LUVmovie Gets New Lease on Life

When we released the film "Everybody knows how to spell LUV" in 2003 we were thinking like Internet geeks before the Internet was ready. Today we take for granted the ease of conversation through social media. This film was designed to generate conversation, but back then, conversation was not as easy to get.

Paul and Sharon Maley put in stunning performances in our indie film released in 2003. View a clip at http://tinyurl.com/LUVflick

New Era for LUV
So, we're bringing the film out again with the aid of Facebook. There is a good clip of the film posted there. Visit the film Facebook page by typing the film title in the search box, or just click this short address: http://tinyurl.com/LUVmovie.
Click the "Like" button at the top of the page to be part of the new audience and to encourage others to join the conversation. Being on the "Like" list puts you in the loop for new discussion topics, announcements and related events.
Get the DVD
We have just upgraded the products page on our web site to make it super easy to buy the DVD. You'll be glad to see it is now half price! Just click here http://www.horizongate.org/products/, scroll down to the film and click "Buy Now".
Still the Same Great Film
The film is still a great performance by Paul and Sharon Maley condensing the twists & turns, humor and pathos from first grade through college and into adult careers all in less than an hour! Simply put, it is an altogether engaging journey which thousands more will be glad to discover.
Help Build the New Audience
Please help spread the word! Tell them to go to the Facebook page, or to the products page of our web site and click "Buy Now".

Art Shows In Two Exhibitions

Mark Turner has been showing five of his paintings and one photograph at exhibitions. Three of his paintings appeared at the "Art-Jazz-Poetry" evening, July 23, held annually by the Arts Council of St. Paul's Cathedral, downtown San Diego.

Storm to Calm by Mark Turner
acrylic, 45.5 x 22.75"

Two other paintings and a photograph are hanging in St. Paul's Cathedral for the month of August for a juried show called "Images of Peace on Earth". The show commemorates the 65th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Composition from Twigs
by Mark Turner
acrylic, 20.25" x 16"

The Cathedral is open during day time as well as at service times for all who want to see the show. It is located in San Diego's Banker's Hill area on the corner of 5th Avenue and Nutmeg St., next to Balboa Park. For more info call the church office: (619) 298-7261.

Film Gets Political Drawings

Early in the "To the Diggers" film we will see flashes of political campaigns. So, Mark has been collecting and studying photos of politicians pressing flesh in the crowds and waving from motorcades.

Detail of a political campaign drawing for "To the Diggers" film by Mark Turner

The poetic words underlying this section are as follows:

"We regard as wisdom
Bright reflections, pixels,
Bites of sound repeated;
Arranging body and face
Choreographed in a timely place,
Makes powerful and great."

The drawings made from these studies will form a fast cutting montage. The images you see here are details from the larger, colored pencil drawings which will enjoy a second life exhibited along side the completed film. Other work on the film has included enlarging images to emphasize individual

A detail of a political motorcade drawing by Mark Turner.

pixels. I have made 17 of these "swatches" and will use them as colorful flashes over other images.
The next set of drawings will be from studies of TV News Pundits, news sets and TV equipment.
To follow the progress on this film and see more drawings subscribe to the blog Artingle.

What is the Value?

Donna and I are asking "What is the value?" more often.
Everyone is concentrating a little harder these days to be sure we get the most value for each of the fewer dollars in our keeping. We also ask "What is the value of my work? Will it pay the bills?"
The inspiring vision which once motivated a person's life mission has the tendency to fade in the urgency of paying some bill. It's not that the vision and mission isn't still valid, but we just have to postpone it, to put it off until there is time, or until "we can afford it."
In "good times" it is easier to affirm the value of beauty, generosity, art, spirituality, faith. However, it is when things get tight that we must affirm the value of those intangibles. In hard times we need the inspiration of art, poetry, beauty and spiritual direction to carry on in faith that God will make a way where there is no way.
If ever there is a time to help sustain the "intangible" ministry of Horizon Gate, it is now when so many need the courage, hope and faith promoted by our art and films. Just the act of giving a little to these ministries is an act in defiance of the slave masters which would steal your vision away.
We pray that our faithfulness to the heavenly vision will inspire courage in your soul to hold on to your mission in life.

Love,

Mark and Donna Turner
August, 2010

Art Film Takes Form

Before Mark could proceed to create the drawings for the film "To the Diggers" he had to script it.

Click this frame to see Mark explain that "To the Diggers" is film 2 of 4 slated for exhibition in a special gallery/cafe next Spring.

Mapping the Journey
This film will be pretty complex even though it will be short. Before picking up the art materials Mark had to type out a script to make himself think through all the visuals and timing. Spinning off of a completed sound track (it was part of a podcast) is a big help because the visuals can extend the poetic images and sound effects.

A composite of a photo and a drawing for the film "To the Diggers" by Mark Turner. See http://artingle.blogspot.com for more.

This is like an animation in that we have to know the split seconds for each sequence. With the script all thought out Mark won't have to pause much to think up a visual the whole trip, just draw and draw and draw . . .
And folks, you are gonna love all these drawings going by.

"To the Diggers" Generates Interest, Gains Backers

Our campaign to fund the short art film "To the Diggers", has been viewed over 2,219 times in the last 3 weeks. That's over 100 visits per day! Referral icons on the site have been clicked by viewers 59 times inviting others to take a look. These statistics indicate there is significant interest in our project.
Interest In the Good We Could Do
This level of interest is not surprising when you consider the potential for good: art films and the art used to make them exhibited in a place where they stimulate conversations which draw people to God; where artists, filmmakers, gallery and café workers form community around the mission. Please click http://www.indiegogo.com/To-the-Diggers to review the mission.
Creative Incentives for Giving
People have donated both on the campaign site and off line totaling, as of this

Detail of painting for film 3: "The Gateway" about imagination in prayer

writing, $640. We have until July 10th to reach our goal of $7,000. At our rate of visits to the site we could still reach our goal if you and your friends will choose from contribution levels as low as $1. If we do reach our goal by the 10th, IndieGoGo.com will donate an additional 5% of the total.
We Can Reach the Goal
So, please visit http://www.indiegogo.com/To-the-Diggers. Get everyone you know on the Internet to go there and choose a level of contribution. There are some nice rewards on each level of giving including copies of our films signed by the artists, personalized poetry recordings, original art and your name in the film credits.
Pray for the campaign to gather people as well as dollars to support this ministry.