Oracle
the Michael Hedges documentary
Coming in 2024
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 Baltimore’s Peabody Conservatory,
and Carnegie Hall.
Mostly known as a once-in-a-generation force that would revolutionize the acoustic guitar, perhaps Michael’s truest story and lasting legacy is that of an important twentieth-century composer.
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
The Filmmakers:
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.
ORACLE Co-Directors:
Mischa Hedges (Michael’s son)
Brendan Hedges (Michael’s brother)
Mischa Hedges
(co-director, producer)
Mischa is an award-winning documentary producer, director and editor (Seeker of Truth, Of The Sea, Women’s March). He holds a B.A in Film Production from Chapman University, and an MBA from Dominican University of CA. He is the founder of TrimTab Media, where he leads the production of independent films and branded content for progressive companies and non-profit organizations.
Brendan Hedges
(writer, co-director, producer)
Brendan is a graduate of the University of Southern California, and a current member of the Writers Guild of America West. His documentary work (Remember the Sultana, Yosemite: A Day Within Days, Learning Never Ends) has appeared in film festivals, and aired on PBS. He was mentored by Emmy-winning director-producer Peter Tewksbury.
“We’ll bring a high degree of creativity and bravura to the story, in keeping with Michael’s artistic standard. We want to make a film that reveals, startles, and inspires the audience.
Our vision is to craft and present this story with a high level of quality and artistic integrity. Thanks so much for supporting this project.”
– Brendan Hedges & Mischa Hedges
Become a sponsor
This film will be funded in part by Michael’s family, friends, fans, businesses and grants. 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 through our nonprofit 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor, the Stropes Foundation.
Choose Your Sponsorship Package
Review available sponsorship packages and let us know which level you plan to contribute.
To contribute by check:
Make checks out to “Stropes Foundation, Inc” with “Oracle Documentary” and your email address in the memo and mail to:
Stropes Foundation, Inc.
1132 Lake Avenue
Racine, WI 53403
FILM SPONSORS
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
Your Name Here!
Associate Producers ($50,000+)
Seeking 2-4 sponsors or grants at this level
Your Name Here!
Contributing Producers ($25,000+)
Seeking 5-7 additional sponsors or grants at this level
Mischa Hedges
Ray-Yen Chang
Oracle Donors ($10,000+)
Seeking additional sponsors or grants at this level
Kirkpatrick Foundation
Jeff & Bina Titus
Rainer Park
Magic Farmer Donors ($5,000+)
Seeking additional sponsors or grants at this level
Enid Arts Council • Park Avenue Thrift • Cynthi Stefenoni • Jake White
Ragamuffin Donors ($1,000 – $4,999+)
Aaron Shearer Foundation • Andy McKee • Anthony & Phyllis Leocha • Arthur Goldliner • Ben Burgess • Bert Mackie • Bil King • Bryan Lanser • Bryan Owen • Calum Graham • Carl Bennett • Chad Van Baalbergen • Christopher Sharron • Daniel P. DeLap • David Cook • David Taylor • Eldon James • Enid High School Class of ’72 • Ethan Mayer • Graham Nash • Iliani Matisse & Anne Richards • Janet Winterrose • Jeffrey Joe • Joan Shinkle • Joel & Kelly Champlin • John Conover • Joseph & Shirley Rayburn • The Harp Guitar Foundation • Karen Haskell • Kemi Nakabayashi • Kenneth Chow • Lanakila Iesū • Laura Sefchik • Lillian Dignan • Mark Allen • Mark Dropkin • Mark Whidden • Martin Kretzmann • Matt Guthrie DeLange • Matthew King • Michael “Bootz” Bootzin • Michael Pascarello • Michelle Green • Mindy Rosenfeld • Nick Peters • Pazala Foundation • Anonymous • Pete Moylan • Ray D. Carroll • Rich & Geri Cook • Richard Campagna • Roger & Carolyn Lang • Scott & Christy Williams • Thomas Thompson • Tom Schotland • Valerio Piccolo • Veston Rowe • William Ackerman • Ibanez Guitars • Simon Clark
ALL Seed&Spark crowdfunding 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: August Update – Behind the Scenes at ‘Musicarium’ in Music City!
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July Update – Behind the Scenes in Michael’s Hometown of Enid, Oklahoma
This summer, ten interviews with Michael’s family members, high school band mates and childhood friends were filmed in his hometown of Enid, Oklahoma!
June Update – New interviews filmed for “Oracle”
ORACLE documentary production resumes with two primary interviews in the San Francisco Bay Area!
A Crowdfunding Campaign to fund production of Michael Hedges documentary
In March, we launched a 30-day crowdfunding campaign to fund production phase of ORACLE: the life & music of Michael Hedges
25 Years Since We Lost Michael
It’s been 25 years since we lost Michael. Not a day goes by that we don’t think of him. Here’s an update on the projects we’re working on to celebrate his life and music.
Filming the U.S. Guitar Orchestra in New York City
Behind-the-scenes filming the U.S. Guitar Orchestra rehearsing and performing “Because It’s There” by Michael Hedges.
