Projects - Himalayan Stories

I've been working with a wonderful group of nuns at Tsoknyi Rinpoche's nunnery, Tsoknyi Gechak Ling, in the outskirts of Kathmandu. They are eager to learn documentary video production to share their stories, reflections, and experiences of living a monastic lifestyle in Nepal.

About 16 years ago I developed a workshop that focused on the process of storytelling, interviewing, ethnographic oral histories, and visual expression rather than technology which seems to absorb so many people. I taught it many times in the US to students and teachers and it seemed to open people’s eyes to the possibilities of exploring the world with a camera. We’re just getting started but this is turning out to be very exciting and rewarding for me and all involved, cultural nuances and faux pas notwithstanding. Much more to come soon.

Download the Handbook

Learning the art of making meaningful videos
by Paul MacGowan

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I've created a Handbook to facilitate my work with the nuns at Tsoknyi Gechak Ling and for other to use who want to learn about making meaningful videos. It delves deeply into storytelling, interviewing, and the questions you need to ask yourself to get started among many other topics.

The tools of storytelling

So often people get caught up in the bells and whistles of technology and miss the message in what they want to say. Spectacle is not enough, you have to tell a compelling story. Special effects can be part of that story when used correctly.

Overview of basic concepts to get us all on the
same page. The principal and teachers joined us.

This special group of nuns were the most attentive and engaged group I ever presented to. Sometimes I wasn’t sure if there were understanding what I was trying to get across but when I saw how quickly their camerawork was improving, and how their ideas were taking shape, I knew they were getting it!

What we're working on

We currently have four short videos in the works:
-An overview of Tsoknyi Gechak Ling nunnery
-A video on why the nuns want to tell these stories
-A day in the life of a nun in the school
-A day in the life of a nun in the Shedra (Buddhist University)

Interviewing skills

Interviewing can be such a potent experience. When you're truly engaged with someone in conversation, with Awareness, Compassion, Wisdom and Joy, really interesting, unpredictable, things happen.

Hands-on practice

Lots of hands-on practice was used to get everyone familiar with

interviewing which at first feels very awkward until you realize it's just

a conversation albeit a special one.

Developing trusting relationships

It took some time for this special group of nuns to get used to

this lanky westerner who laughs at all his own jokes. They are

culturally very deferential to the "teacher". I was trying to break down those barriers as this is a creative endeavor in which there are many possibilities and no one way is "right".

Please email us if you would like to know more or contribute in some way. Namaste'

paul@ajoyfulmind.com