GATE in the Media

"This is a genre and movement that is absolutely coming of age," said John Raatz, founder and CEO of the Visioneering Group. "There is a hunger in this audience, and not only in this core audience but even in a larger audience of more mainstream-minded people who are yearning and searching for greater meaning in their lives."

Cami Winikoff, president of Sobini Films, which produced "Warrior," said more than half of the company's development slate is devoted to producing films "that will have an impact on the world. There couldn't be a better example of that than 'Peaceful Warrior.' It is one of the best-loved books in the mind/body/spirit genre."

The movie version picked up slightly more than $1 million when Lionsgate released it in limited release last year, but Universal was convinced the film possessed crossover potential. So it struck a deal with Mark Amin and Winikoff, two of the film's producers, and Lionsgate to rerelease it in 615 theaters with the help of an innovative marketing plan involving $15 million in free tickets distributed by Best Buy. About one-fifth of the 1.5 million tickets given away were redeemed during the weekend. The studio reported a $2.6 million boxoffice -- with about 10% of the audience actually purchasing tickets rather than taking advantage of the giveaway, funded by Sobini Films.

"I didn't believe there was a traditional marketing campaign that would work for this film and effectively communicate why this movie is working for the people who are loving it," Universal president of marketing Adam Fogelson said. "People like Sting, Tony Robbins and Deepak Chopra are saying this is a movie that can help change people's lives. How could you ever make that statement in a marketing campaign and have anyone believe you?"

Despite the marketing challenge, Fogelson sees further opportunity in the growing audience for such transformational films. "I think there is absolutely a viable and powerful business model in making and distributing films for this audience," he said. "I think it starts with knowing there is a large enough and very passionate audience that can be found and spoken to and served. Whether it can expand beyond that I think is entirely a function of what kind of product is created."

Winikoff praised Universal for its effort. "You can't take a movie like 'Peaceful Warrior' and compete with a movie like 'Blades of Glory.' It's just too difficult to reduce some movies to a 30-second ad campaign. With Universal, you've got a studio that's trying to come up with an idea to have these movies with meaning get into the marketplace in a way that can compete. I can't imagine that all the studios wouldn't like to make this business work financially."

The potential of this emerging film genre first attracted attention when "What the #$*! Do We Know!?" a combination documentary-drama about science and spirituality made on a shoestring budget, grossed more than $12 million at the boxoffice in 2004 and sold more than 1 million DVDs after virtually every distributor in Hollywood turned it down. Raatz said he worked with the filmmakers who released the movie themselves, convincing theaters in Los Angeles, Portland, Ore., and Phoenix to screen the film, which played to full theaters for five consecutive months before Samuel Goldwyn Films took over its distribution in summer 2004.

Goldwyn is known in the cultural creatives community as one of the theatrical distributors particularly interested in this type of fare. "We want to serve an audience that's underserved by the studios," Goldwyn president Meyer Gottlieb said. "We are actively looking for inspirational films, but we have to like a movie and have an emotional attachment to it before we get involved with it." Last fall, Goldwyn released "Conversations With God," adapted and inspired from the best-selling books by Neale Donald Walsch.

Inferno Distribution, which co-financed "Warrior" and is the film's international distributor, is interested in making films for the cultural creatives as well, but it's also looking for projects that can cross over to a wider audience. "We're looking for opportunities to get involved in films with themes that raise consciousness but that are still mainstream accessible," Inferno president Bill Johnson said.

The mind/body/spirit audience is not limited to film. AOL co-founder Steve Case's Revolution Living is a majority investor in the Lime multiplatform media company, which launched in late 2005 to provide programming for the LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability) market. "Lime is a resource that urges us to be mindful of the choices we make in what we eat, how we live, what we buy and what inspires us," Lime founder and CEO C.J. Kettler said.

"Lime aims to provide introspection, reflection and practical suggestions of how each of us might better ourselves, our families and our climate." Lime content is available on Lime's broadband channel at www.lime.com, VOD, Sirius Satellite Radio, Apple's iTunes and Verizon and Sprint cell phones.

Lime's initial offerings have included programming from Chopra, yoga expert Rodney Yee and eco-stylist Denny Seo. Best-selling author and pioneer of integrative medicine Andrew Weil is launching his first-ever live call-in radio program on Lime Radio this month on Sirius. "We're not just looking to reach the people that we know are already in this category; we recognize that more and more this category is growing and has become part of the mainstream," Lime senior vp programming Judith Tolkow said. "We are creating a mainstream brand."

Gaiam, a $220 million company that distributes 46% of the home videos in the health and wellness category, began expanding into theatrical production and distribution last year with two films -- "Illusion," starring Kirk Douglas, and "The Real Dirt on Farmer John."

Gaiam also is the majority shareholder of the Spiritual Cinema Circle -- a subscription- based DVD film club designed to connect "spiritual" moviegoers worldwide -- and owner of the Spiritual Cinema Network, a network of alternative venues such as churches, bookstores and community centers that screen movies with spiritual themes before theatrical or DVD releases and then split the proceeds with the filmmakers.

The emergence of the mind/body/spirit genre, the success of such production companies as Walden Media and Participant Prods., the visibility of such films as "Syriana," "Good Night, and Good Luck," "Fahrenheit 9/11," "Crash," "An Inconvenient Truth" and even "The Passion of the Christ" all suggest that moviegoers' appetite for films with deeper meaning -- whether it be political, social, religious or spiritual -- is on the rise.

The dangerous state of the world after Sept. 11 appears to be contributing to the trend. "Historically, when things in the world are difficult, complicated or scary, Hollywood has always looked to provide product that gives people an opportunity to both escape and/or imagine a better version of themselves or this world," Fogelson said. "I think now is the time that people want to laugh, feel good and imagine that the best is possible for themselves, their families, their friends and the world."

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This young man was participating in a program I had started with Jim Carrey at Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles that has taught meditation to more than 100 members of their community. As its mission, Homeboy Industries provides hope, training and support to people who were formerly in gangs or incarcerated to help them redirect their lives and become contributing members of society.

