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 2024 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
Kirkpatrick Foundation
Jeff & Bina Titus
Rainer Park
The Harold Hamm Foundation
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 • Ronald E. Hammer, PhD • Martin Posen • Bruce Howard • Joan & John D’Addario Foundation, Inc. • D’Addario Foundation
2024 Sustaining Sponsors ($1,000+)
Ben Burgess • Daniel P. DeLap • Denny Rauen • Laura Sefchik • Lillian Dignan • Jake White • Jane Tanaka • Jeffrey Joe • Joan Shinkle • John C. Tarlton and Jennifer S.F. Dearborn • Mark Dropkin • Rainer Park • Robert Randleman • Ryan Knowlin • Sergio De Acha • Sherri Clearlake • Steve Vai
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
APRIL 30: Release Party & Screening – The Artist’s Profile: Michael Hedges
You’re invited to a special pre-release party and screening of The Artist’s Profile: Michael Hedges, a 1998 documentary by filmmaker Brian Malone.
Protected: February Update – Behind the Scenes, Editing ORACLE!
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
January Update – ‘Darth’ at the MIM
Michael’s Knutsen Harp Guitar Arrives at the Musical Instrument Museum.
Filmmakers of Michael Hedges documentary seeking sponsors to complete production!
See behind the scenes of the first half of production of Oracle: the Life & Music of Michael Hedges, and get new perks for becoming a sustaining sponsor!
November Update – Interviewing Windham Hill Founder Will Ackerman
It was time to finally make the pilgrimage. Almost to the day of the 40th anniversary of the iconic, legendary recording sessions of Aerial Boundaries, we were heading to the tumbling, autumnal world where they took place: Windham County, Vermont – for an interview with Will Ackerman.
October Update – Behind the Scenes, Interviewing Graham Nash!
For our next-to-last interview of the year, we returned to New York City – on a spectacular autumn day in the heart of Soho, above the cobblestones that line Greene Street, for a memorable session with the great Graham Nash.
