On April 01, 2011, crossing the barrier of 5.000.000 friends in Facebook, I asked what I should do to celebrate it.
The vast majority suggested a prayer, and we prayed together on Wednesday, April 6, at 6:00 PM
Working together was the second most suggested idea, besides a great meeting (which is impossible, due to logistics. Can you imagine if 100k decide to attend? We would never have permission from the authorities without a lot of guarantees, from security to emergency).
Working together is not easy: a writer must bear full responsibility for his work. However, I found a way for a collaborative project, using a book that is not yet published all over the world to implement it (ALEPH is only in Portuguese and Turkish, with other editions being launched later this year )
Meaning: you DON’T have to buy the book to participate.
The contest is open to friends in all my three communities ( Facebook, Twitter and blog)
Subject:
The Aleph, a point that condenses space and time. Jorge Luis Borges describes it: The Aleph was about two to three centimetres in diameter, but all of cosmic space was there, with no diminution in size. Each thing was infinite, because I could clearly see it from every point on the universe.
This is what I experienced in my Trans Siberian trip: love is time and space in a single point, the Aleph, in continuous change.
You can use your imagination at your will. Cartoons, photos, film, etc. As the book is not yet published in many countries, you have to speculate in the magical universe.
Duration: from 1:30 min to 3:00 min
The structure:
1] your vision on what Aleph means. Please don’t use words, as this video is intended to be for an international audience, with different languages, except
2] at the end , 15 sec where ALEPH / Paulo Coelho appears, followed by
3] 10 sec with your name and the link you want to use to promote your work.
Contest:
1] I will select, with my team, six videos
The video selected as # 1 will receive USD 4.000 + one 1 HP Pavilion computer p6780t series
# 2 will receive USD 3.000 + one 1 HP Pavilion computer p6780t series
# 3, #4, # 5 and # 6 will receive USD 1.000 + one 1 HP Pavilion computer p6780t series
2] I wil post them on all my social communities. Besides the 5.000.000 friends in Facebook, at the time of writing this I have 1,4 million in Twitter and over 2 million monthly visitors in my blog - which means over 8.300.000 friends online.
This will give to the winner, besides the prize, also a lot of visibility for his/her work
Any friend from any of the three communities mentioned above can participate.
4] The deadline for presenting the video is July 1, 2011. The winners will be announced on July 25, 2011.
5] If there is no winner (meaning, I did not like any of the submitted videos) the USD 11.000 will be donated to Instituto Paulo Coelho
6] You must upload he link to the videos in YouTube, and then sent it to pilar_piedra@hotmail.com You may upload the video at your earliest convenience.
7] The title of the video on YouTube must be ALEPH by (your name here)
8] You are fully responsible for the material you will use. I mean, if you use copyrighted material, you have to ask permission
9] If it moves beyond Youtube (TV ads, etc), the publishing house using the video will eventually pay you an extra fee.
10] Only videos with the structure mentioned above will be accepted
11] by participating in the contest, you agree with all the conditions mentioned in this post
12] You can participate with as many videos as you want
Research:
Some useful links:
My transiberian trip (This material is my copyright, and you may use it if you wish)
Aleph (Category in this blog)
O Aleph (Categoria neste blog)
You can google the word, and there are several images and references to this point that contains the eternity in itself.
If you have any doubts, please use “Comments” below
Love
Paulo Coelho
{ 51 comments… read them below or add one }
Dear Mr. Paulo
Sorry for disturbing you but I just wanted to make sure how I should publish my video for the contest…
Do i post it on youtube and send the link only to the email mentioned above?
Thanks alot
I am sorry did not read the post earlier, maybe had one chance…I will think about it, nevertheless, is a challenge. Good idea
Dear Paolo,
This is the first time I write to you, your thoughts and energy always relate to me. I own a bookstore in Athens Greece. Any copy of your books I get I sell for sure – me beign the first to read them :)
I have a question about this video, if I use photos i find on the net that have no trademarks that’s ok right? do i have to mention them somewhere?
I hope I can make something nice – but in any case most of all I wanted to state my admiration to you. All the best
Marilena
Athens, Greece
Querido Paulo me gustaria si ha llegado bien mi video sobre el aleph me ha llevado un tiempecito pues no domino muy bien lo de los videos pero he ido a clases de informativa para realizarlo y por eso me gustaria saber si llegó, voy a enviar el de mis hijos Martín y Hernán que están muy ilusionados con el proyecto.
Muchas gracias.
Ciao Paolo,
the video is ready to go.
I have just a question regarding the music, my I use the one You have in your Official Aleph video?
Thanks,
maurizio
yes
I read the rules above and found nothing related to age. However, replying to someone’s question, you mentioned that we must be above 18 to participate. I just wanted to be sure about that because I will be 18 in 5 months, and I would really like to participate. Thank you.
