Oracle
the Michael Hedges documentary
Coming in 2025
A feature documentary about the life and music of Michael Hedges
The eldest son of Midwestern musicians/educators, Michael Hedges was a young musical prodigy – with an emerging talent that would take him from small-town Oklahoma to Grammy award-winning artist.
He was a once-in-a-generation force would revolutionize the acoustic guitar and inspire a generation of musicians.
IN PRODUCTION
14 of 25 days filmed. Currently raising funds to complete 2nd half of production.
The film will include:
- Intimate interviews with Michael’s family, friends, collaborators, mentors, and music journalists
- A wealth of archival materials/footage (Red Rocks, Wolf Trap, A&M Studios, Billboard Live)
- Bootlegs, home movies, never-before-seen interviews and backstage moments with Michael
- Fully restored and digitally-enhanced footage from Michael’s dazzling performances
Filmmaking Team
TrimTab Media
(production company)
TrimTab Media is an award-winning production company founded by Michael’s son, Mischa.
The filmmaking team will produce this project with support from an executive producer and project advisors in the music and film industries.
Mischa Hedges
(producer/director, editor)
Mischa is an award-winning documentary filmmaker (Seeker of Truth, Of The Sea, Women’s March). He is a graduate of the Dodge College of Film & Media Arts at Chapman University, and earned an MBA from Dominican University of CA. He is the founder & executive producer of TrimTab Media. His work has appeared on PBS, Discovery, Hulu and Amazon Prime.
Brendan Hedges
(producer/director, writer)
Brendan is a writer and director (Remember the Sultana, Yosemite: A Day Within Days, Learning Never Ends). He is a graduate of the University of Southern California, and a current member of the Writers Guild of America West. He was mentored by Emmy-winning director-producer Peter Tewksbury. His work has appeared on PBS, Apple TV, Amazon Prime and GooglePlay.
Clare Major
(director of photography)
Clare is an award-winning cinematographer (Holding Moses, In the Bones, Belly of the Beast) who specializes in hand-held, observational camera work. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin and earned a Master of Journalism from the University of California, Berkeley. Her work has appeared on HBO, PBS, Netflix, Discovery Channel and NYTimes.
Become a sponsor
This film is being funded in part by Michael’s family, friends, fans, businesses, nonprofits and foundations. A multi-year project of this magnitude requires a significant investment in a highly-talented filmmaking team, extensive footage/music licensing fees, and state-of-the-art restoration of archival materials.
Sponsorship packages start at $1,000, include various benefits and are tax-deductible.
Our nonprofit 501c3 fiscal sponsor is the Stropes Foundation, Inc.
Choose Your Sponsorship Package
Review 2025 sponsorship levels and let us know how much you plan to contribute.
To contribute by check:
– Fill out the form to right
– Make a check out to “Stropes Foundation, Inc”
– Write “Oracle Documentary” in the memo
– Send to:
Stropes Foundation, Inc.
1132 Lake Avenue
Racine, WI 53403
FILM SPONSORS
So far, more than 1,000 individuals and organizations have contributed funding to make this film posible.
Official Sponsors contributing $1K or more are acknowledged below.
Executive Producers ($100,000+)
Seeking 2-4 sponsors or grants at this level
Associate Producers ($50,000+)
Seeking 2-4 sponsors or grants at this level
Contributing Producers ($25,000+)
Seeking 5-7 additional sponsors or grants at this level
Mischa Hedges
Ray-Yen Chang
Sergio De Acha
Oracle Donors ($10,000+)
Seeking additional sponsors or grants at this level
Graham Nash
The Harold Hamm Foundation
Jeff & Bina Titus
Kirkpatrick Foundation
Rainer Park
Magic Farmer Donors ($5,000+)
Seeking additional sponsors or grants at this level
Cynthi Stefenoni
Enid Arts Council
Jake White
Matthew King
Park Avenue Thrift
William Phillips
Phillips University Alumni Association
Rickover’s Dream Donors ($2,500+)
Bryan Owen • Calum Graham • Enid High School Class of ’72 • Jeffrey Joe • Karen Haskell • Michael Pascarello • Ray D. Carroll • Robert Randleman • William Ackerman / Imaginary Road Studios
Ragamuffin Donors ($1,000+)
Aaron Shearer Foundation • Andy McKee • Anthony & Phyllis Leocha • Arthur Goldliner • Ben Burgess • Bert Mackie • Bil King • Bryan Lanser • Bruce Howard • Carl Bennett • Chad Van Baalbergen • Chris & Amy Keeney • Christopher Sharron • D’Addario Foundation • Daniel P. DeLap • David Cook • David Taylor • Eldon James • Ethan Mayer • Graham Nash • Iliani Matisse & Anne Richards • Janet Winterrose • Joan Shinkle • Joel & Kelly Champlin • John Conover • Joseph & Shirley Rayburn • Joan & John D’Addario Foundation, Inc. • The Harp Guitar Foundation • Kemi Nakabayashi • Kenneth Chow • Lanakila Lesū • Laura Sefchik • Lillian Dignan • Mark Allen • Mark Dropkin • Mark Whidden • Martin Kretzmann • Martin Posen • Matt Guthrie DeLange • Michael “Bootz” Bootzin • Michelle Green • Mindy Rosenfeld • Nick Peters • Pazala Foundation • Anonymous • Pete Moylan • Rich & Geri Cook • Richard Campagna • Roger & Carolyn Lang • Scott & Christy Williams • Thomas Thompson • Tom Schotland • Valerio Piccolo • Veston Rowe • Ibanez Guitars • Simon Clark • Ronald E. Hammer, PhD • William Threadgill • Roxane Hreha • Michael & Luann Simon
Special thanks to our
2024 Sustaining Sponsors
Ben Burgess • Daniel P. DeLap • Denny Rauen • Chris & Amy Keeney • Laura Sefchik • Lillian Dignan • Graham Nash • Jake White • Jane Tanaka • Jeffrey Joe • Joan Shinkle • John C. Tarlton and Jennifer S.F. Dearborn • Mathew King • Mark Dropkin • Rainer Park • Robert Randleman • Ryan Knowlin • Sergio De Acha • Sherri Clearlake • Steve Vai • William Threadgill • William Phillips • Phillips University Alumni Association • Michael & Luann Simon
All supporters will be acknowledged in the film’s end credits.
Behind the Scenes
Updates & behind the scenes from the making of ORACLE – life and music of Michael Hedges
Protected: ORACLE – Become a 2025 Sustaining Sponsor!
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Protected: 2024 Year-End Supporter Update from ORACLE filmmakers
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Michael Hedges – LIVE! (an online event series)
A series of online events this fall – featuring rare, unreleased recordings, conversations with Michael’s family, friends and collaborators, and exclusive clips from the upcoming documentary.
Now Available for Streaming – The Artist’s Profile: Michael Hedges
This rare 1998 documentary remembers remembers Hedges through his own words interspersed with rare footage from a July 1996 outdoor concert with bassist Michael Manring. Now available for online streaming.
George Winston covers Michael Hedges’ song “I Wish I Was a Cowboy” on piano
On his posthumously-released album Eastern Montana, George Winston covers Michael Hedges’ original unreleased song “I Wish I Was A Cowboy.”
8/17/24 – Remembering Michael Hedges concert
On a warm summer night in Madison, NJ, more than 200 fans, collaborators, family and friends came together for “Remembering Michael Hedges” – a tribute/benefit concert.
