Pamela Jo Bowman

BY PAMELA JO BOWMAN, MESA ARIZONA - When I first saw the music video ONCE, it touched me. The sound, the words, the look, the feel. I wanted to watch it over and over again. Today, I realized it was one of the songs up for an Academy Award. I watched this evening and was again touched by the sound and feel. I had no idea it was from a movie. Have I been in a vacuum for a year or two? How could I have not known this movie, this song!

I smiled when they sang. I smiled when they won. It was wonderful to see that it isn’t always about who you know. Sometimes it is about enabling others to feel what they have forgotten. To remember how we were all motivated by love and the need to be loved. It was like that…once. Amazing how a song can ignite the hope of possibilities and the possibility of this moment. You can watch it on YouTube.

Realizations | No Comments »

BY PAMELA JO BOWMAN, MESA, ARIZONA — Two years ago, I began entertaining the thought of going to Africa on a film crew. I remember casually mentioning it to my family and slowly talking to my friends about the possibility. I REALLY wanted to go and have that experience. It seemed that the verbalization transformed the possibility into a reality.

Today, Jabbes Mvula, the director of the Zambian feature, BAD TIMING, came to watch the final cut of the film and he was happy, pleased and excited. Like me, he spoke to Cyndi about doing a film in his country and now it has become a reality. Speaking what you want to people who will support and nurture your dreams makes everything possible.

Two years later, I might have another opportunity … we’ve been asked about the possibility of producing a film in Zimbabwe and there’s another opportunity around a non-fiction film that will be shot in Singapore! How cool is that? Another film in Africa, perhaps one in Asia. Hey, that would be great! I will know more this week and then decide if this is something we want to pursue. If it is, you know I will share it. Then I know it not only can happen, but will happen!

Indie Films | 1 Comment »

BY PAMELA JO BOWMAN , MESA, ARIZONA - Working with someone day in and day out, well, conversation occurs. I try to keep my business partner focused on the films but she lures me into these deep and thought provoking conversations! Each day we have these “ah-ha” moments. Sometimes my business partner makes me so mad I can’t even talk. Sometimes she makes me laugh so hard I can’t talk. Of course this never occurs for her! She can always talk!

Many times we “discuss” religion. Often we discuss politics. Frequently we share moments of our lives. We like to talk about our childhood and growing up. Our lives were so different and yet we have managed to find a place where we feel comfortable and safe to be who really are. This is pretty important. We work in a creative and very competitive field. Trust is imperative.

Today, we were visiting with another business associate. Cyndi was talking about a conversation we’d had earlier in the day and she tried to mimic some of my body motions. Her hands were pointing, her shoulders were shimmying and she was tossing her head. She even changed her voice inflection. It was, I admit hilarious, but what goes around comes around. Anyone want to see my interpretation of Cyndi’s belly laugh? Come on over!

Venting | 1 Comment »

BY PAMELA JO BOWMAN, MESA ARIZONA - Tonight Ciera, Chris and I went grocery shopping. Chris likes to push the cart because his back hurts and then he has something to lean on. Ciera and I ran around the store picking out items. Chris always tries to talk us out of things and then always puts the items in the basket. I am never sure why he does that, but whatever.

There was a big display of ice. I am sure that fish or something had been displayed in it during the day, but it was too tempting for Ciera and I. We chased each other around the store having an ice fight. At one point I just picked up the wee thing and dumped her in! We both started to approach Chris, but decided against it. Neither of us wanted an ice bath in the Arizona winter!

Sometimes the silliest things seem to mean the most. It was a hard long day of play practice, painting sets, laying music for the film, discussing projects. It feels good to just find time to laugh, have fun and be silly with my daughter. Soon she will be “too cool” to chase her Mom around the grocery store. Hopefully, by then I will have grandkids who won’t mind having a crazy grandmother playing hide and seek in the cereal aisle!

Family | 1 Comment »

BY PAMELA JO BOWMAN, MESA ARIZONA - Today was so much fun! I started placing music down during certain scenes. Sometimes I place two completely different types in the same scene just to see the change that can occur. Music truly is amazing. Changing the music can completely change the whole feeling of the scene. We are speaking to a few different people who compose film scores. I am laying down temporary music. I want whomever does the score to be able to really feel the mood we want to convey for each scene. I believe after they watch it and hear it, our intentions will be communicated quite clearly. Next week we are letting a few people see the entire movie with a questionnaire for them to fill out. We really want to know what they think. How they feel. What characters they like, which they don’t. How they feel about the story line. Then we will be submitting it to Cannes and a few other festivals. I am surprisingly optimistic. Not really my nature. Kind of fun! Also, kind of scary.

