The Way of St. James – Avila, Spain
In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power. – Acts 19:20
Prior to my first pilgrimage walks on the Camino, in my travel to Spain, I journeyed through the north to Santiago de Compostela and stayed in a small inn outside of the city (the terminus of The Way of Saint James and the Cathedral where the relic remains of Saint James are held and revered).
During that visit, I was able to walk the last mile or two of the Camino that led in from the west of the city. And throughout my travels, I searched for the Camino path wherever it was in proximity.
As I neared completion of my travels through Spain, I had been thinking about walking the Camino for a longer distance to capture the connections that pilgrims make with the beautiful countryside, the other pilgrims who walk the path, and of course, with the Divine source that inspires all to make it a spiritual journey – like that of the fisherman from Galilee who walked to the end of the (known) world to spread the Gospel to the people on the Iberian peninsula – all the way to the rugged cliffs overlooking the Atlantic in the northwest corner of Spain.
In planning my subsequent trip through Extremadura and Castilla, I did a Google search on Camino de Santiago and found several links to a film entitled, “The Way” – (completed in 2009-2010) by Emilio Estevez and featuring his father, Martin Sheen. I followed these links to a Web site and to a Facebook page created to support and promote this film.
On the Facebook site, I read a message from Emilio in which he laid out his plans for the premiers and possible distribution of The Way. To my surprise, it appeared that he was filming in and near Santiago de Compostela when I was there on that previous trip and he was more recently premiering and promoting his film in Madrid during the time I was there on my last trip.
What struck me was that broadcast and print media had not made me aware of this film or its production, premier, and promotion occurring when I was physically proximate, such as to attend the premiere in Madrid.
Yet, through the freely available Web-based search and social networking sites, I was able to become informed of it and to interact by making a marketing suggestion in a reply comment on Facebook. By crowdsourcing on his Facebook page, his plans and invitation for ideas to promote the film, Emilio was not only providing the equivalent of a powerful broadcasting message, he had also initiated an equally powerful interaction with many people who might become advocates in promoting the distribution and performance of this movie in the United States and throughout the world, especially in situations where there might not otherwise be enough support from traditional media companies.
And by creating this initial content on his Facebook page and Web sites and the outbound and inbound links to it, Emilio created a snowballing effect that can achieve higher ranking on search engines – which is how I originally made a connection with his film and promotional efforts.
Subsequent to my first pilgrimage walk, I also became aware of the plans by Lydia Smith to promote Walking The Camino: Six Ways to Santiago, the movie and its funding via social networking sites. What I find fascinating is the many ways she planned to leverage these sites to achieve her goals, such as crowdsourcing Facebook fans on her “edits in progress” while the movie was still in the edit stage, and launching a crowd-funding campaign to raise the funds necessary to edit the 300 hours of footage shot in Spain into a finished 90-minute show. Her sites (see links below) appear prominently in search results and it’s obvious that she has built strong community support by providing relevant value in her content and in her interactions with users of those sites.
So in close, I want to thank Emilio and Lydia, for not only making helpful and inspiring movies on this important topic, but also for showing the way that we can use our online presence to promote the ideas and artifacts that we value – such as our Christian faith and walking in spiritual pilgrimage – and share them with others who in turn receive and invest in that value.
And in that spirit of sharing, I welcome your comments on these topics in reply.
The Way (movie) Facebook site: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Way-A-film-by-Emilio-Estevez/149700758373570
Walking The Camino: Six Ways to Santiago (movie) Web site: http://www.caminodocumentary.org
Walking The Camino: Six Ways to Santiago (movie) Facebook site: http://www.facebook.com/TheCaminoDocumentary
Hi Paul, I saw the first movie, The Way, when it came out and found it interesting and moving. The second one I haven’t seen yet but will. The walk itself is beyond what I can do these years (had two knee replacements!) but I understand the Camino can be biked. Is this true? Thanks for drawing attention to the movies and the Camino.
