Sean Pamphilon Run Ricky Run
27/04/10 17:17
My friend Sean Pamphilon has a new documentary film out about Ricky Williams called Run Ricky Run which is a part of ESPN’s 30 for 30 Series. Having been friends with Sean for some time, I wanted to wish him congratulations and to re-post his previous testimonial about me here.
You can find it here:
http://30for30.espn.com/film/run-ricky-run.html
Some other articles on his new film are here:
http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/124650-30-for-30-run-ricky-run
http://coolercinema.blogspot.com/2010/04/lessons-in-introspection-run-ricky-run.html
http://theava.com/04/0804-rickywilliams.html
http://www.thedailynewsonline.com/articles/2010/04/27/entertainment/6699182.txt
My Friend Sean
I met Sean during his time at the Sivananda Yoga farm in California while he was working on this Ricky’s all-access documentary project and dealing with the difficulties every documentary filmmaker encounters, and then some: Ricky William’s push-me pull-you attitude toward the project, Swami Sita’s controlling every aspect of the project she could get her hands on, and the fact that the project seemed to take forever causing fiscal and confidence difficulties for Sean.
This created a great deal of anger and confusion for Sean and he didn’t seem to grasp the motivations of Ricky or Swami Sita. His confidence seemed shaken and he needed someone to explain the context of what was happening as he tried to film and document Ricky’s life in the ashram. He did, however, always trust his artistic vision about the project. I could see that he needed someone to speak to him plainly about Ricky, about Swami Sita and about himself regarding the situation he was in. I did so, and this seemed to really help him, and a friendship grew from that.
This led to a discussion of what ashram life was about, and eventually to what life was about. I could see both sides of his issue, being “an insider”, and frankly I was assigned to be Swami Sita’s “spy” charged with keeping tabs on him during his stay;, telling on what he said and did- I never did that, as I knew Sean needed to trust someone and that Swami Sita was just being controlling, which was her typical behavior.
As may be evident, I was going through my own then-unvoiced difficulties with Swami Sita at the time also, which eventually led me to leave that ashram. Sean and I became fast friends throughout this difficult time, and have since shared a lot and supported each other through the years. Sean is himself the best interviewer I’ve ever met, and a truly brilliant and fearless artist. Beyond that, Sean is a truly good friend, an excellent listener, and as brave an individual as I have ever met. I am proud to call him my friend.
Sean’s Testimonial:
I am writing to extol the virtues of Regis Chapman, who I have known for the better part of two years.
I first met Mr. Chapman while working on a documentary film, at the Sivananda Yoga Farm, in Grass Valley, California. To shoot my project I was expected to live at the ashram (3 months total) and immerse myself in the culture and lifestyle, which included a vegan diet, regular asanas (yoga exercises), meetings and lectures, required of the spiritual aspirants.
Regis (aka "Durgadas") was one of the main instructors at Sivananda Yoga Farm and was assigned to be my "teacher," which wasn't going to be easy, considering I had been a long-time cynic, ate fast food regularly and the most exercise I was accustomed to, was walking to the refrigerator from the living room.
I can't say that my habits and lifestyle have changed completely, but I've made steady progress in every facet of my life and owe a great deal of gratitude toward Regis Chapman. Over the past few years, Regis has not only become my valued friend, but de facto life coach, as well. Combining a obvious intelligence with what can best be described as a "compassionate bluntness," Regis has helped me get connected to many of the things that have held me back personally and hindered me, professionally.
He has displayed the ability to listen at length and have specific recall of what I've confided, but it is his uncanny knack of putting what he's been told into proper context and offering a healthier approach, which has been incredibly beneficial to my spiritual path and personal development. He invariably can recommend a healthier approach to living, whether it be from offering insights from personal reflection, or by recommending just the right book or source material, to aid in the solution.
What I appreciate most is that he hasn't tried to offer these "fixes" based on agenda or his personal opinions. Rather, he mainly listened, discussed and helped guide me toward the revelations I had inside me all along. This lack of ego has allowed me to be receptive to his insights and helped me make important changes in my way of thinking, while at the same time empowering me, for I've had to be actively engaged in the process.
His background in athletics and understanding of the way the body functions, in addition to being a voracious reader and keen intellect, make Regis Chapman a very well rounded individual who has made a significant contribution to my path toward health. I would highly recommend him to anyone whose goal is physical, personal and spiritual development.
