AN OFFICER & HIS HOLINESS The Dalai Lama’s Secret Escape Into Exile

A Major New Film

AN OFFICER & HIS HOLINESS 1 “We can never obtain peace in the world until we have peace within ourselves” His Holiness 14th Dalai Lama

DISCLAIMER: Red Rock Entertainment Ltd is not authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The content of this promotion is not authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA). Reliance on the promotion for the purpose of engaging in any investment activity may expose an individual to a significant risk of losing all of the investment. UK residents wishing to participate in this promotion must fall into the category of sophisticated investor or high net worth individual as outlined by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). AN OFFICER & HIS HOLINESS The Dalai Lama’s Secret Escape Into Exile CONTENTS 4-7 Background 8-9 Narrator | Joanna Lumley 10-11 Synopsis 12 Tibet | India | China 13 Life Lessons from Ancient Tibet 14-15 Dharamsala 16-19 Original Music | Nicki Wells | Craig Pruess 20-21 Music and Younger Audiences 22-23 The Team 26 Executive Producers 27 Producers 28 United Nations BACKGROUND His Holiness, Dalai Lama

The 14th Dalai Lama is respected in the Indian plains in 1959. This to his international popularity, and revered by millions the world film will bring the Buddhist leader, for Tibetans, the Dalai Lama has over. His widely covered visits renowned for peace advocacy, always been the “Most Precious to countries like Canada, the face to face with the Indian official One.” His undisputed, divine status USA, Australia and to Europe and each will relive, separately, as Tibet’s former religious and demonstrate his enduring appeal. those weeks of tension and danger. temporal ruler dates back along 13 Dalai Lamas and several centuries The 84-year old spiritual leader of Access to the officer, Harmander to well before the country was the Tibetan people has featured Singh, is exclusive to the story. The overrun by the Chinese People’s on Forbes’s list of the world’s film will include interviews with him Liberation Army (PLA) in 1950. most powerful and influential and the Dalai Lama. The officer has people, and in 2014 he was one not spoken in detail about his role China invaded because it wanted of Fortune’s top ten world’s in this story before now. complete control of autonomous greatest leaders. Tibet to strengthen its Western For 60 years the Dalai Lama flank, among other reasons to do A critical part of the story of the has campaigned for peace and with minerals and water. Dalai Lama’s escape from China nonviolent political change. He in 1959 has never been told in meets with different religious The Chinese had grown frustrated detail before. This part concerns heads, theologians, country with the power and influence an Indian official who located the leaders, scientists and newsmakers held by the 14th Dalai Lama, so revered Tibetan leader at the Indo- to explore areas of mutual interest. they used various tactics to try Chinese border and smuggled Winner of the 1989 Nobel Peace to isolate and destroy him. They him across the harsh and perilous Prize, the Dalai Lama has over nine decided he was standing in the terrain of the Himalayas to safety million Twitter followers. In addition way of their territorial ambition so

4 AN OFFICER & HIS HOLINESS BACKGROUND

CIA helping Tibetan Guerillas they decided to try to terminate of night with his closest advisors, for the Dalai Lama. In India itself, his lineage. By the late fifties PLA tutors and some family members. vague instructions over a crackling soldiers had flooded Tibetan He was disguised as a soldier, wireless with a poor signal were strongholds. A fearsome network stumbling, nearly blind, as he sent from Delhi to the North- of spies and informers helped its had had to remove his trademark East frontier via an intermediary masters create a vice-like grip on spectacles. He was also scared at outpost. They reached the Political the Tibetan leadership. Finally, that point, he says. Officer in the Indian Frontier the Chinese military advanced Division to which it was thought and encircled the Dalai Lama’s With the help of CIA-trained the Dalai Lama might escape. hilltop summer palace. PLA Tibetan guerillas who had been guns, cannons, tanks and heavy smuggled out to the US to be The officer, Harmander Singh, artillery were aimed directly at his coached and drilled, the Dalai was tasked with working out living quarters. Lama and his retinue fled to the then unknown entry point southern Tibet. But the Chinese for the Tibetan party. He was to By March 1959, Tibetans were so still hunted him, by air and on meet the “Dignitary” as India’s terrified for the life of their leader land, intent on “disposing” of him. emissary, identify and “neutralize” that they mounted a rebellion Neighboring countries refused to any disguised Chinese assassins against the Chinese overlords, accept the Tibetan party, fearing following him, and conduct the surrounding the Dalai Lama’s China’s wrath. With contentious young Buddhist leader to safety in palace and placing themselves border issues and a mightier the Indian plains. Then the wireless between him and the PLA soldiers. neighbour than itself, India too went dead. Riding on ponies, The Dalai Lama was in danger; had been reluctant previously. But Harmander Singh completed an even his trusted wise oracles told now Washington persuaded India’s eight-day journey in three days, him so. He escaped in the dead PM Nehru, to agree to asylum to get to the Dalai Lama who

AN OFFICER & HIS HOLINESS 5 BACKGROUND

Called Middle Land, between Tibet and India

The Dalai Lama has been reunited with an indian soldier Naren Chandra das who escorted him to safety as he fled from tibet to india in 1959.

