East Coast Trip - January 2014

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January East Coast Trip:  On 1/25/14 Closure at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture (part of the New York Public Library) in Harlem.  The evening was unforgettable.  A discussion panel afterwards consisted of Angela, Susan Harris O'Connor, and April Dinwoodie - all transracial adoptees.  The audience was truly in for a treat to hear from these incredibly articulate, strong Black women.  They handled audience questions with poise, and some audience members poured their hearts out to all.  As I sat back observing and taking pictures, I was reminded of something that has been true at each screening we've had.  After people see Closure, they are compelled to share, and to connect.  It's nothing I did as the filmmaker, but it's the story.  Some stories can evoke responses out of people who may have been silent otherwise, and that's powerful.  One birth mother who attended wrote a blog post about her experience at the screening, which I've linked HERE.  To quote her:

“This movie was a reminder of the power in using my voice to tell my story.”

Wow.

The next night, we screened at Swarthmore College, just outside of Philadelphia, PA.  Many wonderful people took part in the planning of this event, and we thank Open Arms Adoption for playing a huge role in making that night possible.  For me, our East Coast trip could be summed up by the following revelation: Nothing is more powerful than telling your story, and listening to others tell theirs.       

April Dinwoodie, Angela Tucker, and Susan Harris O'Connor on the panel at the Schomburg Center in Harlem, NYC. 

April Dinwoodie, Angela Tucker, and Susan Harris O'Connor on the panel at the Schomburg Center in Harlem, NYC. 

Our generous hosts for the Swarthmore, PA screening. 

Our generous hosts for the Swarthmore, PA screening. 

For adoptees still searching for the first/birth families. 

Visit our SCREENINGS page to see where we'll be playing next.  Finally, here are some of our recent mentions/publications:

Slate: When White Parents Adopt Black Children by Aisha Harris

Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption:  Guest Post by Angela Tucker

We Are the 15 Percent Campaign: Bryan & Angela - Seattle, WA

 

 

Year End Update - 2013

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Angela and I have been reflecting on this incredible year, and are so thankful for everyone who has supported us and this film.  To see people positively affected by Closure, and be prompted to have further discussions around trans-racial adoption has been amazing.  Personally, I don't feel ready to kick my feet up just yet  -- I feel there is still a lot of life left in this film.  Everyday there are new people discovering our film for the first time, and I hope you'll continue to help us spread the word. 

Here's a quick update of what's happening with Closure:

Digital Download Promo:  Today (12/31) is the last day to use the discount code (BIG30) to receive $3 off the digital download! (offer ends at midnight)  For those of you who purchased within the first few days of December, you may have an expired “watch” link.  This has been fixed by VHX, but on your end, you may need to do the following (if your link is not working):

  1. Visit the Closure "Watch" page.

  2. Click "Forgot Password", and follow the steps to reset your password.  You'll then be taken to the "Watch" page, where you can stream Closure or begin downloading to your computer. 

Amazon:  Our DVD is now available for purchase on Amazon.com.  If you’ve already seen Closure, we’d love it if you could head over to our Amazon page and write a quick review and rate the film.  It can be anonymous, and as short as one sentence.  Anything would be helpful!

IndieFlix streaming:  Closure is now available to stream on IndieFlix.  IndieFlix is a subscription based streaming service similar to NetFlix, but for thousands of smaller independent films.  It’s $6.99 per month.  Here’s a link to sign up if you’re interested. 

NYC & Philadelphia:  Angela and I are taking an East Coast trip this January!  We’re screening the film in NYC on 1/25, and in Philly on 1/26 and will be present for Q&A's at both.  We’d love to see you there!

 

Happy Holidays!

Here's to achieving a goal, four years in the making

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Four years ago I shared a personal goal with my wife, Angela.   

“ I want to make my first film by the time I turn 30. ”

As cliche as the "30th birthday deadline for life goals" is, I have a lot to be thankful for today.  As most of you know, Closure, was a deeply personal project for me, one that Angela and I hope many get the chance to see.  This year has been a whirlwind for both of us, premiering the film in April, having Kickstarter success in June, coordinating twenty additional screenings across the country, all leading up to our wide release of the DVD/download this month.  In celebration of my 30th birthday this coming week, we’re offering 30% off our digital download for the entire month of December!  All you have to do is apply the code BIG30 when you checkout.  Purchasing a digital version will allow you to stream the film anytime, download the file to your computer, and even gift a copy to a friend.  This offer will expire at midnight on 12/31/13.

