About
JOURNEY OM: Into the Heart of India • A Cinematic Pilgrimage
$26,100
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"Check out this trailer for a beautiful new film in the making."
Deva Premal & Miten
The JOURNEY OM experience
Moving through a vast spiritual landscape, this feature-length documentary travels a 2000-mile-itinerary to legendary places of power and transcendence. JOURNEY OM is a cinematic voyage into India's 5000-year-old tradition of pilgrimage to inspire one’s own life journey. It is an immersive experience designed to create an inner journey for the viewer.
"Join with John to bring this beautiful film into the world."
~Ram Dass
Insights of spiritual India by the filmmaker’s longtime friend Ram Dass are also featured in the film; "the spiritual journey travels from ego, who we think we are, down to the spiritual heart, who we really are."
New practices from India like hatha yoga, meditation and bhakti yoga chant are having a transformative effect in the West. This non-sectarian film returns to the source to discover India’s ancient culture of pilgrimage.
Through this cultural portrait of Indian pilgrimage, JOURNEY OM aspires to a more universal theme - that every human being is born a pilgrim on their own spiritual journey through life. This identity affords everyone a place of equal dignity and respect.
In 1970 John Bush left war-time America for Europe and traveled overland to India in search of inner peace. Over three years he lived in many of the great pilgrimage sites of India guided by his guru Neem Karoli Baba. Now four decades later, he returns to rediscover this eternal world still surviving within modern India.
Traveling with his talented two member Indian crew as fellow pilgrims, John shows an informed respect for this tradition, allowing him to make this experience meaningful for a world-wide audience."
The chanting of Deva Premal & Miten, Krishna Das, Jai Uttal and others imbue the film with an inspired reverie. They also share their experiences of India and bhakti yoga that resonate with a westerner’s spiritual path. Renowned Indian musicians and vocalists create an atmosphere of serenity, devotional longing and transformation.
"I'm grateful to be part of this beautiful film." ~Krishna Das
OM is revered as the primordial sound from which all of the known Universe arises. “Journey Om – Into the Heart of India” accompanies pilgrims into sacred spaces as they aspire to become one with higher consciousness. OM is also the symbol of spiritual perfection and is found in every Hindu temple.
Pilgrims leave behind the difficult social paradoxes of an emerging India. Here, by tradition, all yatris (pilgrims) are regarded as equals. On yatra there is no longer social caste or class. With a shared spiritual purpose, even gender roles loosen as pilgrims feel humbled by their imminent approach to a divine presence.
About The Filmmaker
John Bush is an award-winning filmmaker based in New York, his films have screened in numerous major festivals, theaters, and museums around the world. His documentary film trilogy of Buddhist pilgrimage in SE Asia and Tibet was broadcast nationwide as a 4.5 hour mini-series on PBS and abroad. He began making films in 2000 after a long career as the CEO and creative force of Illuminations, a leading gift company. John founded Direct Pictures as his production company in 2003.
"A gifted filmmaker, John Bush has a unique and inspired vision of the art of documentary film."
~Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
John’s films have been official selections in scores of film festivals including competition for best documentary at Bangkok, Rome and Munich. His work has screened at dozens of leading art museums including Rubin Museum of Art, New York; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; National Gallery of Australia; Seattle Art Museum; The British Museum, London; The Museum of Asian Civilizations, Singapore; Asia Society, New York
Endorsed by the Dalai Lama, John’s documentary feature “Vajra Sky Over Tibet” had a 68 city theatrical release, receiving critical acclaim. The film has screened as part of His Holiness’ appearance and official program in over a dozen major cities. His eight dance films created in collaboration with acclaimed choreographer Nadine Helstroffer are also journeys. They have now played in over 80 festivals in 23 countries, including the Cannes Film Festival and Spoleto Festival.
Director speaks with the head priest at Ranakpur Jain Temple, Rajasthan, India
“John Bush is a visionary in the truest sense; with unblinking patience he draws the viewer into his journey." Perry Garfinkel, Huffington Post
" Nearly all independent
documentaries are funded by people who believe in them and help support them. I
hope you will be part of the community helping to make Journey OM a
reality."
John Bush, filmmaker
Why I will complete this film....
Why I will complete this film....
Risks and challenges
Journey OM is a long deferred dream of mine and I have already invested 8 months of filming in India and have completed all the interviews. I financed this with the royalties from PBS for my Yatra Trilogy films. I pay myself nothing. While I must raise the remaining funds, there is no way this film will not be completed.
I have been a professional filmmaker for 15 years. I am very experienced in all aspects of film creation and how to fund them. Now I am turning to crowdfunding to help finance post production. This includes editing, sound design, graphics, and music. Fundraising will continue until the film is completed. This is how nearly all independent documentaries are funded - by people who believe in them and help support them.
By pre-ordering the film, expanded eBook and soundtrack album you are also helping to create them.
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Funding period
- (40 days)