This is Karma on Vimeo

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7. This is Karma

by Erling Hoveid

19 days ago

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by Erling Hoveid

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THEME: This is a documentary about the philosophy of karma. I am into eastern philosophy which I find to have a lot of truth in it. I wanted to make a film that conveys the idea that we are all basically the same. And I also wanted to make an informative film about what karma really is in case people are interested.

FORM: I wanted to experiment with fusing the documentary genre with the music video genre. I also wanted to make a film that in form reflected indian society in all its colour, chaos and diversity. Indian traditional ideas and beliefs, indian classical music remixed and edited trough western eyes to hopefully suit a western audience.

Erling Hoveid: director, producer, music, photography, co-editor
Geir O. Ramsvik: photography, editor, visual effects
Kristian E. Sjølie: graphic design
Jan Magnus Nymo: sound design, surround and stereo mix

Credits

421 Likes

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Tags

Blake Whitman 18 days ago

Really great piece and loved the animation.

Samsara next?
dannyjelinek 18 days ago

This was beautiful.
Erling Hoveid 18 days ago

Thanks! :)

I am thinking of doing a film about different states of mind, so I guess samsara will be a big part of it.
teajuana 18 days ago

It reminds me of a wonderful film entitled One Giant Leap, produced by some of the band members of Faithless. On the whole I enjoyed it, but I found some of the imagery and associated language disturbing. I believe in contagion, like does produce like, but to show imagery of needless material items such as jewelry set against slums does not, in my view, do the theory of Karma justice.
Erling Hoveid 18 days ago

Yes, One Giant Leap was indeed an inspiration years ago. The idea with the jewelry was just to have some images symbolizing material wealth as a contrast to poverty. Some people are rich, some are poor.
Sveinung Gjessing 18 days ago

Var ikke så dumt dette! Ut på nettet er the shit!
Gerald Penilla 18 days ago

Thank you !
Vinroc 18 days ago

Thank you.
Kevin Burns 18 days ago

Thanks for that, I get the impression that a lot of people think that Karma is something mystical, something that you have to believe in or have faith in. Karma translated into western colloquial is consequence. Consequence of action, consequence of thought. Consequence of thought will lead you to green pastures or to your enemies.
Thankyou
Stefan Melichar 18 days ago

Nice, what did you shoot this on?
Erling Hoveid 18 days ago

Panasonic HPX170 and the timelapses are done with a Canon EOS 400D.
Austin Ho 18 days ago

Great documentary! I loved the tilt shift scenes.
Allison F 18 days ago

I liked this a lot. However, I was very sad to hear the one man say that karma explains why some people are very poor and do not have enough to eat.
Some of the kindest, best people I have met are those who face the harsh realities of living in the slums and not knowing where their next meal is coming from. I believe that poverty is not a crime. A poor person is not a worse person than a rich one.
Erling Hoveid 18 days ago

Actually this man was very kind and someone I would say lived the teachings. I think what he sais is that if you believe in karma, that all actions have consequences, then the situation you are in is a result of past actions. He does not really blame people who are poor.
ramsubramani elangovan 18 days ago

Yes. Allison F, you are right.

Typical Indian Auditor. I'm sorry for those poor fellows starred in this doc. They don't live with what they tell.
Sam Potts 18 days ago

What kind of tilt shift lens did you use for those shots?
Erling Hoveid 18 days ago

Just a normal lens. The tilt shift effect was added in after effects.
Paul 18 days ago

Good job. Good karma. You can take that to the bank.
Andreas Lohmann 18 days ago

Like your movie a lot. The concept sounds so simple yet living it can be very difficult and painful at times. The protagonists in the film seem to be so calm and accepting - very appealing and something to aspire to.
Erling Hoveid 18 days ago

Thanks for all the positive feedback! It really means a lot :)
Pamela Welde 18 days ago

I really enjoyed your video. It straightens out a lot of things I have heard about Karma over the years. Your video made a lot of sense to me. I Thank You!
Erling Hoveid 18 days ago

If you like this film, you might also like my other film: Hinsides Tanker Eksisterer Ingenting (english subtitles)

It is in norwegian, but it has english subtitles. Same kind of ideas, but more of an artfilm.
Jandira Feijó 18 days ago

Congratulations from Porto Alegre,Brasil
Eric Demibee 17 days ago

Thanks for this film. I especially enjoyed your playful treatment of the street and fairground shots.
Dr.Ake 17 days ago

I am really in to Indian culture. This documentary was enlightening.
Renier Eclectro 17 days ago

Very well done! I liked the way the music video approach worked out, refreshing.

