Finding The Secret Song Premiere, Performance & Fundraiser
On the first of the year, a special event is happening at the historic Theatre N in Wilmington. From the creative mind that brought you the album ‘Constellations’ comes the Finding The Secret Song Premiere, Performance & Fundraiser. Expect an evening of musical performances, fundraising for the profound new documentary, and a visual deep dive into Singer-Songwriter and Filmmaker Benjamin Wagner’s journey through making his last album in collaboration with local Filmmaker, Music Producer, Mixing/Mastering Engineer, Content creator Ismail Abdus-Salaam, a.k.a. ‘Ish’. We sat down with Wagner to get the latest on his upcoming show and mini-documentary.
What can people expect from your video project Finding The Secret Song
Finding The Secret Song is about how the songs on Constellations helped me figure out my PTSD, and the imperative to talk about hard things -- which led to making Friends & Neighbors the documentary!
What inspired you to begin creating Friends & Neighbors?
Friends & Neighbors is an outgrowth of my eponymous podcast which is an outgrowth of my first film, Mister Rogers & Me. Meeting Fred Rogers gave me focus and language for my efforts to do good in the world, to be the change, all that. He was grounded in the deepest, most-timely information on human development, civic engagement and media informed by America's best and brightest thinkers and doers.
My first film, the podcast and Friends & Neighbors all explore his "deep and simple" words and deeds with all sorts of guests: NYT Editor Michael Slackman, mental health advocate Chris Bullard, singer/songwriter Jamie Leonhart.
Friends & Neighbors the documentary endeavors to meet the moment (polarization, road rage, school shootings, etc) by clicking deeper into Fred Rogers' oft-repeated statement that "Feelings are mentionable and manageable." It's a deeply personal story too in which I use my own adverse childhood experiences (divorce, abuse, neglect, assault) and chronic stress (NYC, 9/11, 24/7 news cycle, global travel) to connect to others' stories, people like DE State Senator Sarah McBride, WRK Group CEO Logan Herring, and DE Trauma Informed Care Lead Alonna Berry. These are the threads that weave together all of my work, from my new album (Constellations) to the podcast and the new doc. (I'm also 2/3 done with a book of the same title!)
What are the plans with the film upon completion?
Like Mister Rogers & Me, we'll submit to festivals and then attempt to license to PBS, Netflix, etc. We'll absolutely screen at Theatre N!
Friday, January 6 is a chance to share the short doc, talk about all these ideas, and raise the funds necessary for additional shoots, infographics, animations, music and footage licensing, audio mixing and color correction. When Friends & Neighbors is done, we will utilize resources to insure, premiere, promote and distribute the film.
(Left; Ish photo courtesy of official Facebook Page . Right; Sug Daniels photo credit Joe Mac Photography)
Philadelphia based, Delaware born Singer Songwriter Sug Daniels is opening the night with a special musical performance. Filmmaker, Music Producer, Mixing/Mastering Engineer, Content creator Ismail Abdus-Salaam will be accompanying Benjamin Wagner on guitar.
For donation and general information about Friends & Neighbors the documentary, visit fandndoc.com today. Purchase tickets for Finding The Secret Song here
Theatre N
1007 N Orange Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
7:30pm - Doors
8pm - Musical Guest Sug Daniels
8:20pm - Finding The Secret Song
8:45pm - Benjamin Wagner Performance accompanied by Ismail Abdus-Salaam
