The Garden of Angels is the well-known true story of a miracle that occurred at the Findhorn Garden. The script is both innovative and familiar in the telling of the miracle.

Set in Scotland during the early 1960's, The Garden of Angels is based on the true story of the Caddy family and Dorothy Maclean. Against all odds, they grow a stunning Garden on desolate sandy wasteland, with help and guidance from angelic beings and natural spiritual forces. The film portrays the early events that led to the establishment of the world-renowned Findhorn Garden.



Scotland, October 1962

The story begins when Peter Caddy and his colleague Dorothy, a friend of the family and who works with Peter, are abruptly fired from a hotel he has successfully managed for 4 years. During this time, Peter has based the management of the hotel upon the guidance his wife Eileen received during her meditations. Adverse publicity garnered by these unusual management methods causes the firing of Peter and Dorothy. Immediately after the firing, Peter and Eileen, along with their three children and Dorothy, are given four hours to leave their live-in hotel accommodations.

Without money or prospects and winter approaching, Peter, Eileen, Dorothy and the Caddy children end up in a trailer on a rubbish dump at a windswept, sandy trailer park near the beach at Findhorn. The first evening in the trailer, Eileen tells Peter and Dorothy she has received guidance, saying -- although it may seem to be the worst day of their lives, all is very, very well and where they are will become a place of great beauty which "thousands upon thousands" will visit and they will return once again to the hotel. Perplexed and with only Peter's faith in Eileen's guidance to encourage them, they soldier on through a bitter winter.

In the spring, Eileen's guidance tells them they are to start a Garden, which will become a center of light that reaches the four corners of the world and it will become a model for the troubled planet. Working through enormous odds and obstacles, Eileen's guidance is borne out. The Garden is planted, vibrant flowers bloom, and huge vegetables grow -- in nothing but sand -- due in part to the further guidance received by Dorothy from great angelic beings that encourage the Caddys' endeavors. "Roc", an elderly mystic who befriends the Caddys, enhances the guidance with his discovery of elemental beings called Nature Spirits who also help in the Garden.

In the end, ignorance and intolerance lose out, beaten by the faith and hope of the Caddys and Dorothy, beaten by the best part of humanity and the best part of ourselves.

True to the guidance, they return to the hotel as owners. Eventually, it becomes a spiritual and ecological education center for human potential. And yes, thousands upon thousands visit.

Ian Merrick's vision is to create a memorable, landmark film on the beauty and phenomena of nature together with spiritual themes where human spirit triumphs over adversity and scorn. Considerable research and development has already been undertaken to create a realistic and natural look to the film. The two main beings, Kurmos and The Elemental King, have been given similar qualities of audience appeal as "E.T." and "Star Wars" Yoda.

State of the art special effects will be combined with the most appropriate traditional techniques. Special hydraulic and electro-mechanical systems will be used, along with stop motion and animation. Blue and green screen and other optical techniques will be employed together with CGI digital effects and computer enhancement, so that animated beings can interact directly with humans. Time-lapse film of plants and flowers will be used as well as footage of animals and insects with the intention of enhancing a very visual and moving story. All aspects of nature will be vitalized in the colorfully saturated film, to dramatize the power and force of nature. Nature effects such as rainbows, clouds, storms, wind, rain and snow will all help to create a positive, vibrant, enthralling and exciting film, making Nature itself one of the stars of the film.

The Garden of Angels comes to the world on the dawn of the new millennium. Audiences are viewing the future with avid interest as to where we have come from, why we are here and where the planet and we are going. Add to this the growing public perception that we are not alone, that there is a purpose and we can conjure an exciting vision with the potential for a wondrous and positive new future for humans and the planet.

As we move away from the industrial growth society to a life sustaining society of mutual belonging, a film about the Findhorn Garden is timely. Peter Caddy, co-founder of the Garden believed that nothing happens until God wants it to, which Peter called "in perfect timing". As mentioned, Eileen Caddy was told, in her early guidance, that the Garden would eventually become "a model for a troubled planet', which is now unfolding.

In relation to this phenomenon, The Garden of Angels compliments the huge and escalating wave of interest in the ecological, spiritual and metaphysical movement. Indeed, Findhorn may even have had something to do with its birth. Certainly millions upon millions of people know about Findhorn already - and this built-in audience will further help create a strong "word of mouth" box office.

Findhorn has been the subject of countless books, articles, radio shows, television programs and scientific studies. In 1977, a study by Professor Albert McLeod estimated that Findhorn had come to the attention of 20 million people worldwide. Since then, the level of interest has exploded to hundreds of millions, particularly in the US and increasingly around the world. Peter Caddy has appeared on several popular American talk shows. Eileen Caddy's book, God Spoke to Me is a world best seller. Dorothy MacLean's book, To Hear the Angels Sing, is also a best seller.