It's a shame however that the whole caste system and the poverty of the lowest caste is justificated by this belief in karma as far as I understand it.
Brad Kremer 17 days ago

Great film with a fresh feel to it. Well done!
Terri Cartwright Davis 17 days ago

I loved this film so much I had to sign up just so I could let Erling know. Eastern Philosophy is great and I love to see people diving in to learn more about it. Thanks so much, looking forward to seeing more of your work.
Jamie Wilson 17 days ago

great footage and a great message
Rafal Janicki 17 days ago

this is great !
Eduardo Merille 17 days ago

Enjoyed it thanks.
João Monteiro 17 days ago

Such a great documentary, very well explained the meaning of karma. I was wondering if the miniature effect is done with a tilt shift lens or is it done in adobe after effects. cheers and congratulations.
Erling Hoveid 17 days ago

It´s done in after effects. I think I tried the lens baby before going to india, but it did not look that good. In after effects you get a lot more control over the effect :)
DaVincicode 17 days ago

Congrats to you Erling Hoveid on making this film. The editing was great and the audio was great. Thanks for bringing the subject of Karma into play. But you never mentioned the word "Dharma" either that means one's righteous duty or any virtuous path in the common sense of the term. (Wikipedia definition). Best to you and keep on making movies.
Shawn Landersz 17 days ago

this is some pro documentry you got going here.
Bravo!
and thank you!
"... we are essentialy spiritual beings on a human trip"
that gave me goosebumps, just beautiful. definately will use that quote in the future (if you dont mind)
-GO- 17 days ago

Nicely done and it has a great fresh style but I don't know.....
It seems to me that the very worst of people get the very best of life. Maybe we humans have gone too far to implement a rule of life like Karma. Remove the clutter of banks, markets, politics and religion from the culture and then we might have a chance to define what good and bad is in the first place. After that, lets see.
I love it when a doc gets me thinking.
G
magneticblue 17 days ago

Regarding action and reaction in the ping pong scene, the first racket hit may be acceptable as first action in the ping pong concept but... I can't see any distinct beginning or end in the reality. Day goes, night comes, where is the exact border in between them? Is there any real separation in between this second and the previous one? Simply no human being knows about the real thing we live in. It's all about beliefs. I agree, we're all connected. This makes sense. On the other hand we all live in darkness, may be that's why they call some people GU-RU: darkness remover.
Erling Hoveid 17 days ago

Yes, it is a lot of beliefs and we live in ignorance most of the time. However it is not all darkness and insight and real understanding seems possible. I have at least met some really interesting gurus that to me seems genuine.
Jackson Jackson 17 days ago

Clear and concise statement about the nature of karma. Visuals and images enhanced the underlying message.
magneticblue 17 days ago

Bank analogy is fine. Even we get it right, big question is what is good and bad? According to whom? Is it acting on all notions deemed good for me or for you? Is it cover everything or just humans? I feel hungry and go eat some meat, vegetable, this is all good for me but bad for animals or plants in terms of keep being alive.

I come to conclusion that Karma and many other interrelated concepts are invented by smart people to keep public in a multidimensional order. Let's remember untouchables (outcasts) set a massive stage of fear to become one of them if one goes "bad" (again according to whom) ways. It's a heretic killer.

Don't you think so?
Erling Hoveid 16 days ago

I am no expert, but I think a sense of good and bad is worked into our mind somehow. Doing harm to others I would say is bad and usually leaves one with a bad conscience. There are of course many views, but the one I lean to is that all leaving beeings are basically the same spirit or mind. Don´t know about plants though, but hey, we got to eat something :)

I personally believe that there are some mechanisms going on in our mind like cause and effect that determine the outcome of our lives. What people in power use these kind of ideas for is of course another story.
Terri Cartwright Davis 16 days ago

I agree... and as for the food aspect, only the strictest believers of karma would not eat certain types of plants, those where the root is eaten so therefore the plant is killed. One has to remember, that plants have life cycles, they die whether parts of them are used for food or not.
Lex Luthor 17 days ago

Thank you for a lovely presentation of a beautiful culture/belief.