I could tell by looking at him after he opened his eyes that he had just had an experience that he had not had maybe in a long time, perhaps never. “This is the first time in my life that my mind has felt peaceful,” he told me. Not heeding my instruction had a simple explanation: He did not want to leave that place of serenity and come back to his life of extraordinary trauma. In almost 45 years of teaching meditation, it was the most gratifying moment I’ve ever had.

In the late 60s, everyone had heard about Maharishi because of the Beatles. Fueled by a seeker’s impulse and beginning to explore my own spirituality, I had thought, “Wow, I’d like to learn this meditation technique. At the time, there wasn’t a Transcendental Meditation teacher in our area. Instead, I borrowed a book by Maharishi at the local library called The Science of Being and The Art of Living. I read it but I honestly can’t say that I understood it. However, something in the book intuitively spoke to me.

Then in 1973, I was walking across a college campus in Flint, Michigan when I saw a poster of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. It advertised an upcoming lecture, and without hesitation, I decided to go. Naively thinking that Maharishi himself was giving the lecture in my hometown, I was probably a little disappointed that a husband and wife team were there in his place. I was stoned, and I nodded out during the talk. But I resolved that I was going to start it anyway. And the day I started practicing Transcendental Meditation was the day that my life really began.

Back then, I was a typical teenager with teenage angst and loneliness. Before learning to meditate, I was playing in a rock band, and had been doing drugs and drinking for quite a while. I can remember reading books and having to re-read the same paragraph 2 or 3 times because my thoughts had distracted me. At nighttime, I wanted to sleep but my mind was filled with thoughts of whatever might have been bothering me. All of that pretty much cleared up after just a few weeks of practicing TM. I stopped the drugs and alcohol. I started eating more healthfully. I even quit the band, sensing already that this new transformational path was a true calling. Right off the bat, I experienced a quieter mind. And I wanted more of the spirituality that was awakening in me, and I thought I could get it with this teacher, Maharishi. That was that. A few years later in 1976, I participated in a teacher training course with Maharishi in Europe and became a TM teacher myself.

The inner workings of the mind that the young man who did not want to open his eyes and what I as a new meditator experienced were very similar. What we shared, along with almost everyone else who has experienced the transcendent quality in meditation, is the power of inner stillness and silence—relief from the so- called monkey mind of incessant activity. For almost everyone, the greatest portion of our thoughts reside in anxiety about the future and regrets about the past. So much of our consciousness is clouded with trauma, lack of focus and concentration, and emotional and physical symptoms that make us unwell. So, when you offer people an opportunity to dissolve that to a great degree, they are open to it.

To this day, I still marvel that with a few simple instructions that take all of several moments, you can teach someone to go to the most essential part of who they are—something that no one else has taught them how to do before. I just sit there teaching and feel gratitude to Maharishi and to the tradition and lineage of teachers before him for giving us this understanding and experience.

When someone is interested in learning meditation and asks me for advice, my initial answer isn’t always to try TM. “Find what you resonate with and do that,” I tell them quite simply. “It may be several things or it may be one thing, but you’ve got to feel it. You can’t let anyone convince you or talk you into it.” If they ask me, what I do, then I’ll tell them that I practice TM. I explain how I’ve researched dozens and dozens of meditation techniques through the years, and not one has enabled and promoted transcending like TM does. The Transcendental in the title means that it is a method to move the mind beyond conscious thought to that higher level of inner peace the young man at Homeboy felt.

In the big picture, the world has been going through a major transformative shift for decades, but with technology the rate of change appears to be speeding up. Like our inner benefits from doing meditation, we are both individually and collectively moving from one state of consciousness or mind-body organization to an entirely new state. It is not being created or caused solely by people who practice TMor any other form of meditation but by anyone and everyone who is doing inner work to progress themselves and contribute to a better world. This is what I believe is at the leading edge of change in the world today.

Contact John Raatz: visioneering1@gmail.com

To me it was an Academy Awards of Consciousness, without the awards, without the over-the-top glitz, instead with authenticity, exemplary wisdom, crazy humor, an outrageously creative assortment of music, a temple of approximately 2,000 with the focus on uplifting the entertainment that we and our children are fed, to make this world a better place.

Having consciousness, being conscious, is about looking in the face of reality of who we are, at what is happening to our world, our children of all countries, our families, and finding a way to move people, to go to the goodness that we all have, to expand the vision, instead of contract. We, then, exercise a greater choice in place of exploiting violence and tragedy for the sake only of exploitation.

Marta M. Mobley, Producer, showed us a clip of her film, Amish Grace and baited us. I waited, concerned about what she may show on the screen, the story of the massacre in an Amish schoolhouse. She was demonstrating that the producer and director instead chose to not show the massacre, but alternatively imply it in the film. It was immensely effective by creating a haunting scene that kept the audience thinking. The choice, as we all always have, did not support and exemplify violence, and did not diminish the purpose of the film, but taught its lesson.

Louie Schwartzberg presented film clips of his "Circle of Life," some of the most exquisite footage of film photography, documenting the miracles of mushrooms and plants slowly emerging in a dance of beauty and "capturing breathtaking images that celebrate life."

Kenji Williams blew us away with his live violin alongside pictures of Bella Gaia, "a poetic vision of earth from space," a view so deserving of honor and respect, and an acknowledgment that it is indeed a miracle that we do live on a circular planet, floating in the sky among millions of galaxies.

Feeding our children beautiful images, exquisite music, arts and films, instead of serving media meals of repeated fear and anxiety, would only promote people interacting better with each other, reaching for higher goals, and breaking through the limitations and fears they set on themselves.

From Edward James Olmos to Gary Zukav, Don Miguel Ruiz to Jean Houston, to Marianne Williamson, to Eckhart Tolle to Jim Carrey. From musicians known like Paul Horn and Ben Lee, to talented Jane Carrey and her fellow singer-songwriter, George Krikes of "Vine Divine," to the Funkamentalz, facilitating a joyous engagement of the audience in singing positive "rap" to Eric Lumiere and band, soulful singer songwriter, and Lili Hayden, the most outrageous talented rockin' violinist ever, stealing the entire stage and audience into ecstatic expression through amazing ability. From researchers, Paul Ray Ph.D., Fred Alan Wolf, Ph.D. and Molly Trimble to renowned, filmmaker/photographer Norman Seeff who spoke about "The Power and Passion to Create."

