Media 
Appearances.

For this practice research experiment, four filmmakers were engaged to make four films under parameters, inspired by Zen concepts, namely – minimalism, non-attachment and being in the here and now – to reduce filmmaking’s dependence on funding and equipment, adopting a minimalist less-is-more approach to storytelling with the moving image. Filmmakers practice non-attachment to fixated ideas and learn to use the “thus-ness” and “such-ness” of their conditions in the here and now, opening themselves to modes of serendipity and sometimes co-creating with their conditions, however unfavourable, to tell stories. The experiment revealed that films made under these parameters focused less on image building and more on the image’s relations to rhythm, pacing, space and duration. Despite imposed parameters, Zen-Mind Filmmaking is found to be liberating rather than limiting, because when the filmmaker is less entangled, he is able to realise his agency and freedom to be himself, and can even use his practice as a means for actualization. Like how Zen practice brings a practitioner back to his center, this methodology can be introduced to film education to help bring the practice of filmmaking back to its center – as storytelling with the moving image – without its excesses.