I really loved the Canon's depth of field in the time lapse shots, it almost makes it look like a miniature. will you be making more in India or was this a one time thing?
Erling Hoveid 17 days ago

Thank you! I wanted the miniature effect to get a sense of watching the world from above since it is a film about philosophy.

I want to go to India again for sure, but don´t know when or what kind of project yet.
Oz Smith 17 days ago

Really, really great and totally inspiring from a philosophical point of view and from a film making one. India is such an amazing / assault on the senses / beautiful / shocking / wonderful / spiritual place.

I love the tilt shift After FX stuff, was this done with lens blur and a feathered mask if you don't mind me asking? Ive tried it before but never with such great effect as you have got..
Erling Hoveid 16 days ago

Thanks a lot!

Geir who did the tilt shift effect used a tutorial found on the web and just followed it. Don´t know which one though, but it should not be too difficult. :)
Duck Duck Poodle 16 days ago

Very nice work. Great shooting.
Karol 16 days ago

...fine. But I think - Karma ist only amusing story from our mind. Bad and good - where is it? In our mind.
All is a live. Just in that moment.
Gilles Misrahi 16 days ago

Thank you for the explaination, the people, the way of doing it. Certainly good Karma to you ;-)
Amila Galappatthi 16 days ago

Very informative yet poetic! Buddhism teaches the same thing with a different methodical approach. Wish you all the best!
Chris Light 16 days ago

This was really awesome. style, graphics, animations, and coverage...great doc.
Erling Hoveid 16 days ago

Again, thanks for all the positive feedback! Feels good to know others appreciate ones work. :)
Fernando 16 days ago

Congrats! Very good job
ESTHER 15 days ago

Beautiful! I'm so inspired :) I really want to go to India now too!
Gokhan Senses 15 days ago

Beautiful :) Thank you :)
Robert Morrissey 14 days ago

Well Done, Bravo!
Silje Jacobsen 13 days ago

Fantastisk Erling, alle tusen som ser filmen din og digge den. Gratulere, eg e stolte av deg ;)
Erling Hoveid 13 days ago

Takk Silje :)
iMak 12 days ago

Hey Erling, I liked your documentary a lot, so I have decided to share it on my blog! justanothercoolblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/this-is-karma.html cheers! =)
Victoria Levitt 12 days ago

I can't thank you enough for adding this to Vimeo. An amazing piece of art, with a very special message.
Truly inspirational, thanks again.
Brian Van Peski 12 days ago

GREAT WORK! You've officially been added to the documentary channel. :)
Morty Now 11 days ago

I think you did a good job on this production but I feel compelled to share this with you and everyone. Do not deceive people from the truth. Jesus said wide is the road that leads to destruction and narrow is the gate of salvation. Do not perpetuate the lie that doing good gets you salvation.

Jesus is the only person who came and said he was God ...not Mohammed, not Buddah, no one can save you but Jesus.
Andrew Carreon 11 days ago

Excellent, well done, thank you so much!
narkyoung kim 9 days ago

the whole worrrrrrrrrrld ~
karrrrma ~ lol
Roger Snowden 8 days ago

Nice work. I must say, however, the participants miss the mark somewhat.

Karma is most simply stated as the law of "cause and effect". Hence, there neither good nor bad karma.

Simply karma.

And, karma requires belief no more that does gravity. You are recognizing the obvious, ignoring it at your own peril.
Simona Kicurovska 3 days ago

I agree with you Roger.

Nicely done still..
paul 8 days ago

I'm troubled. Am I supposed to revere Karma?

If Karma cash was in a Bank and "it" had faults; is this my bag? Ok, I can agree if "it" involves me.

But to be sick in a sick world, well surely I would be of sound karma - you see my trouble. I just need to learn how to write a happy story; not a bad, sick one... Is that right?

So I learn to read as well as write. The players are like a giant brain that connect to one mind, the larger to the smaller; you, me and I all the same; my reflection is as yours - totally confused, if you were looking at me now.

So, its me, with you, being who "I am". To understand how this works and to realise a way to be happy; or write to read a happy story,

I should loving root my life to a world of +/-

does anyone have a big calculator?
Rio Penabella 4 days ago

this was really awesome. very simple and genuine. good job!
mike ambs ☂ 3 days ago

Very awesome - loved watching this. It always makes me happy to watch something that makes me open up my perception.