The researchers, told us the numbers... Wake up, America. Wake up, networks. Wake up, film industry. There IS A BIG ENOUGH AUDIENCE to make plenty of money. These cultural creatives are the ones changing the channel, avoiding low quality entertainment while selecting more positive, focused, meaningful entertainment and learning experiences. AND there are many more people leaning towards the cultural creatives, transitioning from the old school to joining with those who demand more from our media than what we are often being fed.

Humor was spread all throughout the night, because what is a great view of life, and what is uplifting entertainment, without the wisdom brought through humor, with Louie Anderson, Kyle Cease, a newer, amazing talent and then, Jim Carrey to top it off. Jim demonstrated Eckhart's "power of being in the now," with a faceplant in a pot of flowers on the stage, still speaking. All of these entertainers were hilarious, moved my laughter to tears, spread pure joy and an atmosphere of coming together throughout a room of many, many different types of people. Wisdom came through Jim as he spoke of his conscious effort to mirror that which is the opposite of the normal, awakening the audience to self-acceptance, who could only laugh at this expression of pure, unadulterated human impropriety.

I am still inspired, still thinking and feeling about this, still reveling in the evening where many people were focused on making this world a better place, not by anger or "againstness," but through intelligence, uplifting, humorous entertainment and awareness. Am I alone, or don't we all have a sense that there is good to be found? Isn't it too often, that we place a fog in front of the ideal nature that drives us and our human counterparts to connect, uplift, to help each other, to be kind, to cooperate, to collaborate and to bring forward the greater vision? When two or more are gathered, what can be manifested is more opportunity, possibility, and expansion.

Just maybe the evening created a big sigh of relief. There is hope! It's not all in the hands of doom and gloom. Maybe it's in the hands of Viktor Frankel. "Challenging the meaning of life is the truest expression of the state of being human." and "When we are no longer able to change a situation - we are challenged to change ourselves." When we do it together, it is greater than the sum of the parts. The evening of GATE 2 from Global Alliance for Transformational Entertainment, was much bigger than the sum of its parts. It's still moving, it's in process, it's alive.

The Global Alliance for Transformational Entertainment is led by John Raatz, the founder, the chairman of the board, as he is the inspiration behind this endeavor, along with Eckhart Tolle and Jim Carrey, honorary founders who are prime movers in this organization and supported by Wendy Newman, Executive Director. Networks, channels, newspapers, magazines, journals, schools, artists, musicians, writers: Why can't we step forward, hold the vision to create and present greater programming, and pay attention to this truly plentiful audience who is ready to experience and communicate the truth, the awe and the inspiration? It's been demonstrated, it's in abundance, there's plenty of it. Show me the way. It's time.

According to John, "Many have thought that religion, big business or government would save us ... but, with most of these institutions in serious disarray today, the one remaining infrastructure through which wisdom and possible solutions can flow is the entertainment industry and all forms of media. Many people within the industry are already transformationally oriented. One of our missions is to bring together these individuals and assist them in creating and disseminating content of a transformational nature for the benefit of all humanity, of the world."

Raatz feels that each person in the entertainment and media industry has a role and a responsibility to facilitate personal, social and global transformation. He explained his observation that "there is a schism between the business and creative sides of the entertainment industry. One that's usually been there. Often, the creative side wants to develop meaningful, more transformationally oriented product, while the business side is focused on commercial value. Once in a while, they coincide.

"This also reflects a general split in our culture -- an imbalance that favors commercial success over deeper, more personal success on a human level. Whatever is happening on a microcosmic level is also happening in the larger reality; it is all mirrored back. And now's the time to try to find a healthier balance, when so much of our world is threatened in so many ways. That's what GATE is seeking to do in the entertainment and media industries."

Raatz continues, "Many Native American tribes would sit in council when they had an important decision to make. If it was determined that the decision would negatively impact any of the next seven generations, they simply would not do it. We need to bring more of that spirit to the decisions we make in all aspects of our lives."

Eckhart Tolle, author and spiritual teacher, GATE honorary founder, notes, "The only actions that don't cause opposing reactions are those aimed at the good of all. Inclusive, not exclusive. They join; they don't separate. They are not for 'my' country, but for all of humanity, not for 'my' religion but for the emergence of consciousness in all human beings." That spirit is also often embodied in transformational entertainment and media, according to Raatz. Tolle will be speaking at GATE 2.

Jim Carrey, actor/activist and GATE honorary founder, has said, "I am so lucky to be a part of this community, and to do something that is of value." Carrey will also be speaking at GATE 2.

John identified the audience for transformational entertainment and media as one that is rarely paid attention to: what he calls the Cultural Creatives. In early 2000, two sociologists were commissioned to record Americans' values and lifestyle preferences. Some of the 19 characteristics these Cultural Creatives relate to are: preservation of nature, a strong awareness of planet-wide issues, spirituality as an important aspect of life, maintaining loving relationships, intense interest in spiritual and psychological development, and wanting to be involved with creating a new and better way of life.

It was determined that 50 million Americans then fell into that category, with an additional 90 million Cultural Creatives in Europe. The numbers are even larger now, as this is the fastest growing segment of the U.S. and world population. The book that resulted from this research was The Cultural Creatives: How 50 Million People are Changing the World, by Paul H. Ray., Ph.D., and Sherry Ruth Anderson, Ph.D.

Raatz notes: "At GATE, we want to be the supporting mechanism that assists those in the entertainment and media businesses who are transformationlly oriented to speak their truth through their work. And guess what! That's monetizeable! The audience is ready!"

Raatz is not new to aligning his spiritual light with his creative expression. He is the founder and principal of the pioneering "transformational" marketing and PR firm, The Visioneering Group, whose mission is "Linking Spirit, Vision & Progressive Values with Compassionate Communication to Promote a Positive and Sustainable Future."