6 AN OFFICER & HIS HOLINESS BACKGROUND

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama disguised as a layman walking down the road, during his escape from Tibet in 1959 was weakened and sick after his deadly flight from capture and Knowing that he was on an Singh will also use photographs likely death. important mission, Singh wrote a taken at the time with his own personal diary of his assignment box camera, explaining the story Guarding him with his own life that needed to be kept secret so behind them; they’re the only throughout the journey, Singh long as he was in active service. A visual evidence of a key moment carefully brought the party private man, he has not revealed in world history. across Indian mountains on foot its contents before but will read and horseback, anxious about from the diary on camera for this spies when devotees, overjoyed film. There is no restriction now at seeing their leader, mobbed on its use and all permissions are him seeking blessings. cleared for use of it in the film.

AN OFFICER & HIS HOLINESS 7 PRESENTER

Joanna brings her open an inquisitive style to this film and a natural connection to the material.

8 AN OFFICER & HIS HOLINESS NARRATOR

JOANNA LUMLEY

Joanna Lumley was born in a generation of British males who Fabulous is regarded as one Kashmir, India, on 1st May 1946. grew up watching her as the high- of the greatest female comic Her father was a major in the kicking action girl. performances ever, earning Lumley Gurkha Rifles and she spent most a stream of awards, including of her early childhood in the Far Other roles followed, most notably several BAFTAs. East where her father was posted. as Sapphire in Sapphire & Steel An aspiring actress, she first came (1979) opposite David McCallum Since , to fame as a model in ’s -- a sci-fi precursor to The X-Files Lumley has cemented her role as swinging 1960s, where she was (1993) that has gained a cult one of the UK’s most-loved and photographed by the greats, following in recent years, despite respected actresses. She is rarely including her friend, the late the fact it has only ever been off UK TV screens and has also Patrick Lichfield. shown ONCE on terrestrial TV. built a successful film career as a character/ voice-over actress. She was designer Jean Muir’s During the 1980s, Lumley returned muse and house model for several to the theatre, making notable She recently teamed up with the years before carving a career appearances as “Hedda Gabler” writer/director Hugo Blick for the as a freelance model where she and as “Elvira” in “Blithe Spirit” -- a series of acclaimed monologues became one of the top ten most role that seems tailor-made for her. Up in Town (2002), which booked models of the 1960s. Lumley also made appearances in were critically regarded as the several films, including Trail of the performance of a lifetime, and the Lumley’s breakthrough role was Pink Panther (1982), Curse of the recent Sensitive Skin (2005). as Purdey in The New Avengers Pink Panther (1983), and a screen- (1976), a role for which over 800 stealing role in Shirley Valentine It has been announced that she will girls auditioned. Purdey propelled (1989). It was her reinvention as be making a return to the stage Lumley to instant fame and created a comic actress in Absolutely for the first time in over a decade one of the “must-have” hairstyles Fabulous (1992) that shot Lumley in a new production of Anton of the 1970s -- the Purdey bob. to wider international acclaim. Chekhov’s “The Cherry Orchard” Lumley became a pin-up figure for Her role as Patsy in Absolutely directed by Sir Jonathan Miller.

AN OFFICER & HIS HOLINESS 9 SYNOPSIS His Holiness, Dalai Lama

His Holiness, Dalai Lama The

The popularity and interest of this is the story of the Dalai Lama’s Dalai millions of people around the journey into exile. It will be told world in Tibet and their exiled through exclusive interviews leader, His Holiness 14th Dalai with the Dalai Lama using the Lama’s Lama continues half a century previously unknown private diary after China invaded Tibet. Why of the Indian high official who led are so many people interested in him to safety, Harmandar Singh, Secret his story and what can we learn who speaks about it on camera. from his principles of love and compassion? The Dalai Lama’s escape into Escape India is a fascinating cultural and Sixty years after ‘China’s Most political story and has been a Wanted Man’ escaped from well-kept Indian family secret for Into Exile occupied Tibet, this powerful well over 60 years, known only film follows The Dalai Lama as he to the family and high ranking recalls his perilous journey across government officials who were the Indo-Tibetan borderlands close to the Dalai Lama. during his remarkable escape into exile in 1959. Remarkably, this is Many people are aware that the the first time that the part about Dalai Lama escaped from Tibet his entry into India will have been and sought sanctuary in India, told on film! where he has remained ever since. However, the precise details have One of the most significant never before been revealed. The moments of 20th Century history, Indian high official, Harmandar

