by James Weeks | Jul 28, 2011 | Blog
A Burst of Light: Sunrise On My Way To Africa
“Turn the ringer off your phone. Don’t answer the doorbell. Tell your loved ones that you cannot be disturbed. If you get distracted or allow yourself to drift, you will never make it to your destination.” – Walter Mosley, “This Year You Write Your Novel.”
I’ve always loved the advice author Walter Mosley gives to aspiring writers in his book, “This Year You Write Your Novel.” I’ve never read the entire book, but I love what he says in the first chapter about dedication.
What does Mosley’s advice have to do with you or me? Everything! I believe part of each day should be dedicated to something that is sacred to you – something that’s connected to your purpose. In order for this to happen, you have to make sure that YOU are on your own agenda. You have to constantly remind yourself what YOU are about, and then you need to ensure that part of each day is dedicated to doing YOU!
Unfortunately, that’s not how many of us live. Too often, we allow ourselves to be tossed about by the demands of society or family and we forget to pay allegiance to the inner voice. That’s why when Stephanie, my wife, asked me about painting the house, I promptly said: “not today. I’ll do it on Saturday.”
See….I take the journey to the film seriously. I’ll paint the house – BUT not during hours when I’m supposed to be working on the film. I have a schedule and I stick to it. (Emergencies, of course, are an exception).
I believe we all should have a sacred routine. Learn to say NO. Learn to honor your sacred space. Make sure that that YOUR vision is part of your daily ritual. (Your family will just have to deal with it).
by James Weeks | Jul 25, 2011 | Blog
The comment from Mackala Fall, our FB French translator, caught me off guard. I was telling him how it seems very likely that we’ll get funding for our film this year, and I’ll be traveling to L.A. in August to meet a potential investor.
Mackala simply said: “Don’t make haste. Even if we are funded next year or the year after our vision will come true.” His remark made me think about “Asiko Olorun” (God’s Time). In society that rewards us for “getting things done,” setting goals and achieving them, it’s very difficult for most of us to consider that are other ways of organizing our lives and reaching our goals.
We tend to forget that there’s an “appointed time” – a sacred time when things are meant to unfold. This doesn’t mean that we don’t take steps to advance toward our visions – it means that we learn to approach our aspirations with patience and the understanding that there is a greater force at work – and what will be, will be when the right conditions come together.
I can tell you without hesitation that if I received funding for this film two years ago, Across The King’s River would not have been nearly as good as it can be now. Why? Because some of the kindred souls that are working on the project now were not around at the time; Plus, there were other things I needed to learn. I also had to leave some people behind. Yes, sometimes you need to “cut folks loose” too.
Know that there is an appointed time- you’ll know it when it arrives. The path will be made clear. So many things will begin to make sense! Your spirit will talk to you. You’ll feel it in your bones!
James Weeks
Producer, Across The King’s River
by James Weeks | Jul 23, 2011 | Blog
African Researcher Discussing Vodun/Voodoo
“Respect for nature, a comprehensive worldview that has a solution for everything, the answer of the ancestors to the philosophical questions people ask: “Where are we? Who are we? Where do we come from?” That's how one African describes Vodun/Voodoo in the link I've attached above – a philosophy that has been demonized and ridiculed in racist films and books for decades.
Although I've known for many years that the twisted portrayal of voodoo in Hollywood and the media has nothing to do with the truth of the religion and how it is practiced in Africa and the diaspora, I was still touched by what Gabin Djmasse (the researcher) had to say.
Here are my favorite quotes:
* Nature must be respected; you must not violate the laws of nature.
* In our culture, one must never deliberately choose evil. If you choose evil be sure that it will turn against you because you are not respecting the principles of nature.
* In the education, initiation and practice of Vodun, we teach the importance of respecting nature.
* When we say respect for nature, it includes human beings.
* You must not think evil thoughts.
In the book “Flash of the Spirit,” historian Robert Farris Thompson describes Hatian Vodun as “one of the richest and and most misunderstood religions of the planet. A vibrant sophisticated synthesis of the traditional religions of Dahomey, Yorubaland, and Kongo with an infusion of Roman Catholicism.” Thompson's book also pays tribute to the sacred art of Vodun and other African-inspired spiritual traditions.
Although my upcoming film does not take us into Vodun territory, we make reference to this ancient tradition from time to time. We will attempt to set the record straight once and for all. Hollywood and the media will not have the last word – the ancestors will!
by James Weeks | Jul 21, 2011 | Blog
Ifasola, a dear brother and friend
“Ore me atata” means my dear friend – or my important friend. That’s how my close friend and brother, Ifasola, greets me when he calls. He’s pictured with his eyes closed in this photo. I’ve known him for more than 13 years. He was one of my first Yoruba language instructors. I would meet him at his house for private lessons. To my delight, sometimes the lessons came along with meals: obe eja ati isu (fish stew in a spicy tomato sauce and thick slices of yams).
Ifasola is important to me not just because of our friendship – but because he serves as a translator for Aseda, the elder in the trailer. (Both Ifasola and Aseda are in the trailer). When Aseda consults Ifa and has important messages to relay to me, Ifasola delivers the messages. Though I’ve learned to speak Yoruba over the years, I don’t speak the Ife dialect – the dialect that is native to Aseda. (Yoruba has more than 20 dialects and just because you’re Yoruba doesn’t mean you can understand all of them).
I think of Ifasola and all of the elders as part of the “King’s River” crew. This film doesn’t stand a chance without their full support. On a spiritual level, with the help of the orisas, they ensure things go smoothly and help open doors for us. Before we return to Africa to begin major production on this film, they will do a spiritual evaluation of the entire film crew to ensure they’re up to the task and that the mission is successful. They will also eliminate anyone they don’t feel is right for the project.
My friendship with Ifasola is a powerful one but it hasn’t been an easy one. I’ve had to learn to trust the guidance of Aseda and the orisas. This means following through with “ebos” (spiritual rituals/sacrifices) from time to time to protect my family and/or others that I love when circumstances demand it My friendship with Ifasola has also taught me that no culture has a monopoly on wisdom. Yes, we have a a lot to learn from the ancient world – but the ancient world has a lot to learn from us as well. May we all be good students.
by James Weeks | Jul 20, 2011 | Blog
Man Playing Wedding During a Wedding Ceremony in Nigeria
“The constant soldier is never unready, even once/ This was the teaching of Ifa for Igbin, the snail, the courteous one./ Who was going to engage Ekun, the leopard in a sudden fight./ They said that Ekun was always ready for battle, and that Igbin should not engage him. One whom we cannot engage in battle, we leave to the Lord of Heaven” -Owonrin Otura, Sacred Verse of Ifa
This passage from our sacred texts sums up how I feel – or what I've become after being on the journey of this film for so long – a warrior who has become conditioned by time and adversity to stop at nothing. A warrior that has been conditioned by the elders in Africa to zero in on a target – and to remain focused until we hit that target. No matter what obstacles appear along the way – no matter how many times the warrior might be abandoned – or “left for dead.”
There is no vision without fire – the fire of adversity – the fire of doubt, the fire of loss – yet I believe the fire of our vision makes us better people – stronger and more resourceful. All who dare to fulfill the dream they've been entrusted with must befriend fire – and warriorship. What fire are you willing to confront? When?