Established in 1988, Visioneering exclusively serves the Cultural Creatives (body/mind/spirit) market, and was the first such firm to do so. He played a large part in putting the game-changing transformational film "What the Bleep Do We Know?" on the map, following with "Peaceful Warrior." He worked with Madonna on her "Ray of Light" album and set up a private screening for her of "What the Bleep." She was so moved by it that she introduced John to her teachers at The Kabbalah Center, which became a Visioneering client. Over the years, the company has worked with a wide array of authors, musicians, filmmakers and influential spiritual teachers, whom he calls the "Leading Lights of Consciousness."

Raatz has been teaching Transcendental Meditation since 1976 and found, 30 years ago, when he started in the film business, that many well-known celebrities, such as Merv Griffin, Mike Love, Clint Eastwood and Ned Beatty, were also practicing TM. At the time, they formed an organization to teach it to people in the entertainment business.

The upcoming GATE events will be held Feb. 4, 2012, at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills, Calif. For more information and discounted tickets, visit http://www.gatecommunity.org. Use Promo Code TRANSFORM for an additional 20 percent discount.

GATE was founded by John Raatz who is also the Chairman and CEO. Author and spiritual leader Eckhart Tolle, and actor and activist Jim Carrey are honorary founders of the organization.

The objectives of GATE are education, connection and collaboration and advocacy. People who are involved with GATE already have some transformation orientation in their lives personally and they share the desire to bring that transformation into business and the media.

GATE is looking to not only inspire their members and attendees of their events that the “audience is ready” and the market is quite sizeable for this meaningful content, but to inform and inspire Hollywood about the staggering size of this market and what a sound and commercial endeavor they will discover while taking part in making the world a better place.

“Cultural Creatives” are people whose values shape in their buying decisions and those who care deeply about love, co-operation, compassion and sustainability. These consumers are said to be the fastest growing market segment in the world. “Cultural Creatives” believe in the good in people, not the bad, and these people put their life’s work toward the greater good. The “Cultural Creatives” are the change makers that the world has been waiting for.

The media, in its many forms, is the most powerful vehicle for bringing forth the ideas of the wisdom culture and these transformational concepts need to be heard, shared and experienced throughout the world. When the “Cultural Creative” community is unified and mobilized a powerful voice will emerge economically, politically and spiritually.

“Tonight is about ‘US’. It is about our collective energy and intention. It is about seeding and imagining a better future for everyone and the planet. It is about the coming together of a group of like-spirited, heartful and committed people who chant the mantra, “transform the world by transforming entertainment and media.” WE believe this is not only possible, but also inevitable. The transformation has already started and the audience is ready!” ---John Raatz

About the events:

The GATE Transformational Story Conference was designed to be a working session focused on transformational storytelling and the transformational arc, for producers, directors, authors, screenwriters, — anyone interested in the transformational genre.

The GATE producers filled every moment of the day and sprinkled in fun and unique entertainment to surround the profound wisdom and information that was being shared. Although we don’t have space to mention everyone, the emcees were standout and must be remembered. Suzanne Whang is a delightful woman who shared her special brand of humor with threads and themes of her Asian culture and even serious

life issues were given metaphysical magic to make it through. Kyle Cease never ceased to amaze me every time he opened his mouth. He was spot on as he made fun of the transformational process. Be sure to remember his name as I know he will become very famous—and soon. Spoken word – of the meaningful nature - and inspiring music from Eric Lumiere were special moments in the daytime program as well.

Featured presenters for the daytime program included:

Peter Canova – Researcher/Author/Educator; Mark Matousek – Author/Teacher/Commentator; Terry Marks-Tarlow, Psychotherapist/Author/ Educator/Artist ; Duane Elgin –Speaker/Author/Visionary; James Bonnet, Screenwriter/Author; Catherine Ann Jones, Screenwriter /Author/ Teacher; Kurt Engfehr, Film Editor; Drew Dellinger – Speaker/Poet/Visionary; Wade Colwell-Sandoval – Creative Catalyst for Learning & Leadership; Baba Oyadare Ranson III, Multimedia and Healing Artist; Jeremy Kagan – Director/Writer/ Producer/Professor; Dara Marks – Script Consultant/Teacher/Author/ Researcher; Paul Horn, flute - Performer/ International Recording Artist/ Humanitarian and the ever-brilliant and always transforming Jean Houston, PhD – Scholar/ Philosopher/ Researcher.

About the very special GATE evening event:

GATE 2 was a gala celebration of transformational entertainment and media, with presenters and performers that entertained, inspired and informed the nearly two thousand attendees. Comedians Louie Anderson hosted the evening event.

Featured entertainers and presenters for the evening program included:

Jahan Raymond – Pianist; Nic Askew – Video Artist; Damien Rose, Tibetan Bowl Player; the astonishing Rafael Bejarano, Sonic Shaman, and Company; Paul Horn, Flute and wife Ann Mortifee, Vocal/guitar; Edward J. Olmos, Actor/Social Activist; Marta M. Mobley, Producer; Louie Schwartzberg – Filmmaker/Artist; Eric Lumiere, Singer/Songwriter, with the breathtaking addition of Lili Haydn, violin; Fred Alan Wolf, PhD – Physicist/Author/aka Dr. Quantum®; Annie Lennox – Greeting (Video); Gary Zukav – Teacher/Author; Drew Dellinger – Speaker/Poet/Visionary; Alan Watts (Video); Frances Fisher, Actress/Activist; Don Miguel Ruiz – Author/Teacher; Dara Marks – Script Consultant/Teacher/ Author; Heyoka Merrifield – Transformational Artist; Kyle Cease, Comedian/Social Commentator; Barbara Marx Hubbard –Visionary/Futurist/Educator; Ash Ruiz, singer/songwriter; Faith Rivera, singer/songwriter– with Ali Handal, guitar/vocal and Gerald White, vocal; Norman Seeff, Filmmaker/Photographer; John Jolliffe – Senior Advisor, Better U Founda- tion; Kenji Williams, composer/violinist – “Bella Gaia;” Duane Elgin, Speaker/Author/Visionary; Paul H. Ray, PhD – Researcher/Author/Artist; Molly Trimble – Publisher, “Retailing Insights” (formerly New Age Retailer); Marianne Williamson – Author/Lecturer; Vine Divine – featuring Jane Carrey, Singer/Songwriter and George Krikes, Singer/Songwriter; the legendary Jean Houston, PhD – Scholar/Philosopher/ Researcher; Eckhart Tolle – Author/ Teacher and Jim Carrey - Actory/Activist.

