Back From The Light
What would you feel if a loved one died….
Then came back to talk about it?
What would it feel like to touch eternity…
Then face mortality again? How would you cope?
What if your world changed forever… What would you do?
Around
the world literally millions dealing with Near Death Experiences, either
personally or as the loved one, family or friend of someone who has been
on that journey. Lives are changed irreversibly by surviving such a
traumatic event.
Back From The Light is a new documentary film that addresses understanding and coping with these Aftereffects - these deeply personal changes for all involved.
Co-Executive Producers Yvonne Sneeden & Robert Neal Marshall have both had Near Death
Experiences. Having survived these dramatic events, it became clear that so many others
also struggle with the reality of what happened, trying deal with difficult changes, and often feeling so
alone.
Withstanding the ultimate expedition that is a part of all
Humanity is both humbling and at the same time intense. No
matter what the truth is, or what anyone believes happens to individuals while they were gone, it is learning to
live back in this world
afterwards in the here and now that becomes a difficult journey often filled with ostracism and dismissal. Many crave and miss the peace and love felt while in the light.
Back From
The Light interviews dozens of people who have a very rare insight into this
phenomenon, from #1 New York Times Best Selling authors to medical professionals, writers, artists and every day real people trying to find answers to the
ultimate question.
By helping us finish this documentary film, your contribution and generous spirit of support will make a powerful difference in the lives of so many Near Death Survivors as well as their families.
Our Website:
www.BackFromTheLight.com Join us on
Click Here For Our Facebook Page Follow Us on Twitter: @BackFrmTheLight
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Our Journey & Where We Need To Go
We have already made a sizable investment of funds, personal resources, technical equipment and time to capture over 25 hours of interviews and raw footage. We have already visited multiple cities, including Sarasota, FL, Raleigh, NC, Miami, FL, Buffalo, NY, Berwyn, PA, Columbia, MD, Jackson, WY, Newport Beach, CA and Nova Scotia, Canada to video our esteemed guests. We are at the point where we have major editing to accomplish plus additional interviews & expenses to complete the film. These cost estimates include:
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Accounting - Hand in hand with establishing a new production company, One2gether Productions, we will need an accountant to help us with initial account set up, Book keeping, reporting and tax preparation. Est. $500
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Legal - One2gether Productions is being established as a limited liability (LLC) corporation with the potential for future projects as well and there are filing fees and initial costs involved to properly organize our legal entity. Est. $500
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Editing - Co-Producer/Director/Editor Robert Neal Marshall already owns and has contributed his own High Definition Video Camera and Editing Suite, however there are additional expenses for uninterrupted Editing time to focus on completing this project in a timely manner, back up external drives, plus production related expenses such as digital tapes and other supplies. Est. $4,500
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Travel - We still have several interviews still to come with several more key individuals. This travel will take us back to the Western United States as well as specific opportunities in Yvonne's home country of Belgium with related costs. Est. $2,500
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Music - We are commissioning original soundtrack music for this project which not only allows for specific and emotionally appropriate score, but also encourages and gives new opportunities for musicians to have their compositions as part of a legitimate film. Est. $1,000
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Licensing - In addition to original music and video footage, we will need to utilize carefully selected Royalty Free stock footage clips where the expense of full blown animations is cost prohibitive for a conservative and streamlined film budget. In addition, to these licensing fees there are some costs in obtaining clearances for selected photographic images. Est. $800
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Graphic Design - There are costs involved with the design and implementation of visual graphics for DVD Cover/Jacket, Poster, Promotional Postcards and related images. Est. $200
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DVD Replication - Although it is our goal to pursue Film Festival submissions, as well as larger potential release and distribution for Back From The Light, we will need to produce an initial run of DVD copies. There are fees connected with Disc Mastering, Duplication & Packaging. Est. $2,500
Beyond the above primary considerations will be miscellaneous Office Operating, Marketing & Promotional Expenses. Updates with specific budget figures will be added as established. Our primary concern here is completing this film for viewing.
