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The Wayshower
Feb. 28th, 2011 10:16 pmIn my previous post on the Atlas Shrugged movie, I happened to mention the actor who plays Francisco d'Anconia in it, Jsu Garcia. One of the funny things that happens while blogging sometimes is that you write about someone famous, and then they come out of the woodwork and contact you about it! I've had this happen a couple times, and it always takes me by surprise, but this one turned out to be quite interesting. His publicist contacted me asking if I'd like to interview him about his newest film The Wayshower, which he not only stars in, but also co-directed and co-wrote.
After taking a look at the trailer:
http://www.thewayshower.com/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1640570/
I thought "Ok, looks like a movie I might want to see. Sure, why not?" But before I interviewed him, I dug a bit deeper online to find more background on the film and on him, and the further I looked, the more intrigued I got about this. It felt sort of like "tumbling down the rabbit hole"!
At first, I was thinking I'd just do a quick post, based on some brief questions over email he could respond to for the "interview". I did that, and that transcript is below. But then, I got too curious about a lot of the stuff I was digging up and realized I had to talk to him over the phone to get more of the story, and fit together a lot of missing pieces. So on Friday we talked for about an hour, and I found his personality and life both complex and fascinating.
So for the short version, below is the transcript of my email interview with him. Then, for those intrigued, behind the cut you'll find some more information I've gathered about the movie and the movement behind it, as well as my thoughts and impressions of Jsu Garcia, based on our phone conversation. Including a reasonable explanation of the seeming contradiction I pointed out in my last post, of him choosing to take roles in both the ultra pro capitalist Atlas Shrugged and the anti capitalist movie Che.
I'm told that the Wayshower had a fantastic response at Sundance, and has screened at a few other film festivals so far but has not yet gained a national audience. As you may infer from the trailer, it deals with spiritual themes, that go beyond and outside of mainstream religion. Jsu plays himself (Jesus, his birth name) as the main character, but the plot is taken from a combination of stories that Jsu's spiritual teacher (and close friend) John-Roger has told, and some from Jsu's own experiences. The spiritual movement John-Roger (aka "J-R") founded is known as the Movement for Spiritual Inner Awareness (MSIA). Although it's based on John-Roger's stories, Jsu says that he believes the film will stand on its own and appeal to a wider audience (as it did at Sundance), and is not necessarily aimed at converting anyone or convincing anyone to join their church.
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spoonless : Which do you find more difficult, acting, writing, or directing? Which do you enjoy the most? Did you find it hard to juggle all of these roles at once with The Wayshower?
Jsu : I find Directing and Acting at the same time very difficult. I think directing is easy but trying to sell the movie you poured your heart can be very difficult.
spoonless : From the Wayshower movie website: "Garcia makes his directorial debut with this project, collaborating again with long time friend John-Roger, and also working with mentor and friend Steven Soderbergh." Does this mean Steven Soderbergh had some involvement with this movie? What was his involvement and what is he like to work with?
Jsu : Yes on Steven being a friend but John-Roger is my best friend and we directed this film together as a team. Plus it's his stories we helped tell. On my part, I'm owning my part of the friendship with Steven buts it's like he directed me in two features so I'm like actor friendship with director. But the best part was when I asked him for "big help" on The Wayshower. All done on email, it stated when he offered great advise from the the first day on the film "Che" in lobby of the hotel while waiting for the vans to take us to the set. I asked him something about "story" and he told me to read "Cut to the Chase", by Sam O'steen. Sam was one of the great editors. I read his book and thus began my quasi-film making lessons with THE MAN. Steven Soderbergh broke the mold and changed the way to make films. The Red camera was his weapon. I loved him for opening my eyes. So while shooting and editing and post: Steven gave me uplifting gems that helped complete the film. John-Roger also gave me the wisdom and openness to ask for help and admit when I didn't know something.
spoonless: Is the plot of The Wayshower entirely fictional, or is some of it based on experiences from your own life? (If not, are there themes in it that relate to your own life?)
Jsu: Mostly it's the stories of John-Roger in this life and others that he has spoken about through seminars. My stories too.
spoonless: Your character's name in the Wayshower is Jesus, while your own name is Jsu. (I don't know whether Jsu is a name you chose or if you were born with it.) Are the names Jesus and Jsu related, and are either of those a reference to Jesus Christ?
Jsu : I was born with Jesus Garcia and I changed it for acting Jsu Garcia. I love Jesus Christ so I'm proud to have his first name which is Yahshuah in Hebrew. Love it.
[This question I asked over email before realizing he was playing himself; he clarified that over the phone.]
spoonless: Was making this film more about telling a story of human drama, or about spreading the spiritual teachings of John-Roger?
Jsu : Both. When you tell the story of Human Drama it's Universal. John-Roger's teaching are very simple and are all about love. God is Love so I believe Love is his teaching and I think if you see the film you'd agree.
spoonless : How would you compare The Wayshower to your 2007 film, Spiritual Warriors?
Jsu : It was a different time. I can't. I love it it like another child. John-Roger and wrote and produced Spiritual Warriors adapted by his teaching from his book Spiritual Warrior. We Directed The Wayshower so it just means in this film we had less people in the way of completing what we wanted.
spoonless : What's the most important thing a viewer might take away from this film?
