Work-In-Progress
(A Feature Film In Development)
The Buddha smiles and says: “Ananda, this bowl is no longer full of water, but it is full of air. You have forgotten already! Empty means empty of something, and full means full of something. In this case, the bowl is empty of water but full of air.” Ananda joins his hands: “I understand now.” But the Buddha lifts one of his fingers to indicate that he has more to explain on this subject. “Although we have agreed that the bowl on the table is empty of water, if we look deeply, we will see that is not entirely true.” The Buddha says and lifts the bowl: “Ananda, among the interwoven elements that have given rise to the bowl, do you see water?” "Yes, Lord. Without water, the potter would not have been able to mix the clay he used to fashion the bowl, and I can see thousands of interpenetrating elements such as fire, air, and the potter's hands, and I see his consciousness, which all gave rise to this bowl."
(treatment upon request)
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A Scene from "Beyond the Clouds"
INT. A-HMAO FARM HOUSE – NIGHT
It is pitch-black and silent. Only the sound of rhythmic and nervous breath reveals human presence.
The door creaks open and a shadowy Wang steps in. Footsteps shuffle in behind him. The door closes with a silent thud.
A match is struck. For a split second, a multitude of faces is illuminated. Their eyes sparkle. The match goes out. A second or two passes before a whisper breaks the silence.
VOICE
Our teacher is with us.
A wave of suppressed excitement and whispering across the room, then a moment of quiet…
…as a distant moon just outlines Wang's figure.
WANG
It is under difficult circumstances
we must meet, and for this I am
sorry. The risks are many.
Nervous silence among the devotees.
WANG
We've all witnessed what has
happened since the start of the
Cultural Revolution, but for the
glory of our Lord, we – our
families – are still here.
His sermon is suddenly interrupted by barking dogs. Wang falls silent. The dim light reveals a room of terrified eyes.
The barking suddenly stops. Wang moves across the room and opens the door just a few inches.
Devotees strain to see. They can just make out several pairs of bare feet illuminated by the pale moon.
After a second, Wang steps back and opens the door all the way.
EXT. A-HMAO FARM HOUSE – NIGHT
About twenty devotees stand silent in the yard. They bow respectfully to Wang as he looks out. Wang is overwhelmed.
He lights a candle and steps out into the yard. Several
devotees follow him from inside, and leaving the door wide open.
They exchange handshakes with the new arrivals.
Devotee #1 sings a hymn in a suppressed voice.
DEVOTEE #1
There is a fountain filled with
blood…
Wang and others soon join him, all with low voices.
WANG/DEVOTEES
(sing)
I do believe, I will believe, that
Jesus died for me…
Devotees stand straight and sing with their hearts out.
DEVOTEES
(sing)
All come, behold the lamb of God on
the cross, on the cross…
EXT. MOUNTAINS - NIGHT
The echo of the singing floats in the night.
(Full script upon request)
Chumma, Nepal (A Working Title)
The first time I heard about Nepal was from Pier Paolo Pasolini’s film “Arabian Night”. A short sequence of it was filmed in Nepal, where the sceneries and beautiful men from 1970s Nepal deeply impressed me…
Here I was, some 20 years later, sitting in a tiny hotel in Thamel, Kathmandu, after an exhausting battle of divorce with my deranged Chinese wife. I would never expect, though, a life-changing experience, or shall we say a twisted romantic adventure, was about to begin...
(Full synopsis upon request)
