.
A super treat that was added onto by the presence of J-R himself. Melba and Marc Alhonte, Caryn Kanzer, Deborah Kovitz welcomed us as we arrived at the Helen Mills theatre. It was so much fun saying hello to friends from all over who had flown in for events in New York, Woodstock, and some even going onto Cape Cod and Mystic. Though the heat outside had diminished, the warmth of loving shared was a cool balm as we settled into our seats for this privileged screening. As I watched the movie I was touched by the stories unfolding, some I had heard over the years and some that were surprises. As with the teachings, there are many layers to this movie — a man in search of his true self, a window into a spiritual teacher’s training. I was delighted that Jsu along with Rick Ojeda and some stars in the movie (I won’t give away who they are just yet!) did a Q&A with us. As I listened to the Q&A, a much deeper understanding of the movie came forward. Almost all of us want to see the movie right away, again, because there is SO much there. Words don’t quite do it to give thanks to J-R and Jsu and all the cast for bringing these stories to life for us! This is a treasure!
LL,
Angel