He gets the cinematic treatment
by CATHERINE TSE
Neale Donald Walsch describes himself as a modern-day spiritual messenger. His message?
“The purpose of life is to recreate ourselves anew in the highest version of the grandest vision we ever had about ourselves.” It’s a pretty big theological raison d’etre and one that Walsch has elaborated to millions of readers through his Conversations with God series. The first book was published in 1995 and became an instant phenomenon.
The true story of how Walsch began his written dialogue with God hits the big screen
in Vancouver Nov. 10, with director/producer Stephen Simon’s (What Dreams May Come; Somewhere In Time) film adaptation, starring Canadian actor Henry Czerny. Walsch and Simon are currently on an 18-city tour to promote the film. I caught up with him in Chicago. Walsch says of their Vancouver visit: “It was the first stop in our tour and we received a standing ovation during the credits. We were shocked.”
Q. How much input did you have in the making of this movie?
I had a great deal of creative input, from the selection of the screenwriter to the creation of the script and even into the casting process. I was involved in the post-production process, as well. I was offered and accepted a high level of collaborative input.
I have a lot of previous experience in film, going back 25 years when I worked as an extra. I even had a feature bit in an Alan Alda movie and a silent bit in a movie with Al Pacino.
Q. Did you consider playing yourself?
Oh sure, definitely. The possibility was discussed by all of us but eventually rejected. My own fear was that I didn’t want this to come off as a vanity movie that I couldn’t get anyone else to produce and get involved in. In addition, I was keenly aware that, if I were on screen, audiences would be more fascinated with Neale Donald Walsch than the message, which would have defeated the whole purpose of the project. So, we all decided it would be better if I didn’t appear on screen.
Q. Do you think people will respond the same way to the movie as they did your books?
I think they’ll respond in the same way, ultimately, but get there on different paths. Books are really an intellectual excursion, but movies are an
emotional experience. Either way, we wind up placing people in the same place of openness, of larger reality and hope. The emotional path will get them there more quickly. The movie moves the message from the head to the heart.
Q. Have there been any surprises during your interactions with audience members?
We ask audience members to show, by hand, how many have read any of my books. Surprisingly, always one half to one third of the audience has never read a single one. I have 22 books out, so it’s hard to avoid them. The movie will obviously reach a brand-new audience and re-ignite audiences who have already read the material.
Q. What has been the most unusual response or questions you’ve received about the movie?
One interesting thing that’s happened is that people are offering their interpretations of the final scene, which all vary. We’re up to 11 different interpretations of it. This is wonderful, though, because the purpose of art is to drive people back to the deepest questions of life, not to answer questions—then, art becomes dangerous.
Q. Have you come across many cynics or skeptics during this tour?
No, not very many, although it would be natural. And it’s important. Again, if you’re bringing a message, then you hope people will be healthy skeptics or disagree in small measure because the lack of it is frightening, dangerous. When governments and religions seek the place of no disagreements, then they become dangerous to themselves and others.
Q. Is there a particular part of the movie that is most important to you?
The most memorable part is the final scene and the final line: “I will be there.” Those are God’s final words. He will be there, always and in all ways. Do not feel abandoned. If people watch this movie and take that message away with them, then we’ll have made a great impact.
Catherine, wanderlust in every way, started and continues writing to fund travels and home repairs. She is also the Travel and Culture editor at suite101.com.
