Wild At Heart
Blue Velvet
Twin Peaks (the show)
Mulholland Drive
Straight Story
Those are my Top 5, and I've never not been affected deeply by any of his stuff. Beyond his astonishing, evocative creations, David Lynch (RIP, you tenderwild genius) changed my life most directly on Feb 13, 2018. Kim took me to see him & his friend Bob Roth talk about Transcendental Meditation and the organization that David founded to support TM being taught to the people who might need it most (Veterans, people in prison, teens in stressful situations, etc). TM instruction was pretty expensive for anyone else, around $1000-1500, which was one of the reasons I'd never tried it. During the Q&A at the end of the evening, I said I loved the way they gave it away, and asked if there was any kind of sliding-scale system for working artists like me who might not be able to afford the regular price. David joked good-naturedly about the need for a starving artists fund, and Bob said to come talk to them afterwards. They were selling and signing David's book (Catching The Big Fish, brilliant). They remembered our exchange, and Bob gave me his card, and told me to write to him with how much I could pay. I sent an email when I got home, not really expecting a response.
In it, I wrote, "The price I'm dreaming of is $360, primarily because it's a multiple of $180, and I'm a fellow East Coast wayward Jew that only knows enough (about Jewishness) to know that 18 is associated with life, generosity, and prosperity. Does that amount seem fair/fun/possible?"
I also included some lyrics I'd been working on that felt apropos, just for fun.
Bob wrote back, "Jonah, thank you for writing! Beautiful beautiful words… Do you live in SF? Marin? I will help find you a teacher… David said since you love 18 you can start for $180… Best, Bob"
Bob connected me with an instructor in SF, telling him what I would be paying, and adding that David would cover the rest as a scholarship. And with that surprising kindness (who offers something for half of what someone offered for it?), I learned TM on Sunday, March 25, 2018. I paid in cash, using twenties from tour. I had no idea if I would stick with it. I was just curious, and beyond grateful for them playing the sliding-scale game with me. Since the day I learned, I've been doing TM twice a day every day, no matter where I am or what's going on. In cars, dressing rooms, airports, sick, tired, stressed, busy, whenever and wherever. It's been eerily effortless, and endlessly rewarding. I've never come close to sustaining any sort of practice this consistently, much less enjoying it as much as I have. It still fills with me curiosity and joy, and has transformed me in ways I don't even understand.
As it happens, they now offer it sliding scale to everyone. I have no idea if I had anything to do with it, but it's fun to dream. No matter what, as thankful tears well in my eyes, I will remember, and pay it forward. Thank you forever, Mr. David Lynch, for creating and helping me create.
https://www.davidlynchfoundation.org/