Jsu : I didn't want to babysit people. We wanted to provoke thought. Like the film Inception, Black Swan and Hereafter. We wanted to let people discover for themselves.
( Click for more on Jsu Garcia, MSIA, and the Wayshower )
After taking a look at the trailer:
http://www.thewayshower.com/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1640570/
I thought "Ok, looks like a movie I might want to see. Sure, why not?" But before I interviewed him, I dug a bit deeper online to find more background on the film and on him, and the further I looked, the more intrigued I got about this. It felt sort of like "tumbling down the rabbit hole"!
At first, I was thinking I'd just do a quick post, based on some brief questions over email he could respond to for the "interview". I did that, and that transcript is below. But then, I got too curious about a lot of the stuff I was digging up and realized I had to talk to him over the phone to get more of the story, and fit together a lot of missing pieces. So on Friday we talked for about an hour, and I found his personality and life both complex and fascinating.
So for the short version, below is the transcript of my email interview with him. Then, for those intrigued, behind the cut you'll find some more information I've gathered about the movie and the movement behind it, as well as my thoughts and impressions of Jsu Garcia, based on our phone conversation. Including a reasonable explanation of the seeming contradiction I pointed out in my last post, of him choosing to take roles in both the ultra pro capitalist Atlas Shrugged and the anti capitalist movie Che.
I'm told that the Wayshower had a fantastic response at Sundance, and has screened at a few other film festivals so far but has not yet gained a national audience. As you may infer from the trailer, it deals with spiritual themes, that go beyond and outside of mainstream religion. Jsu plays himself (Jesus, his birth name) as the main character, but the plot is taken from a combination of stories that Jsu's spiritual teacher (and close friend) John-Roger has told, and some from Jsu's own experiences. The spiritual movement John-Roger (aka "J-R") founded is known as the Movement for Spiritual Inner Awareness (MSIA). Although it's based on John-Roger's stories, Jsu says that he believes the film will stand on its own and appeal to a wider audience (as it did at Sundance), and is not necessarily aimed at converting anyone or convincing anyone to join their church.
spoonless : Which do you find more difficult, acting, writing, or directing? Which do you enjoy the most? Did you find it hard to juggle all of these roles at once with The Wayshower?Jsu : I find Directing and Acting at the same time very difficult. I think directing is easy but trying to sell the movie you poured your heart can be very difficult.
spoonless : From the Wayshower movie website: "Garcia makes his directorial debut with this project, collaborating again with long time friend John-Roger, and also working with mentor and friend Steven Soderbergh." Does this mean Steven Soderbergh had some involvement with this movie? What was his involvement and what is he like to work with?Jsu : Yes on Steven being a friend but John-Roger is my best friend and we directed this film together as a team. Plus it's his stories we helped tell. On my part, I'm owning my part of the friendship with Steven buts it's like he directed me in two features so I'm like actor friendship with director. But the best part was when I asked him for "big help" on The Wayshower. All done on email, it stated when he offered great advise from the the first day on the film "Che" in lobby of the hotel while waiting for the vans to take us to the set. I asked him something about "story" and he told me to read "Cut to the Chase", by Sam O'steen. Sam was one of the great editors. I read his book and thus began my quasi-film making lessons with THE MAN. Steven Soderbergh broke the mold and changed the way to make films. The Red camera was his weapon. I loved him for opening my eyes. So while shooting and editing and post: Steven gave me uplifting gems that helped complete the film. John-Roger also gave me the wisdom and openness to ask for help and admit when I didn't know something.
spoonless: Is the plot of The Wayshower entirely fictional, or is some of it based on experiences from your own life? (If not, are there themes in it that relate to your own life?)Jsu: Mostly it's the stories of John-Roger in this life and others that he has spoken about through seminars. My stories too.
spoonless: Your character's name in the Wayshower is Jesus, while your own name is Jsu. (I don't know whether Jsu is a name you chose or if you were born with it.) Are the names Jesus and Jsu related, and are either of those a reference to Jesus Christ?Jsu : I was born with Jesus Garcia and I changed it for acting Jsu Garcia. I love Jesus Christ so I'm proud to have his first name which is Yahshuah in Hebrew. Love it.
[This question I asked over email before realizing he was playing himself; he clarified that over the phone.]
spoonless: Was making this film more about telling a story of human drama, or about spreading the spiritual teachings of John-Roger?Jsu : Both. When you tell the story of Human Drama it's Universal. John-Roger's teaching are very simple and are all about love. God is Love so I believe Love is his teaching and I think if you see the film you'd agree.
spoonless : How would you compare The Wayshower to your 2007 film, Spiritual Warriors?Jsu : It was a different time. I can't. I love it it like another child. John-Roger and wrote and produced Spiritual Warriors adapted by his teaching from his book Spiritual Warrior. We Directed The Wayshower so it just means in this film we had less people in the way of completing what we wanted.
spoonless : What's the most important thing a viewer might take away from this film?Jsu : I didn't want to babysit people. We wanted to provoke thought. Like the film Inception, Black Swan and Hereafter. We wanted to let people discover for themselves.
( Click for more on Jsu Garcia, MSIA, and the Wayshower )