10 AN OFFICER & HIS HOLINESS SYNOPSIS His Holiness, Dalai Lama

Masrur Rock Temple

Singh always felt this was a private The film explores how the Dalai fulfilling life. The deep emotional personal story and one that didn’t Lama’s escape from Tibet sparked and spiritual experience of the warrant the prying eyes of the one of the greatest stories of our Indian Official, gained from public. However, now retired and time. As Tibetans descended from spending three weeks together elderly he has been persuaded by the high Himalayan plateau to take with the Dalai Lama is uncovered his niece to share this story with asylum and settle in countries by Har Mandar Singh’s niece, BBC her in the hope that it will provide across the world, especially in journalist and ex-EastEnders soap valuable insights into the life of one India, their refugee story highlights star Rani Singh. of the world’s most recognised the importance of compassion spiritual and political leaders. amongst all peoples and nations. Along with the Dalai Lama, she Telling the story on film will enable revisits the time he was in the its relevance to be shared with Many Tibetans, including the Dalai Tibetan borderlands in the high modern audiences who may not Lama, hope to peacefully return Himalayan mountains for the have understood what the Dalai to Tibet one day. The film asks escape. Lama went through, nor the the question: what implicit lessons profound and peaceful principles can we learn from their story? Told This culturally significant story that he still stands for today. through interviews with those who offers insights into the importance were on this historic journey; the of our shared worldwide humanity. In the film, Harmandar not only Dalai Lama, his younger brother, shares what happened, but also Tenzin Choegyal, the Indian through his experiences and Frontier Official, Har Mandar Singh private diary we will discover what and others, the film also includes it was like to live at close quarters insights, wisdom and life advice with the Dalai Lama at that time as from the Dalai Lama himself he did. about how to live a happier, more

AN OFFICER & HIS HOLINESS 11 TIBET | INDIA | CHINA

Lhasa, Tibet

Tibet’s Relationship with India and China

In 2017, the Dalai Lama’s visit to with social and political leaders offer an emotionally enchanting the Indo - Chinese border nearly who will paint a picture of the experience for audiences to enjoy. sparked an international incident connection between the Tibetans Interestingly, despite the Chinese between the two countries. China and India and offer insights into the occupation of Tibet and what still disputes the border’s position future direction of India as a new many have called a systematic with India and as a result there are world superpower. stamping out of Tibetan culture frequent military skirmishes in the and human rights, amongst young, area. The Dalai Lama was able to Since the incorporation of Tibet into affluent people in China there visit the region only after liaison China in 1950 much of the old pre- is a growing trend of interest in with the Indian government due to Chinese invasion of Tibet archive Tibetan Buddhism. This movement the sensitivity of the location. Rani footage has been donated to the continues despite evidence and her crew were on the ground in London. An pointing towards oppression during this historic visit of the Dalai Officer and His Holiness will reopen within the Tibetan Autonomous Lama filming for An Officer and His this archive of material to reveal a Region (TAR – old Tibet, as it is Holiness - capturing the colours, visually rich culture preserved on now known). landscapes and lives of Tibetan film. The sweeping new Chinese- Buddhists and their joy in seeing built roads and developments of The tendency to turn to Tibetan the return of their spiritual leader. today are gone, replaced by the Buddhism is an angle that the original buildings and culture still film will explore in some detail Whenever Tibetans meet Indians intact before their desecration. The to include interviews that throughout the world there is a footage gives a sense of what Tibet relate to this topic. This will sense of love, appreciation and was like before the invasion. This give a fuller, more balanced connection between them born pristine material will be blended picture of Sino-Tibet relations from their shared history and with the stories and interviews than is normally portrayed by friendship. There will be interviews we are recording for the film and the media.

