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Amazing Grace Film – The Path Towards Cohesion

Okay, so it’s time I got serious about this blog. I’m in the midst of two massive undertakings. I’m promoting my first CD while working to complete my first film – a documentary about my grandmother. Maybe writing out my thoughts will help me to get a little more organized with both.

First, let me say that I am neither a trained singer nor a trained filmmaker. What little skill I do have, I got on the streets. And by “streets” I mean my living room.

Summary of the film’s progress so far: Last January, I decided it was time to move forward with a goal I’ve held for quite a long time. I had always wanted to be a filmmaker, but gave up the dream to pursue a “safe” career in the field of International Business. I worked in that field for several years, but have recently acknowledged that pursuing your passions is the only way to live – for better or worse. So, I’m back. My first project will be a documentary on my grandmother, Mother Grace Tucker. She has worked as as pastor, advocate and “Mother” to the disadvantaged in Tulsa, Oklahoma for more than 50 years. She is now 90 years old, and is as determined as ever to continue to do what she is called to do. I feel her story needs to be told while she is still here to appreciate it.

I’m in the midst of a fundraising campaign to help make the film a reality. I invested as much as I could in the film last year (about $5,000), but will be working to raise the remaining $15,000 needed to travel to Tulsa, Dallas and Fresno to interview her family and ministry associates, to purchase the remaining equipment needed, to apply our maketing strategy for releasing the film and to outsource any work that I cannot do myself.

This is a labor of love for me. I really don’t expect the film to turn a profit. I just want the finished product to be something my whole family can be proud of. I’ve posted a rough cut of the first 7 minutes of the film at www.youtube.com/goldentimefilms. I’ve really been encouraged by the feedback so far.

Where I am now: I still need some equipment upgrades, and of course, funds to travel. I’m working on refining the footage I have any moving forward with the next segment of the film. We’re also securing music rights and setting up the website – http://www.amazinggracefilm.org/. Hopefully that will be live within a week. I’m setting up a non profit, GoldenTime Films, so that all donations made will be tax deductible. Thankfully, all donations will be retroactively deductible once the incorporation is complete (hopefully within the week). I’ve established a board of Trustees, and we’ll be meeting in the next month or so to discuss the film’s progress.

Where I’m going: I’d like to put together a “street team” to create a strategy for the fundraising and marketing of the film. I had a meeting with my family on the 29th of March, and we decided that the family would commit to contributing $100 each to the film. Since I have such a large family, we should be able to raise at least $5,000 within the family. I’ve put together a fundraising letter that I will begin sending out to local pastors and community leaders to solicit support for the project. We’re really working on a grass roots level. What’s needed moving forward is committed people who are willing to apply a little “elbow grease” to the project. I have to trust that as I move forward with the tasks I am able to complete alone, the support will begin to materialize. So far, there’s been plenty of enthusiasm, but that needs to translate to action – soon.

So, that’s where I am with the film project so far. I guess I’ll provide an update of the CD project in the next blog. This has been quite the journey up to this point, and I expect the ride to continue. Full speed ahead…

On Starting a “Very Good Blog”

Hi folks,

I’ve been told that it’s essential to have a “Non-Myspace” blog these days, so here I am. It seems there’s no shortage of social-networking sites to suck our time, energy, and will to live. Is WordPress yet another? I hope not. I hope this blog will provide an opportunity for me to share my experience as a burgeoning jazz singer/songwriter with you in safe, “no pressure” sort of way. The last thing I need is another site to babysit.

I also hope you’ll enjoy sharing my experiences with me. Whether you’re a family member, friend, admirer or foe, I hope we can have some semblance of actual communion.

I’d love to hear your comments and thoughts on anything you see here – or anywhere else, for that matter. Talk back. It lets a sister know you’re listening.

I’m not making any promises on how often I’ll be updating. I suppose as often as I am willing and able. Hopefully no one has any objections. Hopefully, I can find a way to link this blog to www.myspace.com/daratucker, facebook.com (still don’t know how to directly reference my  profile on this site), and www.reverbnation.com/daratucker. As addicted as I am to the web, I’m still a little clumsy with the technology. I’m still working on learning the quirks of reverbnation and facebook. And I’m still developing an online presence at sites like http://ilike.com/artist/Dara+Tucker and www.youtube.com/daratucker. See? I’m exhausted just thinking about it.

Not to mention trying to figure out what bebo.com and twitter.com and a half dozen other sites have to offer. So much surfing, so little time.

So on with it. This is my blog. I hope you find that it’s a Very Good Thing.

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