This past weekend, I attended the Conscious Life Expo. It took place in Los Angeles, CA, at the LAX Hilton. One of my main areas of interest, this time around, was film and media, so I made a point to experience the Conscious Life Film Festival. I attended the Transformational Media Panel on Friday evening, saw a variety of films and excerpts over the weekend, and attended the awards ceremony on Sunday evening.

I just stepped out from a screening of Sing Your Song at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. Wow!  I have never been so moved by a movie – alternating wanting to cry and clap.

This powerful film illuminates the life of Harry Belefonte, a man who is loved for his music, acting, personality and his humanitarianism.  He is a true global citizen who has been involved with creating positive change in the world his whole life.  From his beginnings in the Theater in Harlem the marvelous archival footage of him performing as an actor and singer to his role as voice for causes everywhere. 

Its quite awakening to see that a performer of Harry Belelfonte's stature was still subject to the racial segregation the divided our country.  This awoke in him a passion that lives to this day.  his fame and stature enabled him to connect with many leading politicians and thought leaders.  Not only did he lend his singing voice to the actions taking place, but reach leaders such as JFK and RFK and bring the messages of MLK.

One of the stories he tells in the film is how his mother told him to do one thing each day to fight injustice in the world.

His remarks after the screening were equally profound and articulate as those in the film.  His charm and warm enhance the clarity of his message and mesmerizes one.  He told how his mother observed him seaching for a pair of socks over and over in the same places and asked him if he ever thought that the answer lie in place had not yet looked.  It became a mantra that led him around the world seaching for wisdom and the next piece of the puzzle for mankind.

I also had the privilege to see Mr Belefonte in a panel discussion on Film and Movement and he was equally powerful and empowering.

It was quite interesting that the same day I saw this film which highlighted the non-violent part of the civil rights movement, there was also a screening of Black Power Mix Tape which features footage about the Black Power movement which was archived in Sweden and recently discovered.

I hope this movie encourages everyone to sing their song and create a global chorus – it has moved me to do so, never before have I wanted to write like this, to add my voice to this song!

It’s true that almost anywhere you go there is a film festival of some kind, but be thankful – they have taken the place of “big cinema” as venues for quality movies that may never see the dark of a Cineplex. This is especially true for movies without the enviable budgets of their studio counterparts or whose uplifting messages or controversial subject matter get passed over for the lucre of lowest-common-denominator filmmaking.