Jean-Marc Abela
- Cinematographer
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Director
![How does one integrate lessons learned from nature in daily life?
This feature documentary is an experiential journey into the mystical practices of Japanese mountain asceticism. In Shugendô (The Way of Acquiring Power), practitioners perform ritual actions from shamanism, “Shintô,” Daoism, and Tantric Buddhism. They seek experiential truth of the teachings during arduous climbs in sacred mountains. Through the peace and beauty of the natural world, practitioners purify the six roots of perception, revitalize their energy and reconnect with their truest nature – all while grasping the fundamental interconnectedness with nature and all sentient beings.
How does one return to the city after an enlightening experience in the mountains?
More poetic than analytical, this film explores how a group of modern Japanese people integrate the myriad ways mountain learning interacts with urban life. With intimate camera work and a sensual sound design the viewer is taken from deep within the Kumano mountains to the floating worlds of Osaka and Tokyo and back again.
Might the two be seen as one?](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTY4ODUwMDgxN15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMjczMjY3Mg@@._V1_QL75_UX500_CR0,47,500,281_.jpg)
A self-taught filmmaker with 12 years of experience, Jean-Marc focuses
his energies in documentary productions. His first passion is
cinematography to which he offers his services as a
director/cinematographer.
He has completed two independent feature documentaries. In "Shugendô Now" he explores our relationship to nature through a Japanese tradition. In "Diversidad" he follows a group of young adults who embark on a journey to discover their relationship to the food they eat.
His niche is the creation of positive and heartfelt films that seek to share solutions to the fundamentals problems of our society. This comes from his conviction to play a part in the creation of a more ecological and just society. His quest will continue with his third film "This is what Cooperation Looks Like" where he will explore how coops allow for a much healthier business environment.
Jean-Marc has traveled around the world with his camera and through his explorations in film discovered a second passion in Permaculture, a science of sustainable design through the study of nature. He is gaining more experience as an educator and facilitator, giving workshops in video making and the Permaculture design process. He practices the Chinese art of Qi Gong and has produced instructional Qi Gong DVDs for two of his teachers.
He has completed two independent feature documentaries. In "Shugendô Now" he explores our relationship to nature through a Japanese tradition. In "Diversidad" he follows a group of young adults who embark on a journey to discover their relationship to the food they eat.
His niche is the creation of positive and heartfelt films that seek to share solutions to the fundamentals problems of our society. This comes from his conviction to play a part in the creation of a more ecological and just society. His quest will continue with his third film "This is what Cooperation Looks Like" where he will explore how coops allow for a much healthier business environment.
Jean-Marc has traveled around the world with his camera and through his explorations in film discovered a second passion in Permaculture, a science of sustainable design through the study of nature. He is gaining more experience as an educator and facilitator, giving workshops in video making and the Permaculture design process. He practices the Chinese art of Qi Gong and has produced instructional Qi Gong DVDs for two of his teachers.