Thank You

Thank you to all our friends, new and old, who came by our table to say hello and to spend some time with us this weekend. It was a fantastic conference and renewed our energy in this important project.

As Matt and others pointed out, if there were ever a time to make this film, the time is now. There are millions of people suffering out there that do not need to. Thank you for joining us in the effort to inspire people to take a step toward EMDR.

The community of EMDR therapists ...

This past weekend in Atlanta has affirmed what I already knew: EMDR therapists are very generous people! So many of you made time to make your contribution to the movie, and we're so grateful!

Barbara Hensley was the humble recipient of the Francine Shapiro award on Friday night. And among her numerous generous activities, her $1000 contribution to the movie was mentioned in the speech to honour her. Thank you again, Barbara -- you were the first to make a donation this size.... who will be next?

Sara Gilman (incoming President of EMDRIA) also stopped by the table to make a contribution... despite the fact that her back was so sore she could hardly bend over -- the sacrifices we make! Thank you, Sara, for your generosity in re the movie, and for your committment to EMDR.

The tribute evening to Francine was so moving... from Chris Ranck's stunning musical gifts, to the video Michael created with interviews from many who have been involved with EMDR for years. What a wonderful gift of humour and struggle Michael portrayed in a very few minutes! I was moved just by the sheer numbers in that room, the strong presence of HAP, all inspired by Francine's tenacity and committment to "nobody gets left behind."

I felt so humbled and proud to be associated with this community of people, all committed to making a difference through EMDR. I feel confident this passion will be a major character in the movie!

-- Jeanette

Looking Forward to Atlanta

I'm in the midst of packing for the EMDR conference next week (I'm guessing it will be a lot hotter than it's been here in Ontario!), and looking forward to being part of the 20th anniversary celebrations! Michael, the director of this important project will be there -- it will be fun to have a chat in person! I'm also looking forward to meeting Dr. Earl Grey, who has been working with real people who have agreed to have their therapeutic journeys with EMDR recorded for possible inclusion in the documentary.

Look for a movie "presence" at the conference... be part of making this movie happen with a small or large donation. Did you know you can have the satisfaction of sponsoring one minute of the final film? Ask us about the Your Minute campaign!

Here are a couple excerpts from a press release in February...
"To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of EMDR, the EMDRIA Foundation is pleased to release an exclusive DVD featuring a forty minute in-depth interview with EMDR creator, Dr. Francine Shapiro. The DVD was produced by award-winning filmmaker Michael Burns, as part of his full-length documentary EMDR, slotted for release in 2010...

Profits from the sale of the DVD will benefit the EMDRIA Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports EMDR research and education, and fund the completion of Michael Burns' EMDR movie."

I'm hoping there will be opportunities to view and/or purchase copies of the interview at the conference (the DVD is also a thank-you gift when you make a $50 donation to the movie).

Safe travels, everyone!

-- Jeanette

Healing is Happening

This past weekend, some great work was done. One of the participants have felt the shift and has gained the ability to mange life more effectively. The participant reports that the there is now a connection between the thoughts and beliefs of heath and the body. The participant has done wonderful work and has been so open to the project. This is very exciting progress. We are still looking for veterans who are interested in participating on the east coast near Pittsburgh. If you have any contact please pass on the referral information.

Dr. Earl Grey.

Posting from another blog

From the blog Parasites of the Mind:

http://parasitesofthemind.blogspot.com/2009/04/survivors-speak-emdr-movie.html

My story is one that like many others, is still unfolding. In 2006, I was exploring talk therapy and using EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) to look at some incidents from my life. I have memories that made deep impressions on me and that cause me great anxiety to recall.

Click on the above link for more.

In Full Swing

I hope all is well with those of you following the progress of this film. Thus far the participants are making significant progress and their brains are firing toward health. The footage has some really great examples of how a person is able to heal and make progress more efficiently than traditional therapies. One participant has been in traditional therapy for 10 years with practically no progress. Now, after only 5 sessions of EMDR, the participant is feeling free. This is very exciting. Please spread the word about the film and those of you who have gained relief form EMDR, please tell us your story on the blog.

Warm Regards,

Dr. Earl Grey

We're Looking to Expand

Hi Everyone-

I wanted to put out a post to say that we're looking to add more people to our team for this film. If you have something to contribute, we'd love to integrate you into what we're doing. Perhaps you have a friend with energy and ideas when it comes to mental healthcare or EMDR- we'd love to hear from them too. Together we're capable of so much more than we are on our own.

Contact us at hello@emdrmovie.com

Take care! Michael