In Burbank there is a dry cleaning store called Milt and Edie’s that is very noticeable because of its pink exterior and is known for the witty and clever sayings they put up on their main sign. A few weeks ago one read:
Your time as a caterpillar has expired. Your wings are ready.
Those words resonated with me on a profound level as doing this documentary ending the 30 year silence in my family about my mother’s suicide is the start of the next phase of my life. My mission is to share my story to spread awareness about suicide and the need for loss survivor support. My goal is to find creative ways to do that.
Since my mom died I have felt stuck in many ways at 19, my age when it happened. I certainly haven’t lived a traditional adult life with marriage, kids, home ownership, steady employment, etc. Not knowing what I wanted, I’ve been afraid to commit to anything and over the years and slowly built a cocoon-like zone of comfort around me. Now I am feeling claustrophobic.
Luckily my work for 20+ years in television activated my passion for storytelling along time ago and has given me the tools and experience to do it well, allowing for a convergence of my skills, my story, and my emotional growth that has let me poke holes in my cocoon to develop this documentary idea.
Today I am picking up my wings, putting them on, and beginning the edit forThe Silent Goldens official fundraising teaser tape. When finished, it will mark the end of our development period and we will begin fundraising in earnest to raise the $150,000 needed to complete primary filming then the rest of the $500,000 total budget*.
Today I feel like I am starting a new job. The timing of this happening now only reinforces the feel of change in the air for me as back-to-school is around the corner and both the Jewish New Year and my birthday are coming in September, events which always fill me with a sense of renewal and opportunity.
The project is ready to film once we raise enough funds to begin. I am ready to dig in. I don’t know where or how far this project will take me, but I’m excited to start walking this new path to discover where it leads.
Donations for The Silent Goldens documentary are gratefully accepted through the International Documentary Association under our fiscal sponsorship agreement. https://www.documentary.org/project/silent-goldens