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The Diva Team had the opportunity to speak with two incredible filmmakers about their upcoming film, The Goddess Project. The following is just a snapshot of the wonderful story these amazing women have to share.
Diva: What inspired this project?
Sara & Holli: The Goddess Project was inspired by our desire to help women discover their own infinite potential!
In 2011 we made a pact to start living out our dreams and to contribute to the world in a bigger way, and we instantly started meeting other women who were doing the same. As we got to know each of them, we realized how similar our fears and obstacles were, and learned various tools that we could use to overcome them. These conversations made us realize how empowering it is to hear stories from women that you can relate to, so we decided we wanted to travel the country and interview as many incredible women as we could find.
In November of 2012, we launched a Kickstarter campaign and successfully raised over $10K from people around the world who wanted to see more diverse female role models on the big screen. Two weeks later we were at a music festival and met a man from Tennessee who offered to donate his bus to us. We saw these as affirmations that the universe was ready for a film of this nature, so we condensed our lives into two suitcases and hit the road with one goal in mind: to find extraordinary women with a passion for the life they live!
D: Can you tell us a bit about your filming experience across the US?
S & H: Travelling across the United States and living out of a mini school bus for 6 months was both the most liberating and challenging experience of our lives.
Each day we woke up in a new city and were continually amazed by the amount of women ready and willing to share their stories. We visited over 30 states and found ourselves in the most astonishing places. We met inspiring ladies in coffee shops, at rest stops, and even through Twitter while driving on the highway! We never knew what kind of wild adventure would unfold, but we always had faith that our intuitions would lead us exactly where we needed to go.
It only took a couple of weeks being on the road to realize that living amenity free during the blazing hot summer was much more difficult than we had anticipated. Being on a tight budget, most of our showers consisted of Dr. Bronner’s Soap and baby wipes, unless we happened to find a kind stranger who would let us use their facilities. Many women asked us how we dealt with our flow on the road, and the DivaCup was always the answer!
It is an essential for any wandering woman; it is compact, sustainable, and saves money every month!
D: What did you learn along the journey that surprised you the most?
S & H: Both before and during our trip, we were surprised by how many people warned us to “be careful” as there is this fear that people cannot be trusted, or that it is unsafe to travel alone as women. We spent almost 200 nights sleeping in parking lots, along mountaintops, and on city streets, but in the end, we were happy to report back that the most notable encounters were love notes on our windshield and invitations for home cooked meals.
We learned that people are inherently good, and when you’re working to make the world a better place, someone will always show up to help you out in a time of need.
D: When did you first get interested in the creative arts (film)?
Sara: I discovered my love for film-making at age 7 when my parents brought home our first camcorder. My hand has been glued to a camera ever since. I attended film school in 2005 and have since worked in many different areas of the industry, all leading me to my true calling, documentary film-making.
Being able to capture a rare and special moment in time and impart its feeling on the screen is my ultimate passion and the fuel behind all that I create.
Holli: From a young age, I started mixing mediums and creating art to evoke emotion in the people around me. I studied visual communications and design in school, but it was not until I met Sara in 2009 and we started collaborating that I fell in love with film-making as a powerful medium for storytelling.
Five years ago I would have never imagined I would be making a feature-length documentary. It has been an amazing journey combining our skills to co-create more than we ever dreamt possible!
D: Can you tell us a bit about the film?
S & H: The Goddess Project shares the stories of incredible everyday women who are realizing their potential, overcoming their fears, and shifting our world into a new state of consciousness!
By interviewing over 100 women from all walks of life, this film bridges the gaps which separate us from one another and broadens the definition of empowerment in today’s society. “Others See Their Possibilities In Your Reality” is the theme of the film because we have personally witnessed how impactful it is to find a role model who is relevant to you.
Meeting these women and learning about their unique paths to self-discovery has equipped us with a plethora of powerful tools to transform our lives, and we are so excited to share this insightful wisdom with the world!
The Goddess Project is more than just a film, it is a movement to inspire women of all present and future generations to step up, share their stories, and start using their gifts to contribute to the world in a bigger way!
D: What are the next steps for the project and what can people do to help?
S & H: We are currently in post-production editing the film and plan to release it in 2015 with your help! You can help bring The Goddess Project to the big screen by spreading the word.
D: As women working in the field of film, what advice would you give to aspiring filmmakers?
S & H: Don’t be scared to blaze your own trail! If you commit wholeheartedly each day to working towards your dreams, they will eventually come true! All great things take time, confidence and perseverance, and with that understanding, you can achieve anything you set your mind to!
Watch the complete documentary here and follow the film's journey here.
