Touchstone:
Dancing With Angels is a widescreen documentary focusing on the people, history, and current plight of Touchstone
Farm in Easthampton, Massachusetts. This growing community of eclectic and creative individuals continues
to touch the hearts of many people throughout the region and the world. Located in the thriving community
of Easthampton, this group of dreamers and artists are known for their uplifting music, Sacred Circle dancing, yoga classes,
massage and acupuncture center, as well as their herb, flower, meditation gardens and non-denominational celebrations.
Touchstone Farm and its founders are now engaged in a struggle to keep their
dream alive. Since recent building inspections closed down the operations at the Center in the Spring of
2006, the founders have risen from adversity, -- by raising funds and garnering international support in their Herculean efforts
to purchase adjoining land to create an eco-village of more than 10 acres.
Throughout all of these struggles and victories, director and cinematographer D.S.
Fine captured many exhilarating moments with the community, documenting the inspiring story of the founders’ rise
from adversity to advantage. And editor Rebecca Rideout has assembled a dynamic & captivating, "straight-from-the-heart" film,
-- combing through over 180 hours of footage.
The timeline of Touchstone Farm's troubles in February 2006, their new-found will to
survive, and the anticipated re-opening of their expanded buildings and eco-village, scheduled for 2008, coincides synergistically
with the film's progress.
A simultaneous premiere of
the documentary and benefit for construction of the Farm's planned eco-village, is scheduled to be celebrated at The
Academy of Music Theatre in Northampton and P.A.C.E. (Pioneer Arts Center of Easthampton), -- during May
2008.
[Please visit: www.AcademyOfMusicTheatre.com, and www.PACETheater
.com for further information, as it becomes available.]
The screenings aim to be a significant event as the film
celebrates a vibrant community and group of people within the city of Easthampton. 
The Farm & Yoga Center offers many activities to get
involved with, and could benefit from increased awareness as they enter their new stage of expansion. By
gaining insight into the magic that exists in their own backyard, it is hoped that residents will come away with a sense of
pride in the diversity of Easthampton.
The resilient community of local artists, activists, musicians & thinkers is, in effect, undergoing
a spiritual death and rebirth. Concurrent with the center's transformation has been the extraordinary transgender
journey of one of its co-founders, who, -- after many months of inner reflection, -- has been remarkably
candid with the filmmakers.
This project has been planned since early 2006,
when Fine began filming the energetic, enigmatic & endearing residents, -- in addition to lush farmland and
gardens.
During a "once in a Blue Moon Cafe" meeting (in Easthampton's Eastworks building) Fine
& Rideout discussed the possibilities of collaborating on this wide-ranging project. And, since June
of that year, Rideout joined the efforts, meeting regularly to discuss the direction of the film and further videographic
goals.
Principal filming occurred from January 2006 until
April 2008. 
As assistant editor at Florentine Films / Hott Productions
in Haydenville (recent PBS projects include Niagara Falls; Through Deaf Eyes; and American Masters
series: John James Audubon: Drawn From Nature), Rebecca has extensive experience in the documentary editing
style.
Independent producer / director D.S.
Fine, whose previous cinematic efforts include Artistree; The Occupant; and
The Extraterrestrial Hypothesis, offers more than thirty years of film and video experience, along with
an incredible eye and creative flair with the camera.
It is not often that local residents have the chance to attend the premiere of a film made in and about their own community.
This event will increase the confidence and momentum of an lively, expanding arts movement in town. The
Touchstone community will benefit greatly by opening up their world. And Easthampton residents will benefit by discovering
this wondrous jewel in their own midst which many have heard about but have never explored.
**** [Please visit: http://www.SacredCircles.com/EcoVillage/eco-village.htm for more information about Touchstone Farm's planned eco-village.]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Special Announcement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Touchstone: Dancing
With Angels" will be cablecast:
Tuesday, July 8th; Wednesday, July 9th; and Thursday, July 10th, --
each
afternoon & evening at 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM
on Easthampton Community Access Television (ECAT) Cable
Channel 5.
For further information, please visit: http://www.ECATChannel5.com
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