The Art of Happiness – Excerpts and Reflections 2

From Cutler’s Introduction: “…the single note he constantly sounded. It is one of hope. His hope is based on the belief that while attaining genuine and lasting happiness is not easy, it nevertheless can be done. Underlying all the Dalai Lama’s methods there is a set of basic beliefs that act as a substrate for all his actions: a belief in the fundamental gentleness and goodness of all human beings, a belief in the value of compassion, a belief in the policy of kindness, and a sense of commonality among all living creatures.

“The purpose of our existence is to seek happiness.” (p. 16)

“When we speak of this inner discipline, it can of course involve many things, many methods. But generally speaking, one begins by identifying those factors which lead to happiness and those factors which lead to suffering. Having done this, one then sets about gradually eliminating those factors which lead to suffering and cultivating those which lead to happiness. This is the way.” (p. 15)

Happiness is determined more by one’s state of mind than by external events…being happy or unhappy has very little to do with absolute conditions, rather it is a function of how we perceive our situation, how satisfied we are with what we have. (p. 20-22)

We have a tendency to compare ourselves with others and notice what we don’t have (money, power, good relationships, beauty, a good job, etc.) rather than realizing things could be worse. He’s not actually suggesting we STOP comparing ourselves with others. Instead, begin by comparing yourself with those worse off than you and you will soon recognize thing could be worse.

The demarcation between a positive and a negative desire or action is not whether it gives you an immediate feeling of satisfaction but whether it ultimately results in positive or negative consequences.

Inner contentment is to want and appreciate what we have.

The true antidote of greed is contentment.

Momentary pleasure vs. long term happiness…Ask yourself: Will it bring me long term happiness?

Self-worth and dignity come from warmth and affection given to others because that (unlike material things) cannot be taken away from you.

