Click here to view photo slideshow by Jsu Garica and Gaby Grigorescu from the Spiritual Warriors Screening in Caracas, Venezuela
Click here to view photo slideshow by Ezra Mack from the Spiritual Warriors Tour in Caracas, Venezuela
After Jsu Garcia’s last trip to Caracas in March, I decide to bring back the Spiritual Warriors movie again because a lot of people couldn’t see the film, and the last screening was sold out. Jsu accepted the invitation to come to Caracas. Mercedes Montero and I had a theme: “No is not an option, and SOLD OUT is the intention”.
We started to promote the film in June by sending emails, creating an event on Facebook, speaking at Ministers meetings, doing radio interviews, doing phone calls, selling tickets to friends and MSIA people and Insight grads and anyone that was interested. We left flyers in Yoga places, at theaters and gyms.
One of the things that worked great was offering to sell the tickets in advance (That gave us a reality check on how many people would be attending). It was a great experience for us; this time was more funny, clear and easy for us to sell out the screenings. Before Jsu arrived, the 2 screenings was sold out, that’s why I started to check the possibility to open a third one. We had a few radio interviews to promote the film and the DVD with Jsu, this was one of the most important reason for us to open another screening, because we didn’t have any more tickets to offer.
Jsu was supposed to arrive in Caracas on Friday, but AA cancelled his flight. He arrived on Saturday morning without part of his luggage (fun times).
Day 1
We came to the hotel for check-in and we went to a good steak restaurant for lunch. After that we had our first radio interview on Kys FM — a radio show that talks only about movies. We raffled a few SW DVDs. People love Jsu and the movie.
Day 2
On Sunday, we had a screening test at the theater where the third screening was going to be shown. Jsu loved the place. Then we had a special lunch invitation from my mom at my place, it was a lot of fun and we had a great time. Late at night we went to see Batman the new movie, it was AWESOME and we enjoyed it.
Day 3
On Monday I had a special trip to Los Roques (it’s like a piece of heaven on earth), a paradise Island, beautiful beaches, you can only get there by small aircraft or by yacht. So it is a very private, quiet and beautiful place to be one with nature. Jsu was so grateful to have the opportunity to visit the place. It was a nice break for Jsu from month’s of intense traveling and promoting the SW movie.
Day 4
On Tuesday we had our second radio interview at my place with the Elba Escobar radio program (Elba is a minister, actress, singer and writer). The interview was smooth, fun, profound, and healing. As Mercedes mentioned, it felt like a workshop. The response from the audience was amazing, asking questions to Jsu about the spiritual sides of the movie, his experience in another films, etc. It lasted 2 and a half hours. We raffled some DVDs and tickets for the third screening. Elba as the hostess on the program gave Jsu and the movie great support. Everyone was so connected with this radio interview, it was AMAZING.
After the radio interview, we went to the second screening test in another theater. After that we went to another radio interview, it also went great. At Jsu’s special request we went to eat Arepas (a local Venezuelan dish) — as the days passed by we found out that Arepas, Nata and white Cheese would be Jsu’s favorite dish for the trip.
At night we had our first movie screening at Paseo las Mercedes. When we arrived there was a long line of people waiting to see the SW movie. The place was packed. We opened the door at 9:00 PM. I welcomed the audience and thanked them for coming. As a surprise, we placed some tickets under the seats that for some prizes: DVDs, SW T-shirts and SW books. People’s basic selves went wild trying to reach the prizes, it was a lot of fun and people loved it. We did this in all the screenings. The prizes activity was a SUCCESS!
Jsu spoke with the audience before the screening started, and after the screening he took Q & A.
Day 5
On Wednesday, we had the press screening at the same theater from the prior night. When we arrived, many people from the press were waiting. We started 2 hours late because the guy who has the key for the room didn’t show up on time. In the meantime, while we waited for the key, the press were doing some interviews with Jsu. After the screening, Jsu did open Q & A with the press.
Then we went to a steak restaurant for lunch. We went to rest for a while to get ready for the night’s screening. Mercedes and I went to FedEx to pick up the SW DVDs.
That night we arrived at the second screening and met some Insight Facilitators that were in town for an Insight Seminar: Candace Semigran, Joey Hubbard, Peter Felsmann, Pablo Lipnisky, German Beines, Gaxu Garcia and many more. It was a great movie screening and Q & A. We left the place very late to eat Arepas.
Day 6
On Thursday, we went to the Insight facilitators meetings to say “hi” to all of them. Jsu talked to them. It was a very warm and nice visit, we felt at home. Then we went to El Avila Mountain in a cable car, which has a beautiful view of the city. Then guess what: We went to eat Arepas again for lunch.
That night we had our last screening at Centro Plaza. When we arrived we could see a very long line of people waiting since 5:00 PM to buy their tickets for the SW movie. It was amazing for us because we sold the 119 tickets in 20 minutes. I couldn’t believe it!! Jsu was impressed on seeing the crowd waiting for the movie to begin. When the movie ended, we had a session of Q & A which lasted 1 hour. The moviegoers did not want to go out of the theatre, they were delighted with Jsu.
I am grateful for the assistant team: Santos, Bertha, Nelson, Martha, Ramon, Markel, Mercedes, Pedro and Armando — thank you very much for your unconditional support. In addition I wanted am grateful for Elba for the radio program with Jsu which was incredible, and due to it we sold out Thursday. I want to give a special “thank you” to Mercedes Montero; she made this happen and helped me a lot with all the organization — without her I could not have achieved it!
Of course I want to say: thanks to Jsu for your support — we could not have realized these screenings without your confidence, dedication, love and work. You are an amazing human being; I was blessed to meet you and to have this experience and to share with you this awesome movie. I’m proud of you my dear friend. Always I will be grateful to have known and supported your movie. Since I have said to you “I am your fan number 1 here in Venezuela and you rely on me for what you need.” It’s astonishing to be able to have had the experience of seeing this incredible movie. For me whenever I have opportunity to see it, I learn new things or simply I realize things that I had not seen previously. Definitely, “Spiritual Warriors” is a movie that takes you to different levels, learnings, and it touches your heart and Soul. As I said before, I recommend it with my heart in my hand.
And last but not least, I want to thank J-R because you’re the reason why I made these screenings possible. I’m so blessed to have you in my life, I will always be grateful to you. I love you with all my heart and Soul; you’re the best teacher that I have ever had in my whole life. Thank you for existing J-R and Jsu Garcia — I love you with all my heart.
Love and Light,
Gaby Grigorescu