12 AN OFFICER & HIS HOLINESS THE STORY ISN’T OVER

80 feet Giant Lord Buddha Statue Bodh Gaya India

Life Lessons from historical account of Central South Asia, it offers many lessons for us Ancient Tibet - The today- from the example of the story isn’t over Dalai Lama and the extensive wider Tibetan diaspora. There have been signs over the Tibetans live throughout the past few years that the Chinese world, often bringing with them leadership may be softening its their culture and traditions. stance towards Tibetan Buddhism, Monasteries, temples, restaurants and even the Dalai Lama. There are and businesses have all been rumours that President Xi Jinping’s established in many places on the wife is interested in Buddhism. planet. His own father had a good relationship with the Dalai Lama. Musicians, human rights activists A former senior Communist Party and monks are present and active official, Xiao Wunan, Executive in the world, sharing the insights Vice Chairman of the Asia Pacific gained from their human and Exchange and Cooperation Buddhist values. This “survive and Foundation, had a meeting with thrive” concept works by giving the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala back to and helping others. It is filmed and the video was released something that we can all learn to the BBC. It is public knowledge from. Seeing these stories on film that Xiao has a Buddhist shrine in offers us inspiration for our own his home with a photograph of the lives, especially those who are Dalai Lama. going through or have faced their own crises. Economic growth is bringing societal change and problems What the film asks is how can this that some Chinese find difficult persecuted man, the Dalai Lama, to deal with. So they are hiring who is still labelled a terrorist, a Tibetan monks to pray with them “splittist” and a “separatist” in in an effort to buy good karma. China, still have compassion for Chinese from this circle would his oppressors? In this sense, the make surprising interviewees. film offers life lessons to us all from ancient Tibet. An Officer and His Holiness is not only an insightful and entertaining His Holiness, Dalai Lama

AN OFFICER & HIS HOLINESS 13 DHARAMSALA

Dharamsala

Dharamsala (India) The functioning Tibetan community in exile

In Dharamsala or ‘little Tibet’ as it is widely known, a city in the Northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh in the foothills of the Himalayas the fully functioning Tibetan Government in Exile, culture and wider Tibetan community still exists today. The palace of the Dalai Lama is here and people from all walks of life Prime Minister Modi Richard Gere and visit this high Himalayan landscape that is now the centre of Tibetan Buddhism. The film will feature this area, it’s people, wonders and institutions.

There is a Tibetan- specific school and institutions preserving ancient Tibetan arts, crafts and culture. The Dalai Lama’s sister- in- law has founded a popular Tibetan nunnery.

We will examine how everyday Tibetans manage to live and search for employment. There is a functioning Tibetan parliament with representatives from each area of Tibet in Dharamsala handling the temporal side that the Dalai Lama used to lead. His Holiness, Dalai Lama

14 AN OFFICER & HIS HOLINESS Dharamsala

AN OFFICER & HIS HOLINESS 15 ORIGINAL MUSIC

ANOUSHKA SHANKAR

Sitar player and composer this nomination Anoushka became the versatility of the across Anoushka Shankar is a singular the first Indian artist to perform at musical genres. figure in the Indian classical the Grammy® Awards. and progressive world music In 2011 she signed to Deutsche scenes. Her dynamic and spiritual As an international solo sitarist Grammophon heralding a fertile musicality has garnered several Anoushka has performed in a creative period with a series prestigious accolades, including range of distinguished venues such of exploratory CDs: Traveller six Grammy® Award nominations, as Carnegie Hall, Barbican Centre, (produced by Javier Limon) recognition as the youngest - Sydney Opera House, Vienna examines the relationship between and first female - recipient of a Konzerthaus, Salle Pleyel, Royal Indian Classical music and Spanish British House of Commons Shield, Festival Hall, Frankfurt Alte Oper, flamenco, Traces of You (produced credit as an Asian Hero by TIME Théâtre des Champs- Elysées, by Nitin Sawhney and featuring Magazine, and a Songlines Best Palais des Beaux-Arts, KKL Anoushka’s half-sister Artist Award. Most recently, she Luzern, Millenium Park (Chicago) on vocals), and Home, a purely became one of the first five female and San Francisco Opera House. Indian Classical where she composers to have been added to Festival appearances include returned to the Ragas her father the UK A-level music syllabus. Edinburgh, Verbier, Prague Spring, had taught her. Her most recent Glastonbury, Womad and the BBC album Land of Gold was written in Deeply rooted in the Indian Proms in London. response to the humanitarian Classical music tradition, Anoushka trauma of displaced people fleeing studied exclusively from the age of Anoushka has championed her conflict and poverty. nine under her father and guru, the father’s four sitar Concertos late , and made her with the world’s leading Her compositional work was professional debut as a classical orchestras including the Berlin recently celebrated in a “Zeitinsel” sitarist at the age of thirteen. Philharmonic, London Symphony, at the Dortmund Konzerthaus London Philharmonic, New York where she was given carteblanche By the age of 20, she had made Philharmonic and Los Angeles to present four full-length three classical recordings for Philharmonic Orchestras under the programmes reflecting different EMI/Angel and received her first leadership of esteemed conductors aspects of her artistic life. She has Grammy® nomination, thereby such as Zubin Mehta. been commissioned by the British becoming the first Indian female Film Institute to write a full-length and youngest-ever nominee in the Besides performing as a solo film score to accompany the BFI World Music category. sitarist, her compositional work has National Archive’s restoration of led to cross-cultural collaborations the 1928 silent film Shiraz, specially In 2005, Anoushka released her with artists such as Sting, M.I.A, commissioned to mark the UK- self-produced breakthrough album Herbie Hancock, Pepe Habichuela, India Year of Culture 2017. Recent Rise, which earned her a second Karsh Kale, Rodrigo y Gabriela highlights also include curating Grammy® nomination. Following and Joshua Bell demonstrating a Tagore Festival at The Globe

