Avatar, Joy Of Mankind. An Afternoon With Avatar Meher Baba

(Try to watch this in Full HD at 60fps.)

The afternoon of Friday Sept 24th 1954, was captured by a young man name Lud Dimpfl who brought his 16mm camera and rolls of black and white and color film to India with him to film Meher Baba the Avatar of God in human form while he and 18 other western men stayed with him for three incredible weeks. Footage that will be viewed and reviewed throughout time. Each time perhaps seeing something different in it, or expressing different aspects of it and set to different music or narrations.

This footage was originally viewed as 16mm film ran through a projector at 16 frames per second, the original speed it was shot at. Then in the 1980’s it was converted to video tape and ran at 29.97 frames per second –duplicating 14 frames per second -so it could be shown on television that was interlaced and 640 x 480 pixels. A convenient way to watch it at home or in groups but the quality was reduced from watching the 16mm print. The VHS tape was then converted in the early 2000’s into digital video tape again at 29.97 frames per second, and 720 x 480 pixels. And it was edited and distributed on DVD’s in such films as You Alone Exist and Three Incredible Weeks with Meher Baba.

In May 2020, the original 16mm film was re-scanned frame by frame in HD and rendered out at to a 1920 x 1080 HD quality digital file at 24 frames per second. The filmmaker took this file, and removed every 3rd frame which was duplicated, thus bringing it back to its original 16 frames per second. By doing so, extremely smooth slow motion became possible. And the movement of the principles in the film became natural again.

Further color correction, sharpening and grain reduction using AI software was employed to create an experience of viewing the footage as close as can come to the original 16mm film print once again, but with the digital benefits of slow motion, musical additions and nearly effortless distribution and viewing.

With the re-scanning of all of Meher Baba’s film footage into HD or higher, similar or greater clarity can be achieved with all of Baba’s footage, depending on the original source.

Some are already at work doing this. My gratitude to them.