BLOG 2012

If there is something that you have wanted to do all your life but haven't because you have feared the possible consequences; or you're already on that journey and it is proving difficult, then you may find Finding Joe of interest. Andrew Shearer

For a long time I have been enamoured by the phrase "follow your bliss" which was coined by the mythologist Joseph Campbell. This isn't a call to hedonism, as some assume and hope, but rather an encouragement to find that which is most satisfying in our lives and to pursue it. To do such a thing, isn't usually straight forward, and often involves overcoming one's fear, particularly in terms of the risk to one's own future security. After twenty or so years of not being entirely satisfied with my life, having been in a series of reasonably successful and secure teaching and corporate posts, I decided to take a leap of faith into what I loved to do.

Since then, the film Finding Joe, has been released. The film focuses on what Campbell called The Hero's Journey, which is, he suggested, the journey that we take if we set out to "follow our bliss" and attempt to do what we feel we are "meant" to do with our lives. It is also the distillation of what Campbell found common to the myths, religions and cultures that he studied from around the world and indeed other stories ranging from old folk tales to those within the latest blockbuster films (I know they're not the latest films but I think it is worth making the point that George Lucas based the outline of his Star Wars films on Campbell's work). I am far from being a hero but I do feel that I'm on some sort of journey and so I was eager to see if the film could offer any guidance.

Campbell's work can be dense in places (I think because there are so many interrelationships that he was trying to explain) but Finding Joe succeeds in clarifying his ideas and putting them into context. Personally, I am struck by how much The Hero's Journey seems to mirror my own story; the similarities are quite startling: the yearning to do something other than what I was doing (what Campbell calls "the call to adventure"); fear of lack of security and approval; problems at university; the wilderness years; strange coincidences; opportunities that weren't foreseen; consumerism to numb the emptiness.

Colin Wilson in his book The Outsider postulates that most "artists" be they writers, musician s, painters etc, are outsiders, not quite fitting neatly into any social group and that the only way that they seem to make a connection with the world and life is through the art they create. As such, they are probably trying to find their "own way", their "own path" and a significant section of Finding Joe similarly talks about the "hero" having to find their "own path" too. There seems to be much that is common between the lives of artists and the Hero's Journey and indeed Campbell concluded after a lifetime of research, writing and lecturing that perhaps artists were his main audience. However, as Finding Joe implies, I think Campbell's themes and ideas are universal and could give some impetus to all who want to make the most of their lives and who they are.

I don't know if what I've written here has piqued your interest? For many I'm sure it hasn't. There is a danger of appearing evangelical about this and saying "This is the answer" and I'm not doing that, far from it. I guess I'm thinking if Finding Joe had been released twenty years ago, it may have helped me, and so perhaps I'm trying to find and possibly help those who have a certain lassitude and are struggling with a deep-seated yearning to do something with their lives other than that which they're already doing. And others too whom may feel themselves already to be on some sort of journey but are unsure whether to give it up and return back to safety. If you fall into either category then you may find a couple of hours in The Rising Sun Arts Centre watching Finding Joe both energising and thought provoking.

In the meantime you may also be interested in the following:

• The Finding Joe website www.findingjoethemovie.com
• You can buy the Finding Joe DVD from here (please specify PAL if in the UK)
• Outtakes and excerpts from the film at the bottom of this page.

Finally, I would like to thank Stand-Up Cinema who are allowing me to show this film before their main feature "Mean Streets" on 18th May. Entrance to Finding Joe is free, however if you would like to contribute to the maintenance of The Rising Sun Arts Centre then a donation would very much be appreciated. (If you would like to stay for Mean Streets @ 8:00pm then entry is £4 / £3 with concessions). Remember, Finding Joe starts at 6:30pm.

Although not essential I would find it helpful if you could email me if you intend to attend or indeed are not able to attend but would like to see the film on an alternative date. If the demand is such that I need to arrange another screening then I will. My email address can be found here.

Finally, I should declare that I'm not getting anything out of this apart from perhaps the satisfaction of drawing to the film people who might find it beneficial and interesting, and also helping this small independent film find a wider audience.

Andrew