16 AN OFFICER & HIS HOLINESS ORIGINAL MUSIC

Anoushka is writing an original score for the film based on her extensive experience with Indian Classical music with a modern twist.

Her shining ability and stunning creative insights are sure to add a depth of emotion to the storytelling and enable audiences around the world to be thrilled and entertained by the film.

Theatre in London dedicated to Anoushka’s artistic output Goals, and coordinating a call-to- the legendary Bengali polymath increasingly seeks to reflect her action to the UK government in Rabindranath Tagore. She is a impassioned support of women’s response to the current European featured soloist and co-writer on rights and social justice. In refugee crisis, which was signed Arijit’s Singh’s latest feature film response to the horrific gang-rape by more than 100 leading British and performs on the soundtrack of Jyoti Singh Pandey in Delhi in cultural figures and published in a to Stephen Frears’ film Victoria 2011, Shankar threw her weight full-page advert in the Guardian and Abdul. behind the campaign One Billion newspaper in September 2015. Rising on Change.org. To support She narrated “Stolen Innocence” The 2017/18 season saw the the campaign, she released a video a documentary film about human premiere of a new programme in which she demanded an end to trafficking which is premiered in with the Zurich Chamber Orchestra crime against women and revealed autumn 2017. featuring orchestrations of her she had been sexually abused for works by Jules Buckley. “Shiraz” is many years as a child. Following Anoushka has authored a premiered in a live performance at this, she was invited to take part in biographical portrait of her father the Barbican on the opening night a special panel on violence against Bapi: The Love of My Life, and has of the London Film Festival which women at the annual Hindustan been a regular columnist for New will be followed by a tour of India. Times Leadership Summit in New Delhi’s First City magazine and the Performances of Land of Gold Delhi (2013). Hindustan Times. bring her to the Philharmonie in Paris, LG Arts Centre Seoul, Macao Other recent projects include Cultural Centre, WOMADelaide, hosting a radio show about gender WOMAD New Zealand and the equality to promote the United Sydney Opera House. Nations Sustainable Development

AN OFFICER & HIS HOLINESS 17 ORIGINAL MUSIC

NICKI WELLS

Singer-songwriter Nicki Wells is creating original music for the film with grammy- nominated artist Anoushka Shankar. Blessed with an unparalleled memory for melody and vocal technique from virtually any culture, Nicki is able to leap from folk, french trip-hop, deep gospel, jazz or choral vocals to Indian classical or Arabic inflections as if all were emanating directly from her soul.

Wells’ debut album, produced by award-winning producer-composer Nitin Sawhney, has already won her enthusiastic attention from Chris Martin (Coldplay), and Joss Stone among others, even before completion. Wells has signed a lucrative deal with music publishers reservoir/reverb music.

Having performed with Sawhney as a lead vocalist at major international festivals, Wells has performed to sell out audiences at London’s Royal Albert hall and Sydney Opera House. Nicki has already scored extensively for film, theatre and dance and holds a first-class degree in music from Guilford’s ACM.

Anoushka Shankar with Nicki Wells during the recording session of music for the film.

18 AN OFFICER & HIS HOLINESS ORIGINAL MUSIC

With The Art of Living Foundation, one of the fastest growing volunteer-based service- orientated NGO’s in the world, Craig was instrumental in bringing life transforming meditation programmes into high-security prisons in the UK during 2003 - 2005 through the ‘Prisonsmart Programme.’

