Time for another update from Psyche’s Cinema – February 2024!
Fairy tales in daily life
It’s unfortunate and ironic that the word “myth” is associated with falsehood. I learned years ago (from scholar Joseph Campbell) that myths describe the greatest truths in symbol and metaphor. Likewise, wedding magazines use the phrase “fairy tale” to imply perfection and unadulterated happy endings. But this is another ironic use of words. Fairy tale heroes struggle greatly before their happy ending. Heroes like Cinderella, The Lindworm, the Princess in King Thrushbeard — each suffers. Not all heroes do battle, but all suffer and are transformed. And all receive help from unexpected places.
In my continued study of fairy tales, I begin to see their truths where I least expect – in bible readings, in families, and in the course of my daily life.
When I take my inner life seriously, it begins to resemble the architecture of a fairy tale. Events in my life may not happen in three distinct repetitions, the way they do in many tales, but my inner struggles do repeat. As an artist and enneagram 4, I’ve always had a vivid and dramatic inner life. Thinking of my daily struggles within a fairy tale frame – confronting a menacing neighbor, enduring the anxiety of travel, challenging the ogre of my perfectionism – gives me comfort and hope. Fairy tale heroes generally triumph. Eventually. I can too.
Current project— Berserk
Our current film is inspired by the tale Snow White and Rose Red. Our working title, Berserk, refers to the bear of the tale and the phenomenon of the Berserker.
I wasn’t familiar with Snow White and Rose Red but I was intrigued when I read Marie Louise Von Franz’s analysis in Shadow and Evil in Fairy Tales. Still, even with her lovely commentary I felt stuck in the project about a month ago. I knew my adaptation of the tale would include the little man (original tale’s dwarf) as a pudgy capitalist. The setting (US in the 1950’s) could reflect an unconscious optimism and the imbalance of female “goodness” that Von Franz described.
But as I worked on the opening of the film a nagging mood began to haunt me. I had to admit – I was stuck! Dolls had been purchased, sets constructed, but now I felt a fairy tale-like anguish of being lost in the artistic woods. Like the fairy tale character who follows a rolling ball or feather to chart his way; I try to let my unconscious lead in my work. That can get scary when I get lost. Eventually, thankfully, a solution emerged (like a helpful animal in the forest). I’m now exploring the two sisters as images of a split self.
Books- Von Franz’s exploration of the Berserker and Snow White and Rose Red.
Volume 6 of the Collected Works of Marie-Louise von Franz Shadow and Evil in Fairy TalesNew Logo!
We are experimenting with this new logo. I love the medieval art of alchemists, especially this image. Jungians like Edward Edinger help me understand the powerful metaphors Jung discovered in medieval (and ancient) alchemy. Like the crucibles of these scientist/alchemists, my hope is that our fairy tale films offer a container to explore our own inner transformations.
Anatomy of the Psyche Alchemical Symbolism in Psychotherapy by Edward EdingerWorkshops— Upcoming
We have a new website page that offers a calendar of our upcoming workshops and screenings!
Another chance to explore our fairy tale film, The Linguist, will be on March 10th, online, sponsored by the Maine Jung Center.
Three different films will be explored online with the Sisters of Saint Joseph. And three will be featured LIVE, in Oak Park Illinois in April and May. Email Lauralb at psychescinema.com if you’d like to be put on a wait list for these.
Join us to explore The Two Travelers with SoulatPlay, April 20, 2024
Workshops— Completed
Imagine a conference dedicated toward dream work. That’s the Natural Spirituality Conference! In addition to larger plenary sessions – small groups meet 4 times during the three-day conference to explore their dreams together. I was honored to lead a workshop . We explored the dream-like metaphors in our fairy tale film “The Linguist”
Screenings — Upcoming
3/7 Bensenville short film festival. 7pm. Tickets and exact location here
Two live screenings in Chicago! Two chances to see Dumpling in the Chicago area! 3/9 Chicago Filmmakers 1326 W Hollywood Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60660. 7pm.
Screenings — Completed
I couldn’t attend the screening of The Choice, with MicroArts in London but they were kind to send photos. Incredible to think that what emerged in one brain in Chicago, ended up on a screen in front of good people in London. Amazing!
Images from Laura’s time in Manhattan at the New York Indie Theatre Film Festival
Isolating during lockdown helped accelerate my filmmaking but I had become out of practice with travel. It’s easy to not go to film festivals. Much harder to pack up and navigate trains, planes, and automobiles. I’m grateful I struggled against some anxiety to attend this amazing festival. Not only did I meet wonderful indie filmmakers and see their terrific films, I also was able to see and hear a sold-out audience respond to Making a Monster. Films are best appreciated in a group. I was thrilled to hear so much laughter! Working in my basement alone, I sometimes lose heart that my work adds value at all. I’ll never forget the roar of approval at the end of the film, and the happy attendees that came up afterward to thank me. Like manna from heaven, attending this screening will sustain me for a long time.
What we’re reading
One perfectly-timed aid on my journey has been the book Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. It appeared as I was nervously preparing for the screening in NYC. Gilbert offers beautiful reassurance to artists of all kinds. She reminds me to honor the mysterious process of creativity and the work of helping ideas manifest into the world. Highly recommended.
Do you have an idea you’d like to manifest with us? A workshop or film? Get in touch! And thank you for your comments on the website. They are food for our soul.