The Filming of People of Faith Speaking Up
for Animals and Compassion
by Dr. Lo Sprague
The Guibord Center recognized that the voice of faith has been missing from most of the conversations about animals and their treatment. We decided to do something to change that. At our annual fundraising dinner in 2017, The Rev. Dr. Gwynne Guibord made the commitment to create a small film that Animal Defenders International could use to finally bring the voice of our many faiths into the conversation. She took the idea to The Guibord Center’s Advisory Council and they agreed whole-heartedly.
It began as simply as that…
“Animals, Faith and Compassion” The Journey Begins
The Guibord Center’s Advisors were wildly enthusiastic and began an unexpectedly earnest conversation about what our various faiths’ teachings have to offer to the full spectrum of concerns for the well-being of animals. Jan Creamer and Tim Phillips, the force behind...
Phase One: The Filming – The Project Begins in Earnest
In the last 14 days of February, a tiny, five person film crew representing The Guibord Center traveled to 12 different sacred sites within 15 locations in and around Los Angeles where we loaded and unloaded hundreds of pounds of equipment in order to interview 26 people and 4 dogs
Day One Filming – St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral
Father Dan Ade, Dean and Rector and Father Mark Kowalewski, Dean and Rector St. John’s Cathedral is home to many of The Guibord Center’s events.That made it a good place to start the filming for Animals, Faith and Compassion, bringing the voices of faith into the...
Day Two Filming – The Zoroastrian Center, Westminster
The sun had barely risen when I packed the car with groceries for Day Two of shooting. One of my jobs would be to provide all the meals and a supply of substantial snacks each day. Filming is hard work. There is no time for a leisurely meal. I’d take orders and get...
The Measure of Faith – An Incident at the End of Day Two
Filming is disruptive at best. When The Guibord Center’s Board of Directors and Advisory Council agreed to allow us to film them in their sacred sites, they did so because every one of them was eager to support this initiative. They wanted to do something, whatever...
Day Three Filming – Temple Beth Shir Shalom, Santa Monica
“The Moment That Said It All” The dog said it all just in the way he stood there. His face caught in the lights. Standing by his human’s feet. While the Rabbi and the Director were deeply engaged in getting everything perfect right there in the middle of the Temple,...
Day Four Filming – Guru Ram Das Ashram
Feeding the Soul in L.A. It’s easy to miss. The Guru Ram Das Ashram. I’ve lived my whole life in Los Angeles and never known that a gem of a temple is here, just off one of the busiest thoroughfares in the city. The surprising bonus of this filming project is that we...
Day Five Filming – Hollywood Vedanta Temple – Finding Peace in Hollywood
The streets of Hollywood are deserted this early in the morning. I have Vine Street all to myself as I cruise up to the top where it dead-ends into the 101. Unseen, I slip around the corner under the freeway. Wait for the light and shoot straight up a steep hill....
Day Six Filming – The Theodore Payne Foundation – Sacred Totem
The image is jarring... The head of the eagle atop a sacred staff. The razor-sharp curve of its powerful beak is wide-open. The tongue thrust out. The eyes open. Its cries, long silenced in this world, stretch out across the heavens calling us to our better selves....