Rock Drama Leads to Krishna

BY: RICHARD SHAW BROWN

Sep 28, BANGKOK, THAILAND (SUN) — Why is this movie project of interest to ISKCON or the Gaudiya Math? Because it is a real life rock-and-roll adventure-thriller that centers around Srila Prabhupada and his fugitive disciple, and features ISKCON, the Gaudiya Math, and Krsna Conscious life and philosophy. It's a devotee drama with a dangerous and musical plot - an extremely commercial film with Lord Krishna in the middle. For those interested to learn more please read the Synopsis below:

Misunderstood
Children of the Sun
Conscientious Objector

By Michael Stax Dixson & Richard Shaw Brown
WGA INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY REGISTRATION # 977444

"The saga of the Misunderstood is one of the most unbelievable, heartbreaking, and unlikely stories in the entire history of rock"---Creem Magazine, September 2004.

"The American Yardbirds"---Rolling Stone Magazine: September 2004

"If I had to list the ten greatest performances I've seen in my life, one would be The Misunderstood. My god, they were a great band!"---John Peel Interview 2003

"The Misunderstood were a band of immense talent. Their debut single, I Can Take You to the Sun, stands as one of the most powerful and best psychedelic singles ever released."---Record Collector Magazine, July 1999

Synopsis

MISUNDERSTOOD is the true story of the greatest lost Rock Band of the 1960s and their search for truth and peace in a world of violence and confusion. It is an epic tale of East and West, spanning one soul's karma, two lives, three continents and four decades of intense International social change.

First he gets murdered then his adventure begins

The story begins in India in 1947, a time of violent upheaval, the partition of India and Pakistan, when thousands are murdered in riots and fighting. Hrisikesh is an old Indian monk who is fleeing the chaos and slaughter atop a train bound for the holy town of Rishikesh at the foot of the Himalayas. Hrisikesh Baba arrives at his destination only to be shot and killed in a blood-soaked melee. In a stunning montage sequence, the soul of Hrisikesh is swept down a glowing tunnel, past ancient images and into a womb ­ in America, where he is reborn as Richard Shaw-Brown II.

The next scene opens in Southern California, 1965. Rick aka Hrisikesh is 18 years old, a surfer and lead singer in a pioneer psychedelic rock band, The Misunderstood, based in Riverside, California. Rick and his group are completely wrapped up in their revolutionary anti-war music and their ambition to share it with the world. But they are severely constrained by the limited horizons of their small-town locality and the grand hopes of their old-fashioned parents. To complicate matters, the Vietnam War is escalating and the threat of the military draft looms over the band members and their entire generation. Rick's Father is an Air-force Colonel so the values between son and Father are in constant conflict.

Encouraged by their mentor, an English disc jockey named John Ravenscroft (later famous as the BBC's John Peel, OBE) the Misunderstood decides to relocate to London, England, where their music might find a more receptive audience. After a period of poverty and hardship, a bonding between the players and their audience develops, set against the colorfully exciting backdrop of Psychedelic 'swinging 60s' London. The Misunderstood captivates their audiences in droves, and is signed to a deal with Fontana Records. Behind the scenes though, two greedy managers battle for control over Rick and the group's soul. A lavish media-launch press reception announces the release of "I Can Take You To The Sun," the Misunderstood's first single which is met with rave reviews. The Misunderstood are poised on the brink of a major breakthrough, but Rick's numerous draft notices from home finally catch up with him in London. Placing his trust in his management and record-company lawyers, he follows their advice and returns to California to face the draft, fully expecting to be exempted from the military. Instead, he is thrown directly into boot camp, where he undergoes a nightmarish indoctrination into the US Army. He realizes the military is trying to turn him into a killing machine, and Rick resists every step of the way, despite violent repercussions from other recruits.

On the eve of his shipment to Vietnam, Rick flees boot camp and becomes a fugitive; living life in the shadows; without money, country, freedom or identity. Meanwhile the band back in London disintegrates without their lead singer-song writer. Hiding out first in Haight Ashbury during the Summer of Flowers and Love he meets an old Indian, Swami Bhaktivedanta, who initiates him with the name 'Hrisikesh,' and advises he should go to India. On the eve of departure, Rick is captured by the Military Police, but manages to escape through Hollywood to London, where he is sheltered by guitar-legend Jeff Beck and John Peel. Now deeply immersed in Eastern religion, Rick's ultimate goal remains to reach India, where he hopes to find sanctuary and peace with the Swami.

