EIGHT PEOPLE. THIRTY DAYS. ONE JOURNEY.

TO FIND LIFE, THEY HAD TO FACE DEATH.

TECHNICAL INFO
77 minutes, Color, Stereo & Dolby Exhibition Format: HDCAM, DigiBeta NTSC & PAL Production Format: HD English, Spanish Peru 2010

PRESS CONTACT
Nick Polizzi Three Seed Productions 1329 Corona Street Denver, CO 80218 mobile: + 1.917.747.4854 njplzi@gmail.com thesacredscience.com Dan Bailey phone: + 1.203.994.1602 dan.russel.bailey@gmail.com

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SYNOPSIS

A THREE SEED PRODUCTION

the

PARKINSONS DISEASE. BREAST CANCER. DIABETES. DEPRESSION.

Despite remarkable advances in modern medicine, our society still struggles to effectively treat these and other common illnesses. Witness the story of eight brave souls as they leave the developed world behind in search of deeper answers. Living in seclusion for one month in the heart of the Amazon jungle, these men and women take part in the powerful healing practices of Perus indigenous medicine men, working with centuries-old plant remedies and spiritual disciplines. In their most desperate hour, these patients are forced to confront not only their physical ailments, but their own spiritual and psychological barriers in the process. Five will return with real results, two will return disappointed, and one wont come back at all.

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CHARACTERS

THE PATIENTS

GARRY THOMPSON Neuroendocrine Cancer NICOLA DALE Parkinsons Disease JUAN ORRACA Depression / Alchoholism GRETCHEN STASEY Irritable Bowel Syndrome J.D. Type II Diabetes MELINDA ELLIOTT Breast Cancer JOHN WOOD Prostate Cancer JESSICA STENIS Crohns Disease

I MADE A CHOICE TO HEAL NATURALLY. I KNEW THAT MAYBE I WOULD SUCCEED AND MAYBE I WOULDNT.

MELINDA ELLIOTT

THE SACRED SCIENCE ITSELF IS REALLY THOSE GUIDING LIGHTS, BEACONS OF LIGHT THAT GUIDE PEOPLE THROUGH MANY DIFFERENT LEVELS OF TRANSFORMATION.
ROMAN HANIS

THE SACRED SCIENCE

CHARACTERS

THE HEALERS + DIRECTOR

ROMAN HANIS
Medicine Man

EDWIN

Medicine Man

DON BECHIN
Medicine Man

HABIN

Medicine Man

CHRISTIAN

Medicine Apprentice

DR. OSWALD PRETEL, M.D.

Physician

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DIRECTORS STATEMENT

COMING FROM A FAMILY that believes heavily in folk remedies, the films Ive worked on have always sought to bring exposure to natural alternatives to conventional medicine. Many of these remedies, such as the raw food diet or meridian tapping, have enjoyed groundswells of popularity in recent years and are readily available across the Western world. Not surprisingly, when a close friend of mine was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease, a veritable death sentence in modern America, I made it my personal mission to find undiscovered natural treatments - a mission that landed me in the heart of the Amazon Jungle. Traveling to Peru, I began to immerse myself in the centuries-old traditions of rain forest medicine. The regions indigenous medicine men, or shamans, are reputed to have knowledge of a vast catalogue of natural plant medicines, as well as a deep relationship with nature and its connection with the human spirit. There I met Roman Hanis, a shaman who had left his native Russia in search of a cure for his Crohns disease. After ridding himself of the symptoms of his illness, Roman decided to stay in Peru, spending the last ten years mastering the ways of the indigenous medicine men. With a shared goal of spreading the cultures knowledge and wisdom to others in need, we decided to work together, and a common vision began to take shape. Tapping into Romans network of local healers, we sought to demonstrate the tangible results of this ancient system of medicine, bringing together eight people from all walks of life, with an array of common and serious illnesses. Ranging from cancer and diabetes to alcoholism and depression, the participants would spend one month in the jungle, living in secluded huts and working with a small handful of dedicated and experienced shamans. With a well-honed combination of natural medicine, spiritual exercises, and ceremonies using sacred and potent psychoactive plant mixtures, these eight adventurers faced a personal struggle beyond anything they could have imagined. For me personally, the project quickly grew from a creative outlet into a life-altering firsthand account of the knowledge and wisdom possessed by these dedicated medicine men, and a remarkable testament to the power of the human will. My team and I have witnessed events and insights that have surpassed our wildest expectations, and we have worked tirelessly to craft a viewing experience that will bring audiences the same sense of wonder and amazement that we experienced ourselves. Never before has such a candid account of these sacred and closely guarded practices been captured on film, and with this documentary, I hope to share with the world an unprecedented glimpse into the methods and personal stories of the Amazons traditional medicine men. We have all been affected by sickness and spiritual turmoil in some way or another, and I believe people from all walks of life will be touched by touched by this story of perseverance, hope and triumph. Nick Polizzi

WE HAD DONE OUR HOMEWORK, AND WERE WELL-AWARE OF THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS OF THE MEDICINE MEN WE WERE WORKING WITH... BUT IN REALITY, WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT WE WERE IN FOR.
NICK POLIZZI

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PRODuCER & DIRECTOR BIOS

NICK POLIZZI
PRODuCER, DIRECTOR Nick has spent the past four years directing and editing feature length documentaries about holistic alternatives to conventional medicine. Most recently, Nick directed The Tapping Solution and co-edited Simply Raw Raw for 30 Days. His current role as Producer of The Sacred Science stems from a calling to honor, preserve, and protect the ancient knowledge and rituals of the indigenous peoples of the world.

DAN BAILEY
PRODuCER Since graduating from Fairfield university in 2008, Dan has engaged in a handful of independent film and music projects, including several collaborations with Yes lead singer Jon Anderson. While working as a cable news segment producer and booker, he assisted Nick Polizzi on The Tapping Solution as an outside technical consultant. Dan jumped at the chance to work with Nick as a filmmaking partner, pursuing The Sacred Science as both a creative venture and a chance to immerse himself in the culture and practices of South American shamanism.