Read About The Story | Producer’s Statement
The idea for Across the King’s River came to me while working on the 2008 Sacred Journey fine art calendar. As I embarked on my journey, I reasoned, why not take others with me, visually and spiritually? I’ve become convinced that our visions are not mistakes – our visions are teachers and guides and we must trust them along with the leadership of our heart.
The goals of this film are to draw attention to the rapidly escalating tragedy of vanishing indigenous languages and cultures, to educate people about African healing and spiritual practices, to make a significant contribution to science and to inspire and empower people to pursue their visions. The title for the film, Across the King’s River is derived from a Yoruba proverb that’s used when one is compelled to say something that is difficult to say, or do something that is difficult to do.
Some of the best talent in documentary filmmaking industry will collaborate on this project. In addition to recruiting a director, Stanley Nelson, who has had several films in the prestigious Sundance Film Festival, the production team will also include other award-winning filmmakers whose work has appeared on Time/CNN, PBS, Frontline World, 20/20, CBS and MSNBC.
We are currently in pre-production – the critical phase where we develop the mind, the heart and the soul of the film. While my advisory team plans to secure funding from grants, private investors and contributors, we’ll also begin approaching network executives to find a home for the film at PBS, BET, HBO and The Oprah Winfrey Network. I hope to begin production in 2010.
I dedicate this film to our daughters – all of our daughters and to their hopes and dreams. Our sons are in crisis, but in the fierce battle to save our sons, we often lose touch with our daughters. I also dedicate the film to the healing and spiritual traditions of Africa. Like our daughters, our sacred arts have been ignored for too long – the outcome of centuries of Western domination and spiritual colonialism that still rage on today in one form or another. A special thanks to Aseda and Agbonbon, two of 16 major Ifa diviners in the world. They have been good fathers to me and have guided me through one challenge after another. Without their vigilance I doubt I would be here today.
A heartfelt thanks to Dr. Robert Voeks, PhD and Dr. Charles Finch M.D for quickly providing the strong letters of recommendations when I needed them, and to Dr. Wande Abimbola, one of the world’s authorities on Ifa, for taking time out his hectic schedule to grant me an interview in the summer of 2008. Carole Dean of From The Heart Productions, believed in the project from the very beginning and was the very first fiscal sponsor to come on board, allowing supporters of this project to make tax deductible donations.