Each of us is being inspired to find our own way of bringing change to the world. Word about GATE has reached over 70 countries and there is an intention to launch

GATE chapters throughout the United States and in many other countries.

Everyone attending GATE was encouraged to meet one another, to convene, to explore mutual projects and begin creating content reflecting holistic, universal themes.

GATE is a nonprofit 501c(6) membership trade association providing valuable and relevant knowledge, resources and services to a wide range of professionals in the media, entertainment and arts industries, to aid in their personal transformation and to help them create and distribute content that expresses their transformational worldview. GATE embraces the concept that businesses have a role and responsibility to assist in the facilitation of social and global transformation.

“The only actions that do not cause opposing reactions are those aimed at the good of all. Inclusive, not exclusive. They join; they don’t separate. They are not for ‘my’ country but for all of humanity, not for ‘my’ religion but the emergence of consciousness in all human beings, not for ‘my’ species but for all sentient beings and all of nature.” ---Eckhart Tolle

plans; Marleah Leslie, publicist for clients such as Celine Dion and Ricky Martin; and Marc Urman, head of Paladin and guru of independent film distributors.

And in October, Dara Marks taught a course in Screenwriting for a week. Dara is the author of Inside Story and Hollywood’s #1 rated script consultant.

Mr. Raatz, who will continue to be based in Los Angeles and will come to campus approximately once a month, has also represented a number of films, such as: What the Bleep Do We Know, MindWalk, A Brief History of Time, Peaceful Warrior, and The 11th Hour.

He is a pioneer in transformational media, which focuses on raising awareness. He, Mr. Carrey, and Eckhart Tolle are cofounders of the Global Alliance for Transformational Entertainment.

Mr. Raatz, a teacher of the Transcendental Meditation® technique, helped arrange Mr. Carrey’s visit to campus last May.

The Global Alliance for Transformational Entertainment (known as GATE) is shepherding the emerging and rapidly transformational entertainment and media worldwide. GATE 3, scheduled for the evening of Saturday, February 2, 2013 in Los Angeles, is the third, major public event of the Global Alliance for Transformational Entertainment, which is an experience that cultivates, promotes, and advances collaborations between transformational content creators and purveyors, and it is open for all those interested in being part of the expansion of the transformational genre that is currently happening around the world.

John Raatz is GATE's founder and Eckhart Tolle and Jim Carrey are honorary co-founders. The Global Alliance for Transformational Entertainment (GATE). Raatz notes: "At GATE, we want to be the supporting mechanism that assists those in the entertainment and media businesses who are transformationally oriented to speak their truth through their work. And guess what! That's monetizeable! The audience is ready!"

GATE 3: "Celebrating Meaningful Messages For An Awakening Humanity" is on Saturday, February 2, 2013. The Evening Program: 6:30 pm to 11 pm. The Daytime Program is called "Transformational Story Conference 2013."

John Raatz is a pioneer in the growing genre of transformational media and entertainment and the founder of the Global Alliance for Transformational Entertainment. Over the past 15 years, he has been involved with the marketing, public relations, distribution and other business aspects of many groundbreaking films including Mindwalk, Baraka, Hearts of Darkness, What The Bleep Do We Know!?, Peaceful Warrior, America: Freedom to Fascism, Illusion and Darshan: The Embrace. He is the founder and CEO of The Visioneering Group, LLC, a progressive marketing and strategic public relations firm linking spirit, vision and values with communication to promote a positive futureTM.

John will be interviewed on the DARE TO DREAM Radio show, an award-winning, syndicated program that is pragmatic and spiritual, a metaphysical talk show hosted by Debbi Dachinger that teaches how to transform oneself into the full potential of why we were put here, to fulfill our missions and life calling while being of service to the planet and humanity.

A trailblazing visionary, leader, advocate and speaker in the growing transformational entertainment/media genre, John founded, along with author/spiritual leader Eckhart Tolle and actor/activist Jim Carrey, GATE - the Global Alliance for Transformational Entertainment - and is its Board Chairman. GATE is a nonprofit organization (501c6 pending) dedicated to mobilizing and supporting entertainment and media professionals, who want to express their own transformational vision and values though the content they write, produce, perform in, or otherwise contribute to. Since 2004, John has served as a member of a Grammy Awards screening committee and also serves, since 2008, as a judge for The Posi Awards honoring songwriters and musical artists who are spreading an empowering message through music. Since 2005, John and team have been the exclusive speaking agents for Quantum Physicist Dr. Fred Alan Wolf. In 2006, through Visioneering, John partnered with GAIAM, the global lifestyle merchandiser and mail order company, to form Awakened Media.

Through Visioneering, John has represented scores of clients including many of the foremost authors, thought leaders, musical artists, and films in the transformational milieu, such as authors Eckhart Tolle, Fritjof Capra, Peter Russell, Chellis Glendenning, Deepak Chopra; recording artists Dead Can Dance, Lisa Gerrard, Madonna, Donovan, Kitaro, Kenny Loggins, Turtle Island String Quartet, The Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos Chant and such films as Mindwalk, Twenty-One, Toto Le Heros, Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse, Baraka, A Brief History of Time, Raspad, The Real Dirt on Farmer John, Illusion, This Island Earth, What the Bleep Do We Know!?, What The Bleep?-Down The Rabbit Hole, Ripple Effect, Peaceful Warrior, The 11th Hour, Darfur Now!, Youth Without Youth, Darshan: The Embrace, Saint Ralph, Unknown White Male, Two Weeks, Toward The Within, A Human Search: The Life of Father Bede Griffiths, Ecological Design: Inventing The Future, Side Effects, Aaron Russo's America: Freedom to Fascism, and others. Currently John and team represent writer/director Lexi Alexander's film, Lifted, GhettoPhysics: Will The Real Pimps and Ho's Please Stand Up! - the follow-on film to What The Bleep.., and writer / director Tom Shadyac's new film, I AM.

