Grief 2 Growth The Romantic Near Death Experience Movie That Will Blow Your Mind EP 411
In this episode of Grief 2 Growth, host Brian Smith is joined by filmmaker Max Rissman, whose debut feature film, Upon Waking, takes viewers on an emotional journey through near-death and shared-death experiences. The film explores themes of forgiveness, family dynamics, and the transformative power of love and healing. Max opens up about his creative process, the challenges of making an independent film, and how spirituality plays a pivotal role in his storytelling.
If you’ve ever wondered about the spiritual side of filmmaking, the role of intuition in creativity, or how art can be a path to healing, this conversation is for you.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- How Max’s childhood passion for storytelling inspired his career as a filmmaker 🎭
- The significance of near-death and shared-death experiences in the film Upon Waking 🕊️
- The challenges Max faced while creating a low-budget feature film during COVID-19 🎥
- Why forgiveness—both of others and oneself—is central to healing 💖
- How spirituality and intuition guide the creative process ✨
About Max Rissman:
Max Rissman is an NYU-trained filmmaker dedicated to creating emotionally resonant stories about the human condition. His debut feature film, Upon Waking, is a powerful exploration of loss, transformation, and self-acceptance. Releasing on Valentine’s Day, the film will be available on Amazon Prime, Fandango, and Hoopla.
Links & Resources:
- 🎬 Watch Upon Waking: uponwakingfilm.com
- 🌟 Connect with Brian and join the Grief 2 Growth community: grief2growth.com/community
Feedback & Get Involved:
🎧 We’d love to hear from you!
- What resonated with you in this episode?
- Have you ever found healing through creativity?
Visit the Grief 2 Growth store for FREE items as well as other tools to help you along your journey:
- Guided Meditations
- My book GEMS of Healing (signed copy)
- My Oracle deck to help you connect with your loved ones
- Mini-courses
- Mini-guides
Check it out at https://grief2growth.com/store
Grief doesn’t follow stages, timelines, or rules.
If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I doing this right?”—you’re not alone.
That’s why I created the Grief Check-In.
It’s not a test. There are no right or wrong answers.
In just a few minutes, you’ll gain clarity, reassurance, and language for what you’re experiencing.
👉 Visit grief2growth.com/checkin
This deck is a labor of love. It's a 44 card oracle deck that's about connecting you to your loved one in spirit. The deck comes with a companion digital guide that gives you an affirmation, a reflection, and an activity for the day.
Check it out at https://stan.store/grief2growth/p/oracle-deck
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