A note from jenna

My name is Jenna Winters. After working as a journalist and television producer for nearly two decades, I decided it was time to take on the biggest project of my life and begin working on this film. Now more than ever, I believe our world needs stories that inspire and unite us and I know the time has finally come to share this powerful story with a larger audience.

I’m not just the director of this film, but a lifelong witness. I am very familiar with the power of Michael Naranjo’s narrative because he is my father and I grew up watching the way his life and sculptures inspire people.  

As a child, I often watched from the back of an auditorium or the corner of a classroom as my dad talked about his life, his war injury and his work with everyone from disabled veterans to schoolchildren. After watching this scene play out over and over it became certain that my father’s story transcends the boundaries that typically divide us as a society. It’s a story that most everyone can relate to because it’s about overcoming life’s obstacles, about facing our deepest fears and about finding beauty and bravery in the darkest places.  We all have obstacles and fears, but not all of us are given the tools to face them and that’s where I think this narrative can really make a difference for audiences of all ages and abilities. 

Years have passed and as my own life has unfolded. I am not just a proud daughter anymore. Now, I’m a concerned mother, too. I feel compelled to push this story out in to the world and share it with a larger audience because I want my daughter, her peers and generations to come to believe in themselves and in their dreams despite the challenges we face in this rapidly changing world. I want to show viewers that there is nothing wrong with being different or about believing in something that might look and seem impossible to everyone else. This might be the story of just one man, but I feel like pieces of this story live inside each and every one of us. As you might imagine, I’d never have the courage to take on such a daunting project had I not grown up with the example set by my parents – two people who seem to take great pleasure in making the impossible quite possible. 

Completing this film is so important to me that I’ve paused my full-time work as a television producer. My father is reaching an amazing climax in his career and I finally feel I have gained the proper training and endured the right experience to be able to steer this ship and I couldn’t be more excited. Throughout the course of my career, I’ve worked for several publications and network television shows both behind and in front of the camera. But my favorite days were always spent writing or producing emotional human interest stories and so I’m pouring that experience and love into this project. It has also been a huge blessing to partner with director of photography Bill Stengel. His talent and work ethic are rare.

Lastly,  I feel compelled to address the fact that some people have questioned whether or not a daughter can fairly portray her father in a film.  This project has been denied grants for that fact alone. I find that sentiment disappointing and unfair. From my perspective, there is no one better to share a story about a father, than a daughter. Although journalists around the world have taken their turn telling my dad’s story, I guarantee you, this piece will be more comprehensive emotionally and factually than anything done before. You think you might be familiar with Michael Naranjo’s story – but you’ve never heard or seen it like you will in “Dream Touch Believe.”

Now that our team has started production, I get more and more excited about the possibilities of this project every day. Many people want to know when this film will be finished. It all depends on how quickly we can finish fundraising. We continue to rely on the support of donors like you. Our team is continually seeking grants as well. 

If you can, I hope you will consider supporting this project with a tax deductible donation. I truly need your help. The Independent Filmmaker Project – a non-profit group -- serves as our fiscal sponsor. The IFP collects and manage all donations made to this film. This program is wonderful because it keeps our team accountable and donors can rest assured knowing that we are using funds solely toward the making of the film. Essentially, the IFP will not release funds to our team until we can prove that every and any penny we use has gone solely toward filmmaking. 

Thank you for your time and thank you for believing!

Sincerely,

Jenna