GATE 3 is celebrating meaningful messages for an awakening humanity. A Celebration of Transformational Entertainment, Media and Arts to be held at The Saban Theater, 8440 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211. Ticket information: http://gatecommunity.org/ticketinfo/

To learn more, listen to Debbi Dachinger as she interviews John Raatz on Dare to Dream radio, listen via podcast at: http://www.deborahdachinger.com/interview-archives. Debbi's Dare to Dream radio show is a syndicated, multi-award winning program, featured in news sources around the world. Dachinger is a bestselling author, keynote speaker and media personality. Dare to Dream radio airs live on the following stations: Indie 100 (out of Burbank, CA), the Morning Inspiration show: Wed-Fri 9-11 AM PT, and SAT & SUN 11 AM - 1 PM PT, and syndicates on WROM Radio (Detroit), WHTB (Massachusetts) and Butterfly Radio (Florida).

"Peaceful Warrior," a moving tale about the power of human spirit, centers on Millman (Scott Mechlowicz), a gifted young athlete bound for Olympic gold. But his world is turned upside down when he meets "Socrates" (Nick Nolte), a mysterious stranger in a gas station who holds the power to tap into new worlds of strength and understanding. The young man discovers that he has much to learn ... and even more to leave behind.

"We're thrilled to be opening this year's event with the first public performance of 'Peaceful Warrior,'" said John Raatz, principal of Awakened Media, co- presenter of the festival. "Millions of readers around the world had their lives changed by Dan Millman's book, and we're honored to be presenting this beautiful and powerful film for the first time. More and more, people are craving films that inspire, uplift our spirit, and point to the highest possibilities for our lives. We're committed to presenting the best talent, vision and filmmakers in the country who are filling this yearning with their work."

Critical buzz is already building around several other films slated for this year's line up:

"Into Great Silence," directed by Philip Gröening, is the first film about life inside the Grande Chartreuse - the mother house of the legendary Carthusian Order located in the French Alps. Marked by repetition, silence and contemplation, this austere film is a next to silent meditation of one year inside the walls of this epic monastery. Into Great Silence world premiered in Venice and has picked up multiple awards most notably at Sundance 2006 and the Bavarian Film Critics Association.

"O!side," directed by Buket Alakus, brings us the triumphant story of twenty- year-old Hayat (Karoline Herfurth) in her challenge to keep her passions alive while fighting breast cancer. Soccer is Hayat's greatest love and she is one of the best pro-players on her team. Her professional career comes to an end after she loses a breast to cancer and is forced to stop playing. She tries to pick up where she left o! by joining a new team and even finding love, all the while learning to accept her new "o!side" position. The IFF screening marks the West Coast debut of the film.

Cash prizes will be awarded to the best feature film, documentary and short films, with winners receiving $15,000, $5,000 and $5,000, respectively. Winners will also receive the GAIA award, a statuette designed and produced specifically for the festival. Last year's winners included the highly successful documentary "The Real Dirt on Farmer John," which won the Gaia Documentary Award and "Illusion," which won the Gaia Feature Film Award. Both of these films were picked up for national distribution and will be in theaters in spring 2006.

The presenting sponsor of this year's festival will once again be Gaiam, the lifestyle media company that caters to people who value personal development, natural health and inspirational entertainment. The event will run in conjunction with the LOHAS 10 (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability) Forum. LOHAS 10 is a three-day business conference bringing together businesses concerned with promoting environmentally sound, healthy business practices and consumer purchasing choices.

About The Inspiration Film Festival:

Now in its second year, the Inspiration Film Festival is presented by Conscious Media and Awakened Media, and takes place in Santa Monica, California April 28-30, 2006. An Inspiration Film is a movie that inspires us to expand our awareness and pursue positive change in our lives. An Inspiration Film makes us feel more hopeful, more thankful, more connected, more passionate, and better about life in general. We identify with an Inspiration Film's characters on a deep, emotional level, and are motivated by their stories to pursue positive change in our own lives. An Inspiration film honors the belief that simple choices can change the world and inspire us to make a di!erence.

I am inspired on a daily basis by the people who are changing the world in whatever way they feel called to do. The tide is with us; we are the change-makers because we believe that the world is ready. I am ready. Please join me, along with John Raatz, David Langer, and all of the founding members of GATE at their second annual conference in Los Angeles, February 2-4. Stories matter.

Vision Magazine: What does alchemy mean to you?

John Raatz: Alchemy, to me, is very close to transformation. Itʼs transmutation of sorts. I would say that a transformational self is alchemical in its effect. Let me broaden that. I would say that transformational content is alchemical in its effects. I think of it in terms of media diet. I think of everything we consume in terms of entertainment, news, etc., that we metabolize that. You can eat a healthy food diet or a not-so-healthy food diet, and it will have its effects. I think the same thing is true in terms of mind and heart and consciousness, that if we metabolize transformational entertainment, it really does have a healing effect, it really does have the effect of inspiring and uplifting and expanding. So therefore, thatʼs alchemical in my mind.

VM: If there is one way for each person to make a change in their life to transform the world, what do you think that would be?

JR: I tend to shy away from personal prescriptions these days. Iʼve been teaching meditation since 1976, and when I first started teaching meditation, there was a little bit of that—maybe actually more than a little bit—gung- ho spirit, like, this is the way and everybody should do this. But that was then and this is now. And now I no longer hold that belief that thereʼs only one way. I think there are many ways. And I think that every single day, everyone, maybe not everyone, but I think most people, do things that actually help improve the quality of life on the planet Earth. Yes, there are people who are doing the opposite, too, but I know in the circle that I run, it seems like itʼs a constant theme running through peopleʼs mindʼs every day: what more can I do? And they look at sometimes the most simple actions like dividing up their waste paper into recycling and non-recycling. Itʼs something that weʼve heard about for years and years and years, but itʼs definitely having an impact now. I probably canʼt speak more eloquently about it because, again, I believe itʼs up to each person to find their own unique way of contributing in the world.