Peace of mind is rooted in affection and compassion.

~~~~~~~

Reflections

The introduction above is jam packed with wonderful statements that could for some already be objectionable in one way or another, so let’s take a look. “The fundamental goodness and gentleness of ALL human beings”. What about Hitler? The book and the Dalia Lama provide an answer to such an objection using Stalin as the example instead of Hitler. If you want the full version you’ll have to read the book. Here’s my take. Whether you agree that ALL human beings are fundamentally good and gentle isn’t the point, don’t throw the baby out with the bath water (I’ve always wanted to say that). What if we accept the notion that most human beings are fundamentally good and gentle and if some are not, it’s a product of conditioning. That doesn’t mean we have to subject ourselves to these people on a regular basis by the way. But, when we do run into them – those folks who sure don’t seem good and gentle – perhaps we can remind ourselves, they came into this world the same way we did, then something happened. Even when we run into the good and gentle folks, we might just be in a bad mood, or we might feel threatened by something they say or do. The point is to step back and remind ourselves of the commonality between us…we are humans, we are good and try to respond with this in mind…

A belief in a policy of kindness. I dare you to find something wrong with that.

A sense of commonality among ALL living creatures. Ok, I have a LOT of friends who are animal lovers, I have a few friends who might buy into this notion of ALL living creatures. But many want to hold the line at HUMAN’s having commonality and the rest of those living creatures not so much. In my book, that’s ok too. A sense of commonality among Human beings works just fine for me.

The idea that the purpose of our very existence is to seek happiness is not original or solely attributed to the Buddhist tradition. Many philosophers, psychologists, neuroscientists and others have made arguments, done studies and found evidence that this is the case. You don’t have to agree in order to still want to be happy.

My point of mentioning these objections and then rather quickly dismissing them isn’t because I want to trivialize them, but I also don’t want to get bogged down in them. I want to glean what I can from what makes sense to me. I’m not wearing my philosopher hat, (well maybe just a little) instead I’m wearing my seeker hat…what can I find in this book to help me.

Regarding positive and negative consequences…again, this notion is nothing original or limited to Buddhism. In moral theory, Utilitarianism, specifically comes to mind, the consideration of consequences of actions is central to the ‘goodness’ of the action. And, you don’t have to be a philosopher to recall a parent saying think about the consequences of your actions. Further, the notion of long-term happiness vs. immediate satisfaction is something we’ve all likely encountered at some point. Examples (not specifically moral examples but relatable) might include the short term pain of going to the gym for the long term happiness associated with good health; giving up dessert; studying now to pass a test later, etc.

As with Utilitarianism, this theory of the path toward happiness incorporates something like this: if we agree that we all desire happiness (to the point that our entire existence is about pursuing happiness), then it’s best to pursue those desires/actions that will create/cause long term happiness for ourselves AND OTHERS. Why others? Why not just pursue long term happiness for ourselves? The answer gets a little more complicated, but I’ll give a brief summary. Since we also know and experience the fact that we need others to survive – yes there are a few who might be able to survive in the wilderness alone – we will always be engaging with others and they also want to be happy. Making them happy will ultimately make us happy and although making them happy might not immediately make us happy, ultimately in the long term, we will be happier if they are happy.

What then is the “best thing” we can do for others? Should we give them gifts of gold? Should we treat them to dinner? Sure. That’s ok too. But the main tenant of this theory is to give others compassion and kindness – even when we don’t feel like it. Self worth and dignity come not from material things because at any moment those things can go away. Self worth and dignity come from warmth and affection. I love that.

More tomorrow.

Affectionately, Trish

The Art of Happiness – Excerpts and Reflections 1

Hello Readers, It’s been quite a while since I’ve written on this space. As those of you who have read my posts know, this blog, which I started in 2014, has provided a venue for whatever has been most significant or meaningful in my life at a particular time. It began as a travel and food blog, morphed into a place to vulnerably expose my story writing, jumped to a promo site for my film, then briefly reverted to a recipe blog. The beauty of this is that it’s really a place to reflect and if anyone wants to jump in and read what I have to share – all the better.

My current status has led me do what I sometimes need to do when I feel like things are just not quite right. When I feel like my life is off kilter. Skewed. I study. I don’t do yoga. I don’t meditate. I don’t pray. I study. So, I went to the library with no particular book in mind. I roamed through the stacks, perusing book titles, then stopped abruptly when I came upon The Art of Happiness – A Handbook for Living, written by Howard C. Cutler from extensive interviews and time spent with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. I’ve always been fascinated with the notion of happiness and as a philosophy student/professor, I, of course, explored it privately and with my students over the years. Yet, I still never have come up with a satisfactory answer to what it means to be truly happy and how to get there. So, I thought, ok here’s the book I’m going to study first.

After reading the first several chapters and taking notes, it occurred to me that I would be helping myself and possibly others if I summarize some of the points that resonate with me. So, for the next entries over the course of however long it takes, I’ll tell you about the book. I think it’s very important to mention that the book is not promoting Buddhism, but one cannot help but see the Buddhist influence on these ideas. Don’t be afraid of this. No matter what your faith or lack of, you might find it interesting. My method will be to first give direct quotes and paraphrases from the book then reflect personally on that section. I want to do it this way because you might find the excerpts valuable but my reflections distracting or unhelpful. Perhaps you want to read the excerpts. Do some of your own reflecting without my input, then come back and see if we had similar or different reactions. In any case, it will be here for you. Maybe you’ll need to read the book for yourself. If one thing within these pages helps one of you today, then I’ve done something good and that will make me happy. 🙂

For the most part, I’ll progress in a linear fashion, start to finish, but today I wanted to begin with a meditation offered by the Dalia Lama to a large gathering (Chapter 7, page 129). I’m starting here because I often feel that when I’m reading “self-help” books, it takes a while to get to something specific that I can do right now. And this is what happened in this book as well. I had to wait until page 129 for a mind exercise. Tomorrow, I’ll start from the beginning, but for now, give this a try.

“So…let us meditate on compassion today. Begin by visualizing a person who is acutely suffering, someone who is in pain or is in a very unfortunate situation. For the first three minutes of the meditation, reflect on that individual’s suffering in a more analytic way – think about their intense suffering and the unfortunate state of that person’s existence. After thinking about that person’s suffering for a few minutes, next try to relate that to yourself, thinking, ‘that individual has the same capacity for experiencing pain, joy, happiness, and suffering that I do.’ Then, try to allow your natural response to arise – a natural feeling of compassion towards that person. Try to arrive at a conclusion: thinking how strongly you wish for that person to be free from that suffering. And resolve that you will help that person to be relieved from their suffering. Finally, place your mind single-pointedly on that kind of conclusion or resolution, and for the last few minutes of the meditation try to simply generate your mind in a compassionate or loving state.”

