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Filmmaker turns fundraising for homeless
BY: Mario Sequeira, Staff Writer
Two passions - film and volunteerism - fed on each other to set Sue Vicory on an unexpected path: raising awareness of and funds for the homeless.
Six years ago, Vicory, 52, of Stilwell, decided to make films. In September last year, she held the premiere of her first film, a self-funded documentary short titled “Homelessness & The Power of One.”
Vicory used the same occasion to launch her project, Power of One, aimed at bringing public attention to the plight of the homeless and raising funds for organizations serving the homeless.
Since the launch, Vicory said, she has helped nonprofits raise more than $150,000 for metro area organizations, including the Salvation Army, TLC, Interfaith Hospitality and the Johnson County Housing Coalition.
In October, the Women in Film/General Motors Alliance announced Vicory and six others as winners of the alliance’s annual Acceleration Grant for Emerging Filmmakers competition from 48 entries nationally. The prize: a week in Los Angeles meeting Hollywood insiders.
Vicory spent 11 days in Los Angeles last month meeting with film and TV industry professionals, discussing finance, marketing, distribution and legal subjects. They met with studio executives, distributors and international sales agents. Judy James, producer of hits including “Quiz Show” and “Mr. Holland’s Opus,” mentored the group, said Vicory, who described the experience as “surreal” and “amazing.”
The grant is one of several WIF/GM Alliance programs aimed at supporting talented filmmakers from under-represented communities.
Vicory said she always has been interested in movies. As an adult, she found herself watching Hollywood, independent and foreign films, interested in how a film is made.
But only in 2001, when her second daughter left for college and she and husband Jay became empty nesters, did she plunge into filmmaking.
“I thought, what do I really want do with my life, how do I define myself now as woman,” Vicory said. “I had been a mother and businesswoman for 20 years. I immediately thought: I want to make a documentary film.”
Vicory attended a weeklong film boot camp at the New York City Film Academy, where she had to write, direct, film and edit a three-minute black and white silent film.
“I fell in love with the dynamic of the pieces of putting a film together,” Vicory said.
Back home, Vicory said, people crossed her path from out of the blue to help her begin filmmaking. A Paola-based ESPN Outdoors documentary maker “completely donated his heart and soul” to help her set up an editing studio in her house.
To learn more about editing, she enrolled in a Washington course in October 2002. Being the only student on that Mother’s Day weekend, Vicory said, she received virtually private instruction. Her instructor, Virginia Quesda, became a friend and later the editor for “Homelessness & The Power of One.”
With these skills, Vicory said she began thinking about a subject for a film. With 10 years of volunteerism behind her, she chose homelessness. Her friend Evie Craig, director of ReStart, a United Way agency serving the homeless, gave her open access to its shelters.
Vicory said early filming disproved two views she heard from friends about the homeless: one, that they did not actually exist in Kansas City; and two, that they would not talk to her.
Not only did she find them in the 15 cities she traveled to across the country, but they would not stop talking to her when she listened, Vicory said. A mission developed.
“It sort of turned the light bulb on, which said there was not enough education. I needed to raise awareness about this social ill,” Vicory said. “I knew the culture of the invisible needed to become visible. Then it was my purpose within this timeframe to build a bridge between our perceptions about homeless and the reality.”
Vicory took three years to make and release the film. The 1960s rhythm and blues band Bloodstone composed original music for the film.
At the premiere at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Overland Park, Vicory said 600 people turned up. She flew in the five principal characters in the film, once homeless, and they answered questions from the audience. Bloodstone performed. The event raised $30,000, Vicory said.
Vicory has shown the 10-minute film several times in Kansas City and in New York City and Washington during fundraisers for the homeless. In the bargain, she has built a network of contacts, including U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore, whom she persuaded to take the film and accompanying homelessness material to Washington.
“I work every angle I can find, because this project continues to grow and find beautiful avenues,” Vicory said.
She plans to show the film in as many cities as possible to raise awareness about homelessness and is looking for corporate sponsors to join her project.
“If they’ve got deep pockets and want to align themselves with this project, that would be God’s gift,” she said.
Only then, Vicory said, can she consider devoting herself totally to the project and disengaging from the Nevada, Mo., family manufacturing business she has run with Jay for 20 years since her father died. Vicory travels 88 miles each way to Nevada three times a week.
Vicory said she has no words to describe her experience of becoming a filmmaker.
“It’s like coming into your own, stepping into who you are meant to be,” she said.