My sincerest thanks goes out to everyone who helped to make this film become a reality (you know who you are)! Please share this month-long birthday offer with your friends.

The DVD is also now available for purchase from our "Buy" page, and we've also included links to purchase and download the soundtrack from Mr. & Mrs. Something!

National Adoption Month - 2013

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Closure screened at the Minnesota Transracial Film Festival to a nearly full audience this past weekend. We spent the following day as guests at the Adoption Policy and Reform Collaborative Conference - the first ever adoptee led conference of its kind.  It was well attended and packed with excellent panels of adoption professionals, therapists, researchers, educators and activists.  Our trip to Minneapolis was one to remember! 

For me, the highlight was seeing my wife Angela, surrounded by a sea of other adult adoptees.  Each came from different backgrounds, and have different views on adoption – nonetheless, it was a joy to witness the comfort they felt with each other. Angela often speaks of how adoptees are put in difficult situations of managing others expectations and emotions. If adoptees choose to search for birth parents, they may feel the pressure to assure their adoptive parents that they aren’t being “replaced,” and in an effort to maintain positive relationships with birth parents, they might feel pressured to suppress any negative feelings about relinquishment, so as not to make their birth mother/father feel uncomfortable.  As a non-adopted person, I can see that’s a difficult tightrope to walk.  In addition, adoptees sometimes feel pressured to “educate” prospective adoptive parents by sharing the challenges that come with being transracially adopted.  Being around other adoptees, I knew it was one of the rare times she would not feel any of these pressures. 

One unexpected highlight of the weekend was meeting and spending time with Jenni “Fang” Lee, known by many from the documentary: Somewhere Between.  The three of us laughed a lot, talked politics, and conversed about heavy and light topics alike – and none of us wanted our time together to end! Angela and Fang got along like kindred spirits, who shared a greater commonality than just being adopted – both have had intimate parts of their lives shared on camera for public critique and consumption. 

I’m thankful for where we have traveled and screened the film this month of November.  Strangers (new friends) helped bring Closure to both Indianapolis and Webster, New York.  My family and hometown community came together for a screening in Santa Rosa, California and with the help of a magazine article we also screened at Seattle Pacific University.  National Adoption Month will come to a close for us on Thursday in Seattle and Friday in Chico, CA.

 Our DVD/digital download will be released through our website starting December 1st, just in time for Christmas!   

Kickstarter, Screenings, DVD Release...

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It's been a little while since we've updated you, so here's what's going on with Closure!

- Oct/Nov Screenings: The next few months are packed with screenings! We're headed back to the Pickford in Bellingham WA 10/5-10/6, and screening in Seattle 10/14 at Bethany Community Church with a Q&A and roundtable discussion after.  November is National Adoption Month, which will bring Closure to several cities around the country.  We will be screening again in Seattle, as well as Portland, Albuquerque NM, and Minneapolis/St Paul MN.  We also have Tugg screenings set up in Indianapolis, Chicago, Santa Rosa CA, Boise ID, and Webster NY.  Remember, each Tugg screening has to pre-sell a certain number of tickets in order to get booked, so if you have friends/family in any of those cities, make sure to tell them about the screening in advance!

- Kickstarter Rewards: These were mailed out this evening! (10/1) The employees at the Post Office hated us the moment we walked in the door.  Enemies aside, I'm thrilled that our deliveries will be on time as promised, and those who ordered the DVDs/downloads will have their copy way before our wide release!  For those receiving a digital download of the film/soundtrack, we'll send you a separate email with your download code no later than Thursday (check your spam folder if you don't see it by then). Be sure to snap a pic of your new DVD/package/postcard, post it on Facebook/Twitter and tag Closure in it! As an independent production, we rely on YOU to help spread the word about the film.  After you watch it, please share your thoughts on the film with us (and your friends)!

- DVD/Digital Download for Sale: For many who missed out on the Kickstarter campaign, we're on schedule to have the DVD/digital download available for purchase through our website by December.  We will however be selling DVDs in person at select screenings in Oct/Nov, so if you happen to make it to one of those, you'll have the chance to purchase.   

We appreciate your continued support for this film!

Bryan buried in Kickstarter packages! 

Screenings for November 2013 - National Adoption Month