Claiton de Freitas Miranda (photo) is our guest this week. He has a postgraduate degree in Cinema in the Brazilian capital, Brasília, where he lives. He is one of the directors of Sebastião o Mártir (Sebastian the Martyr) Spiritist Centre in his hometown. In the following interview, he speaks about cinema and the dissemination of Spiritism.

How did you become a Spiritist?

My mother was a nurse at an old age home managed by Sebastião o Mártir Spiritist Centre in Brasília. I remember it well. I was only 11 years old and she used to take me there. I used to play in the garden and always saw the youth group people who came to help the elderly. They used to play the guitar for them and entertain them. That’s how I became interested in it. I eventually joined the youth group and I’m now one of the directors of the home.

And where did your passion for the cinema come from?

I fell in love with cinema after watching my first film in a theatre – ET, The Extra-Terrestrial. In 2013, I attended the Transcendental Film Festival, which was organised by Spiritists, and I loved the format. I realised there was a perfect combination between cinema, which I loved, and Spiritism. And the organisers also encouraged the participation of new producers, with short films. After the festival, I rushed home and began researching ways of producing a film. I bought my first camera and began shooting my films. I eventually got a job in the government in this area and did a post-graduation degree in Cinema. I see cinema and the arts in general as excellent tools that are able to encourage reflection and bring consolation to many hearts.

How many scripts have you written and how many films have you produced?

I’ve made six documentaries and 8 fiction films, including a documentary about Chico Xavier, which I would like to highlight. I shot it in his hometown, Pedro Leopoldo. It was very gratifying to be there, to feel his energy around and to interview many people who had actually met Chico. This is one of the positive aspects of working with audio-visual arts: you have the opportunity to hear other stories and to participate in them. The most current fiction film I have produced is one about the coronavirus. It is called “De Repente Tudo Passa” (All of a Sudden Everything Passes), which I did with my family and shows the pandemic through the eyes of a child – my daughter.  

Which themes inspire you the most?

Life is always a huge source of inspiration, as Kardec said. As we can read in his Posthumous Works: “Knowing the reality of the Spirit World opens a vast array of creative possibilities for artists who are willing to bathe in this sea of resources.” That’s what I have done. I have immersed myself in Spiritist books and in themes that can depict life with hope and consolation.

What could you tell us about the technical side of film production?

When you shoot a film for the cinema, the costs are very high. But if you produce a film to be posted on social media, like YouTube, or to be shown at Spiritist Centres, you can reduce the cost considerably. You may even use mobiles to film. The most important aspect, apart from good will, is to make a concerted effort to improve the technical quality of films. Those who want to work in this area should do courses, be trained and study. For the development of any art form, we should follow the same recommendation that Emmanuel gave to Chico Xavier: discipline, discipline and discipline.

Tell us a bit more about the film, Solitude.

Solitude is a great gift from the Spirit World. It was a co-production that I made in Portugal in 2017. The film is so up-to-date that people keep watching it and commenting on it again and again. It has enabled many Spiritist Centres to hold important debates about issues like depression, suicide, loneliness and solidarity. And I ask for everyone to be patient, as we will be launching soon Solitude 2, which will focus on the issue of suicide among children and teenagers.

Do you think the Brazilian Spiritist Movement has made good use of the arts, especially the cinema, to disseminate the principles of Spiritism?

I believe great progress has been made in this field. Many films have been produced with issues linked to Spiritism, here in Brazil and around the world. But I think there is still great scope for a better use of the arts. When they are connected to Spiritism, the result is something far greater than entertainment. The time has come for Spiritist Centres to consider all art forms as an important tool to teach the Gospel and the principles of Spiritism. Young people must be encouraged to develop their abilities in the arts.

Is there any particular memory you would like to share with us?

A young mum came to me once and told me she had given up aborting her child after watching a film I had produced on abortion. That was a great lesson for me and a great encouragement for me to continue talking in my films about the importance of valuing life.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I have created a production company to be able to generate more films. Almost all the cost is covered by me, personally. The aim of the company is to produce films that will encourage in people the ideals of love and fraternity. I also offer cinema courses at a low cost and the income from that helps me pay for part of expenses with the films. This is the website of the production company, for those who may be interested: fenalma