A young man goes to Nepal to study yoga in the midst of the 2016 United States Presidential election.
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A young man goes to Nepal to study yoga in the midst of the 2016 United States Presidential election.
About this project
This Story...
This story begins with one sentence.
A young man goes to Nepal, one year after the Kathmandu earthquake, amidst the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election to study yoga.
- April 25, 2015 a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal, killing over 8,000 and injuring more than 21,000. What personal stories can be told from this tragedy? What can the world learn from hearing about the devastation? What can we see? Where is Nepal 1 year after its worst natural disaster since 1934? What would someone who is dedicating his life to yoga do in this place? Would he stand by like an idle character or plunge forth into this world?
- The 2016 United States Presidential Election has been filled with historic campaigns. Undoubtedly, it will be a major section in U.S. History books in the future. November 8, 2016 will be when United States citizens go to the polls, but we will already be in Nepal. Our flight to Nepal is on November 6th. What will the world look like on November 9th? Will we even be able to see the United States from the Himalayas? This documentary is not a political commentary, but it would be dishonest to not include the Presidential election.
- When you go to the Grand Canyon you are immediately struck by its grandeur. After the awe saturates your senses you venture out onto its precipices and are standing on the edge of your life and death. I believe that same thrilling sensation is in this potential documentary. A third world country like Nepal is a place where one could quite literally go off the grid. This documentary is presenting the idea of letting go of the lives we have here in the United States and completely restarting.
The main character...
The main character is my older brother, Ben Bultemeier.
Three years ago, Ben was unhappy with who he was. He was struggling both mentally and physically; so, he changed his situation. He lived in Nepal for 2 months teaching English. This was volunteer work. When he returned to the United States he had lost nearly 25 pounds and had a sense of purpose. That purpose is helping people.
Ben is putting his all into his yoga training. He has been a part-time yoga instructor for over a year, and he is fully committing to this life-style. Our head wrestling coach in high school would always bark, "Don't be satisfied!" We both still hear those words today. I'm hearing it now as I write this.
By the way, Ben is not just a gentle yogi. In high school wrestling, Ben was a state placer. Now, he frequently practices jiu jitsu and competes in some tournaments. He also a 1-0 record in MMA.
Yoga is...
Yoga is a tool with a vast realm of usages. Some use it for relaxation. Others use it to remedy their physical pains. There is one description of yoga that I particularly enjoy though.
Yoga is, "the yoking of all the powers of the body, mind and soul to God; it means the disciplining of the intellect, the mind, the emotions, the will, which that Yoga presupposes; it means a poise of the soul which enables one to look at life in all its aspects evenly." -Mahadev Desai
Max Ehrmann also touched on the principles of yoga in his poem, Desiderata.
"...You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy."
The Filmmaker...
The filmmaker is me, Andrew A. Bultemeier. I am 25 years old and currently work behind the cameras at WISH TV8 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
I graduated from Ball State University with a Major in Telecommunications with a Focus in Video Production and Minors in Japanese and Psychology.
Ten days after graduating I was on a plane to Tokyo to begin a job as an English instructor. Going to Japan was a lifelong goal of mine, and I achieved it. It was the most difficult and rewarding experience of my life. My time in Japan prepared me for many things. Including making a documentary in a country where there is a language barrier. I am a strong communicator. I taught English to 2 year olds, and made friends with grown men who didn't know a word of English.
Here is a link to my website;
http://www.andrewbult.com/demo-reels/
Also, here's another link to my website;
http://www.andrewbult.com/documentaries/
Oh, and here's one more link to my website;
http://www.andrewbult.com/japan-1/
I believe I have the credentials to bring this documentary to life. If you have any questions or concerns I strongly encourage me to contact me at-
bult61andrew@gmail.com
The Costs...
The costs for this documentary are as follows:
- Flight, Travel Insurance and Baggage: $2,000
- Accommodations: $800
- Zoom H4N Pro: $215
- Zoom Windscreen: $40
- Rode VideoMic Pro: $275
- MXL FR-355K Lav Kit: $100
- Shure SM11-CN Lav: $115
- Zylight Hotshoe Ball Mount: $50
- Spare Windscreen and Mic Clips for Lavs: $15
- Two 20' XLR Cables: $60
- Two 32GB SD Cards: $50
- 64 GB SD Card: $40
- Two Nikon Batteries: $100
- Compensation for Kickstarter and Emergency Funds: $1,140
Risks and challenges
Nepal is a 3rd World country. If a piece of equipment breaks while filming this documentary there will not be a place to just go and buy a new one. Electricity is not a constant. There are scheduled blackouts. Tigers are a legitimate threat.
Besides the real-world dangers that can happen, there are no other distractions for this documentary. If this project is successful I will be quitting my job in Indianapolis to bring it to life. It will be my only endeavor.
This documentary may be admitted into film festivals. It might not. Film festivals are where many projects generate buzz; which in turn, gets the attention of VOD websites such as Netflix or Hulu. I can not guarantee this will make it into film festivals. I can not guarantee this will make it onto a VOD website. I can guarantee this story will be told with your help though. If all else fails it will be on YouTube or Vimeo. It will be open to the world.
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