ROBERT BLY: News of the Universe

New perk * $60 donation & receive 'Rumi: Poet of the Heart' DVD!

AN AMERICAN ORIGINAL

Robert Bly is a poet, translator, mythologist, guiding light of men's work, antiwar activist and all round gadfly. His remarkable and prolific output has nourished our cultural landscape for over half a century.

"I respect Robert Bly as a unique and very useful voice in the evolution of an alternative America." - Gary Snyder

Award-winning director Haydn Reiss has featured Robert Bly in three previous films: WILLIAM STAFFORD & ROBERT BLY: A LITERARY FRIENDSHIP (1994), RUMI: POET OF THE HEART (1998) and EVERY WAR HAS TWO LOSERS (2009). All three films have aired on PBS and in festivals around the world.

"Every War Has Two Losers" is beautiful! Powerful! Moving. True. I treasure it." - Alice Walker, author "The Color Purple"  on Haydn Reiss' last film.

NEWS OF THE UNIVERSE was launched a year ago and we’re pleased to announce that we’ve almost completed the production phase.

HALFWAY TO A FINISHED FILM

We’ve filmed in five states.  We have filmed Robert in Berkeley, Ca., New York and at his home in Minneapolis. A wonderful array of interviews have been conducted. Participants include Gary Snyder, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Mark Rylance,  John Densmore, Philip Levine, Peter Coyote, Leonard Lewisohn, Donald Hall, Galway Kinnell, , Florence Timmerman, Anne Wright, Caroline Casey, Lewis Hyde, Edward Hirsch, Coleman Barks and Jane Hirshfield.

We have been granted access and usage of rare and fantastic archival materials from the Dodge Poetry Festival, Public Affairs Television (Bill Moyers), Robert Bly Archives, University of Minnesota, Prelinger Archives, and private individuals.

There will be wonderful DVD extras of interviews, readings and never seen before footage. A gumbo of Bly treasures!

We are assembling the ingredients for a fantastic film!

"Robert Bly has fed the soul of people, as the great plains of America, which his father farmed, have fed their body. I reckon, roughly the same amount. He is a very rare poet and man." -  Mark Rylance, Tony Award winner

JOIN THE CARAVAN

To keep our momentum and proceed into the post-production stage - where all the ingredients are cooked up into a wonderful film - we need to raise funds. We have come as far as we can with what we've raised and the in-kind support given.

Funds are needed for our editor, edit suite, music, archival materials, licensing, graphics - and the list goes on. To make a broadcast quality program, which is what we're doing, there are many hard costs. But we will stretch every dollar!

GRATITUDE

"I, too, am getting older, and it's been invaluable having a fearless mentor like Robert up ahead.  Much gratitude."
                                                          - John Densmore, The Doors

A farmer’s son, a graduate of Harvard, a Navy veteran, Robert Bly’s long reach across American culture began in the 1950’s with publication of his influential literary journal, The Fifties. Its pages contained the work of emerging poets now familiar – Donald Hall, James Wright, Gary Snyder and numerous others. At the same time, Bly began translating poets now recognized as among the greatest in the world – Pablo Neruda, Rainer Maria Rilke, Rumi and dozens more.

For decades, Robert Bly has done the hard spadework to lift morale in unsettling times. NEWS OF THE UNIVERSE will explore the many roads Bly has traveled in pursuit of self-awareness, beauty-making and social responsibility. In the film, you will hear gorgeous poetry, passionate speech, lively remarks from a band of Bly's friends and admirers.

WITH YOUR SUPPORT...

The film will get done. It is a labor of love. It is being produced in gratitude for what Robert has shared with us all his life. Robert and Ruth’s blessings are behind the film. We will work very hard to make an amazing film and get it out in the world. We have momentum and want to get this film done in a timely way – with your help.

(indiegogo works just like kickstarter, in case you were curious)

You can also help by sharing this link with others. Let your friends know. Post on Facebook, twitter. Indiegogo has share tools to help.  Many hands makes light labor.

If you prefer to pay by check, that's fine! Please email haydn@zincfilms.com We'll make sure you get verification of your tax-deductible donation.

Please take a minute, look to the column on the right and join us. All donations are tax deductible via our 501 c3 fiscal sponsor.

If Robert Bly has touched your life, here's a chance to say 'Thank you, Robert'. My team and I will make a very special film.

Haydn Reiss