Dan Mouer: Director and producer in Richmond, Virginia.

Nice to “meet” you here, Nathaniel.

My name is Dan. I’m retired, in my 70s, and have returned to filmmaking as a hobby. Not looking for fame or fortune, but hoping to connect with, learn from, and work with creative folks with similar interests. One collaborator and I have a “Straight 8” film premiering in London later this month.

My supernatural thriller, THE DRESS, was nominated for “Best Screenplay”. Walked away without the win, but REALLY enjoyed my time watching stellar films and attending top-notch panel discussions. BRAVO, BHFF!!

THE LOTUS IS A FLOWER

A dog-tired, stressed-out US soldier, on R&R leave from Vietnam in 1960s Singapore, seeks a measure of comfort from a mature Chinese prostitute who will change his life forever. Two people of different ages and different worlds spend the night in a motel room sitting crosslegged on the floor, among other things.

SYNOPSIS:

The Lotus is a Flower is a short film in the writing stage about Adam, a Vietnam-War soldier in 1967 who takes a 5-day R&R (rest and recuperation leave) in Singapore after nearly 9 months in "Indian Country" in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam. Adam is 21 years old and he had just gotten married and become a new father when he was sent to Vietnam. He is tired, emotionally numb, wishing he could go home, and dreading having to go back to the war.

His first encounter in Singapore is with the hotel's Concierge who repeatedly offers to provide Adam with "whatever he desires," implying he could get drugs, women or "whatever." Adam only wants rest and recuperation. He wants to write home to his wife. He wants to visit cultural sites, public gardens, and to eat food that is orders of magnitude above Army rations.

On his second evening at the hotel, the Concierge introduces him to Charles and two other "chaps," who are all British R.A.F. troops stationed locally. Adam agrees to meet up the following evening for a "special adventure" with the chaps who pick him up in a taxi and then tell him they are off for an evening of "brothel hopping" along Singapore's notorious Geylang Road. Adam tries to back out, but Charles assures him they are only going for the free "appetizers," and not for "the main course.”

The adventure becomes more adventurous than intended and, in order to avoid a "sound thrashing" by four large bouncers, Adam agrees to take a woman, nearly 20 years his senior, back to his hotel for the night. Adam is nervous, shy, resistant. Mei, however, is a consummate professional, and she takes charge of the situation. Later that night she seats them both, fully naked, on folded bath towels, cross-legged on the floor. She lights a joss stick of incense and instructs Adam how to sit and relax in a meditative pose. The night passes and both awaken in the morning, still seated on the floor. Mei again takes charge, and the business Adam had paid for is conducted gently but enthusiastically and successfully. Mei leaves Adam with a sisterly kiss on the cheek, a small but special souvenir, and her confident assurance that he will be "okay." Her gifts change Adam's life forever, beginning as soon as he returns to Vietnam and discovers his new assignment.

Hi Dan. I'm RB, Founder and CEO of Stage 32. As a screenwriter, producer, actor and filmmaker, I know first-hand the challenges all creatives face finding work, landing representation, launching projects, securing funding and simply making the connections that will make a difference in their careers. That's why I created Stage 32. Since our launch in September of 2011, the community has grown to 1,000,000+ members representing every country on the planet making Stage 32 the social network uniquely populated with the most creative people on Earth.

This is a network for you, built by you. Like most things in life, the more you participate, the greater the rewards. We ask all new members to pay it forward by inviting 5 fellow creatives to the network and by spreading the word of Stage 32 through other social media sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. The more creatives, the stronger the network. The stronger the network, the more opportunities.

Thanks for joining the movement and for being a part of this most talented and inspiring community. I very much look forward to your contributions.

Thanks, and have a creative day!

RB

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Hello Dan -

Welcome to the community! I'm Amanda Toney, the Managing Director at Stage 32. Since 2013 I've been proud to oversee Stage 32's Next Level Education, which provides you the most up-to-date tools necessary to become a better creative.

Over the years Stage 32 has worked with over 500 industry executives and professionals to teach online webinars, classes and intensive labs exclusively for you - our Stage 32 community. We bring you instructors who have worked directly on some of your favorite films, TV shows or theater productions to teach you in-the-trenches information that you won't find anywhere else on producing, directing, financing, writing, packaging, acting and more.

Our Next Level Education has a 97% satisfaction rate and averages 4.5 out of 5 stars. Plus, we've had the honor to be called "LinkedIn meets Lynda.com for film, television and theater creatives" by Forbes Magazine.

I encourage you to take the next step to continue learning and expanding your career by clicking here, or clicking "education" on your top menu bar.

I'm grateful you've joined the Stage 32 community. Please let me know if you have any questions!

Amanda