Hi Mike, Thanks for your valued comments, and yes, the Camino can done on bike (and even horse)! I will email you more information.
I dropped in to visit your blog site during a break at work today! That is interesting how Mr Estevez was able to market “The Way.” It was recommended to me by an ASTD instructor during a 3-day training in (I think) 2012. I immediately watched it on Netflix. I’m not sure how large an audience it captured but I believe Mr Estevez wanted to make a beautiful movie with his father about a father and son relationship. It was so much more than that. I will keep my eyes out for “Walking The Camino: Six Ways to Santiago.” Thank you for sharing that with us.
Hi Tai, Thanks for visiting the blog and sharing your valued comments on this post!
Hi Doc,
I enjoyed reading your thoughts on connectivity in our society today. It’s interesting that we’re discussing the impact of social media on communication in relation to the Camino, a pilgrimage. I have always associated this type of journey, both physically and spiritually, as an independent and solitary experience. What I enjoyed about the movie, The Way, is how this deeply personal journey was completely steeped in relationship to others. From fellow pilgrims and townspeople met along the way, to the yearning for connection to the tragically lost son, Sheen’s character is far from alone in his journey. That is the beauty held within this story.
Similarly, the manner in which we share our lives with others is a dichotomy. Social media has, arguably, drawn us away from one another in the traditional sense of connectivity. We have, however, never been more connected to, and unguarded with, one another. With a mere click we are able to share deeply personal and honest things about ourselves with a vast number of friends, something not commonly done in face-to-face or written interactions (Kimanuka, 2015). I can daily “chat” with friends, see photos of their kids, discuss politics, share what we’re cooking for dinner, and yet I have not physically seen them in over ten years. Many argue that this altered reality of connectivity is unhealthy for our interpersonal skills, and I share this concern (Keller, 2013). Perhaps the way in which we define the intimacy and authenticity of our relationships will result in isolation and diminished capacity for communication (Keller, 2013).
I believe this challenge is exemplified in the experience of the movie’s online presence, but limited local presence. Using social media can open doors for sharing amazing works, such as The Way and Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago. It can reach people who will likely never step foot on any part of the Camino and give them another way to reflect and explore. I also think it’s very important to not abandon the face-to-face, or in this case the promotion to those physically near. Balancing between the two might help us from losing our ability to truly connect with others on multiple platforms. As pilgrims leaving the Camino must navigate their way back to “normal” life while experiencing a significant change within, our society must adapt and redefine our new “normal” in a highly connected world.
With sincerity,
Rachel
Keller, M. (2013). Social media and interpersonal communication. Social Work Today, 13(3). Retrieved from http://www.socialworktoday.com/archive/051313p10.shtml
Kimanuka, O. (2015, May 2). Social media has changed the way we communicate. The New Times. Retrieved from http://www.newtimes.co.rw/section/article/2015-05-02/188395/
Thanks Rachel for your thoughtful comments on the social nature of pilgrimage and how representing that experience on social media can bring the underlying truths about it to people who have not or may not walked in pilgrimage.
It is interesting to note that for marketing purposes, social media can be especially valuable for promoting products and services, including movies about pilgrimage made by film-makers without the aid of traditional distribution of commercial movies.
And you are quite right about the social nature of pilgrimage. My choice for the title of this blog was derived from the sense of walking in the footsteps of those pilgrims who have walked the same path before me.
Here is a link to my blog post on that topic:
Following in the Footsteps on the Camino
https://followinginthefootsteps.orgfollowing-in-the-footsteps-on-the-camino/
Great post, showing the positive side of being able to connect and share faith themes around the world. In today’s social media there is so much negativity and fighting, it’s good to see the balanced perspective that these important films with powerful themes are also able to inspire and be shared around the world. Thanks
Thanks for your valued comments on sharing one’s walk in faith, whether on this blog or in films based on this pilgrimage!