Smokin' Yogi is currently in pre-production for a new web series, due out this fall. Abnormally Normal is a life-affirming episodic dramedy — with stong elements of magic realism — that cleverly captures the exhilarating highs, the desperate lows, and all of the moments in between that describe the ever-evolving journey of family life, focusing especially on when its flow changes course with a divorce.  The production’s theme is:

Full 25-minute DEMO - Just Breathe

Trailer, Part One: She Says...

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Trailer, Part Two: He Says...

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SYNOPSIS
Jenevive and Max always said that if they ever got divorced, they would do it differently than most. They would honor their 16-year marriage, as well as their eight-year-old daughter Judy, by remaining family. The series begins with Jenevive handing Max a “dear John” letter of divorce.

Told through each family member’s perspective, the story explores their flashbacks and dreams, and delves into the depths of their minds, where their personal “Council-in-the-Head” archetypes bicker and banter about which path to take in the current dilemma. Meanwhile, Angel shows up disguised as everyday people, guiding them with gentle philosophies.

CHARACTERS
Both central characters, husband and wife, are caught in the American Dream, repressed by the traditional roles laid out for them by society and confused by the contrast with their own, individual dreams. Judy, Eduardo, and Angel's worlds are intertwined in this journey of transformational shifts.

• Jenevive is an attractive, quintessential super-mom of the ‘90s. She feels trapped in a sexless marriage and empty in a ‘perfect’ life over-filled with family, work, and extracurricular obligations.  She wants to live her own dreams, and yet she is conflicted by guilty feelings of selfishness and self-centeredness. Jenevive's Journey
• Max is a handsome “catch”: perfect daddy, good husband, hard-working man with conservative values.  He has difficulty reconciling—and strongly resents—the disparate expectations presented by his wife versus the family business.  If he could, Max would be a stay-at-home Dad, but he is unwilling to play this non-traditional role and give up his comfortable lifestyle. Max's Maxims
• Judy, 8 years old, is the only child of Jenevive and Max.  She is at once the inspiration to keep the family together as well as the source of her mother’s growing envy—Judy’s special bond with her father as “Daddy’s girl” fuels Jenevive’s resentment towards a husband who has no attention left to offer. Judy's Juice
• Heaven-sent Eduardo is the timely catalyst to Max’s unaffectionate and conventional self, appearing to take Jenevive “away from it all.”  This passionate treasure hunter’s dark secrets, however, overshadow the potential for a bright future for all. Eduardo's Compass
• Angel, newly-winged, has been appointed to guide this family in her own journey to attain the skill of flight. Illuminating lessons that might be missed, her various personas sprinkle messages of universal consciousness and weave harmony during these ‘shifting’ times. Angel's Angle
  

For more information, download the film's OneSheet.

STATUS
Our production staff in Minneapolis is buzzing with activity. Shooting is scheduled to begin in September in the Twin Cities, with the first episode available in early Fall 2008. We are currently interviewing for key positions and auditioning for ABNORMALLY NORMAL'S first season!

Smokin' Yogi is accepting resumes for the following:

• Directors
• Publicist
• Talent
• Crew
• Interns

Send resumes to info(at)smokinyogi(dot)com.

Julie’s degree in Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the University of Minnesota consisted of a Major Project designed to pull new interdisciplinary learning and prior learning with a public service element. Teaching Yoga for several years, Julie felt there was missing an element of getting everyday yoga to everyday people, as well as those who may never get a chance to be exposed to Yoga or those that are intimidated by its commercial appeal to the skinny gymnastic-style body.

Yoga is for EVERYONE at anytime of their life. Simple breathing techniques that can be practiced for FIVE to TEN BREATHS A DAY allow one to see a major difference not only in their breath capacity, but also in their general health and well-being.

The documentary simply offers the ideas of Yoga to incorporate slowly and easily into one’s daily routines without having to set aside huge chunks of time and energy dedicated to making it to a class, that when missed induce guilt and shame in many that they are not DOING what they “should” to get a good workout. YOGA is not about a good workout. It is about working the mind and body together, consciously, witnessing our breath, our feelings, and our patterns in order to break poor habits and create a higher health in mind, body and spirit. The body sculpting is a natural reaction to incorporating Yogic habits into one’s life. It is NOT a quick fix. It is all practice, as is life all practice.

Our bodies, minds and spirits can be likened to gardens. Yoga is that gardening, tending, witnessing, cultivating, weeding, nourishing, manifesting, harvesting, tilling and resting of our soils that hold all the elements needed to be human; spirit in form.

Please share these FREE downloads with halfway houses, shelters, libraries, or anyone you think may benefit from them. They are offered in service.

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Length: 25 minutes
Accompanying PDF Document
Length: (18 pages)
Size: 208kb

Perspectives of a 20th Century Woman:

Tanta Mary witnesses the influences that led to the evolution of women’s roles and those impacts on 20th century society. She speaks to the legacy of our society and offers words of wisdom to future generations as we continue to re-define our roles as individuals and families in today’s world.

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Length: 10 minutes

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