Please tune in this Thursday, May 15 at 11 am Eastern, when I’ll be a guest on The Jenn Royster Show on Transformation Talk Radio! Join me and host Dr. Jenn Royster for a lively conversation about conscious creation in the movies, available by clicking here. And, for further information about the show and the host, visit Jenn’s web site, available here. Dr. Jenn Royster Yours truly! ...

“On My Way” (“Elle s’en va”) (2013 production, 2014 release). Cast: Catherine Deneuve, Nemo Schiffman, Gérard Garouste, Camille, Claude Gensac, Paul Hamy, Mylène Demongeot, Hafsia Herzi, Séréphin Ngakoutou Beninga. Director: Emmanuelle Bercot. Screenplay: Emmanuelle Bercot and Jérôme Tonnerre. Web site. Trailer. It’s easy – perhaps all too easy – to become reconciled about our lives. We convince ourselves that our journeys are destined to follow set, unalterable paths. Yet we also often hope that they’ll take different courses, especially if the directions we’ve become sold on aren’t to our liking. And sometimes we even wind up pleasantly surprised. No matter what the outcome, however, we can always count on life’s inherent continuity, for better or worse and no matter what we choose to manifest, an idea explored in the delightful new French comedy-drama, “On My Way” (“Elle s’en va”). Life sometimes doesn’t turn out as hoped for. Just ask Bettie (Catherine Deneuve), an aging former beauty queen now in her early 60s. Having grown up an apple-cheeked small town girl, Bettie blossomed into a beautiful young woman, effortlessly capturing the title of Miss Brittany 1969. Almost overnight, she attained unexpected notoriety, even becoming a contender in the Miss France competition ...

I had a wonderful evening on May 7 when I attended a lively panel discussion about movies and the people who write about them. The event, held at Open Books and sponsored by the Chicago Writers Conference, featured four staff writers from the Chicago-based movie-related web site thedissolve.com. Dissolve staffers Keith Phipps, Scott Tobias, Tasha Robinson and Nathan Rabin read samples of their works, discussed various film-related topics and took questions from the audience. The event also provided an opportunity for me to share Consciously Created Cinema with the speakers (I hope they like it!). For those who aren’t familiar with the web site, check it out — it’s a terrific resource about movies and film-related news. For those not acquainted with the Chicago Writers Conference, check it out as well — it’s an excellent resource for writers, networking and informative programs about publishing. And, finally, those not aware of Open Books should stop by this nonprofit River North used book store, whose proceeds benefit literacy programs in Chicago. Oh, and by the way, if you haven’t picked up your copy of Consciously Created Cinema yet, visit one of the many fine online booksellers (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes and ...

“Transcendence” (2014). Cast: Johnny Depp, Rebecca Hall, Paul Bettany, Morgan Freeman, Cillian Murphy, Kate Mara, Clifton Collins Jr. Director: Wally Pfister. Screenplay: Jack Paglen. Web site. Trailer. What makes a human human? Is it our brain and physical self? Or is it our mind, our consciousness, the cosmic software that drives us as sentient beings? And is that consciousness innately restricted to the physical self, or are other configurations possible? Those are just some of the intriguing questions raised in the new science fiction thriller, “Transcendence.” Artificial intelligence researchers Drs. Will and Evelyn Caster (Johnny Depp, Rebecca Hall) are on the verge of some astounding breakthroughs in cutting edge computer technology. The professional and life partners are committed to their work and to one another, and they approach both aspects of their lives with heartfelt devotion. They seem to have everything going for them. But then events take an unexpected turn that upends their – and everyone else’s – world. Shortly after giving a presentation on the astounding potential of artificial intelligence, Will is shot by an anti-technology terrorist at point blank range. As shocking as the incident is, the bullet only grazes him, inflicting injuries that are not considered ...

“Heaven Is For Real” (2014). Cast: Greg Kinnear, Kelly Reilly, Connor Corum, Thomas Haden Church, Margo Martindale, Lane Styles, Jacob Vargas, Thanya Romero, Danso Gordon, Nancy Sorel, Ursula Clark, Mike Mohrhardt. Director: Randall Wallace. Screenplay: Chris Parker and Randall Wallace. Book: Todd Burpo and Lynn Vincent, Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back. Web site. Trailer. How truly steadfast are we when it comes to our beliefs? And what are the implications for those of us who harbor doubts about what we claim to believe? Under such circumstances, our faith is sure to be put to the test, a notion explored in the new divinely inspired, fact-based drama, “Heaven Is For Real.” Life in rural Imperial, Nebraska is good but challenging for the Burpo family. Todd Burpo (Greg Kinnear), the likable pastor of a local church, wears many hats to serve his community and provide for his wife, Sonja (Kelly Reilly), and two children, Cassie (Lane Styles) and Colton (Connor Corum). Todd generally approaches his challenges joyfully, but he nonetheless struggles to cope with his share of financial issues, nagging health ailments and the daily routine of raising a family. Still, ...

I had a wonderful time last evening at the Chicago celebration of World Book Night! The official Windy City function was a reception and book reading at the Book Cellar bookstore in Lincoln Square sponsored by the Chicago Writers Conference and Chicago Women in Publishing. I had a chance to meet fellow authors and to introduce them to my new book, “Consciously Created Cinema.” I even had a chance to swap books with featured presenter Scott Turow! What a wonderful evening and an even more wonderful group of people! And thanks to my partner Trevor for joining me for support (and photography!). Photos by Trevor Laster ...