Hi everyone,

There are a lot of people suffering around the world from a variety of causes and it's difficult to know what to do with that information. It causes a paralysis among us - an epidemic of inaction. When our minds attempt to comprehend things so large in scale (whatever it might be), it tends to wander back to the tangible and digestible day-to-day issues that confront us in the here and now.

I'd like to bring your attention to one particular issue that's been weighing heavily on our hearts here at Transcendental Media. Water. For many around the world (1.1 billion in fact), the lack of potable water is killing them. Every 24 hours that passes, an average of 5,000 children die due to water-related diseases. Join us in confronting and reflecting upon this issue. Then do something about it - even if it's as simple as forwarding this email to one or twenty friends.

Monday, March 22 is World Water Day. This year UN-Water is dedicating World Water Day to the theme of water quality, reflecting its importance alongside quantity of the resource in water management. It's a day for us to mourn the loss of people who die unnecessarily and to meditate on ways that we can help. In this newsletter we have included some ways you can get involved.

Sincerely,

Patrick Shen
Founder

La Source Officially in Production
by Patrick Shen

Transcendental Media has partnered with the social action/non-profit organization Generosity Water, and Words As Weapons, an organization devoted to developing projects that shed light on the human condition, to produce the next documentary "La Source." In addition to directing this film, I'll also be producing it with Greg Bennick and Jordan Wagner. "La Source" is the story of how a community responded to the needs of a local janitor/humanitarian to help fulfill his goals to deliver clean water to his beloved native village of La Source, Haiti.

First introduced to audiences in "The Philosopher Kings," Josue Lajeunesse has inspired thousands through his story of selflessness and resilience. As the film reveals, Josue is not just a janitor by day and taxi driver by night, but also a true humanitarian. For the past 200 years, villagers of the remote Haitian village of La Source have had to endure a dangerous and physically taxing 20 mile walk in order to fetch clean water. For Josue Lajeunesse this was unthinkable, so he decided to do something about it.

Since 2005 Josue has provided the people in La Source with financial assistance and access to fresh water. However, Josue's project is only currently able to provide for 30 families. Since the premiere of "The Philosopher Kings," audiences everywhere have rallied around Josue and donated to his cause of completing a fresh water system for all 3,000 inhabitants of La Source.

The filmmakers, Generosity Water, and Josue plan to travel to La Source at the end of March to assess the village and see which water system would best fit. Two additional trips will be taken back to La Source to document progress and the project's completion. The film is slated for completion in August 2010 just in time for entry into the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.

To find out more information on "La Source" visit www.lasourcemovie.com. Please sign up as a fan on our Facebook page so we can update you on the film's progress and also notify you when the web site is up. Please stay tuned for a special announcement in the upcoming weeks of how you can be a part of "La Source."

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Update on Josue's Haiti Water Project
by Jordan Wagner, Executive Director, Generosity Water

When I first saw Josue's story in the Philosopher Kings, I actually got a little emotional. It was clear that he feels a tremendous burden of responsibility to take care of his community in Haiti, and I am inspired by the selfless acts he does to go above and beyond in providing for his family. I wanted to help in anyway I could, so I met with the filmmakers, Patrick Shen and Greg Bennick, and told them that Generosity Water would help fundraise and manage the implementation of the water project in Josue's village (La Source).

We have raised a little over $7,200 from caring individuals like yourselves, and are almost halfway to our goal of $15,000. Since the village of La Source is located in the mountains, we cannot drill a well to reach clean water beneath the surface. Instead, we are piping water from a source about 10 miles away and storing the fresh water in multiple reservoir tanks throughout the community. This will provide clean and safe drinking water to his entire community of over 3000 people. We are traveling to Haiti on March 28 to scout out the location and put together an implementation strategy for this project. We want to make sure that this project will not only work, but will be sustainable and last for over 20 years.

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VIDEO: A Message from Josue Lajeunesse
Edited by Michael Tsao

Please click the image below to see a special thank you video from Josue to show his appreciation for all of your support over the past year regarding his efforts to bring potable water to La Source, Haiti.



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Host a Screening of TPK in Honor of Josue's Water Project
by Mary Mathias

A great way to commemorate World Water Day on March 22 is to host a screening* party of "The Philosopher Kings" in honor of Josue's water project. Whether the screening is for a couple of friends at your house, or a community event, screenings can easily be set up and coordinated through our site on Brave New Theaters. The simple, easy-to-use Web site offers a free service to host screenings, invite guests, and manage your RSVP's. You can view our film's profile, purchase the DVD (if you don't already have one), and setup your host sign-up page here. Once you have set-up your screening please view this helpful guide for promoting and hosting your screening.

A portion of the proceeds received from DVD sales goes towards Josue's La Source, Haiti water project. In addition, the screening fee for groups larger than 30, who book through Brave New Theaters, will be waived for screening parties on World Water Day! If you have any questions on hosting a screening on World Water Day please email us at info@philosopherkingsmovie.com. If you would like your screening to be added to our Web site's calendar please email the details!

*Screenings must offer free admission.

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"The Philosopher Kings" DVD Exclusive World Water Day Coupon
by Eileen Street

In honor of Josue's Water Project we are offering a discount on "The Philosopher Kings" DVD. Enter in the exclusive World Water Day code "WWD2010" in The Philosopher Kings store to receive 10% OFF the DVD. A portion of each DVD goes towards Josue's Haiti Water Project featured in the film.

We encourage you to purchase this DVD to host a screening of the film in honor of Josue's Haiti Water project on World Water Day. To ensure that your order arrives by World Water Day, place your order by Monday (3/15/10) at 5 p.m. PST with PRIORITY SHIPPING or by Thursday (3/18/09) at 5 p.m. PST with OVERNIGHT SHIPPING. This does not apply to international orders.

Coupon code not valid with other offers or prior purchases. Offer expires 3/22/10 at midnight PST.

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"A Night of Generosity" on March 22 in Los Angeles
Content provided by Generosity Water

Every year, Generosity Water hosts an event called "A Night of Generosity," and this year they are having it on Monday, March 22, at the Sky Bar located at the Mondrian Hotel on Sunset Blvd.

E! Personality Jason Kennedy will be hosting the night along with the event chair, Chyler Leigh, from Grey's Anatomy. They will also have a glamorous fashion show put on by the Couture House and a musical performance by American Idol Finalist Allison Iraheta. In addition, GW will be releasing "The Generosity Water Project." This music album, produced by Dan Lutz and Jeff Babko, features songs by Queen Latifah, Darlene Zchech, and Jonathon Butler. You will love it!

To find our more information, and to purchase tickets, visit the event's Web site.

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What is Your Community Doing on World Water Day?
by Eileen Street

Interested in what your community is doing for World Water Day on March 22? Check out the World Water Day 2010 event calendar. Don't forget to add your screening of "The Philosopher Kings," in honor of Josue's Water Project, to the event calendar if it will be a public event.

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