She spent about $100,000 to make the film.
“But who cares? This is an incredible opportunity and I’m just crazy about it,” Vicory said.
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Six years ago, Vicory, 52, of Stilwell, decided to make films. In September last year, she held the premiere of her first film, a self-funded documentary short titled “Homelessness & The Power of One.”
Vicory used the same occasion to launch her project, Power of One, aimed at bringing public attention to the plight of the homeless and raising funds for organizations serving the homeless.
Since the launch, Vicory said, she has helped nonprofits raise more than $150,000 for metro area organizations, including the Salvation Army, TLC, Interfaith Hospitality and the Johnson County Housing Coalition.
In October, the Women in Film/General Motors Alliance announced Vicory and six others as winners of the alliance’s annual Acceleration Grant for Emerging Filmmakers competition from 48 entries nationally. The prize: a week in Los Angeles meeting Hollywood insiders.
Vicory spent 11 days in Los Angeles last month meeting with film and TV industry professionals, discussing finance, marketing, distribution and legal subjects. They met with studio executives, distributors and international sales agents. Judy James, producer of hits including “Quiz Show” and “Mr. Holland’s Opus,” mentored the group, said Vicory, who described the experience as “surreal” and “amazing.”
The grant is one of several WIF/GM Alliance programs aimed at supporting talented filmmakers from under-represented communities.
Vicory said she always has been interested in movies. As an adult, she found herself watching Hollywood, independent and foreign films, interested in how a film is made.
But only in 2001, when her second daughter left for college and she and husband Jay became empty nesters, did she plunge into filmmaking.
“I thought, what do I really want do with my life, how do I define myself now as woman,” Vicory said. “I had been a mother and businesswoman for 20 years. I immediately thought: I want to make a documentary film.”
Vicory attended a weeklong film boot camp at the New York City Film Academy, where she had to write, direct, film and edit a three-minute black and white silent film.
“I fell in love with the dynamic of the pieces of putting a film together,” Vicory said.
Back home, Vicory said, people crossed her path from out of the blue to help her begin filmmaking. A Paola-based ESPN Outdoors documentary maker “completely donated his heart and soul” to help her set up an editing studio in her house.
To learn more about editing, she enrolled in a Washington course in October 2002. Being the only student on that Mother’s Day weekend, Vicory said, she received virtually private instruction. Her instructor, Virginia Quesda, became a friend and later the editor for “Homelessness & The Power of One.”
With these skills, Vicory said she began thinking about a subject for a film. With 10 years of volunteerism behind her, she chose homelessness. Her friend Evie Craig, director of ReStart, a United Way agency serving the homeless, gave her open access to its shelters.
Vicory said early filming disproved two views she heard from friends about the homeless: one, that they did not actually exist in Kansas City; and two, that they would not talk to her.
Not only did she find them in the 15 cities she traveled to across the country, but they would not stop talking to her when she listened, Vicory said. A mission developed.
“It sort of turned the light bulb on, which said there was not enough education. I needed to raise awareness about this social ill,” Vicory said. “I knew the culture of the invisible needed to become visible. Then it was my purpose within this timeframe to build a bridge between our perceptions about homeless and the reality.”
Vicory took three years to make and release the film. The 1960s rhythm and blues band Bloodstone composed original music for the film.
At the premiere at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Overland Park, Vicory said 600 people turned up. She flew in the five principal characters in the film, once homeless, and they answered questions from the audience. Bloodstone performed. The event raised $30,000, Vicory said.
Vicory has shown the 10-minute film several times in Kansas City and in New York City and Washington during fundraisers for the homeless. In the bargain, she has built a network of contacts, including U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore, whom she persuaded to take the film and accompanying homelessness material to Washington.
“I work every angle I can find, because this project continues to grow and find beautiful avenues,” Vicory said.
She plans to show the film in as many cities as possible to raise awareness about homelessness and is looking for corporate sponsors to join her project.
“If they’ve got deep pockets and want to align themselves with this project, that would be God’s gift,” she said.
Only then, Vicory said, can she consider devoting herself totally to the project and disengaging from the Nevada, Mo., family manufacturing business she has run with Jay for 20 years since her father died. Vicory travels 88 miles each way to Nevada three times a week.
Vicory said she has no words to describe her experience of becoming a filmmaker.
“It’s like coming into your own, stepping into who you are meant to be,” she said.
She spent about $100,000 to make the film.
“But who cares? This is an incredible opportunity and I’m just crazy about it,” Vicory said.