Do it
Dear Mr. Coelho,
is it allowed to use the book-cover in my video or does that hurt anyone’s rights?
Love from Germany,
Bekka
it is allowed
sir, is there any age limitations?
mi piace la sfida per chi non ha ancora letto il libro…sara’ interessante!
Do we have to be 18+ to participate in this? and also can we use our own music?
yes to both
such an interesting way to interact your perception of world with others .i am so much gonna participate .thanks paulo .love .
me encanta !! podria expresar muchas cosas..Senor Coelho:gracias!! y queria saber si usted me puede guiar para saber como armar efectos ya que no tengo experiancia en eso …deberia d entrar a una pagina que me ayuda?? :))
Paulo Coelho
I must say you’re a phenomenal writer, a great & kind human being with a one of a kind charismatic aura which trenscends the universe with its magical energy.
I love you. Simply.
I will be honored to participate in this intriguing contest:)
All the best always…
Z K
Mr.Coelho,
This seems to be the best contest ever:)!!If not else,for sure it will make millions of people all over the world searching and seeking to describe their own,personal view about Aleph in 3 min…beautiful..!Thank you with all my heart for your deep and meaningful messages which your books represent…I am a great admirer of your writings mostly because…it simply speaks to the heart..has access to all and speaks to all..:)therefore I’m extremely grateful and thankful that there are people like you in this world who appreciate THAT what it is..and never stop seeking for the unlimited boundaries of their own Aleph…
much love,Y.
Is there a rubric on how/what the videos will be evaluated on?
check the rules in the post above
I have few days off this week, I will definitly get creative and try to figure out this LOCO program I want to work with.
I think I’m begining to understand the meaning of aleph more and more, I think it has some connection with agaphe from “Pilgrimage” too:)
Love always
I have two questions:
1. as the contest is about our vision of our vision of the Aleph, can we use language (English) for at least writing the thing that we think the Aleph represents?
2. regarding the structure (assuming the video is 3 minutes long), the last 15 seconds contain “Aleph/Paulo Coelho” and the last 10 have the name of the participant. Does this mean that “Aleph/Paulo Coelho” takes 15 seconds and the participant’s name takes 10 ( 2:35 = Aleph/Paulo Coelho , 2:50 = name of participant), or it means that the last 15 seconds towards the end are like this: 2:45 = Aleph/Paulo Coelho & 2:50 = name of participant?
sorry for the second misunderstanding but I really want to get it right.
Total: 3 min (including credits and Aleph Paulo Coelho). Your calculations are right
You may use English if you want, but working with images was my original idea
July 1, 2011… plenty of time left, hmmm.
Bom, não custa tentar, é um premio bom, impossível é só questão de opinião mesmo.
Olá Paulo,
Gostei do concurso. Pensarei em algo para postar e enviar!
Tenha uma semana abençoada,
Abração,
Flávio Nunes.
Oh Leo the golden Lion-da Vinci, your vetruvian has not ‘squared’ the circle of your aleph. Pentance precedes the re-pentance of lower sense to the higher planes- the Pyramid is perfected in six sided space, being reduced to its 5 faces from the chaos that precedes it, only to be released in repentance through the REMOVAL of the capstone. Centre the ‘I’ in the circle and drag the square upwards and within its embrace, lie on your back and see the tomb/womb create itself out of the aleph of the core in you, from the green to the golden lion.
unconditioned LOVE as a brother, I feel from you.
dear grandpa Paulo
i want to ask, what if i use words to explain aleph in my video?? just 2 or 3 words in english. . . is it allowed??
thankyou
hello sir!
what is the deadline for submission as such?
and is there any restriction on region (say India in my case)
no restriction to ANY COUNTRY, and as for the deadline, please click in ‘ALEPH, THE CONTEST” in the post
YO SIGO AGRADECIENDO A DIOS POR HABER NACIDO EN ESTA EPOCA Y VIVIR EN ESTE TIEMPO. TIENE USTED, MUCHA RAZON MAESTRO COELHO, LA CULTURA NO TIENE PRECIO Y COMPARTIR NUESTROS SENTIMIENTOS DE TODO EL MUNDO, ALMAS QUE CONVERGEN EN UNA MAQUINA FRIA; SI; PERO AQUI ESTAN Y A MI EN LO PERSONAL ES LO QUE MAS ME GUSTA NO SE MUCHO INGLES Y TRATO DE TRADUCIR LO MEJOR QUE PUEDO Y EN ALGUNOS PENSAMIENTOS NO ENTIENDO MUCHO PERO TENGO IDEA AL FINAL DE LA LECCION, QUE CLARO! NO ES LO MISMO; PORQUE PUEDE HABER DISTORCION, COMO POR EJEMPLO; PODRIA PONER EN ESPAÑOL LA SIGUIENTE FRACE QUE UD. ESCRIBIO EN E-CARDS? POR FAVOR! “WHEN LOVE RULES, POWER DISAPPEARS.