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Our Perks
We are very exited to offer a wide range of contribution opportunities for a variety of levels and budgets. From Special Thanks and DVD Copies to Co-Producer credits with IMBD (International Movie Database) listings. Our Initial Perks include:
$10 - Supporter - Receive and Email of Special Thanks for your support from the Producers Robert Neal Marshall & Yvonne Sneeden.
$25 - Sponsor - Receive an Email of Special Thanks from Producers PLUS have your name listed on our Website under the SPONSOR section of our Contributors!
$50 - Patron - Receive an Email of Special Thanks from Producers, your name listed on our Website under the PATRON section of our Contributors PLUS receive a copy of our BACK FROM THE LIGHT Poster (Final design may change)!
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$100 - Angel w/DVD Copy - Personal phone call of Special Thanks from Producers, your name listed on our Website under the ANGEL section of our Contributors, PLUS a copy of the BACK FROM THE LIGHT DVD!
$250 - Benefactor w/Signed DVD & Mug - Poster, a SIGNED copy by Robert & Yvonne of the BACK FROM THE LIGHT DVD, PLUS a BACK FROM THE LIGHT souvenir Mug, and your name listed on our Website under the BENEFACTOR section of our Contributors,
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$500 - Champion w/End of Film Credit - Poster, Mug, Signed copy of DVD, PLUS special your name listed as CHAMPION on our website and under SPECIAL THANKS in the End Credits of the Film!
$1000 - Associate Producer w/End of Film Credit - Poster, Mug, Copy of DVD PLUS your name as Associate Producer on our Website and in the END Credits of the film. Also an invitation to attend the premiere public screening of the film & After Party (Transportation, Accommodations & travel expense not included)
$2,500 - Associate Producer w/IMBD & End of Film Credit - Poster, Mug, DVD, your name as Associate Producer on our Website and in the END Credits of the film, PLUS an official IMDB (Internet Movie Database) credit as an ASSOCIATE PRODUCER. Also an invitation to attend the premiere public screening of the film & After Party (Transportation, Accommodations & travel expense not included),
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$5,000 -
Co-Producer w/IMBD & Opening Credit - Poster, Mug, DVD, PLUS your name as a Co-Producer on our Website, in the OPENING Credits of the film AND an official IMDB (Internet Movie Database) credit as a CO-PRODUCER. Also an invitation to attend the premiere public screening of the film & After Party (Transportation, Accommodations & related travel expense not included),
Yvonne Sneeden - Personal Message & Bio
Imagine a world, in which we would have a glimpse of tomorrow’s
destination, after this earthly life… …and then come back to this life
with the knowledge of the existence of a new reality somewhere else than
the familiar earth we live in. The world is changing and opening up to
the reality of Near Death Experiences and to the possibility that life
does not stop at the end of our physical existence here on earth.
Deep emotional life crisis lead to my Near Death Experience, in
conjunction with medicines for heart arrhythmia. This profound and
powerful life changing event, during which I visited a part of the place
I felt or describe as ‘Heaven’, transcended my faith and heightened my
understanding of Love, Compassion, Goodness, Kindness, and Acceptance of
all. Since my profound experience, I am striving to bring the elements
of the NDE into my daily life and in my interaction with others. I feel
it is important to share what I learned from the experience and bring
it together for the common good of all and thus, help each and everyone
of us to live a better life here in the now. Prior to my NDE, my
professional career background includes working in the foreign
diplomatic service in Europe. This has enabled me to meet people from
around the world with very different backgrounds and through the course
of my career, I have realized that regardless of the level of influence
people exercise, we are all on a journey.
I have the pleasure and the honor to team with Robert Neal Marshall,
an accomplished filmmaker and actor, to co-produce & direct this
significant documentary. When I met Robert Neal Marshall, we immediately
connected and we talked about the need of a documentary exploring after
effects of a near death experience. I was very thrilled when Robert
accepted to bring his expertise, years of experience and wonderful
spirit and join forces to make this possible.
