Day One of Filming

Today was day one of filming.  Its always tough to start a new project.  Fear sets in and laziness as well.  I'm very lucky so far to have a series of past projects that I am very proud of but you only hear about the ones I finish.  Somewhere in my computer is a dusty file of projects that i started that never have seen the light of day and they still haunt me waiting to get some creative attention from me.  This project is different.  This project is something that needs to be done.  A very important mystic once told me in the midst of the biggest crisis I have ever experienced in my life, that I am a reporter and I need to report about things that people don't understand.  Well this is my biggest case yet.  I'm investigating God.

I was invited to an event, put on by my good friends who i grew up with yet haven't really seen since highschool.  I spent most of my childhood at their home as I was best friends (and spirit brother) with their brother - so it made us all like family at the time.  Its amazing that the friendships we made when we were children are so thick that 20 years can pass, and even though I haven't even seen them, its like we never parted.  Ever since I started this investigation into faith and God, the most serendipitous things started happening.  The day I decided to start shooting, this event came up on my facebook.



Chef Jordan Wagman

 Jordan and Jennifer were teaming up with a large group of people to feed the homeless at a synagogue and give them needed items such as clothes and necessities.  What better way to start my journey then with my jewish roots and the family I grew up with.



Jenn Wagman

 The Wagman's were raised with the exact same Jewish upbringing as I was.  we went to the same synagogue, hebrew school, etc.  So I was curious, 20 years later, to see where they were at with their faith.  I figured that an event at a synagogue, feeding the homeless was a good indication of where they were at.  What better place then that to begin my investigation into my own faith.



Billie Mintz in the crowd feeling inspired

Its pretty amazing the difference in opinion when you ask people about God.  Here we were in  Jewish establishment and everyone was pretty different in their reasons for being there.  Jordan said something really amazing where he referred to his family as his faith.  made me think how lucky he was and also made me reflect on my own.  Part of this journey I must look towards my family.  That will be interesting and very telling.  That will be on Friday when I go film Shabbat at my parents house.  More to come on that one.




Tamara 

 In the crowd of people I couldn't help notice Tamara.  Sure, she was a good looking woman, but something about her drew me towards her.  I was on a mission to find God and part of that mission was to be open and look for signs.  She wasn't the slightest bit interested in talking to me and flat out refused to talk on camera.  But I did what I do best, I charmed her into talking to me.  And boy was I rewarded for that extra effort.



Tamara agreeing to be interviewed

 Again, today what I discovered most was that "God talk" really brings the most out of people.  She gave me a very insightful look into her beliefs - something I never really thought of.  What was most interesting was that she had just written a paper on how Jews still believed in God after the holocaust.  Of all the people I chose to speak with in the room, she was the one who had very particular insight into what I was researching.  I am pretty sure that will not be the last I see of her in the film.  Infact, we are going out this weekend to talk some more.  All on camera, of course ;)



Tamara and Billie getting along quite well

 The best thing I learned today, first day of filming, is that I am on a search for God and part of being on that search is to be open to where I am led.  If God is really out there, and miracles do happen, then why not believe this project is one of those miracles?

For more pics on day one of filming please go to our facebook page and the album is here.