Paradise Recovered
My friend Andie Redwine recently did two things I never would have expected. And I am enormously proud of her and humbled by both.
I went to high school with Andie. We co-wrote a column for the school paper called “Mo’ Better Bagels” in which we pontificated upon numerous subjects and generally raised questions regarding society, culture, and our sanity.
Andie grew up in a repressive religious environment, and as an adult she has dedicated much of her time to helping others who have escaped from cults. A few years ago she mentioned to me that she was interested in making a film about cult survivors. Living in LA, I’m surrounded by people who say they want to make a film. The vast majority of them never do. Andie does not live in LA. She lives in a rural southern Indiana community. She knew nothing about how to write a script or make a film. But she taught herself how to do both in the most efficient way possible… by doing it.
Here’s the trailer for the film she wrote and produced totally outside the Hollywood system, created solely by her passion and energy.
The second thing Andie did that I never expected was to go vegan. Her film is called Paradise Recovered. I think it’s worth noting that in Paradise (Eden), Adam and Eve were not consuming animals.
She recently wrote me and my business partner Casey a letter about her decision. She agreed to let us share it. It’s one of the more moving things I’ve ever read.
Dear Denis and Casey:
Despite the fact that I feel absolutely fantastic about not contributing to the deaths of animals and eating their pain and grief…and that should be enough there, right?…I want to share with you both the benefits of going completely vegan for 30 days. Completely vegan means no animal products with an emphasis on low fat and fiber. A lot has happened both physically and spiritually for me. It’s been pretty amazing.
Making connections
The amazing political blog Down With Tyranny just put up a great post on meat-eating and its environmental impact. The post mentions Thom Hartmann, a truly genius writer and radio talk show host. I have not read his latest book mentioned here, but I did read The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight, What Would Jefferson Do?, and The Prophet’s Way, and they each had a huge impact on my thinking. Apparently, in the new book Thom says (quite accurately), “A sudden and worldwide shift to vegetarianism… would have more impact on global warming than if every jet plane and car in the world were to fall silent forever.”
Down With Tyranny also mentions Cheri Shankar’s recent Huffpo post on the same subject.
And they mention us! Howie Klein, the writer, saw a test screening of the film:
“Last year my friend Phil took me to the screening of a groundbreaking movie that is mostly filmed, Bold Native; they’re still working on it. I still haven’t gotten it out of my mind.”
Why We Do It
Been thinking about what I wanted my first blog to be about all week. And a series of 3 minor events – always the rule of 3, always the little things – made it super obvious.
First, I went over to my bud Joshua’s (who plays Wyatt in Bold Native), and his black cat Tom Dexter (love full named animals) was rocking 13 stitches and an Elizabethan collar… One of these hilarious but heartbreaking apparatuses…
Photo by Ilmari Karonen
Apparently he’d gotten into a rumble in the ‘hood, with a raccoon probably – or maybe a coyote – Tom’s a badass like that. One of his signature moves is to leap on the kitchen countertop and wait for someone to turn the faucet on like a drinking fountain. I watched TD attempt the leap and miss, and my heart ached for him. After he figured out how to painlessly nuzzle in my lap, we spent an hour together. I loved giving him a much wanted belly rub, and I’m not even a cat woman – despite looking phenom in a cat suit. It’s the Florence Nightingale syndrome in me. If I met a guy out pimping an Elizabethan collar, I’d definitely go home with him.