This film is apropos because of our personal experience, but more
importantly because it touches millions of people around the globe who
either kept their experience secret for fear of being dismissed, or did
not find the right support around because of a lack of literature and
information. We hope that Back From The Light will answer many
questions viewers may have and it will further help Experiencers realize
they are among many, around the world, who had a similar experience and
have to live with the remembrance of an event which has no earthly
point of comparison. We have taken the exciting journey to bring
together Near Death Experiencers, family and friends, with the specific
focus on the after-effects of such a life transforming experience and
how they have readjusted to a ‘normal’ life. Back From The Light takes
us into a journey of exploration of what is life like on a daily basis,
following the “return”, on an emotional and physiological level, and
how spiritual beliefs and relationship drastically changed.
We hope we will contribute at our level to bring some sort of an
encouraging self-help documentary to everyone concerned by the Near
Death Experience, whether the Experiencers themselves or their family and
friends, as well as anyone looking to understand the impact such a
consequential event has on someone living every day with this
compelling experience.
Thank you so much for being a part of our
journey!
Yvonne Sneeden, Co-Executive Producer
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Robert Neal Marshall - Personal Message & Bio
As the camera rolled for the very first of dozens of interviews for this new documentary film, Back From The Light,
I reflected upon my own premature and temporary departure from this
life on August 3rd, 2013 following a massive heart attack. I went into
Ventricular Fibrillation in an ambulance as the result of a 100%
blockage in my Left Anterior Descending artery, the “widow maker.” I was
gone for approximately 1 1/2 minutes while paramedics worked to bring
me back.
Besides the trauma of surviving a heart attack, the emotional and
life changes I experienced have been complicated and intense for not
only myself, but for my family and friends. It has become a compelling
new journey to understand these new thoughts and pursuits. I was
introduced to Yvonne Sneeden who shares her own intense Near Death
Experience (NDE) and we saw that there was an opportunity to help so
many others by sharing common experiences.
My own production background includes a Bachelor's degree in Film from New York University Tisch School of the Arts, as well as several niche market documentaries. Titles include MR. OCEAN LINER which premiered on board Queen Mary 2 and at
Lincoln Center as well as THREE QUEENS-AN
INTERNATIONAL RENDEZVOUS, both available online and in the book shops on
all three Cunard liners.
For over a year I worked as a Casting Associate with renowned Casting Director Pat Moran (THE WIRE, HAIRSPRAY) and was a proud member of the team to win an Emmy® Award for casting GAME CHANGE with Julianne Moore and an Emmy® Nomination for casting Season 1 of VEEP starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, both for HBO.
I originally got my start in the West End of London as Assistant to late producer Richard Armitage on several hit shows, including ME AND MY GIRL, HIGH SOCIETY, and Rowan Atkinson’s one man show A NEW REVUE. While in London I produced and directed the successful West End debut of IS THERE LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL? at the Donmar Warehouse with a 20% profit return. As a playwright, my musical adaptation of Diane Stanley’s Award winning book RUMPELSTILTSKIN’S DAUGHTER has been presented to critical acclaim at the Edinburgh Festival, at the National Theatre in Washington, DC, for Theatre IV in Virginia, and as part of the Earl’s Court Festival in London.
My new play, 41N 50W, based on the 1912 Titanic Senate hearings showcased recently at the new St. James Theatre in London and at SeaCity Museum in Southampton, UK and is under development for US Production.
Yvonne and I saw the need to explore,
from a professional and personal point of view, the detailed Aftereffects of an NDE. There is much on the actual NDE, but little to nothing in film format about specific "Aftereffects" and life afterwards. We hope to provide specific insights in this media towards healing and
understanding.
Many thanks for your support!
Robert Neal Marshall, Director/Co-Executive Producer
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Some Of Our Guest Interviewees:
Dr. Mary Neal - #1 New York Times Best Selling Author - Dr. Neal is a board-certified orthopaedic spine surgeon who drowned
while kayaking on a South American river. With the great success of her book To Heaven And Back Dr. Neal shares the powerful story of her Near Death Experience and life afterwards with inspiration, love and hope.