Sincerely,
Sean Pamphilon
Emmy Award-winnng producer/writer/filmmaker
You can find it here:
http://30for30.espn.com/film/run-ricky-run.html
Some other articles on his new film are here:
http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/124650-30-for-30-run-ricky-run
http://coolercinema.blogspot.com/2010/04/lessons-in-introspection-run-ricky-run.html
http://theava.com/04/0804-rickywilliams.html
http://www.thedailynewsonline.com/articles/2010/04/27/entertainment/6699182.txt
My Friend Sean
I met Sean during his time at the Sivananda Yoga farm in California while he was working on this Ricky’s all-access documentary project and dealing with the difficulties every documentary filmmaker encounters, and then some: Ricky William’s push-me pull-you attitude toward the project, Swami Sita’s controlling every aspect of the project she could get her hands on, and the fact that the project seemed to take forever causing fiscal and confidence difficulties for Sean.
This created a great deal of anger and confusion for Sean and he didn’t seem to grasp the motivations of Ricky or Swami Sita. His confidence seemed shaken and he needed someone to explain the context of what was happening as he tried to film and document Ricky’s life in the ashram. He did, however, always trust his artistic vision about the project. I could see that he needed someone to speak to him plainly about Ricky, about Swami Sita and about himself regarding the situation he was in. I did so, and this seemed to really help him, and a friendship grew from that.
This led to a discussion of what ashram life was about, and eventually to what life was about. I could see both sides of his issue, being “an insider”, and frankly I was assigned to be Swami Sita’s “spy” charged with keeping tabs on him during his stay;, telling on what he said and did- I never did that, as I knew Sean needed to trust someone and that Swami Sita was just being controlling, which was her typical behavior.
As may be evident, I was going through my own then-unvoiced difficulties with Swami Sita at the time also, which eventually led me to leave that ashram. Sean and I became fast friends throughout this difficult time, and have since shared a lot and supported each other through the years. Sean is himself the best interviewer I’ve ever met, and a truly brilliant and fearless artist. Beyond that, Sean is a truly good friend, an excellent listener, and as brave an individual as I have ever met. I am proud to call him my friend.
Sean’s Testimonial:
I am writing to extol the virtues of Regis Chapman, who I have known for the better part of two years.
I first met Mr. Chapman while working on a documentary film, at the Sivananda Yoga Farm, in Grass Valley, California. To shoot my project I was expected to live at the ashram (3 months total) and immerse myself in the culture and lifestyle, which included a vegan diet, regular asanas (yoga exercises), meetings and lectures, required of the spiritual aspirants.
Regis (aka "Durgadas") was one of the main instructors at Sivananda Yoga Farm and was assigned to be my "teacher," which wasn't going to be easy, considering I had been a long-time cynic, ate fast food regularly and the most exercise I was accustomed to, was walking to the refrigerator from the living room.
I can't say that my habits and lifestyle have changed completely, but I've made steady progress in every facet of my life and owe a great deal of gratitude toward Regis Chapman. Over the past few years, Regis has not only become my valued friend, but de facto life coach, as well. Combining a obvious intelligence with what can best be described as a "compassionate bluntness," Regis has helped me get connected to many of the things that have held me back personally and hindered me, professionally.
He has displayed the ability to listen at length and have specific recall of what I've confided, but it is his uncanny knack of putting what he's been told into proper context and offering a healthier approach, which has been incredibly beneficial to my spiritual path and personal development. He invariably can recommend a healthier approach to living, whether it be from offering insights from personal reflection, or by recommending just the right book or source material, to aid in the solution.
What I appreciate most is that he hasn't tried to offer these "fixes" based on agenda or his personal opinions. Rather, he mainly listened, discussed and helped guide me toward the revelations I had inside me all along. This lack of ego has allowed me to be receptive to his insights and helped me make important changes in my way of thinking, while at the same time empowering me, for I've had to be actively engaged in the process.
His background in athletics and understanding of the way the body functions, in addition to being a voracious reader and keen intellect, make Regis Chapman a very well rounded individual who has made a significant contribution to my path toward health. I would highly recommend him to anyone whose goal is physical, personal and spiritual development.
Sincerely,
Sean Pamphilon
Emmy Award-winnng producer/writer/filmmaker
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