Hello, FOP Family,
Thank you for being here. It means a lot to us to have your support. But the truth is we’re not doing this for just us; we’re doing this for all of us, and beyond. How are you today? Please let us know.
Why a newsletter?
First of all, we’re not out here trying to overload your inbox. Our goal, as simply stated in our mission, is to tell stories that foster healing, hope, and purpose amidst pain.
On a personal note
We’ve started a blog to keep you posted on what we’re up to without overloading our newsletters. And we think it’s important that, while we’re asking you to open up and tell your story, we let you in on how Fields of Plenty Pictures began, and our personal, at-times tragic, family histories that got us here.
To learn more, check out our latest blog posts:​
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What's in a Name, Ukrainian Roots & Other Flowers
by Maria Doctor Fernandez, 8/26/25
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A Missing Piece: 10 Lessons on Connecting the Past to My Passion
by Asher B. Gudsen (Fernandez), 8/28/25
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EVENTS
Upcoming free event (10/5/25 at 5pm CT): “Healing Your Story Through Grief” - where members of our community get free training on how to tell their stories that help them process their journeys through grief. This free event is a presentation and workshop--open to everyone, but designed for those silently suffering from unprocessed grief. Learn more and RSVP here.
PROJECTS
New project: Our “Healing through Grief” YouTube series will capture layered stories about people’s journeys through grief, in English y español, across generations and cultures--showing how grief can actually lead to healing. We started collecting these stories from our family, friends, and community, and are already seeing the impact it’s having on participants and their families.
PARTNERSHIPS
Call for stories: We are looking for more of these types of stories for our new YouTube series and newsletter. Do you have a story to tell or a loved one to honor? We know some of you may only be ready to tell your story for your own personal healing, and maybe also your family. However, if you are interested in sharing your story publicly (or parts of it), to help others gain wisdom and strength from your journey, please let us know.
We’re actively seeking partnerships to expand our project as well. Do you represent a community with stories of grief and healing to share? We’d love to hear from you too.
Healing through Grief: stories from our growing community
Preview clip: Leslie Redford Doctor on her late sister Andrea Kay Redford, who passed on September 24, 2010. (Full interview to be published in late September, and shared in our next newsletter.)
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GOOD NEWS
- “Mercy Road”, our inspirational disaster drama feature, has taken on two key advisors–Rev. Jack Sullivan, Jr. and Chaplain Candi Wuhrman. We’re grateful for their enthusiastic endorsement of our project, and guidance as we build an audience and strategies for getting Mercy Road greenlit and made.
- Past project: “I’m Coming Home”, a story-driven Gospel music video/short film (produced & directed by Brandon McCullum) was selected for screening at the Hollywood Black Film Festival (October 2025); Maria served as production manager, and Asher as set photographer. We continue to be grateful for that opportunity.
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FAVORITE THINGS
Here is our growing list of recommendations for movies, books & other things we like…
- Movie rec: 1917 (2019): Read more here, and let us know what you think.
- Book rec: Buried Truth: A Poignant Story of a Man’s Search for His Father, Exposing Powerful Forces Bent on Hiding the Truth (2025). Please read more here, and let us know what you think.
A vision for the future
As promised in our newsletter invite, we want to briefly clue you in on our vision for the future. To get a taste of what we’re building here, take a look at our pitch video for Artlist’s 100k Fund.
Join us: plant seeds of hope with stories of hope. If you know of someone who would benefit from this newsletter, please kindly pass it along. In the meantime, take care. And look out for the next newsletter in a month.
Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Subscribe to our newsletter here, then confirm your subscription (emailed to you). You will receive a free "How to Tell Your Story" resource as a token of our thanks.
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