we are wizards ::: documentary

I've got a few projects I'm working on right now. They require me to do quite a bit of reflecting and pondering. Each one addresses elements of our lives, and the interconnectedness of it all. I have no idea what the finished products will be -- which, really, is a big part of what attracts me to these things. Of course, when they are done, or when the time is appropriate, I'll certainly update everything here and let you all know what exactly is going on. Let's just say I'm very excited, but I don't want to jinx anything -- so that's all I'll say about that.

Anyway, part of my process when working on any project is taking time to write, to think, to change a few small parts of my daily routine so that I am forced to see the world just a bit differently. And I really, really enjoy exploring the work of any and all artists I can find. You just never know when something may trigger the perfect thought needed to take an important step.

With this in mind, I spent much of my down time last weekend writing and searching one of my favorite websites -- snagfilms.com. It's a website devoted to sharing and promoting documentary films. I've written about this site perviously on my blog.

With a mindset of trying to find a film that could trigger some thoughts -- and this is going to be fairly melodramatic, so fair warning -- of what it means to live in this big ole' world of ours, I stumbled upon an Harry Potter documentary.


"Ok," I thought to myself. "We'll get back to the deep thinking later. Right now I'll check out this Harry Potter brain candy and just not think for a while."

And I found myself initially chuckling at the "characters" in this documentary. But about a half hour in, I realized I was watching a very poignant example of a need we all have -- the need to be a part of something bigger than ourselves, and the need to fit in.

I have never read a Harry Potter book, though I have seen all of the films (except the most recent -- maybe soon). And I admit to chuckling at the rampant fanaticism some people have towards this franchise. That's actually what drew me to watch this film in the first place -- a chance to have a little entertainment at the expense of some folks that just seem to be a bit too into this stuff. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to mock them, just stare in wonder at the devotion they have to this young wizard.

But this film is incredibly well directed. Once I got over myself a bit, and stopped judging and gawking, I began to see this film as a beautiful display about a group of people who want to lead extraordinary lives. Isn't that what we all want to do?

Wether you find the people in this film odd or not, I do thing there is one thing that should be admired -- their willingness to push their lives in a direction that is their own. They refuse to live they way "society" says the 'should", and instead have found a community of comfort -- all because of this Harry Potter character. And, of course, they do it whether or not the rest of us think it's a cool think to do.

And in the end, it's is just that kind of living that -- I think anyway -- IS pretty darn cool.

So give this film a watch. Keep your mind open. Then come back and tell me your thoughts.

~wj