~~~~~~~

Reflections

In the beginning of the blog, I said, I don’t meditate, I study. Well, of course I’ve TRIED to meditate. I set my phone timer for some minutes, thinking I’ll do a few more minutes with more practice. I sit on the floor cross legged, hands on knees, sitting tall, eyes closed. Clear my mind. Hmmmmmmmm. Clear my mind. Wait did I eat breakfast yet? Hmmmmmmm. I wonder how long I’ve gone. Hmmmmmmmm. My butt hurts a little in this position, maybe tomorrow I’ll sit on a pillow. You get the picture. I’m not good at meditation. I give up pretty quickly. What I liked about the meditation above was that it was actually something I am SUPPOSED to think about. Very clear direction and something we can all do. Because we all know someone other than ourselves who is suffering right now.

The word suffering might be off-putting to some of you. Perhaps too intense or dramatic. Maybe you want to just think about someone who is having a rough time. Someone who has an illness. Someone who has recently lost a loved one.

More tomorrow.

Love, Trish

Facebook Ingredient Self-Challenge Part 3 Eggplant Meatball Stroganoff

This recipe proved to be more challenging than the others, so please read the entire set of recommendations for better results! This is the last entry from my Facebook self-challenge (for a while at least). The recommended ingredient was mushrooms. I have loads of recipes that include mushrooms but wanted to challenge myself to create something new. Since eggplant was also on the list, I’ve continued to explore the vegetarian version of one of my favorite comfort meals, Beef Stroganoff. For a quick look at the process, see the following video.

The Recipe

1 medium eggplant
3.5 oz. container shiitake mushrooms, sliced
8 oz. container portobello mushrooms, sliced
2 shallots, diced
3 cloves garlic, diced

1 egg
1 C. breadcrumbs*
1 T. Worcestershire
1 C. sour cream
1 T. tarragon
Salt and Pepper to taste
Olive oil

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place eggplant on baking sheet. Make a few incisions into eggplant. Bake for 45 minutes. Place in ice bath for faster cooling. Peel and dice eggplant. Place in small bowl. Mash.
Coat bottom of oven proof frying pan (I used cast iron) with olive oil. Saute sliced mushrooms, shallots, and garlic until mushrooms are golden brown.
Move mashed eggplant to a larger bowl. Add 1/2 cup of the mushroom mixture, egg, Worcestershire, breadcrumbs, S&P. Mix thoroughly. Roll into 2″ meatballs. Remove remaining mushroom mixture from skillet. Place meatballs into skillet and bake for approx. 30 minutes at same temperature (400 degrees), or until brown and cooked through.
Place skillet on burner over medium heat. Add mushrooms, sour cream, and tarragon. Bring to boil. Simmer for 10 minutes.

Serve over cooked egg noodles (prepared per directions on package).

*The breadcrumb measurement will be dependent upon how wet the eggplant mixture is before you add the breadcrumbs. Since I was experimenting with this recipe, I ended up using 1 full cup of breadcrumbs. I used Italian Seasoned Breadcrumbs. I think it might be better to absorb some of the liquid from the eggplant mash before adding anything to it. Simply pat the mash with paper towels to reduce moisture. Add 1/2 cup breadcrumbs first, then add small amounts at a time until the mixture feels sturdy enough to hold together. If it’s too sticky, it won’t hold shape. If you want to experiment further, you could use dry, parmesan shaker cheese to replace some of the breadcrumbs.

EXTRA NOTE: I was going to use some grated mace in the sauce or some nutmeg. I couldn’t find mace and opted out of the nutmeg, but I think either would be an interesting addition.

Facebook Ingredient Self-Challenge Part 2 Asparagus Salmon Dip

This simple but elegant dip is a great addition to your entertaining table…well, forget entertaining for a while…make it for yourself!
This is part 2 of the Facebook Ingredient Self-Challenge. Today’s ingredient is asparagus.

Recipe
Prep time – 15 minutes Refrigerate 1 hour Total time 1:15

Ingredients
16 thin asparagus spears, chopped
5 oz. salmon
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
2 T. half & half
4 scallions, chopped
2 T. fresh dill, chopped
1 tsp. smoked paprika
1 tsp. hot sauce such as Tabasco
Salt and Pepper to taste

Bring a small pot of water to boil. Chop asparagus into small pieces. Boil asparagus for 1 minute only. Drain. Immerse into ice water bath to halt cooking. While asparagus is cooling, mix all remaining ingredients. When asparagus is cool, drain and add to mixture. Best if refrigerated for an hour.

This dip is delicious served with crackers or nacho chips.
Optional: add a dash of Liquid Smoke to taste

Facebook Ingredient Self-Challenge Part 1 Pobano Eggplant Chili

Last weekend, I was looking for ideas for new recipe creations and decided to ask my Facebook Friends for help. I created a post asking for a single ingredient. Thanks to several of my friends, I found inspiration in creating a few new recipes. The next three posts are the result of this self-challenge.

