Over 60 and Following Our Bliss!

“Over 60 and Following Our Bliss”, the first film sponsored by our new Unity Film Ministry, was created in a three-week workshop this summer. Here is what its creator, Miriam Mellman, has to say about the process:

When I learned that Unity of Berkeley and filmmaker and producer Stephanie Slade from Slade Digital were offering a three-week workshop called “Let’s Make a Movie” I was guided to attend, despite the fact that I had no idea how to begin to produce a movie. I had felt a strong calling to make a film about people in their sixties and older who are following their bliss. I was fortunate to collaborate with Stephanie Slade, a creative producer and film making teacher of wide experience (http:/www.sladedigital.com).

I am honored that my film, “Over 60 and Following Our Bliss,” is the first film sponsored by the Unity Film Ministry, whose mission is to empower uplifting spiritual stories and inspire creative media that brings unity to the community.

“Over 60 and Following Our Bliss”  was written, produced, edited, and premiered between June 6 and June 26, 2009. Having Unity of Berkeley as its incubator and birthplace was perfect ,since  cultural creatives, artists, and people doing extraordinary work abound here.

I selected most of the first people to interview from the membership at Unity of Berkeley, including Takashi Thomas Tanemori, Hiroshima survivor and author of “Hiroshima: Bridge to Forgiveness” and Darrell Hunger, a “transformative” artist who rebuilt his home that was destroyed in the Caldecott Fire in the Oakland Hills. Other Unity of Berkeley members appearing in my film are Roberta Maisel, Dot Claire, Tawny Gold, Dennis Edds, Stephanie Slade, John Cornelius, and Reverend Dr. Patricia Keel, who blessed my film with her enthusiasm. “It is very inspiring to see how making a film that was your dream can make such a positive difference to so many people. I am looking forward to seeing more divinely guided films spring from our Unity Film Ministry.”

I also chose to interview Tom Nunn, inventor of the musical instrument called the Sonoglyph, along with his composer Allan Crossman, who were performing with the San Francisco Composer’s Chamber Orchestra the week I was filming. Dr. Michael and Jeanie Ryce, from Heartland Center in Missouri, spoke at Unity of Berkeley the day I was filming. Dr. Ryce added a special brilliance to my subject by stating, “… and by the way… that 60 line… we are here for eternity if we know our purpose and do our work!”

The over-60 population is rapidly increasing, and they say that 60 is the new 40, which is blissful to me, as I am 68. Those interviewed in my documentary are so inspirational – they open their hearts, minds, and souls and share their drive, passion, spirituality, philosophy, and art. It is a privilege to interview them, and their poignant stories have left quite an impression on me. Their bliss is contagious, and I discovered my own during the production process.

I will be reaching out to diverse communities, interviewing people from many social, ethnic, and economic backgrounds. My goal is to produce not only a longer documentary film but also an ongoing half-hour series for television that will be inspirational, supportive, and educational for viewers of all ages.”

Miriam Mellman, Blissed-Out Productions
Unity Film Ministry
Unity of Berkeley