As an established London session musician, Craig has featured as a multi-instrumentalist over the years with many well-known artists. These include , Sir Elton John, , Leo Sayer, and Sir (for whom he produced and arranged three platinum , including penning the title song, “Silver”, in 1983). Craig’s CRAIG PRUESS, FILM SCORE COMPOSER Indian string arrangements feature on chart-topping albums such as The film soundtrack for An Officer and His Holiness is being composed, Massive Attack’s “100 Window”, produced and conducted by Bafta nominated American film composer and ’s “Slang”. Craig and experienced world-musician, Craig Pruess. Combining elements of is a featured sitar player on Manic Tibetan music, Indian music (including Anoushka’s brilliant sitar pieces Street preacher’s song “Tsunami” and Nicki Wells’ vocals) with western orchestral music for the score, Craig from their chart-topping album, brings his well-known “best of the West and best of the East” brand of “Tell Me Your Truth, I’Il tell you fusion to bear on the emotional sweep and depth of the musical score for mine.” Craig’s sitar playing was also the film. featured in the Harry Potter film, “Goblet of Fire”, plus other films Over the last 27 years, Craig’s soundtrack composer skills have also had that include “The Guru,” Madonna’s a major impact on mainstream films and television. he created major film “Next Best Thing,” Warner Bros’ scores for two number one UK box office hits; “” “A Little Princess” and Johnny (Number seven in the USA) and “” (Number 15 in Depp’s “Charlie and the Chocolate the USA). His exotic raga-based score for ’ feature Factory. For that film, Craig was the film “Mistress of Spices” contrasts well with his Africa – influenced and Indian music consultant/arranger electronica tinged score for prime-time BBC series “Moses Jones,” for oscar winning composer, starring Matt Smith, Eamonn Walker, Dennis Waterman, and Sean Parkes. . The film garnered Craig both a RTF and a BAFTA nomination for best original score in 2010. On the eve of the millennium in 1999, Craig had his song, “Two His long-standing collaboration with one of the UK’S most prolific and Worlds”, sitting at number one in successful female film directors, OBE, continues the UK record charts as part of with his quirky indo-fusion film score for “It’s A wonderful Afterlife” the “Millennium Prayer” sung by (Number seven in the UK box office) in 2010. Two months later Craig Sir Cliff Richard. was nominated to score the successful ITV mini-series Five Days II.” His long-term goals are to bring Previously, he scored five series of one of ITV’s most successful long- the beneficial effects of the ancient standing shows, “Peak Practice”. Currently, Craig has delivered his Indian classical ragas (and all their vintage Indo-fusion style orchestral music (featuring the Hungarian State sonic healing potentials) into Orchestra in Prague, plus master musicians of India) for the high profile hospitals and prisons, schools and prime-time ITV period drama, “Beecham House” — written and directed workplaces. by Gurinder Chadha — which aired in the UK (Sunday night slot, 9pm) in June 2019. It had a major release in the US in 2019 by Masterpiece PBS. It’s a vision for a world more in harmony and connected For their work with refugees, Craig and the Ganda Boys were invited everywhere to its traditional to perform at the United Nations headquarters in New York in 2015. In roots of sacred music and Munich, Germany, two months earlier, Craig had conducted the Syrian transformational sound. Refugee Orchestra on the song, along with African drummers from North Africa.

AN OFFICER & HIS HOLINESS 19 MUSIC AND YOUNGER AUDIENCES

The 14th Dalai Lama speaks onstage at the One World Concert at Syracuse University in New York, October 2012

20 AN OFFICER & HIS HOLINESS MUSIC AND YOUNGER AUDIENCES MUSIC AND YOUNGER AUDIENCES

Dharamsala

MUSIC AND YOUNGER his visit, seeing what meeting him meant to them, whilst asking AUDIENCES questions about the role of When one of the world’s great kindness in our modern world. spiritual leaders, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, attended Europe’s Interweaving these intimate and largest music festival, the iconic impressive images and their Glastonbury Festival of Music & music into a film that combines Arts, Patti Smith led him out onto a story about his escape as one the main stage and sang happy of the great moments in history. birthday to him for his 80th along Through the music and interviews with a crowd of 50,000 people. it modernises the story and sets it against a backdrop of the world The film includes this epic moment as it is today and asks where we where the Dalai Lama connected go from here, making it even more to a younger audience through the relevant to worldwide audiences. ‘Dalai Lama and Patti Smith at music. We see some of the crowds Glastonbury Festival’ and musicians who performed at Glastonbury Festival during

AN OFFICER & HIS HOLINESS 21 THE TEAM

Jean-Paul is a graduate of the national film & television school, UK. He’s worked with former BBC director Alan Ereira for the whole of the Aluna film project in 2010, the second film of the secretive Indigenous Kogi Indian Tribe of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia. (Aluna was the sequel to the acclaimed BBC film, From the Heart of the World: The Elder Brother’s Warning).

The Mamas (Indigenous Leaders) in the film asked him to share their message of hope and despair about the impact of society on the environment around the world through film. Jean-Paul co-founded and produced the migrate charity auction for refugees with Christies (London) as a creative response to the refugee crisis, raising funds for Grassroots Ngos saving refugees’ lives on a daily basis.