I LOVE chili, particularly in the fall and winter. I mean who doesn’t? About 15 years ago, I was introduced to the combination of chili topped with cole slaw. Traditional spicy beef chili has been my go-to many Sunday afternoons during football season. However, I’ve been cutting way back on red meat so I was looking for a substitute.

This recipe includes 3 ingredients from the post: Eggplant, Poblano Peppers and Cabbage. Here’s a quick view of the process.

The Recipe Prep time 2 hours. Serves 8-10

Dill Cole Slaw
 1 bag pre-cut slaw
1 C. mayonaise
1/3 C. sour cream
1/4 C. chopped fresh dill
Salt and Pepper to taste

Mix All Ingredients. Refrigerate.

Chili
1 Medium Eggplant
1 Sweet Potato
3 Poblano Peppers
1 Large Onion-Chopped
3 Cloves Garlic
1-28 oz. Can Crushed Tomatoes

1-16 oz. Can Black Eyed Peas
1-16 oz. Can Black Beans
3 C. Water
1 Tsp. each Chili powder, Cumin, Smoked Paprika
Olive Oil, Salt and Pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Arrange eggplant, sweet potato, and peppers on a baking sheet. With a knife, make several small incisions into the sweet potato and eggplant. The poblanos with be ready first after about 30 minutes, the eggplant and sweet potato will take about 45 minutes. For faster cooling immerse the eggplant and sweet potato into an ice bath. In the meantime, heat a large pot over medium heat. Drizzle enough olive oil to cover bottom of the pot. Chop the onion and garlic, add to the pot, saute until onions are translucent. When the peppers are cool enough to handle, remove tops, slice, scrape out seeds and chop. When the eggplant and sweet potato are cool enough to handle, remove the skins and chop to desired size. Add all to the pot. Add crushed tomatoes and water. Drain the black eyed peas and black beans and rinse. Add to the pot. Add seasoning. Allow to heat through. I like to wait about an hour for all to meld together.

For Serving
Ladle chili into a large soup bowl. Garnish with Dill Cole Slaw.

Vegetarian Ribollita

I’ve been making traditional ribollita (with chicken broth and pancetta) but wanted to experiment with a vegetarian version to serve to one of my vegetarian friends. I’m not a huge fan of pre-made vegetable broth and I needed a smokey substitute for the pancetta – so I chose fennel, leeks and smoked gouda.

Watch this video for a quick view of the process.

Prep time: 30 minutes

Cook time: 1 hour

Total time: 1 hr. 30 minutes

Servings: 8 hearty bowls

Vegetarian Ribollita

Olive Oil

1 Large Onion, Rough Chop

1 Fennel Bulb, Rough Chop

2 Leeks, Rough Chop

5 Carrots, Rough Chop

4 Cloves Garlic, Rough Chop

6 Cups Water

1 – 28 Oz. Can Diced Tomatoes

3 – 16 Oz. Cans Cannellini Beans, Drained

1 Box Frozen Chopped Spinach

3 Bay Leaves, 2 Tsp. Oregano

Salt and Pepper to Taste

1 – 3 oz Block Smoked Gouda

Cover the bottom of a large pot with olive oil. Over medium heat, saute onions, fennel, leeks, carrots and garlic until onions are translucent. Add remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, simmer for about an hour until carrots are tender. Before serving, remove bay leaves.

Croutons

1 Loaf Ciabatta Bread (pre-sliced or whole)

Olive Oil Drizzle

Preheat oven to 375. Slice bread into chunks. Drizzle with olive oil and toss. Bake about 10 minutes, keeping a close eye on the process. For best results, stir the croutons after about 5 minutes.

Plating

Place desired amount of croutons on bottom of large bowl. Ladle soup over croutons. Garnish with fresh basil and parmesan cheese.

Enjoy!

Alternatives

Replace the water with 48 oz. chicken broth. Replace smoked gouda with 6 oz. chopped pancetta.

Replace spinach with chopped fresh kale.

For a richer broth, add 1 T. tomato paste.

Social Distancing and Secret Spaces

I’m happy or should I say proud to report that almost everyone I know is taking the necessary steps to follow the social distancing guidelines currently set forth by – well anyone and everyone with an iota of common sense. It doesn’t take an expert to tell us these things. Does it?

