About The Film
What would you do if you woke up one morning and saw something floating in the corner of your room?
The film WAKE UP follows the incredible story of Jonas Elrod who until four years ago was just an average guy living an average life in New York City until he inexplicably developed the ability to access other dimensions. He suddenly could see and hear angels, demons, auras and ghosts. He had no idea what was going on. Physicians, neurologists, psychiatrists, ministers and all else to whom he went seeking a traditional diagnosis gave him a clean bill of health, but were unable to provide an explanation. What was it? Why was it happening to him? One thing was certain for this 37-year old man - life as he had known it would never be the same.
With his loving but skeptical girlfriend by his side, Jonas crisscrosses the United States as he searches for answers. Along the way, he encounters an amazing group of religious teachers, scientists, mystics and spiritual healers who help him piece together this intricate puzzle. Both he and his girlfriend are challenged to test their physical and mental conditioning and ultimately their core beliefs as they delve deeper into this thrilling world of the phenomenal and spiritual.
WAKE UP uses Jonas' captivating journey to explore larger truths about the universe and everyone in it. The film shows how all of us can search inward for our own peace and happiness while contributing towards a positive shift in global consciousness. As the world becomes more and more uncertain amidst political, economic and environmental turmoil, it is these core issues that become increasingly vital to people trying to find meaning in their lives.
Principal photography for WAKE UP began in February 2006 with nearly 400 hours of footage shot on high definition. Some of the recognizable people featured in the picture include: Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee (acclaimed Sufi teacher), JZ Knight (featured in the film WHAT THE BLEEP DO WE KNOW), Stephan A. Schwartz (noted researcher and author), Joan Halifax (renown Zen teacher), Gary E. Schwartz, Ph.D (professor and researcher), and Abdi Assadi (acclaimed healer and author).
The film is being produced by Steve Hutensky, a former senior executive at Miramax Films, and directed by Jonas Elrod and Chloe Crespi. Christopher Seward, one of Michael Moore's main editors from SICKO and FAHRENHEIT 9/11, edited the film, and Kurt Engfehr, another principal Moore editor from FAHRENHEIT 9/11 and BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE, serves as consulting producer.
JONAS ELROD & CHLOE CRESPI (CO-DIRECTORS) Q&A
What is the genesis of the project and how did it all come together?
JE - I was living a normal life and then one day out of nowhere I had this incredibly strange thing happen to me. I was in San Francisco for work and my first night there I started to see spirits and clouds of energy enter my hotel room. I had no idea what was going on. The temperature in the room plummeted and I watched in shock. The more I looked, the more I could see. I saw geometric patterns coming out of the walls, auras and all kinds of wild stuff - both beautiful and horrifying. Eventually, these spirits actually spoke to me and told me to expose what I had experienced, but I had no idea what that meant.
Later when I arrived back in New York, I met Chloe. I remember being drawn to her and I ended up telling her what had happened to me and that it was still going on. I told her in detail about these new senses (I still see and hear stuff every day) and she shared with me her own experiences that she's had since childhood. I was relieved to meet her. We became quick friends and I told her what the spirits had told me to do.
We then connected with her friend Steve Hutensky, an independent producer who used to work at Miramax. The three of us decided to make a documentary about my experiences. We didn't have a clear idea of what it would be. We bought an HD camera and some sound equipment and just started filming. Later, we raised money from investors and when it was time to edit, we connected with two great documentary guys from Michael Moore's films - our editor Chris Seward who did "Sicko" and "Fahrenheit 9/11" and our consulting producer Kurt Engfehr who worked on "Fahrenheit" and "Bowling For Columbine".
Where did the journey take you and for how long were you traveling?
CC- The three of us filmed for over 3 years, and we traveled all over the states and to Europe. We just kept connecting to such amazing people. It was very exciting.
JE- I'm a guy from a small Southern town who grew up on Christianity, so I had never been exposed to the stuff we encountered during the film. Some experiences were nice and comforting to me, while others really jolted me out of my comfort zone and tested my core beliefs.
How many hours of footage did you end up with? What was the editing process like?
CC- We shot over 400 hours of footage. The editing process was painful, but rewarding in the end. With documentaries, there's no script so it takes a really long time to piece it all together. We interviewed so many incredible people that it was so hard to narrow it down to 95 minutes.
What made you want to share this story with the world?
JE - I didn't feel like I had a real choice. I was told to share my experiences, so while it's been difficult at times to talk about it, I knew that I had to embrace it and see where it would take me. I wasn't seeking it out. I was just a regular guy and it was thrown upon me. The experience has shifted my entire perspective and changed my life in profound ways. I felt compelled to share my journey with others, so they could consider what I learned. I think there are powerful messages in all this stuff, so maybe it can be helpful to others, especially in these trying times.
CC- Jonas' story is so compelling and such a great vehicle to expose the different realities that are constantly around us. I've always been fascinated with the paranormal and the spiritual, so this film is a manifestation of all my passions. If some people can walk out from the experience and question what reality is, then I think we've done our job. What we see and touch and hear with our five senses is such a small part of the universe.
What do you hope people will take away from the film?
JE - I hope it will make people question what they have been taught - to open their minds to different understandings. For whatever reason, my impetus to grow spiritually was seeing these other worlds. I got direct proof that we actually survive death and that we are all connected. This knowledge led me to live my life differently and I'm hoping the film will lead others to consider doing the same.
CC - Ultimately, Jonas' experience and the film is about him finding his own path to self-exploration. He got a wake up call to figure out what it all means, and I'm hoping people see our film and are similarly inspired to dig deeper.
What was the most interesting thing you learned about yourself while on this journey?
CC- As much as Jonas changed during filming, all of us were deeply affected as well. We met such incredibly powerful people who shared so much truth with us. More than once I left an interview moved to tears.
JE- I don't know where to begin. Basically I have to continue to work on myself and that process never stops.
What was the most difficult part of the journey?
JE - To reveal whatever message needed to come out. I felt a lot of pressure to not screw this up, and to be open to whatever the universe decided to throw our way. I had to learn to have stronger faith that we are always being guided and that the truth will come out as the truth sees fit.
CC-The entire filming process was extremely challenging. There were so many times that we would be sitting in a rental car thousands of miles away from home with nothing but obstacles coming our way. If the three of us had known how long it would take us and what it would take to get here, I don't think we would have ever agreed to do it. It really tested and reinforced our faith on so many levels.
What was the most gratifying part of the journey?
JE- I was deeply inspired by the people that decided to speak with us. It was truly remarkable and life altering.
CC- Meeting some of the most powerful spiritual teachers of my generation. I got to sit down with people who I had been reading about for years and who had profoundly changed my life.
What is next in your quest for answers?
JE - I feel like many of the answers that I was seeking came to me. There are some things I may never be able to wrap my head around, but I am able to understand and interpret them with my heart. Logic and rationality were helpful on the scientific side of the quest, but had little to do with the spiritual side. This world I found myself in was intense at first; I had no warning and it all happened so abruptly. I had no idea what any of it meant or why it happened to me. Through time, I began to understand how these things work and I'm thankful for the experience. I still don't know why this happened to me but I'm at peace with it. At the same time, I know the rest of my life will be about more learning and deeper exploration.
CC- I feel like I'm still working on some of the basics, but it is the constant movement towards full remembrance of who I really am - in all its manifestations.