Traveling under an assumed ID he finally finds his way to the obscure temple-town of Vrindavan in Northern India. Unable to meet Swami Bhakti Vedanta, he takes shelter with another Guru, Swami Bon, in an ancient Ashram. For seven years Rick, ­ now Hrisikesh, ­ lives as a monk, his head shaved, courageously enduring and overcoming the challenges of strict religious discipline, rancid food, unspeakable health conditions and extreme illness. Simultaneously, he discovers revitalizing knowledge and spiritual peace. This peace is devastated when a dispute breaks out among the two [ ] American FBI and the U.S. Military; again over the ownership of Hrisikesh's soul. But he perseveres and in 1971 he is swept up in the Indo-Pakistan War's violence; yet, in the midst of turmoil he helps to build two schools. In this period India's highest leaders befriend Hrisikesh, including India's President Sri V.V. Giri, who helps him escape from India; just as the U.S. authorities are closing in on him.

Evading capture yet again, Hrisikesh finds a new sanctuary in Kathmandu, Nepal, at the end of the hippie trail in the foothills of the Himalayas. Here news reaches him from an old friend about the discovery of a secret ruby mine in Southern India. Returning to India barefoot and bereft of any ID, Hrisikesh is asked to sell rough gemstones in the labyrinth of Bombay; thereby awakening a new calling within him. Finally back in Nepal and through the wise counsel of a charismatic old Himalayan hermit named Kali Baba, he discovers an ancient secret about flawless gems and their significance within the astrological realm. His newfound visions for gemstone-talisman designs take him on many exotically dangerous missions -- to mysterious Bali and mystical Nepal -- but his fugitive past continues to haunt him and thwart his ambitions. With the FBI constantly on his trail unscrupulous people in whom he confides dupe Hrisi. Consequently, he is left destitute in Asia; his rope is running out... fast.

Just as all appears lost ­ with the Feds closing in -- Rick meets new old god brothers who inform him the U.S. Government has granted an amnesty to all Vietnam War "conscientious objectors." With newfound hope and help, Hrisikesh returns to the United States -- after 12 years on the run -- slipping across the border from Mexico. His family had presumed Rick was dead in India many years ago. But, in a deeply emotional scene, they are reunited: Rick and his father can at last make amends. However, Rick must now turn himself in to the authorities and face all charges against him as an outlaw. After a brief, comical return to the Army, and some nail-biting twists and turns within the legal system, he is finally granted freedom. Then a chance meeting with a lady psychic, leads to a stunning revelation and the key to Hrisikesh's past life and ultimate destiny

To actually HEAR the revolutionary music of The Misunderstood recorded in London in 1966 you can get free MP3 downloads from the official web site. **For those interested to see the original MOU behind the script development please read the following from the head of Pacific Film Works:

-----Original Message-----
From: Darren Shaw
To: Gerald Winnington-Ingram
Cc: Lloyd Chao
Subject: Hrisikesh Movie Project

Dear Gerald

Good to meet you with Akbar yesterday to discuss your ³Hrisikesh² treatment and script. I agree that it is certainly a very interesting property you have, with its compelling themes and insights, and importantly, its strong story potential based on Richard Shaw's remarkable and extraordinary real life.

As I mentioned, Pacific FilmWorks most usually acts as Executive Producers, and for your movie project, in this role we would assist you with it in the following ways:

In the development stage:

* Placing script (either finished or in more advanced development) to suitable talent agencies and directors

* Initial approaches to above-the-line lead talent

* Select and assign line producer

* Determine key production crew (AD, DP, etc)

* Create detailed film budget

Financing/pre-production:

* Work to complete packaging of project (script, director, lead talent, line producer, etc) and undertake submissions to potential distributors/financiers į Sourcing and co-ordinating finance

Thereafter, the film would essentially be under the control of the SPV production entity. We would continue to oversee the project as Executive Producers with specific tasks related to financing and distribution.

You asked what we see as the next steps for us to assist with this project in order for us formally to act for you in this Executive Producer's role. It seems to us that the most important requirement at the moment, as I indicated to you when we met, is to ensure that the first draft of the script that you now have, is reworked in order to be more selective from the extensive possible story material, and thereby stronger emphasize the key strands that will hold the audience and link the whole screenplay together. It also then needs to be put into a more industry standard presentation format. This is crucial to attract the interest of a suitable director or lead cast, which in turn will allow us to present this to potential distributors and/or financiers.

Once this redrafting of the script has been done and these improvements have been achieved, should you wish us to take on the Executive Producer's role, I am happy to confirm that we are interested in doing so, and we would then begin submitting this script and supporting material to talent as described above. Provided that we can package the script with a suitable director and/or lead cast, we can also submit this project to 20th Century Fox for co-financing and worldwide distribution under an arrangement we have with them in the US.

In the meantime, if you have any further questions or information requests, please feel free to discuss this further with either me or Pacific Filmworks' CEO, Lloyd Chao, who is based in our Los Angeles office, as we would be pleased to help you in any other way we can.

We look forward to hearing from you. Kind regards Darren Shaw Chairman Pacific Film Works