Yesterday, as a part of my mental health routine I drove to what I’d hoped to be a less occupied area of the York County Heritage Rail Trail. (First, I drove past Brillhart Station and found too many cars in the parking lot, so I kept going). I ended up at Seven Valleys and found just a few cars, perfectly spaced. While walking I came upon mile marker 13 which prompted a flashback from last year at almost this same time. I’m posting this silly, blurry video of myself on St. Patty’s Day 2019 which will hopefully bring a smile to some of you. (Mudhook, Fire In the Glen performing)

There I was footloose and fancy free, doing my version of an Irish Jig unaware that just 2 weeks later I’d be at GBMC (a hospital in Towson, MD) emergency room being prepped for emergency surgery. I arrived at about 5:00 a.m. with severe stomach pains, guessing I either had a terrible case of gas (and how embarrassing is that?) or possibly appendicitis. Upon my arrival I noticed the ER was practically empty. I don’t recall seeing any other patients. And I was greeted by several hospital staff members who immediately took action. Although I was heavily medicated quickly thereafter, I was sent for a few scans and within an hour I was visited by a surgeon who informed me he had moved his surgeries, booked an operating room and would be taking me in for surgery within the hour. I was in surgery for a twisted colon by about 7:00 a.m. Following surgery, I was placed in a private room and cared for by a rolling staff of nurses, aides, my doctor, and an amazing physician’s assistant. I stayed for almost a week. I roamed the halls freely for exercise, had daily visitors, and excellent care. Lucky me. The surgery was on April 1, 2019.

So what’s that got to do with mile marker 13? Less than 2 weeks after my surgery I asked my boyfriend to take me for a walk at my favorite location on the rail trail. We parked at the Glatfelter Station parking lot and walked south where we passed marker 13. I took a picture of the marker just as I did yesterday and posted on facebook. I was so grateful, despite my limitations at the time, to be there.

It got me to thinking, what if my colon had held out for another year, and two weeks from now I would be taken to the emergency room for that same surgery? Everyone who’s paying attention knows the answer. Need I say more here? I don’t think so.

So, thank you to all of my people who are doing the right thing – who are doing your part. Thank you to all of the medical professionals who are working round the clock to help everyone with illnesses. Thank you to the grocery employees who are trying to keep smiles on their faces as they struggle to keep the shelves stocked. Thank you to all of the folks who are posting educational suggestions and entertainment options for our children and ourselves.

I was tempted to keep mile marker 13 a secret. After all, if everyone goes there it will be difficult to maintain social distancing. But, remember there are plenty of entry points to nature. And there are plenty of hours in the day. Take turns. Keep going if it looks crowded. Enjoy.

Here are a few pictures from my walk yesterday.

Inevitable
Finding something pretty among the brush
How things grow
Beauty in aging
Stark times
Natural Social Distancing
New perspective

Meet Ned

Ned Walsh plays Tom, Leigh’s husband, in a series of flashbacks depicting the turmoil created by Leigh’s visions. Ned is another example of what happens when you recruit local, untapped talent. I had ambitiously scheduled 14 scenes to be filmed in one day at the farmhouse. When Ned arrived, on-time and enthusiastic for his film debut we were behind schedule. I mean really behind schedule. On this particular day mid-July with temperatures somewhere in the 90’s while the crew was dripping with sweat Ned graciously waited patiently for his turn behind the camera.

Ned is a natural and was a delight to work with. His engaging portrayal of Tom will leave viewers wanting more. No doubt.

Tell me a little about yourself.

Born abroad and on the go until age ten when my parents settled into York, PA, my father’s home city. All of my formative development has happened in York where I attended York Catholic High and later studied at Penn State. After University I was an officer in the Marine Corps and after service, I moved back to York, where I have been ever since. I began a family and my professional career has always afforded me the chance to stay, for which I am grateful.

What was your favorite experience working on In Your Afterglow?

Filming. I enjoyed the prep and script, living the character in the scenes of the film was a great thrill. Working with the cast and crew of a very cohesive group was an amazing experience.

What skills improved during your participation in the film?

Awareness of self and expression, vocally and physically.

What other projects have you work on?

Balthazar the wise man 4th grade Nativity pageant. Nominated but never appreciated.

How did you prepare for your role?

Working through the scenes with my producer/writer/creator/everything. Understanding what the characters are experiencing and why they react to their cues as their characters would.

What parts of your character/role could you most relate to personally?

Well, my character Tom was a married, working man so my previous experience lent its self readily.

What was your biggest challenge working on the film?

Wanting more…

Click the following link to see Ned in the Official Trailer for In Your Afterglow.

