So I guess, let me start by saying that I had confidence that this would happen sooner or later, and I guess that is sooner, rather than later, and that sooner is now. Truthfully, I always felt it was a matter of time before some enterprising Pagan Film-maker produced an Independent Pagan Film about Pagans as Pagans are- not as levitating, shape-shifting, mad with the Powers of Darkness- but Pagans, say, such as tune in to the Juggler (say).
Oops. My bad. So Sorry. As Film-maker Taliesin Govannon makes clear in the Dark of Moon site, this film is not “About” Pagans- it’s about people (like you or me) who happen to be Pagan. Specifically, it’s about five friends who are at a point in Life where they must make some choices: however, these five friends happen to be Pagan; belong to a Coven together; and take journeys from meetings of Pagan Activists to ADF Druid Rituals to a Gardnerian Covenstead. In short, unlike most other sensationalized portrayals of what it means to be a Pagan: this is a movie about Real Pagans, ie, us.
As Mr. Govannon says, he hopes that this is the movie that causes his coreligionists to say, Hey! Somebody got it right!
If you check out his site, under “About the film,” if you click on “Wiccans, Druids, and Other Pagans, click here”- you’ll get to the For-Real, For Pagans description of the movie; if you go to his Blog-Spot, you’ll find a really good journal account of the process of independent film-making, including: writing a script; assembling a cast and crew; rehearsing said cast; securing locations; planning a shooting schedule; storyboarding- always storyboard, people, at least to be sure that you do not forget an important close-up or camera-angle (hey, in the hectic heart of a shoot, it can happen).
I want to stop and so give major, major Pagan Props to Taliesin Govannon, the first Independent Film-Producer of whom I know (well, of a non-documentary Film-nature), seizing the metaphoric Pagan Bull by the Horns and producing a Fictional Film-Account of Life for a Band of Neo-Pagans. Rock on, Big Guy, Rock on.
And Pagans, please check out this film.
Hey Taliesin: again, thanks so much for letting us here at the Juggler know about your film. In the not-for-nothing (I realize you are probably still busy with Dark of Moon, but at some point, you won’t be): since you obviously have that film-making thing going on; let’s just say, if you were going to do another film, about Pagans in NYC (say); if your two requirements are actors and spaces: I know professional actors who are Pagan; could get you hooked up with spaces- the Pagan Community Center of NYC operated by Lady Rhea could make a good site for a film about Pagans staging a Ritual (just saying): All of this could be very easily arranged. Just saying, something to keep in mind.
Where does one get to buy or view the film “Dark of the Moon”?
The movie is available here. Go buy it. I should be posting a (glowing) review today.