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
September Update – Behind the Scenes, Interviewing Man-Thing!
The next interviews filmed for ORACLE: Michael’s closest collaborator, Michael Manring, and with his friend, guitarist Michael Gulezian.
August Update – Behind the Scenes at ‘Musicarium’ in Music City!
New interviews with Andy McKee, Calum Graham, Trevor Gordon Hall, Jon Gomm, Mike Dawes, Muriel Anderson and the great Stanley Jordan.
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.