VM: Could you have imagined 10 years ago, the flood of transformational media thatʼs available today?

JR: Yes. I think 10 years ago, absolutely I did. Again, I first started noticing sort of an up-leveling of content in this genre starting in about 1989/1990. And so, I have not been surprised. In recent years, [the film] “What the Bleep” was a turning point for many people, not only in its effects on people, but really, in terms of the business of creating transformational content. I think “What the Bleep” was the film that actually showed people what could be done with film, beyond anything they had seen before in this category. So starting in about 2004/2005, the whole space of transformational entertainment and media lit up like a Christmas tree, and ever since then, itʼs been growing, and growing worldwide. And again, people from around the world— more than 70 countries—have contacted us. Without knowing one another, they pretty much all share the same ideas and express the same ideas. So this shows us that there is some sort of thought form—almost like a universal thought form—that people are tapping into, and that universal thought form is prompting people to want to begin expressing themselves through transformational entertainment and media.

VM: Do you think that this transformational media will become, or is becoming, more mainstream?

JR: It has to. It has to because, again—and this might sound harsh, possibly even critical—if we donʼt move beyond the talking heads (what some people call “talkumentaries”), sharing philosophical thoughts kind of production, this genre will probably come to a screeching halt because thatʼs not what people are looking for. People want to be entertained; they must be entertained. People want to engage, they want to hear stories. Everything is a story. We tell stories to each other every single day. Thatʼs how we communicate, mainly, is by a story, and weʼre constantly framing and re-framing our stories.

In the context of the world and where we are right now in our world culture, we need new stories that supplant the old stories that no longer speak to who weʼve become—and who we want to become, more importantly. So, if the content creators whoʼve perhaps been studying the wisdom cultures of the world, and the ideas of the wisdom cultures of the world, for decades, and theyʼve now become, letʼs say, filmmakers, and authors, and musicians—if they, if we, canʼt learn to share that information, that wisdom with people, whether itʼs art forms, and do it in ways that speak to the whole... You see, part of the challenge here is moving beyond separation. Much of what is offered in the form of entertainment and media creates separation; it comes from separation, it expresses separation, and it returns to separation. And I believe one of the lasting goals of transformational entertainment and media is its ability to potentially create unity.

And hereʼs the other thing. In my own life, professionally and personally, Iʼm trying to stay away from “us” and “them” kinds of expressions. Thereʼs only one, thereʼs only the totality, thereʼs only wholeness. Itʼs wholeness interacting with itself. Even though we use terms like “body mind spirit” community, or “Cultural Creatives” community, and the “mainstream” community, we use these handy little [terms]—itʼs almost like shorthand—so that we can talk to each other easily. But in reality, itʼs divisive. We have to really think in terms of wholeness now. And that means we need to talk to ourselves in a way that we can all understand it, that we donʼt create division through our language and through our content.

VM: Can you tell us about the upcoming conference in early February of 2012?

JR: Yes. On February 4, 2012, at the Wadsworth Theatre in Los Angeles [note: new location is at Saban Theatre], during the day, of course, we will have the GATE Transformational Story Conference. That will be in the morning and afternoon. And then in the evenings, we will do GATE 2. The inauguration of GATE on June 4, 2009, we consider to be GATE 1. So now we will do GATE 2. And we plan on doing both of those events annually. GATE 2 is primarily, I guess you could call it, a celebration of transformational entertainment and media. And we have just an amazing lineup of presenters and performers, all who are experts in their own fields of consideration, who will be talking about those fields in the context of transformational entertainment and media. So we do have entertainment professionals, we have media professionals, and all will be addressing the remarks to the genre of transformational entertainment and media.

VM: When you think about 2012, what do you see for our world, the state of California, our community?

JR: Not only 2012, but every year, I always think in terms of evolution. I always feel that next year will be more evolved than the present year, and so on and so forth. I really donʼt expect 2012 to be more than that because, again, I try not to remain in the realm of expectation too much anymore. So Iʼm frankly not one of those people who believe that there will be an ascension or something miraculous will happen. I think itʼs already happening. I think you and I having this conversation is miraculous, that we can speak about something called transformational entertainment and media.

And if we broaden that and apply that to every area of human concern and consideration, it is miraculous. So I think itʼs going to be a wonderful year. Iʼm actually looking forward to [2012] because I know a lot of people have a lot of investment in terms of belief and what they think next year will be, and I hope whatever they feel, I hope it comes true for them personally. But Iʼm not so sure. I think it could also be another Y2K.

The GATE 2 and Transformational Story Conference events, to be held on February 4, 2012, will take place at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills. The address is: 8840 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211.

JOHN RAATZ is the Founder and Principal of the pioneering “transformational” marketing & PR firm, The Visioneering Group, whose mission is Linking Spirit, Vision & Progressive Values with Compassionate Communication to Promote a Positive and Sustainable FutureTM. Established in 1988, Visioneering exclusively serves the Cultural Creatives (body/mind/spirit) market and was the first such firm to do so.

Through Visioneering, John has represented scores of clients including many of the foremost authors, thought leaders, musical artists, and films in the transformational milieu, such as authors Eckhart Tolle, Fritjof Capra, Peter Russell, Chellis Glendenning, Deepak Chopra; recording artists Dead Can Dance, Lisa Gerrard, Madonna, Donovan, Kitaro, Kenny Loggins, Turtle Island String Quartet, The Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos Chant and such films as Mindwalk, Twenty-One, Toto Le Heros, Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse, Baraka, A Brief History of Time, Raspad, The Real Dirt on Farmer John, Illusion, This Island Earth, What the Bleep Do We Know!?, What The Bleep?-Down The Rabbit Hole, Ripple Effect, Peaceful Warrior, The 11th Hour, Darfur Now!, Youth Without Youth, Darshan: The Embrace, Saint Ralph, Unknown White Male, Two Weeks, Toward The Within, A Human Search: The Life of Father Bede Griffiths, Ecological Design: Inventing The Future, Side Effects, Aaron Russo’s America: Freedom to Fascism, and others. Currently John and team represent writer/director Lexi Alexander’s film, Lifted, GhettoPhysics: Will The Real Pimps and Ho’s Please Stand Up! – the follow-on film to What The Bleep.., and writer / director Tom Shadyac’s new film, I AM.

