Victoria Lynn Carroll, a filmmaker and former actor from Los Angeles, shares her transformative journey in creating 'She Is a Shaman.' She recounts how a vision during an ayahuasca ceremony sparked her documentary about a female shaman in the Amazon. Filming without electricity posed unique challenges, while her personal divorce intertwined with her creative breakthroughs. Carroll emphasizes the importance of accessibility by releasing the film for free on YouTube, exploring the themes of surrender and the role of women in shamanic traditions.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Vision Inspires Documentary
Victoria Lynn Carroll received the idea to make her documentary during an ayahuasca ceremony.
She initially doubted if it was a fantasy or a vision, but later confirmed it was a vision when the film was completed.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Jungle Filming Challenges
Filming in the Peruvian jungle was challenging due to no electricity and difficult terrain.
They charged camera batteries by transporting them daily to a nearby house with power.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Capturing Life Beyond Ceremony
The shaman was initially uncomfortable being filmed doing everyday activities.
Victoria aimed to capture her life beyond ceremonies, like cooking and walking in the jungle.
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Published in 1962, 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' is a seminal novel by Ken Kesey that delves into the dehumanizing effects of institutionalization and the struggle for individuality. The story, narrated by Chief Bromden, a half-Indian patient, takes place in an Oregon psychiatric hospital where the strict and oppressive regime of Nurse Mildred Ratched is challenged by the arrival of Randle P. McMurphy, a charismatic and rebellious patient. The novel explores the boundaries between sanity and madness, conformity and rebellion, and questions the power dynamics within institutions. It became a symbol of countercultural resistance and has had a significant impact on discussions surrounding mental health and societal treatment of the mentally ill.
In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin welcomes Victoria Lynn Carroll, a Los Angeles-based filmmaker who made an unconventional journey from actor to documentary filmmaker.
Victoria shares how a vision during an ayahuasca ceremony inspired her to create her directorial debut, She Is a Shaman, which provides an intimate look into the personal life of a female ayahuasca shaman in the Peruvian Amazon. She discusses the challenges of filming in the jungle without electricity, the personal transformations that coincided with her creative process, and her decision to release the film for free on YouTube, where it has garnered over 350,000 views. Victoria explores the intersection of sacred storytelling, the role of women in shamanic traditions, and how creating art became a form of surrender for her.
Episode Highlights:
Receiving the documentary vision during ayahuasca ceremony
Filming challenges without electricity in Peru's jungle
The paradoxical everyday life of female shamans
Navigating ethics while filming sacred ceremonies
Personal divorce synchronizing with creative breakthrough
Mystery guest's stormy behavior at the center
Choosing free YouTube distribution over streaming deals
The Psychedelic Podcast 