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The Philosopher Kings
Transcendental Media
Nov/Dec 2009 Newsletter
Table of Contents


TM in the News:
"terrific documentary about janitors - yes, janitors." - SF Chronicle

"great object lesson for students about walking a mile in someone else's shoes."
- The Orlando Sentinel

"A theme becomes apparent in 'The Philosopher Kings': The custodians' work is more to them than just pushing a mop."
- In These Times

"those unsung heroes who, clad in bright red polo shirts, keep campus classrooms, libraries, and labs tidy day after day."
- Cornell Alumni Magazine

"Patrick Shen On The Power Of Death Anxiety" - BraveNewTraveler.com

"a powerful and poignant stew of the rich lives of our ordinary fellow, but often forgotten, humans."
- East Bay Express



HOLIDAY SHOPPING WITH A PURPOSE



A portion of proceeds from every DVD purchased will go to provide fresh water to 3,000 people in Lasource, Haiti. Simplify your holiday shopping this year and purchase copies of The Philosopher Kings or Flight from Death for all your friends and family and support a great cause while you're at it!






TPK Hoodies Available on Zazzle!



TPK Mugs Available on Zazzle!



TPK T-shirts Available on Zazzle!



An official sponsor of The Philosopher Kings National Tour

Hi everyone,

Yes, that's our very own Philosopher King, Jim Evener on the cover of that magazine you see above. In fact, it's the first time a facilities worker has ever appeared on the cover of the Cornell Alumni Magazine since the founding of Cornell University in 1865. The movement behind our latest film The Philosopher Kings (TPK) continues to build at an exceedingly rapid pace (see "TM In the News"). Thanks to everyone who has shown up to support our film so far on its national screening tour! We're in the midst of a new era for independent documentary film, one in which filmmakers truly thrive and depend upon the support of their fans, so your support means more to us than you might realize. Please continue tweeting, Facebook-ing, etc and join the movement "to agitate the sleep of mankind".

Thanks in large part to the success of our national tour, and most importantly your continued support, we will begin the next phase of our distribution plan much sooner than expected - and this happening just months after it first premiered to multiple sold-out audiences at AFI-Discovery Channel's Silverdocs Film Festival back in June. In 2010, keep an eye out for The Philosopher Kings' U.S. broadcast premiere and iTunes release. Talk to you all soon and get in touch anytime.

Sincerely,

Patrick Shen
Founder

Nicole Wright Says Goodbye to Transcendental Media :(
by Patrick Shen


After almost three years with Transcendental Media, our star associate producer and friend, Nicole Wright is moving on to pursue her career aspirations in front of the camera. Nicole has been the backbone of our operation, and though we're starting to freak out as we try to fill the gaping void she's left behind, we love seeing people, especially Nicole, take a leap into the unknown to pursue something that matters to them. We'll miss you, Nicole!

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Donate to the Haiti Water Project With Your DVD Purchase
by Eileen Street



We have entered the era of conscious consumerism. People are craving authenticity and opportunities to act responsibly in all areas of their lives including how we choose to spend our money. Expand someone's mind this year and consider purchasing copies of The Philosopher Kings and/or our first award-winning film, Flight from Death as gifts and in the process contribute to a great cause. A portion of proceeds from ALL merchandise purchased at The Philosopher Kings online store during the month of November and December 2009 will go towards bringing fresh water to impoverished families in Haiti via our partner Generosity Water. Read more about the Haiti Water Project.

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Flight from Death on iTunes
by Brooke Gramer



Flight from Death: The Quest for Immortality, the multiple award-winning documentary film that has been referred to by film critics as "the most ambitious film ever made" and "one of the best movies of the year" is now available on iTunes! Buy or rent it today then read the interview with Patrick Shen on BraveNewTraveler.com about the journey of making the film.

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TPK Receives the Emerging Cinematic Vision Award
by Brooke Gramer



The 5th Annual Camden International Film Festival hosted screenings to audiences throughout venues along Midcoast Maine on Oct. 1-4. If you haven't heard of this fest, you soon will. "It's one of the most well-organized, hippest, and well-programmed fests I've certainly been to," says Patrick. Created in 2004 by Benjamin Fowlie to support and generate interest in independent documentary films, the festival is a grass-roots, community-based organization.

This year, TPK was privileged to take part of this festival and came home with the award for Emerging Cinematic Vision. This recognized TPK for "an amazing combination of casting, crafting, editing, and thinking outside the box about what makes a compelling film." "The film took a sensitive and humanistic approach to its material, allowing its unconventional yet universal subjects to speak for themselves. Shen, through his subjects, managed to touch on larger social issues through the eyes of several disparate, and remarkable, characters."

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TPK Honored with Special Judge's Mention
by Brooke Gramer

Hosted by The Newburyport Film Society, the 6th annual Newburyport Documentary Film Festival ran from Sept. 25-27. The Festival took place at various locations in historic downtown Newburyport, including, The Screening Room and The Firehouse Center for the Arts. TPK screened as part of their wide range of film experiences to the audiences on the seacoast and was honored with Special Judge's Mention.

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The Philosopher Kings National Tour Continues
by Eileen Street

The Philosopher Kings is picking up momentum around the country with its National Tour. Two upcoming screenings include California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) and Princeton University, where custodian Josue Lajeunesse works.

The CSULB screening is on Thursday, Dec. 3 at 7:00 p.m. at the William Link Theatre (formerly the University Theatre). A Q&A with Director Patrick Shen, moderated by CSULB's Documentary Professor Kirk Marcolina, will follow the screening. The screening is free and open to the public and is made possible by the university's Student of Life Organization (S.O.L.O).

Princeton University will be hosting two free public screenings on Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 4:30 p.m and 7:30pm. Lajeunesse will be in attendance along with Director Patrick Shen and Producer Greg Bennick. Much of the screening's focus will be on Lajeunesse and his water project in Haiti. "We hope to bring more awareness to Josue's project and our partnership with non-profit Generosity Water," explains Shen. "We're trying to reach our goal of $15,000 in donations so that every person in Lasource, Haiti will have access to water."

Keep updated with all screenings by checking out the screening calendar. Want to bring The Philosopher Kings to your community or organization? Fill out the screening request form!

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TM Has Moved!
by Brooke Gramer



The Transcendental Media office has moved from downtown Long Beach to the beautiful city of Old Town Pasadena, CA. We can now be found at 107 S. Fair Oaks, Suite #002, Pasadena, CA.

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