Post Production | No Comments »

BY PAMELA JO BOWMAN, MESA ARIZONA - I finished a lovely book this week. INES, OF MY SOUL by Isabelle Allende. My sister lent it to me. She knew I would enjoy it especially since my son spent over two years of his life in Chile. That is where this historical novel takes place.

I find it dangerous for me to read. For one thing, I do little else until I am through with the book or article. Another problem is that I find myself becoming attached to the characters. Sometimes I want to emulate them. Ines was a strong, vibrant and passionate woman. She lived a long life filled with adventure, humor, strife, disappointment and despair. She was still a young, bright woman when she realized how driven she was by love and love alone. In that knowledge she survived and sustained those within her care.

Ines’ first husband, an unworthy, lazy, handsome devil, taught her a valuable lesson, to love and value herself. She was not a perfect person. She accepted others because she accepted herself. She was able to love herself, which increased her capacity to love others.

At the end of the day or the end of a life, that seems to be what matters most. Did we love others as we love ourselves? In order to do that, we have to first love ourselves. Some would argue that is natural, but I beg to differ. Ask yourself, If you treated others as you treat yourself would you want to be friends with you?

Realizations | No Comments »

BY PAMELA JO BOWMAN, MESA ARIZONA - Finally! A reporter that can get to the politicians and ask the important question! MAC or PC? That really does tell me all I need to know. For others perhaps a second question would help. Chevy or Ford? With these answers we can truly know which is our candidate.

Of course, if they do pass this “tell-all” question, I would like some other answers. Who is sitting with you? Who will be talking with you every day? Who will be briefing you? Who do you trust and why? Who is sitting eating lunch with you and has your ear? Who?

I know. Get back to the real issues! McDonalds or Burger King?

Venting | 2 Comments »

BY PAMELA JO BOWMAN-MESA ARIZONA -“You may be deceived if you trust too much, but you will live in torment if you do not trust enough” Frank Crane

Valentines day. Do you remember passing out valentine cards in class and wondering if you would receive a card from that “special” someone? Kind of silly really. Everyone in the class passed out cards to everyone else. Everyone signed their names. I would look to see if there were any subtextual messages in the handwriting. Would they write from or love. Would they glue on a candy heart with a message? Would they write my name on the card?

That is when the nervousness started for me. Wondering, worrying, wanting to be connected to someone who wanted to be connected to me. I decided early, for whatever reason, that I could never and would never trust anyone completely with my entire being. I learned very early the lure of the unknown. I learned later to be known and still loved swells the soul and releases reason. It is still silly and I am still anxious to see what card or cards I might receive.

“The key is to get to know people and trust them to be who they are. Instead, we trust people to be who we want them to be- and when they’re not, we cry.”

Perhaps the key is to find those people who we can trust so we can be who we truly are. Instead we act the way we believe others want us to be. We still cry.

Still silly.

Realizations | No Comments »

BY PAMELA JO BOWMAN, Mesa Arizona — This last month has been a tad insane. I spend my days editing madly. Today, we did another special effect shot for the film. Fun stuff! At night, I help with set design for our local Junior High play, THE MUSIC MAN. Our director, Peggy, decided we should try to build an innovative set system that allowed for quick scene changes of large panoramas. On Tuesday evening, we hung two of the three Oleos (enormous 33feet by 11feet rolled backdrops). Boyd designed and constructed the apparatus. Christine drew the designs. I helped as much as I was able. I did take some photographs as they went up. Seeing the men’s faces light up like little boys was the most fun. They were so happy to see their contraption actually work the way it was intended. I would imagine the school will be able to benefit for years by this new addition to their stage productions. I have to admit, it is pretty cool! We don’t have any time to sit back and enjoy it too much. We still have more sets to build! ARGH! Three weeks until show time.

Pre-production | 1 Comment »

BY PAMELA JO BOWMAN, MESA ARIZONA - One of our goals with the Zambia project was to create the possibility of the film industry in Zambia. Upon our return those in the “business” remarked to us how ambitious our goal really was. Of course, in retrospect, our naivete allowed us to believe in our goal and us.

We have been back for over a year. Since then three more films have been made in Zambia. People write to us asking for our advice for future projects. Others have asked us to sign on as producers for their African projects. So we continue to have a personal and professional interest in the region.

Those who follow global news are well aware of the continued upheaval in the African Nations. It is my opinion that many are using the differences that exist within Africa to divide and conquer. They continue to be successful as more refugees flee to “safe” country’s or die at the hands of their fellow countrymen. As refugees flood the economy of these countries it creates more tension and more division. Eventually “safe” countries start to drown as more people saturate the countries ability to sustain themselves and the process repeats itself.

Our goal was to unify, educate and promote business within Africa by Africans. We met many who were willing, able and anxious for any opportunity. My advice to the friends I made there is to be careful with who you shake hands. Realize that many who are investing in your country are not investing in your people.

Africa | No Comments »