He was also involved within the organising committee of the historic London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games. he has worked with the JEAN-PAUL MERTINEZ, United Nations on their “Harmony with Nature” program that aims to PRODUCER | DIRECTOR align human activity with nature. He has spoken about the role of the arts in increasing awareness for the need to protect the environment and earth’s legal rights at the general assembly of the United Nations in New York. He’s now working on a new international feature film, television and live projects that seek to express a sustainable and compassionate worldview whilst still being engaging and entertaining.

Rani Singh has filmed four times exclusively with the Dalai Lama for this film. She originated the seed concept for An Officer and his Holiness. She won the cooperation of the office of the Dalai Lama for the project through her dedicated commitment and her family’s unique connection with the Dalai Lama. Reporting for television, radio, print and online, Rani is also a producer and author. She has written a book for Virgin-Random house India narrating the story of An Officer and His Holiness. She has spent four years working on the film and book for An Officer and His Holiness and has been researching / shooting for it in India since 2015.

Rani enjoys reporting with the BBC. She writes for and also appears on other media organisations and platforms that include Forbes, Sky News and Al Jazeera English. She started her BBC career as an actor in Eastenders but soon realised that there was a wider world outside Albert Square that needed investigating. Playing a part in mainstream popular culture, she became aware of the media’s place in public life and RANI SINGH, discovered the power of working with big audiences. PRESENTER | WRITER She breaks stories and digs deep to get the access denied to others. EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Rani regularly travels across South Asia to Nepal, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan on assignment. Her news reports have appeared on the BBC’s the World Tonight, Newshour, Newsnight and from our own correspondent. She has originated, produced and presented documentaries for the BBC. Her portfolio of current affairs and factual reporting includes business, politics, religion and security. Rani’s exclusive stories include British “Facebook Terrorist” Runa Khan, Kashmir, Nepal’s Tibetan refugees, a general election in Bangladesh, and an interview with its Prime Minister. She was the first reporter to gain access to Bangladesh’s UN commanders and peacekeeping troops.

22 AN OFFICER & HIS HOLINESS THE TEAM

Chris is one of the world’s leading independent executive producers. He heads up a global network of specialists, providing end-to-end strategy, creative management, video production, live streaming and delivery.

His unique set of skills has successfully driven industry changes and he has been the face behind some of the most challenging and memorable broadcasts ever undertaken, winning multiple world records and almost every award in the market sector. The industry magazine, streaming media magazine described him as one of the 10 most influential members of the industry and he is in their live streaming dream team.

He advised the White House and No.10 on the future of the media and entertainment industry and is a video production and streaming consultant for every major western social network. Recent music projects include the Grammy Awards (2018), Starbucks (red) campaign (where CHRIS DABBS, he managed a live broadcast from 152 countries simultaneously), the V EXECUTIVE PRODUCER festival, and all defected festivals. He launched Blur’s ‘Under the Westway’, getting it to No.1 on iTunes in less than 4 1/2 minutes, an advisor and producer on ‘..Got Talent’ and X Factor, produced Maroon 5’s 24 hour session, looked after the live production for the Who’s World Tour, as well as a string of productions for Tidal and Spotify.

Ed Coleman is a multiple award nominated director of photography working across live events, music, documentaries and branded content.

His passion for music and film has led him to work with some of the world’s biggest artists including; Justin Timberlake, Coldplay, Ellie Goulding, Deadmau5, Arctic Monkeys, Biffy Clyro, Marshmellow, Ed Sheeran, The Flaming Lips, Pendulum, Chemical Brothers, One Republic, Steve Aoki, Mark Ronson and the Muppets!

Alongside working all over the world on live events for this diverse range of artists, he has produced content for a long list of artists from Led Zeppelin, Muse, Robbie Williams, Noel Gallagher, Arianna Grande, Timbaland, Myley Cyrus, Deadmau5 and Leftfield.

2018 brought Ed critical acclaim and multiple award nominations for his work with CC Lab for the Arctic Monkeys and groundbreaking UHD live directing work on the world famous Isle of Wight Festival. Ed also received acclaim for his 2017 documentary series, “The Agony & Ecstasy” ED COLEMAN, on the origins of EDM for Sky. DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

AN OFFICER & HIS HOLINESS 23 A Visual Prayer for Peace

24 AN OFFICER & HIS HOLINESS A Visual Prayer for Peace

May I become at all times, both now and forever A protector of those without protection A guide for those who have lost their way A ship for those with oceans to cross A bridge for those with rivers to cross A sanctuary for those in danger A lamp for those without light A place of refuge for those who lack shelter And a servant to all in need For as long as space endures, And for as long as living beings remain, Until then may I, too, abide To dispel the misery of the world.

