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You do a film on each chapter of the Krishna book

It had been advertised that Srila Prabhupada would give class that night. But since the program had run so late, it was decided that regular evening classes would commence from the next day. Madhudvisha suggested that William Kerr could show his movie In God's Name in Prabhupada's room instead, and Prabhupada agreed. As the last rays of the sun highlighted the multicoloured facets of the stained glass windows of Prabhupada's room, William nervously threaded the film. Madhudvisha introduced both William and the film. "I think you remember William, Srila Prabhupada. He filmed your lectures last year, and also the Ratha-yatra parade. This film was made about a year and a half ago in early 1974. William got a grant from the government to make it. It was filmed at the Sydney temple, which was in Double Bay at the time." 

William wanted to capture a day in the life of a devotee, and he hopes to be able to distribute it widely. "It's a full-length colour documentary. I think you'll enjoy it, Srila Prabhupada." A few more devotees squeezed into the room, and as Prabhupada relaxed on his chaise longue the lights dimmed. The film opened with a devotee blowing a conchshell, to wake a room of sleeping brahmacaris at the auspicious brahma muhurta hour. As they enthusiastically bounded to the shower, the young brahmacari woke Madhudvisha, who bowed down, rolled up his sleeping bag and then bowed again. By an editing quirk, it appeared that Madhudvisha's second offering of obeisances was to his sleeping bag. Prabhupada laughed along with the devotees at the inadvertent humour. The film clearly showed with the help of a voice-over commentary the sadhana, or the regulated daily practices of a devotee. This included taking bath, applying tilaka, putting on a dhoti, attending kirtana, japa, Srimad-Bhagavatam class, guru-puja and tulasi puja. The film was interspersed with footage of Srila Prabhupada at the 1974 Gaura Purnima festival in Mayapur. The movie also showed street kirtana, book distribution and chanting at the Sydney Domain, and a Sunday feast program and drama. Prabhupada laughed as two obese, beer-bellied men in blue Toohey's Lager singlets, appeared on the screen. Wiggling their hips and chanting, "Ali Baba, Ali Baba," they made unsuccessful attempts to sing and dance along with Lagudi as he danced on one leg like a whirling firebrand. 

Prabhupada joined the devotees in their applause at the end of what had been an entertaining hour. Most devotees then left the room and went to the temple for arati. While William was packing up his equipment, Srila Prabhupada asked him about his plans. William, who had once been a brazen and up-front news cameraman, nervously explained to Prabhupada that he was hoping to be able to make films about Krishna using stop-motion animation. He described to Prabhupada the basic techniques involved. Prabhupada liked the idea. "Yes! You do a film on each chapter of the Krishna book. Each chapter is a story by itself.?" After an in-depth discussion about the art of using one's talents in the service of Krishna, William left feeling encouraged. But he knew he had a big job ahead.


Reference: The Great Transcendental Adventure by Kurma Dasa