THE INSPIRATION BEHIND "ten short films about finding your dog."

Creating a film is no small feat, especially when that film aims to conjure the spirit and intention of Zen Buddhism's Ten Ox-Herding Paintings. This film seeks to entertain of course, but also move you - to tears, to laughter, to mystery, to one's own light.

Understanding Our Audience by Jer Sklar

In short: I don't. I'm not trying to be snarky here, I really don't. Nor am I interested in trying to hedge bets anymore as to what people will like. Look, we are in the age of algorithms, demographics, audience participation polls re: content development. I have even worked quite successfully in Hollywood as a Studio-level film development executive in the past. I honor and respect it. It has its place. But I am going to be very honest with you here - this kind of corporate creation speak bores me. Oh, I admit, it works to draw in the masses with clever, curated advertising and marketing schemes. But I find it leads to a homogenized expression lacking in voice, individuality, the personal. It creates content, disposable, forgettable content. Folks, I confess. I do NOT understand who this film is for except to say it is for dog lovers. It is for lovers of Zen philosophy. It is for me. It is for you. It is for no one. It is for everyone interested in an attempt to quietly lure our nature to the surface through cinema.

• Personal Stories: The stories I am developing are culled from my experiences in life yearing for something more, feeling most at peace with my dogs, with my meditation. It is also heavily influenced by my move to an unfamiliar country: Rural Indiana.

  
  

• Buddhism's Connection to Dog Training?: I have been interested for years in Zen Buddhism, and in particular a book The Monks of New Skete, NY, that train dogs with silence, stillness and love.

  
  

• Filmmaker Jer Sklar's Personal Relationship to Zen and The Ten Ox Herding Paintings I am not a Buddhist. I do not follow any organized religion. Admittedly, this is a deeply personal interpretation of a sacrosanct series of Buddhist Paintings about a farmer losing his ox, finding his ox, and returning to market with his ox. It an allegory for enlightenment, with each painting representing a step or a path towards the light. So what are The Ten Ox Herding Paintings, and what do they have to do with enlightenment and dogs? Head to The Ten Ox Herding Paintings page for a Japanese version of the Paintings along with short text explanations for each one.

• Once you have headed there, come back here for my Final Thoughts.