In the 90s’, John produced the 15th Year Anniversary celebration of Yoga Journal magazine with Chynna Phillips, Baron Baptiste and the legendary “First Lady of Yoga” Indra Devi and was a PR guide for other prominent yoga teachers such as Larry Payne and Kali Ray.

In 1991, John was the creator and co-founder of New Mind Presents, the first speakers bureau advocating “ideas that make a world of difference” and solely representing influential, leading-edge “new paradigm” scientists, psychologists, economists, ecologists, philosophers, futurists and business specialists for meetings and programs in the business and educational sectors. Clients included: David Brower, Ram Dass, Eric Drexler, Matthew Fox, Willis Harman, Paul Hawken, Dan Millman, Joseph Chilton Pearce, John Robbins, Leonard Shlain, Brian Swimme, Gary Zukav and many others. Since 2005, John and team have been the exclusive speaking agents for Quantum Physicist Dr. Fred Alan Wolf.

In 2006, through Visioneering, John partnered with Gaiam, the global lifestyle merchandiser and mail order company, to form Awakened Media. Under that banner, he designed and implemented the distribution and marketing infrastructure that brought the multi-award- winning documentary The Real Dirt on Farmer John and the Kirk Douglas feature Illusion to the marketplace. While working with Gaiam, John was co-producer of the 2006 Inspiration Film Festival, which highlighted the best in inspirational narrative features, full-length documentaries, narrative shorts and animated works chosen from over 1,500 submissions.

Since 2004, John has served as a member of a Grammy Awards screening committee and also serves, since 2008, as a judge for The Posi Awards honoring songwriters and musical artists who are spreading an empowering message through music. John was also a judge on the Blue Ribbon panel of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) 2005 Gold Quill awards, and was an industry judge at the 2005 Inspiration Film Festival in Los Angeles. He also marketed the 1991 Aveda US Environmental Film Festival hosted by Chevy Chase and Olivia Newton-John.

A trailblazing visionary, leader, advocate and speaker in the growing transformational entertainment/media genre, John founded, along with author/spiritual leader Eckhart Tolle and actor/activist Jim Carrey, GATE – the Global Alliance for Transformational Entertainment – and is its Board Chairman. GATE is a nonprofit organization (501c6 pending) dedicated to mobilizing and supporting entertainment and media professionals, who want to express their own transformational vision and values though the content they write, produce, perform in, or otherwise contribute to.

Recently, John founded Transformational Entertainment Networks (TEN) as an alternative distribution company connecting grassroots venues with films, speakers and special programs/events. Lexi Alexander’s Lifted is their first distribution acquisition. In partnership with TEN, plans are underway for the creation of Wisdom Culture Entertainment, a production company to acquire, develop and produce / co-produce transformational content and Wisdom Culture Media Fund, a financial vehicle to fund a market basket of small budget media projects to be produced by Wisdom Culture Entertainment and distributed by TEN and other distributors.

John has been a personal manager in the entertainment industry, beginning his professional career in 1979 with magician Doug Henning and actor Ned Beatty and learning the managment ropes from industry veteran Dolores Robinson, with whom he managed Martin Sheen, Emilio Estevez and LeVar Burton. Under his own banner, he represented high-profile celebrity musicians including Billy Preston (“The Fifth Beatle”), Al Stewart, and several R & B acts including A Taste of Honey, Hazel Payne (of A Taste of Honey), L. J. Reynolds, Beau Williams, Sheree Brown and many others.

In 1984-85 John was the Executive Administrator of one of Southern California’s most forward-looking holistic health clinics specializing in Ayurvedic medicine. He was a successful stockbroker (during the Oct. 87 crash!), an Executive Vice President at IMN in 1988 (a public relations agency representing Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and Michael Jackson), and an editor at “New Paradign Digest,” a newsletter of leading-edge ideas and positive news published in the early 90s’, also a Visioneering client. John is a private pilot and wants to earn his instrument rating.

John has had a lifelong love of music, kicking off a professional career as a blues/rock guitarist at age 12! As a lead guitarist with various bands, from age 12 to 17, he opened for several legendary acts including The MC5, Iggy Pop and the Stooges, Bob Seger, Ted Nugent, Alice Cooper, Humble Pie, Edgar Winter and others.

Embodying an exceptionally eclectic spiritual path since 1967, John is a teacher of Transcendental Meditation and, since 1976, has instructed thousands in the practice. He led one of the most successful TM centers (Flint, MI) in the country from 1975 through 1979 during the “Merv Wave” when millions of people began practicing TM because of Merv Griffin and Clint Eastwood’s recommendations.

“I am deeply grateful to Maharishi for his personal guidance and inspiration and to The Beatles for making meditation cool!” JR

“Since reading an advance copy of The Power of Now in 1997 or 98, Eckhart Tolle and his teachings have been a constant inner companion, unwavering and crystal clear, resonant and stimulating, giving rise to a vibrant silent Presence emerging more and more fully as the seeking impulse falls away. And only That remains. Thank you Eckhart.” JR

“John Raatz and the Visioneering Group have been a tremendous support to Eckhart Teachings (the office of Eckhart Tolle.) Their sincere enthusiasm in assisting us in negotiations, communications, and marketing strategies has been invaluable. I am extremely grateful to have John’s expertise available and am thoroughly impressed by his communication skills. I wouldn’t hesitate for a second in recommending John Raatz and The Visioneering Group. They’ve been a pleasure to work with.”

The threefold mission of GATE seeks to empower entertainment and media professionals and companies to produce and distribute content that inspires new awareness-based worldviews for global audiences by providing Education, Collaboration, Advocacy.

While this talk is private, I did want to take the opportunity to introduce you all to John’s work with both his organizations. He’s doing truly pioneering work, and he is one of the sweetest guys around.