Shantideva, Buddhist Prayer.

AN OFFICER & HIS HOLINESS 25 EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS

Red Rock Entertainment is a film- finance company, based at the world-famous , home to some of the biggest TV shows on UK television and the studio of choice for many successful British filmmakers.

Working in conjunction with many of the UK’s top production companies to raise equity for film, TV content and film distribution, Red Rock Entertainment offers a number of tax-efficient opportunities to investors.

It primarily works on projects that are at an advanced stage and are looking for the final tranche of financing. Its focus is on film and TV projects that have commercial appeal, an identifiable audience, controllable costs and a sound financial structure. As an executive producer, Red Rock Entertainment can arrange for investors to visit sets during filming, appear as extras and attend private screenings. It also regularly arranges seminars at Elstree Studios, at which high-profile corporate and financial specialists offer advice and insight into the various tax advantages of investing in the UK film industry.

That Good Night 1

26 AN OFFICER & HIS HOLINESS PRODUCED BY

British Entertainment and Media Company Inspiring International Audiences with High Quality Productions In Film, Television and Live Events.

Illuimina Studios & Media Ltd are an to society. They can carry many the next generation help to heal Independent British Entertainment of our hopes, dreams and fears- our own and each other’s suffering and Media Company that produces both conscious and unconscious. so that life can have a chance to high quality film, television & They are incredibly powerful and become a celebration? If this is live event productions. These can help us look at and experience the kind of question you’d like to are delivered with zest, passion things we may not otherwise be answer with your own creative and purpose. We create unique able to. work then we may be in alignment. productions and environments for UK and international For us, the best ones even have a With the entry of new content audiences to be inspired transcendental quality, opening us providers, territories and formats and entertained. up to new ways of seeing, believing into the media landscape there and understanding the world has never been a better time to This enables us to be in contact around us and our place in it. Look be a content creator provided we with some of the best creative around today. We all need to be move with the technology and talents, most thought provoking inspired now more than ever. the times. leaders and stories you’ll find anywhere. For eons, well told Our question for you is how can stories have always been important we, as creators, as innovators, as

AN OFFICER & HIS HOLINESS 27 UNITED NATIONS

Illumina Studios & Media Ltd is address in the September 2016 participating as chair and facilitator UN General Assembly and helped of the Arts, Media, Design and encourage the city of Mexico to Architecture Group at the United adopt the Rights of Nature in their Nations Harmony With Nature constitution in January 2017. Programme in New York. The aim of this innovative programme is to In April 2017 Jean-Paul presented harmonise worldwide awareness at the General Assembly of the with nature and to contribute to United Nations in New York on long lasting social, political, legal this subject, highlighting the role and practical changes necessary of the arts, media, design and to protect nature for future architecture to promote the Rights generations through the UN. of Nature to international NGOs and Member States. In addition The programme has already to this, Jean-Paul and indigenous demonstrated its effectiveness colleagues from Colombia met with and has helped stimulate the current French Environment necessary legal changes around launched on Mother Earth Day Minister in Paris to determine the world aimed at creating new 2016, the dialogue is exploring how indigenous understanding constitutional laws to protect ongoing ways international experts of ecology could inform nature. Some of these have already can contribute to earth centred national policy. been implemented in countries world views, which were taken including , USA, New to the UN General Assembly in All of these important initiatives Zealand, India, Mexico, Bolivia, September 2016. The white paper are being documented in new Sweden and the UK. produced by over 127 experts in social impact documentaries diverse fields of environmental law, currently being made by Illumina Illumina Studios Director Jean-Paul ecological economics, education, Studios & Media Ltd and will Mertinez participated in the United holistic science, humanities, serve as a reference on film to the Nations international dialogue philosophy/ ethics, the arts, media, changing of world conditions and within the Arts, Media, Design design and architecture, theology the responses of civil and political and Architecture panel that was & spirituality became the keynote society to them.

28 AN OFFICER & HIS HOLINESS MEDICINE BUDDHA Blessed & Initiated at Gyuto Tantric Monastery. Tantric Gyuto at & Initiated MEDICINE BUDDHA Blessed

AN OFFICER & HIS HOLINESS 29 AN OFFICER & HIS HOLINESS The Dalai Lama’s Secret Escape Into Exile

PRODUCED BY EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS

Illumina Studios & Media Limited Suite 12 Elstree Studios, Shenley Rd, 79 Wardour St, Soho, London, W1D 6QB, UK Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, WD6 1JG, UK T: (+44) (0)20 3355 9972 Telephone: +44 203 745 5380 www.illuminastudios.co.uk www.redrockentertainment.com 30 AN OFFICER & HIS HOLINESS