WHEN POWER RULES, LOVE DISAPPEARS” MIL GRACIAS
dear grandpa Paulo
i want to ask, what if i use words to explain aleph?? just 2 or 3 words in english. . . is it allowed??
thankyou
this is fun… and will enable to help the others who are in need…
Dear Paulo,
Is it possible to participate to the video-contest as a “group”? In other words, if two other friends and I do the video together, can we be considered as “one” contestant?
Thank you,
*Compostellina*
YES. But if you win, there is only one prize (and you have to divide it!)
Hi Mr Paulo
Just wanted to know, if the background song could have lyrics? Or should it be only an instrumental? Thanks.
you decide.
Adorei a idéia, ainda bem que temos você uma pessoa tão em evidência para cooca-las em prática. Vou ficar só assistindo e torcendo, bjs com amor.
It seems like a great idea. I think I’ll be participating :)
But with the uncountable videos that will be posted by all paticipants… Will all of them be viewed and judged?
I can’t post all videos here. I am doing that at the very beginning just to give the participants an overall idea of the contest. The three videos above respect all the rules
It would be an honor to work for the person whose writings have always touched my heart.I am on it!!!
I love the idea of this but I wish it was open to more than just video. I don’t have the capability to make a video, but I can write, and I would love to be able to submit what I imagine in word form. Still, good luck to all who enter.
This is a great idea!
As an art student and illustrator I’m very tempted to participate. Unfortunately I’m busy with my final examination projects until half July. But it’s very interesting, so maybe I’ll try :) I’m already curious of all the video’s!
I think that I will try to free my imagination enough to make one :)
I have given this some more thought and I intend to enter something, not sure quite what yet. Maybe some live action mixed with animation. I’ve read a good deal of Borges’ work, and some literary criticism of it, the most recent being “Jorge Luîs Borges, Sources and Illumination” by Professora Giovanna de Grayalde (Octagon Press, ISBN 0.900860.61.8) which I can recommend, it provided some insights of which I was previously unaware.
The preface is immediately arresting, being a transcript of a conversation between Borges and the poet Francisco Luîs Bernardez published in ‘La Naçion’ in 1974. In it, Bernardez remarks that “The idea that the sum of opinion is truth is a monstrous thing.”, a profound observation that is ever more pertinent in this internet age.
Of course, the book itself points relentlessly towards Sufism and in particular Sufi literature, though subsequent study of that philosophy immediately discredits ‘book learning’ in a typical Borgean paradox! It led me next to read ‘The Commanding Self’ by Idries Shah, a book I read slowly over a couple of weeks in a reference library near where I live. (http://www.gladstoneslibrary.org) I finished it today but I may re-read it at some point.
Incidentally, I finished reading The Alchemist last night, a much easier read and one I rather enjoyed, it is quite a romantic romp in comparison!
Thank you for allowing me to post that earlier link to youtube, that 90 second clip was several years in the making due to lack of resources. The initial treatment was for a ten minutes short film with dialogue and the meaning has been greatly condensed. This is my thank you letter of sorts, your writing is a source of inspiration and encouragement.
I hope to complete my own first novel later this year, the numerous re-drafts are also several years on from the first few lines, of dreams remembered and elaborated upon. People have read some and encouraged me, but I always feel slightly embarrassed to admit that some of it was never dreamed at all but simply ‘made up’!
Valéu! ;D
Sounds interesting. Here’s on I made earlier.
I don’t think my video will compare to the one you have posted Mr.Coelho, I do not have the technology to make anything like that video, I am using pictures and putting them into a video format, I hope when it is ready I will qualify for the entry:) Love
(Que pena que no sea una opinion sobre el concurso, pero no encontre otra manera de enviar este mensaje)
Querido Paulo Coelho
Ante todo, GRACIAS por entrar en mi vida a través de sus libros en momentos trascendentales. Estoy empezando a escribir un “Blog” sobre el diario vivir , empezó como un pregunta , pero creo que le pondré un poquito de todo y a través de este de pronto como usted cambiar vidas y aprender bastante.
Estoy leyendo “Brida” perfecto libro para el momento que vivo, como todo lo que llega a nuestras vidas sincronizado con lo que tenemos que aprender. Al principio del libro cuando Brida le pregunta a Wicca sobre “la Otra Parte” me pareció perfecto para ilustrar las dos ultimas entradas del Blog. Quisiera saber si puedo transcribir ese párrafo. No se como funciona, si uno puede poner textos de otros autores, etc.
Agradezco de antemano su pronta respuesta.Ángeles para usted.
Laura Pacheco
“Una gran admiradora”
I can not read O´Aleph. My English is too bad.
I hope it will come out in german.
I read at the moment Valkyries.
Thanks :) !
Thank you mr. Paulo Coelho! I now decided not to use language, I’ll just work with images and sound.