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Carol Constanzo Vengroff -Author/Speaker/Artist - Carol Vengroff tells of her soul touching Near-Death Experience in My Ever After Chronicles. Through her book, blogs, live talks, film, you-tube & radio
interviews she unlocks ancient mysteries and shares her understanding of what happens before we are born, after we die and why we are here.
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Dr. PMH Atwater - Author/Researcher - Dr. Atwater is a noted authority and one of the original researchers in the field of near death studies and near-death experiences, with special emphasis on the after-effects. With multiple books on the subject, Dr. Atwater retired as an active fieldworker in near-death studies in 2010,
calling for the entire field to recognize near-death states as part of
the larger genre of transformations of consciousness and how they change
people.
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Dr. Cate Flanagan-Priore - Doctor/Researcher - Pediatric psychologist at Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo. Dr. Flanagan-Priore is a Near Death Survivor following Anaphylactic shock as a child. She wrote her dissertation on Near Death Experience Aftereffects with support from many field experts, including NDE expert researcher Dr. Bruce Greyson.
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Kathleen Duke - Musician/Information Technology
- Kathleen survived her own Near Death Experience following serious illness. For years she had no explanation for the intense changes that were already part of her life and that had dramatically shifted her world.
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Carolyn Matthews - Author/Researcher
- Carolyn's book Mentoring the Near Death Experience Survivor is an exploration and special course that is
designed specifically to aid the near-death experiencers in finding their
unique missions in life and how to manifest them.
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David Gerbstadt - Artist/Author - David died briefly and underwent major surgery, after being hit by a 14 wheel tractor trailer while riding his bicycle. His survival and recovery was a miracle itself based on his injuries. David's unique art changed dramatically after his Near Death Experience, as did his entire outlook on life.
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Ellyn Dye - Writer/Intuitive Coach - Ellen is a Near Death Survivor following a serious car accident. She has her own newsletter, Tunnel Vision, writes free lance articles, and through her coaching offers new perspectives and advice about
challenging situations faced, unresolved issues, and
patterns that stop us from having the life we deserve.
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Dr. Rajiv Parti - Author/Speaker - Dr. Parti is a world-leading specialist in pain management with over 30
years of clinical experience and 15 years as Chief of Anesthesiology at
Bakersfield Heart Hospital in California, specializing in cardiac
anesthesia. He is also a Near Death Survivor following his own surgical complications and Sepsis.
Dr. Parti has written several books, speaks around the world and offers
compelling, transformative workshops on spiritual wellness.
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Lee Lawrence - Presenter/Researcher - Lee Lawrence is an internationally known medical/psychological intuitive. His scientific research explores the existence of
the human soul, how it works, and takes science beyond its current
limits. His own near death experience drastically changed his life, creating a feeling of emptiness that something was missing with a desire to return the wonderful bliss he could
remember feeling during his near death experience.
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Suzanne & Robert Mays - Researchers - Robert & Suzanne Mays have
studied the phenomena related to near-death experiences (NDEs)
together for over 30
years, although neither has had a near-death experience. Research areas include Phenomena
connected with near-death experiences and shared-death
experiences and their implications for understanding consciousness and
neurological
function, Robert is on the Board of Directors for IANDS (International Association of Near Death Studies) as Treasurer.
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Ways You Can Participate & Make A Difference
If you are not able to contribute financially, your spirit and energy can still be a vital part of this project. Please forward this Indiegogo Campaign link for Back From The Light to your Friends on Facebook, via Twitter, through emails and other social media. If you know of any groups, blogs, or newsletters that may be interested, your kind effort to share this project would be deeply appreciated and powerfully helpful! Please use the Indiegogo share tools at the top of this Campaign.
Thank you so much from both Yvonne, Robert and on behalf of all survivors coping every day with this experience and learning to move forward. Together we can make this happen!
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