Click on the link below to purchase your tickets to see Ned in the Premiere of In Your Afterglow.

https://appellcenter.org/show/capfilm-in-your-afterglow

Meet Morgan Hart Cinematographer

I spent more time with Morgan on and off the set than anyone involved in the filming of In Your Afterglow. We spent days upon days strategizing about how to work with a limited budget and crew, while at the same time maintaining a very tight filming schedule. I can’t emphasize enough how much pressure this puts on the guy behind the camera. Morgan’s calm and cooperative approach compliments his passion for getting the right shot. Some of my favorite moments were after long hours of filming when we would return to my house to review the day and the footage. I learned a lot from Morgan and look forward to watching his career take off.

Tell me a little about yourself.

After attending York Catholic High School in York, I moved to Philadelphia to pursue a degree at Temple University. I didn’t know what I was going for until after my first film class in my first semester. I fell in love with the art form and haven’t looked back since. Since graduating from Temple I have been working hard towards being a professional filmmaker and most specifically a cinematographer. I seek the avante-garde and the challenging.

How did you prepare for your role as cinematographer?

Communication between the team. I also studied lighting and compositions from a number of movies and TV shows that I thought would translate best for In Your Afterglow. I spent weeks before the shoot studying the camera and setting it up to achieve the cinematic look we were after.

What was your favorite experience working on the film?

Being on a new crew and collaborating with fellow creatives and visionaries is always very exciting to me. My favorite shoot day was at the Civil War house.

What skills improved during your participation in the film?

All of them! Each and every day is an opportunity to improve upon the last and master your skills.

What was your biggest challenge working on the film?

Indie budget, tiny crew. Denise my gaffer was a life-saver!

What’s next for you?

Keep building my business/brand and my portfolio while I continue to search for gigs and opportunities in the Greater Philadelphia Area.

I also shoot videography professionally (weddings, sports, events, etc.) so please feel fre to reach out if you are looking for someone! 🙂

Click the following link to see Morgan’s work in the Official Trailer for In Your Afterglow.

Click on the link below to purchase your tickets to see Morgan’s work in the Premiere of In Your Afterglow.

https://appellcenter.org/show/capfilm-in-your-afterglow

Meet Philippe

Philippe Kane plays Mark Watson, Claire’s practical and skeptical father. Unlike Claire’s mother, Katie, Mark believes there is a rational explanation for Claire’s behavior and is not at all happy about Leigh’s presence in the house. I especially loved reviewing footage of Philippe after long filming days because of the emotion that comes through in his delivery of both concern and skepticism. It was also really fun to watch Philippe and Mary stay in their roles off the camera.

Tell me a little bit about your background.

I have always been drawn in by film as a way to bolster my imagination. I remember being quite young and being transported to new worlds and meeting characters that inspired me to look beyond what was in front of me. This led me to write plays and create new characters on stage while in high school and then I went on to study Drama Studies at SUNY Purchase in New York. That was the beginning of being able to quench my creative side. I eventually went on to get my doctorate in clinical psychology which greatly aided my ability to be engulfed in all types of human behavior. Acting in In Your Afterglow was a great opportunity to revive some of those creative chops and continue studying the human behavior of Trish’s characters that she has developed for the film.

What was your favorite experience working on In Your Afterglow?

Working with Mary, my onscreen “wifey” as I call her, is always uplifting, professional and fun. She takes her craft seriously and is always reliably funny yet professional to run lines with. Her good energy makes it a pleasure to come to set.

How did you prepare for your role in the film?

I really tried to relate to parents who have children with autism. I have had a lot of experience as a psychologist working with individuals with autism and their parents. Typically, parents are over burdened with trying to navigate resources and services for their children, never getting enough respite for themselves. Additionally, there can be shame and stigma attached to having a child with special needs, that requires some self discovery. This helped shape how I viewed my character Mark.

What was your favorite scene in the film?

My favorite scenes were the family scenes. There was some good comic relief in between takes with the younger actors and Rich Henkels, who is a class act.

What was your biggest challenge while filming In Your Afterglow?

Really, just the location. There was a lot of commuting from DC where I live, to York Pa on the weekends. Luckily, we shot in the summer and York has a lot of beautiful trees.

What’s next for you?

I look forward to any future projects that may come way.

Click the following link to see Philippe in the Official Trailer for In Your Afterglow.

Click on the link below to purchase your tickets to see Philippe in the Premiere of In Your Afterglow.

https://appellcenter.org/show/capfilm-in-your-afterglow