OCCUPY LOVE
A feature documentary by Velcrow Ripper
Produced by Nova Ami, Ian MacKenzie and Velcrow Ripper
In Theatres 2012. With your help!
Occupy Love will be a moving, transformative feature documentary that asks the question: how is the economic and ecological crisis of today a great love story?
Join acclaimed director Velcrow Ripper ( Scared Sacred, Fierce Light ) on a journey deep inside the global revolution of the heart that is erupting around the planet.
From the Arab Spring to the European Summer, to the Occupy Movement, to the global climate justice movement, a profound shift is taking place: humanity is waking up to the fact that the dominant system of power is failing to provide us with health, happiness or meaning. The old paradigm that concentrates wealth, founded on the greed of the few, is collapsing. Endless growth on a finite planet cannot be sustained. The resulting crisis has become the catalyst for a profound transformation: millions of people are deciding that enough is enough – the time has come to create a new world, a world that works for all life.
Ripper has been filming at Occupy Wall Street since day one. He has discovered a revolution rooted in compassion, direct democracy, and shared power, as opposed to the “power over” model of the current western world view. The new story is one of Inter-dependence, and a shared experience our collective vulnerability in the face of heartless political and economic structures. The crisis has awakened our love of others and our love of the planet. Love is the movement.
In addition to covering the Occupy movement in NYC, Ripper has been on an exciting global journey, tracing the roots of the European Summer through the Indignado’s of Spain, the Arab spring during the second wave of the Egyptian Revolution, the global Occupy Movement at Occupy London, England, as well as the historical General Strike at Occupy Oakland, Occupy Canada, the global climate justice movement and beyond.
Woven throughout the moving, action oriented backbone of the story, will be a deep exploration of the heart of the movement, the meaning of love, and concrete examples of just what “another world” could look like, featuring some of world’s key visionaries on alternative systems of economics, sustainability, and empathy.
Occupy Love will be a moving, transformative, heartfelt film, featuring Ripper’s signature stunning visuals and theatrical soundscapes. It will be a powerful, transformative and cinematic experience that will leave audiences inspired.
The film will feature an incredible cast of visionaries, both well known, and the everyday heroes who are emerging in this fledgling movement. Featuring: Malik Rhassan from Occupy the Hood, visionary Naomi Klein, sacred economist Charles Eisenstein, “Horizontal Power” author and early Occupy organizer Marina Sitrin, native elder and activist Tom Goldtooth, climate activist Bill McKibben, Occupy activist and author Rebecca Solnit, Egyptian revolutionary Asmaa Mahfouz, permaculturist Penny Livingston Stark, founder of “Transition Town” movement Rob Hopkins, author “Empathic Civilization” Jeremy Rifkin, and more.
Join Occupy Love on facebook at Occupy Love
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT: Occupy Love is the movie I have been waiting to make, all my life. Today’s global awakening is what my earlier films have been anticipating and fostering – a current of potential that was pulsing and rumbling, just below the surface. Suddenly, from the Arab Spring to the European Summer to the global Occupy Movement, the volcano has erupted. As the popular #Occupy sign reads, “The Beginning is Here.” We have captured the material to create one of the hottest documentary projects of the year, a film, and accompanying inter-media project, that will act as both a reflection and a catalyst to the “heart of the times.”
VELCROW RIPPER – Director
Photo: Kris Krug
“Velcrow Ripper is the John Lennon of documentary filmmakers.” – Michael Markwick, SFU Communications
Velcrow Ripper is a lot like his movies — friendly, hopeful, full of electrifying ideas. He is an award-winning filmmaker with dozens of films and videos under his belt, including Scared Sacred, named one of Canada’s Top 10 movies of 2004, and winner of the 2005 Genie (Canadian Academy Award) for best feature documentary. Ripper’s newest movie, Fierce Light: When Spirit Meets Action, has been wowing audiences around the world with its investigation of how we are connected to each other and to this planet. This award winning film’s message of hope and change is delivered via magnificent visuals. -Liz Braun, Toronto Sun
More at www.velcrowripper.com
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IAN MACKENZIE – Co-Producer
Photo: Jonathon Dy
Ian MacKenzie is a new media producer based in Vancouver, BC. He has a background in video journalism, and has produced a number of segments dealing with topics as diverse as eco-consumerism, peak oil, and music culture.
In 2009, he worked on Word Travels, a travel reality series airing on OLN, CityTV, and National Geographic. Ian has also directed and produced short films, including an animation based on Ray Bradbury’s The Pedestrian, as well as The Killing Fields, inspired by a visit to Cambodia’s Tuol Sleng prison.
More recently, Ian produced the full-length Spiritually Incorrect, based on the live stage show of author/activist Alan Clements. Ian is also the creator of the spiritual travel magazine Brave New Traveler.
His first feature documentary is One Week Job, chronicling the epic journey of one man working 52 jobs in 52 weeks. Visit his blog ianmack.com
NOVA AMI – Co-Producer
Nova Ami is a Canadian documentary filmmaker currently based in New York. Her work has been screened and broadcast around the globe at international film festivals and on prime-time television.
Her previous documentaries have focused on topics about women and youth: Say I Do follows the journeys of Filipino women who came to Canada as part of the global mail-order bride phenomenon; Secrets explores the divide between teen sexual knowledge and sexual intelligence; and Peacing it Together bears witness to the collaborative process between Palestinian and Israeli youth as they co-create films about the Middle East. Nova also co-produced Army of One, about young Americans who decided to join the military in the wake of 9/11.
Nova served as host, director, and writer on the Canadian technology and innovation television series, The Leading Edge. For six seasons, she was the host and segment producer of GVTV, a series about urban issues in the Vancouver region.
Nova is currently completing her Master’s degree in Media Studies at The New School.
DAMIEN BOUCHARD – Production Assistant
Damien Bouchard is a full time student at Capilano University enrolled in the Indigenous Independent Digital Filmmaking program. He is also a part time editor for T’Chanalquey Productions during his time of study. Earlier he attended and graduated the TV Broadcasting program at Confederation College in Thunder Bay, Ontario.