I was trained as a filmmaker but became a video activist in 1987 during the AIDS crisis. By 1994 many of my friends had died. I came to Zen 14 years ago in the living room of Roshi and Sensei's apartment. I am proud to be a part of the Village Zendo's growth over the years.
Today I am still am creating activist video around the HIV/AIDS pandemic. I am very thankful to the Village Zendo for helping me to continue my practice.
An excerpt from Yugetsu's upcoming documentary SEX IN AN EPIDEMIC which charts a history of HIV prevention efforts from 1981 to the present:
For over 20 years, Jean Yugetsu Carlomusto has written, produced, and directed independent documentaries, narrative films and, more recently, interactive installations. Her work has been shown both nationally and internationally in film festivals, museum exhibitions, and on television. In 1987, Jean founded the Media Production Unit at Gay Men's Health Crisis and has created numerous videotapes about HIV/AIDS over the past 20 years. She co-curated an interactive AIDS exhibit entitled AIDS: A Living Archive which ran at the Museum of the City of New York, and produced Offerings which was featured at the Museum of World Culture in Sweden an is currently part of the MAKE ART/STOP AIDS International Exhibition.