In the prior post I gave a short background on Werner Erhard and my involvement in est. Have a look for reference. As in that post, I will report on the audience and film maker during the showing.

In Line

I started talking with the woman in line behind me. She’ did the est Training in 1971, but after the first Training. Her ex-husband called her after doing the Training, telling her she has to do this thing called est and that he would pay for it. He never reimbursed her, but she’s glad she did it. Later she lived in a communal household of est graduates in San Jose. She credits est for her current marriage. In an est seminar she became serious about finding a worthy mate, making goal lists toward that.

While we were going in, I pointed out Robyn watching the line, as the director of the film. Robyn noticed me pointing and they started a conversation.

In The Theater

Inside I sat five rows from the front. The theater was about one-third full. Fay Dearborn, the IndieFest programmer, came up to me and said she saw me video at the Thursday film introduction and that I wasn’t to video. I responded that I had only videoed the introduction and decided not to do it anymore without permission. And that Robyn had told me not to so I wouldn’t. I asked if I could take photos, and she said that would be fine.

Next to me was a woman who assisted (volunteered) at the Washington House — Werner’s personal business office that was on Washington at Franklin St., San Francisco — where I had also assisted. She was a receptionist. She did est in Aspen when the center opened there in 1973 — one of the first centers. The Training went over six days during the day. At that time most Trainings including hers were done by Werner.

I also talked with the guy sitting behind me. He hadn’t done est, but knew people who had and was interested in what the film would show.

Q&A

Toward the end of the film the woman sitting next to made an “Ah-ha” statement. Then when the Q&A began she said that Werner was playing the victim in his story of what the media had done to him and wasn’t taking responsibility for leaving the country. The next person who got asked her if she’d gotten anything out of the est Training. She responded that different people get more and less. She said a guy she knows says he got a lot while another said he didn’t get anything. But he always gets a parking space. People laughed since that was one of the results it was stated you could get from the est Training. She ended in saying that many who took the Training got more about responsibility than Werner.

Robyn’s partner who was videoing the Q&A came up the chairs in front of me. He turned around and I thought he’d excuse himself for getting in my view. Instead he said I wasn’t to take photos. I said she told me I could. I meant Faye Dearborn the IndieFest programmer, I think he thought I meant Robyn Symon. He said that no she didn’t say that. Later in the lobby I clarified to him that Faye had told me I could photo and he said it’s not a big deal, just a misunderstanding.

Outside

Outside I saw the guy who had sat behind me who hadn’t taken est or Landmark. I asked him what he thought of the film. He thought it was very interesting and learned quite a bit. That it was an ongoing story. At the same time the film makers were leaving the theater heading up 16th Street.

Since I did the est Training (in 1975) and the audience mainly have done est, Landmark Education or know people associated, I will focus on the audience and film maker activities at the showing.

Background

First for those unfamiliar, some abbreviated background much of which the film is concerned with. Werner Erhard’s was born September 5th, 1935 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as John Paul Rosenberg often called Jack Rosenberg. His High School girl friend, Patricia Fry, got pregnant. At family insistance, they married in 1953 and had four children. In 1960 Jack Rosenberg abandoned his family, leaving with June Bryde. Jack changed his name to Werner Hans Erhard and June to Ellen Virginia Erhard. Later in Sausalito, California Werner worked for Encyclopædia Britannica’s “Great Books” program, at the same time he studied Zen, took Dale Carnegie Course, Subud and other human potential courses. In 1968 Werner became interested in Scientology, taking courses up to possibly Grade IV and performed auditing. Finally he became an instructor in Mind Dynamics which he purchased the rights to, modified and named est (Erhard Seminars Training.) est became very successful in the 1970’s and 1980’s going through several name changes from “est”, “est, an Educational Corporation” to “Werner Erhard and Associates” ending in 1991 with “Landmark Education.” Also, in 1991, 60 Minutes aired a segment on Werner Erhard where family members and employees accused Werner of a number of misdeeds. Werner left shortly before that airing and has been in various locations outside the U.S., mainly outside the public eye.

I did the est Training in 1975 at hotels in San Francisco between graduating from High School and entering college. I was very involved in taking courses and assisting (volunteering) for almost nine years. Here is a photo of myself from Dec. 31st, 1981 on Werner sailboat, Sirona, at an event to acknowledge (thank) assistants (volunteers.)

In Line

When I got at the Roxie Theatre around 8:45 pm the director, Robyn Symon, was in a circle of about five people. I introduced myself. A line hadn’t formed yet, but about ten minutes later more people showed up.

By the time we entered there were a bit more than twenty people in the theatre. I did have the pleasure of sitting next to, talking with and catching up with a woman I assisted with almost 30 years ago. Further back I saw a couple I know from the tech and social media activities in the area. I asked them if they’d done est or Landmark. They said they didn’t. He said he was interested because he’s involved in social activities. She said that she’d heard that Werner had shown he’d changed in the film. I told her that the Executive Producer of the film, Walter Maksym, is Werner’s lawyer.

Q&A

During the Q&A, Robyn mentioned that the film premiered in New York and had gotten mainly positive reviews in the locations it’s been shown. She was then asked why it hadn’t premiered in San Francisco were est began. She replied that is why it didn’t — because of the local press est had gotten and that such journalists would show up.

A man in front said that the film was one sided and if it’s a documentary why didn’t it get the points of view from the other side. Robyn mentioned that Rick Ross presented his critical views of Werner. He responded there’s other journalists that could have been included.

I asked what’s next for the film besides DVD and festivals. Robyn said they’re in negotiations for TV and international distribution. Someone asked to that if there’s an audience outside the U.S. Robyn replied that there are Landmark offices around the world.