More recently, Eileen's book, Flight Into Freedom, has sold over three million copies in several languages, as well as Opening Doors Within. Subsequently, Eileen has published many other successful titles and Peter's autobiography has recently been published to great acclaim. After his visit, Paul Hawken was inspired to write the first independent book on Findhorn, The Magic of Findhorn. The book became a best-seller and his experience led him to start the Erewhon Natural Foods supermarket chain. Subsequently he started the Smith & Hawken chain of gardening stores. His latest book, Natural Capital, has become a model for the co-existence of business and sustainable ecology.

Many dignitaries and celebrities have visited the Garden, including Shirley MacLaine and Burt Lancaster -- who also donated $250,000 to build the Universal Hall. Sir George Trevelyan, a distinguished British authority on education, was the first to publicly recognize and validate what was going on at Findhorn. Lady Eve and Lady Mary Balfour, of the Soil Association and Friends Of The Earth verified the phenomena, as did IBM research scientist Marcel Vogal.

At the height of the Findhorn Garden's strength, vibrancy and bloom, Professor R. Lindsey Robb, world recognized soil expert and former UN agriculture chief, observed that the soil at the Findhorn Garden could not be worse, as it contained almost no organic matter and retained little moisture. He said the vigor and health could not be explained by known scientific, organic husbandry. He and many more, too numerous to mention, came and were mystified.

Filmmaker Ian Merrick first became interested in Findhorn in the mid-eighties after talking with many people who had visited there. He eventually went to Findhorn where he observed the phenomenon first hand. He had talks with the Findhorn Foundation, became friendly with Eileen Caddy, co-founder, and developed considerable knowledge and understanding of the Garden and its founders. Later, in North America, Ian met, for the first time, and interviewed Peter Caddy. He then concluded an exclusive film rights arrangement for his story. After talking to Dorothy MacLean and all the other family members, now spread throughout the world, Ian felt able to approach the subject with certainty and with the knowledge and cooperation needed. Ian's screenplay for The Garden of Angels tells the story of the Garden from the founders' point of view. The film covers the first early years of Findhorn from its bleak beginnings to the successful establishment of the Garden. He has created a concept for a major theatrical motion picture that will be enlightening, enchanting, and entertaining.

The process of developing The Garden of Angels to this stage, has involved some of the world's best film craftsmen. Phil Tippett, known for his Academy Award winning work, designed all the creatures in "Star Wars", including Yoda and the Jedhi, and has recently designed and implemented all the creatures in "Jurassic Park". Phil has now designed the main elemental beings, Kurmos and The Elemental King for "THE GARDEN OF ANGELS." Also, Industrial Light and Magic, a Lucas company and the world's leading special effects company, have provided consultancy. Oxford Scientific Film, renowned for their stop motion plant and wildlife films, has also assisted. David Koepp, whose screen writing credits include "The Shadow," "Jurassic Park" and "Panic Room" has acted as writing consultant. Ian Merrick has secured all necessary rights for the film.

The Garden of Angels falls into a genre that has traditionally been highly successful for the motion picture industry, and that moves away from the violent and graphic tendencies of movies today. High-concept spiritual movies about connections with angels have an ever-increasing broad audience base, and are generally well received by the viewing public. For example, 40 million viewers watched NBC's recent Angel special, more than watched the Super Bowl or O.J. Simpson Trial. The TV series, "Touched By An Angel", has received top ratings. The Celestine Prophecies, which reflects the model of the Findhorn Garden, was recently America's best selling fiction book for 2 years. Embraced by the Light had been the number 1 non-fiction book for 67 weeks. Other top-10 non-fiction best-sellers in this same period included Where Angels Walk, The Book of Angels, Care of the Soul, and 3 volumes of Conversations With God. Further, gardening is the most favorite hobby in the US and the world at large, with 47% of the U.S. rating gardening as their preferred pastime.

Eileen Caddy: 40 ish, demure, devoted mother and wife. Radiating inner peace, frequently amazed with the guidance she receives from within.

Peter Caddy: 40 ish, visionistic, single minded and direct, exudes positivity. Ex RAF Officer staff College. unshakeable faith in God and Eileen's guidance.

Dorothy Maclean: Late 30's, pragmatic Canadian with ironic sense of humour. Strong spiritual beliefs which allows her to receive guidance from Angelic beings. Loyal friend of Caddys.

R. Ogilvie Crombie-Roc: 65 ish. Stately, precise, of gentle humour, seems to
exude an air of quiet power and authority. A cultured man, learned and wise.

Warden: Late 60's. Shrewd toothless rustic. Sceptic with a soft heart. Upholds authority whilst surreptitiously rooting for underdog

Sir George Trevelyan B. T: Early 60's. Slightly built and dynamic. No nonsense. Peer of the Realm, champion of rights, forthright and encouraging. Founder of Adult Education and the Wrekin Trust.

Ministry man: 50's. Self important beaurocrat. Bent on rooting out malingerers, real or imagined.

Children: David 5 years, Jonathan 6 years, Christopher 7 years. Bright and cheerful children.
 

Copyright 2002-

E P I P H A N Y Films