Meet Darel - A 75 Year Old Adoptee

Reposted from Angela's blog, theadoptedlife.com on 4/30/14. 

Darel is an adoptee who felt his heart stirred with long repressed emotions after viewing Closure. Our meeting was Darel’s first conversation with a fellow adoptee about his adoption story. He met his birth mother when he was 50 years old which helped him to better understand how this primal separation affected every single day of his life. His birth mother was secretly sent away to a maternity home for women who are “in trouble” (See Philomena or A Girl Like Her). Recently, the disgraced L.A. Clippers owner Donald Sterling received a punishment for his racist statements of a lifetime ban from the NBA – The sanction imposed on Darel’s birthmother used language not too dissimilar – the documents state that she was to be “forever barred from raising the child.” The general philosophy behind infant adoptions during the 30′s and 40′s was that children adopted in their early years would have absolutely no memory of their birth parents.

I know there are other folks like Darel, whose voices are worthy to be heard. I would love to hear from other adult men who were adopted during the era of closed adoptions as it’d be so enriching for male adoptees to get to know each other and share experiences. I can’t help but wonder how Darel’s life may have looked had he conversed with another adoptee earlier on in his life.

-Angela Tucker

Angela Tucker sits down with Darel, a 75 year-old adoptee, to hear his story. http://theadoptedlife.com/2014/04/30/darel-a-75-year-old-adoptee/ Filmed and edited by Bryan Tucker.

Filmed and edited by Bryan Tucker.

"Closure" PNW Broadcast Premiere

To all our friends in the Pacific Northwest, this Friday, April 25 at 9pm, Closure will have it's broadcast premiere on KCTS 9 for Reel NW Season 4! I will be live tweeting throughout the broadcast using the hashtag #ReelNW, and would love for you to join in.

For those who do not live in the PNW, do not fret! You will be able to stream Closure for FREE from the Reel NW website from now until 7/25/14!!

kcts9.org/reel-nw

East Coast Trip - January 2014

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.       

So many themes came out during the film, #adoption #race #birthmoms #birthdads #depression #healing, etc. #Closure #Schomburg

— Fostering Change (@FosteringChange) January 26, 2014

Love bonds but Blood is thicker than water. Emotionally spent after watching @ClosureFilm at the @SchomburgCenter

— Julie Young 지 현 (@biggirlvoice) January 26, 2014

.@ClosureFilm talk w/ @juneinapril @angieadoptee @HarrisNarrative: shame, supp birth moms, adoptive parents of color, transracial #adoption

— Ysette Guevara (@YsetteGuevara) January 26, 2014

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. 

View fullsize

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

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

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!