META's First Film Festival at ARTS OLYMPUS EVENT!
META co-created and participated in one of the most unique and exciting presentation of arts and conscious media that has ever been created-- aboard the Queen Mary Thursday through Sunday, June 17-21, 2010.
While the META Film Festival was occurring, arts events were launched all over the ship, including dancers, puppet theater presentations, a Russion Video Art Series and "Art in Motion" fashion Shows. Friday was highlighted by the R. A. W. fabulous party and fundraiser for "RAW Across America" which went on until five a.m. and featured well-known hip hop artists for a night of music, art and fashion.
Photos by VL Photography--photographers for the events
On Saturday The Los Angeles Poetry Festival took place in the various
Salons on the ship, while dance companies entertained vistiors on the Promenade Deck, along with the Bulgarian Veselba Band. Art and jewelry were featured in many of the ship's Salons, and fashion designers like the Peruvian designer, Ada Spolopuco, presented their fashion shows. Robert Slaughter poses here with some of the artists on deck. 
Sunday was a featured Children's Day of Culture with displays, films,arts,crafts, storytelling and musical performances for children. Here Cynthia Stringer visits with a children's puppeter.
Friday Reception and Networking Event
On Friday, META members, guests, Board of Directors an Advisors met in the Observation Bar on the ship for a fun Reception and Networking Event.
L to R: Marcia Martin, Cynthia Stringer, Andrew Orgel, ELizabeth Estrada, Sharon Hart
The Observation Bar as well as each room on the ship was exquisitely designed and featured beautiful carved woods and art deco furnishings, with large photographs of such notables as Queen Elizabeth and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. Old Hollywood celebs were pictured, like Fred Astaire plus newer stars like Leo DiCaprio. New members mingled with thosewith those attending Board of Directors and Advisors and enjoyed delicious drinks and pupus.
Valuable business connections were made. Film projects were shared as well as other creative ventures--such as member Michael Sibbio's Visions and Voices--an organization which raises social awareness through music, art,apparel and film. A great time was had by all.
META Film Festival Events
META presented, along with The International Social Action FIlm Festival (ISAFF), produced by META Board member, RON SCHULTZ, an ongoing Film Festival throughout the entire ARTS OLYMPUS weekend of events.
The Film Festival Short Documentary Series began on Thursday, June 17th with the 10 minute documentary films, "Fish for Tomorrow," "Moving the Mountain of Poverty," "Root Capital," "Climate Matters," "South Central Farm," and" Detecting Danger."
Friday featured, "War Zone," the multi-award winning documentary, a powerful film about children who not only have survived living in the Northern Ugandan war zone, where parents and family members are brutally tortured and murdered by roving bandits, but use music and dance to transform and heal their lives. Some memorable moments from the film included these statements from the children, after winning many categories of Uganda's National Music and Dance Competition, "If there is music, life becomes good....Even if we live in the war zone, we can do good things in life." This was a film about children showing us how to go through the darkest places--even zones of annhilation-- to create art, beauty and healing.
You can contact Ron Schultz at: creativesg@aol.com for more information about the film and where it may be screening or available to purchase.
Saturday morning, saw the screening of new META Affiliate, CHRIS TOUSSAINT's film, "Full Potential Community," about people making a positive difference in their communitites. Chris's film was chosen from the Call for Submission Entries for the Film Festival. META is currently building a library of films and will continue to accept submissions for future screenings in both Northern and Southern California.
Saturday Night Gala
A star-studded fundraising Gala with guests like BO DEREK and JANE RUSSELL, here on the red carpet, was held on Saturday evening, including a Reception and a posh, Formal Dinner.
Bo Derek, Jane Russell, Robert Slaughter, and Lisa Schniderman- Photos by VL Photography
Humanitarian Awards were given to adults, as well as children from REVOLUTION 9, a group mentored by META Board Member, LISA SCHNEIDERMAN. The Theme of the Gala was "Women, Children and the Environment." The event was broadcast live over the internet and hosted by ROBERT SLAUGHTER, Founder and President of ARTS OLYMPUS.
Some other META members found their way to red carpet.
Pictured here are Executive Director, CYNTHIA STRINGER, Board Chairman, ELIZABETH ESTRADA and Advisor, SHARON HART.
Entertainment included Italy's acclaimed pop singer, ROMINA ARINA, as well as music, dancers and other gifted performers.
Hollywood legend JANE RUSSELL was awarded a Golden Orb for helping orphans worldwide. ROMINA ARENA received an award for raising money for countless charities.
SOHEIR KHASHOGGI, best selling author, and one of the founders of "Women for Women" which helps destitute women globally was also awarded a Golden Orb. Others receiving awards, but who could not attend, were: Linda Gray, Ed Begley, Jr. and Dr.Robert Muller. Presenters included Sandy Jackson Berger and Faye Feller, President and Executive Director of the National Association of Women in the Arts, and Darlene Grant, the current President of Operation Children.
The next large event for ARTS OLYMPUS is a cruise to the Bahamas in October of 2011, launching the ARTS on their world tour. If you are interested in signing on or participating in any way, let us know!
Thanks to the META Board and members who assisted in the production of the META Reception, Film Festival, publicity and Red Carpet, and also to VL Photography who shared some of these photos with us. They may be reached at: www.VLShots.com
The Integral Cinema Project 
META Advisory Board member DIANA LOOMANS is a contributing author in the new publication entitled 100 WORDS; 200 Visionaries Share Their Hope for the Future. William Murtha, a global activist from Great Britain, sent out a query to global visionaries from diversified fields to ascertain their thoughts on what it takes to make a positive impact in the world. The book is a compelling collection of visions for a new humanity from many of today's leading thinkers. 
RON SCHULTZ, author of 20 published books, and an internationally recognized authority on Social Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprise, as well as the producer of the Social Action Film Festival, is a META Newsmaker with his new book:
away from where we are right now. They’re our ability to recognize change when it’s right in front of us. And when we can act on those opportunities we can have a profound and lasting impact on our communities". This book represents some recent thinking on how we go about sparking social action, but not necessarily the thinking on these ideas and opportunities. The book is offered not as the path itself, but as a ground on which to start the path.
Many of you are aware of the fact that for more than eight years, GARY MALKIN has been nurturing a vision and creating projects that offer a new way to access and experience the world's known and unknown visionaries, enhanced and immortalized through the power of music and, now, imagery. This experience changed his world view inalterably, confirming the vital role music and media can play in our lives - to help deepen and guide us through our life transitions and to support us in becoming more compassionate and connected to ourselves as well as to those we love and serve.
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