The wife of the couple I know and chatted with asked if there was financial connections to Landmark. Robyn said that they had to look for backing when they went to other countries, but didn’t mention the connection to Werner through his lawyer as the films Executive Producer.

In the lobby I asked Robyn if we could do a video interview on the film for this videoblog site. She said she’s shy and would rather not. Then I asked if I could video the Q&A. She asked if I already had. I responded I hadn’t but will be coming to the Saturday showing. She said no. I said that there will be more people on Saturday. She agreed.

This is the 3rd and final part of the Q&A with Associate Principal Second Violin Dan Carlson, Associate Conductor James Gaffigan and virtuoso piano soloist Gabriela Martinez at the San Francisco Symphony.

After the inspiring S.F. Symphony performance we bloggers went to on July 18th, 2007 there was Q&A. Dan Carlson, Associate Principal Second Violin, James Gaffigan, Associate Conductor and virtuoso piano soloist Gabriela Martinez answered audience questions. Here are the questions at start.

Thanks to Kevin Smokler, the San Francisco Symphony invited Bloggers to cover their July 18th performance, "Classical Romance". It was a rousing performance by conductor James Gaffigan with piano soloist Gabriela Martinez. This is us getting together and heading to the performance.

Recording of the live performance is not allowed, but in the next parts I’ll cover the Q&A that was at the end.

Tags: DaviesSymphony, Bloggers, SFSymphony, KevinSmokler, sfsymphonybloggers07

Pixelodeon is over and we’re at Micki‘s talkin’.

Tags: Pixelodeon, mickipedia

Michael Verdi, Jackson West and I on our way to the Pixelodeon pre-party mixer at the Cat & Fiddle.

Tags: Pixelodeon, Cat&Fiddle

The Vloggies Show was shooting their episode on Bearcasting at Ritual Roasters with Justin. I shot a bit of their work and asked Nora about it.

Tags: VloggiesShow, Justin.TV, RitualRoasters, Bearcasting

I shot this when I arrived a bit after 7 pm at the NewTeeVee and MetaCafe sponsored Pier Screenings at Pier 38.

Note: Apologizes for the color and white balance being off.

Tags: petermorgan, SFIFF, SFIFF50, KanbarAward, DavidThomson

On the last day of Videoblogging Week 2007, I joined the improptu get-together at Lucky 13 that Scott Beale twittered.

Tags: VideobloggingWeek2007, Lucky13, Twitter

On February 16th Irene’s San Francisco apartment burned up in an electrical fire. On Friday, April 7th, I came by to work on her computer. During that time Irene was giving medicine to her surviving cat, Sergeant Johnson, for his burns.

Wednesday April 11th is the Irene McGee Friendraiser, Toasting the Fire event to support Irene getting back on her feet. It’ll be at the Red Devil Lounge with:

+ Exene Cervanka (punk rock legend) is headlining the event

+ Ben Fong-Torres (the “Almost Famous” guy/former editor of Rolling Stone Magazine) who just came out with the new book about the Doors (he was the last journalist to interview Jim Morrison before he died…) will be doing a reading/chat/and performance

+ VinSantos

+ Kitten on the Keys will be hosting the evening she is sooo amazing to watch and just a fantastic comedian/pianist/vaudeville performer who wears the most amazing costumes youâ€ve ever seen

Come by, enjoy the performance and support Irene getting things back together.

Tags: IreneMcGee, SergeantJohnson, ToastingTheFire, RedDevilLounge, VideobloggingWeek2007

Time for a run to Whole Foods.

Tags: VideobloggingWeek2007, WholeFoods

On April 3rd friends of Josh Wolf held a celebration of his getting out of jail at the House of Shields.

Tags: VideobloggingWeek2007, JoshWolf, HouseOfShields

At the April 3rd opening press conference to the 50th San Francisco International Film Festival, Graham Leggat talked about International Online. Working with Jaman.com, 5-10 full feature films will be available for select viewing.

Tags: SFIFF, SFIFF50, GrahamLeggat, Jaman.com, VideobloggingWeek2007

A song Sam Shaber performed on Friday, March 30th at a house concert. It’s dedicated to Mark Day for the wrong reason.

Tags: videobloggingweek2007 VBWK07 SamShaber

I was at Ritual Roasters on the first day of Videoblogging Week, April 1st.

Tags: videobloggingweek2007 VBWK07 RitualRoasters

Last night I went up to the Stockton Street Apple Store presentation theatre for the SF360 fifty year retrospective leading to the 50th San Francisco International Film Festival.

Fellow blogger, Steve Rhodes of TigerBeat, was there also taking photos and blogging the event.

First, Susan Gerhard, the editor and bureau chief of SF360, spoke about the information available on the site.

Then photographer Pamela Gentile regaled us with how she began as photographer for the festival in 1985, the stories behind her classic images of movie stars, directors and other luminaries at the festival.

Followed by Miguel Pendas, San Francisco Film Society historian, demonstrating how to look up information on the site historical section.

Miguel’s demonstrated a search for festival guests starting with Antonioni, leading to others.

Finally, archivist Jennifer Preissel showed the treasure of audio and video media being made available in the historical area.

Jennifer showed video of the 2001 Clint Eastwood interview (image at top) and audio from Bette Davis reminiscing during her tribute at the 13th SFIFF.

The film festival web sites will be filling in with more material leading up to the opening night on April 26th. Expect more audio and video to go online. So have a look at whose shown up in the past and going to be at the 50th.

In July, 1996 I edited this music video for the local San Francisco Indie band, Dorothy’s Melting. Dorothy’s Melting became Plavu which disbanded in 2001. Alzara Getz performs with The Black Slipper Society and Underbrush.