Film - Across the King's River

The Film

More than 10 years in the making, Across the Kings River is a an upcoming documentary about the universal quest for healing and purpose. The film follows spiritual leader, James Weeks, as he practices his calling as a healer in the Ifa, spiritual tradition, while struggling to balance the worldview of his elders in Nigeria with the realities of life in the U.S. He is a shaman and a businessman, a dedicated father who must walk his path without endangering his own family. This is a healer’s journey of faith amidst adversity.

Across the King’s River is also a story about the influence of ancestors in our lives. The film will take viewers on a stunning, visual journey to James’ home, St. Croix, Virgin Islands to visit ancestors and his beginnings, to Nigeria, West Africa the birthplace of Ifa and where James was initiated into the tradition. The journey also takes viewers to the islands of Bermuda, Guadeloupe, Jamaica and Nevis — these islands were important stepping stones in James’ spiritual development. In addition to intimate portraits of James, his family in Oakland and clients, viewers will also get a rare glimpse of an elite team of Ifa diviners and medicine men/women from the Yoruba people of Southwest, Nigeria.

Through verite footage, photographs, and interviews, James will share an insider’s view of Ifa. Scholar interviews will put the personal story into a powerful, historical, cultural and social context. The soundtrack will include the music of Grammy award-winning composer, Omar Sosa, rhythms of master percussionist Keith Caisey, and the traditional music of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Cuba and West Africa.

Status of Film:

Across the King’s River is still in production. The current anticipated release date is the fall of 2023. Because this film is mostly being self-funded at this point, a donation of any amount will help us complete this project. Your support of the book, Meditations Across The King’s River: African Inspired Wisdom for Life’s Journey will also help us complete this film. For investment opportunities in Across The King’s River, email James at james@acrossthekingsriver.com.

Help us complete this unique, documentary film. Your investment will help fund filming in the Caribbean and West Africa.

We anticipate the film will be completed in 15-18 months.

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Film Crew

Dimts Selassie

Director

Dimts Selassie is an International Award-winning Director and Executive Producer based in Bermuda.

Jerry Amadi-Pradon

Cinematographer

Jerry is a Guadeloupean born Cinematographer who started off in the camera department working on features, documentaries, tv series, commercials and music videos in France and the UK.

His early interest in painting and photography led him to the art of cinematography. Working under talented DOP’s such as Gilles Porte AFC, Yinka Edwards, Sam Goldie, Jaime Ackroyd and Franklin Dow has allowed him to develop his craft to a high standard. Currently based in London, Jerry is always looking for new challenges and opportunities to fuel his passion. Visit website >>

James Weeks

Producer/co-director

The recipient of The Art of Living Black 2004, Jan-Hart-Schuyers Artistic Achievement Award, James Weeks is an award-wining photographer and a writer with more than 19 years of experience. His writings have appeared in Parenting, the Virgin Islands Daily News, the S.F. Weekly and other publications. He was initiated into the Ifa spiritual tradition and speaks the Yoruba language fluently. He has a B.A. Degree in French from Cal-State East Bay (formerly called Cal-State Hayward).

Cecilia Slongo

Co-director

Cecilia Slongo is a multidisciplinary artist, filmmaker, dancer, choreographer and educator from Argentina based in Los Angeles. She obtained a BA in Dance from the University of California, Riverside. Her practice focuses on the body as an active source of knowledge, memory and as an activator of change. Cecilia has performed for Viver Brasil, Souly Dance Arts and ELWAH Dance & Research, among others. Cecilia is currently exploring the potentiality of the intersection of film and dance. Her Solo film Persequī has been shown at many film festivals such as the Toronto International Women Film Festival (2021) and Berlin International Art Film Festival (2021). She obtained a Fulbright Scholarship in 2023 based in Bénin, where she conducted an open research in multimedia practices, traditional dances and music.

Robert Elcock

Co-director

Producer and director of music videos, advertising and documentaries. Robert Elcock employs the communicative power of film to promote products, spread ideas and defy stereotypes. Aiming to blend our separate perspectives, compartmentalized by class, race and gender, Elcock exposes a range of audiences to well-rounded, dynamic representations of local talent, women, people of color and LGBT community.

Omar Sosa

Composer

Across the King’s River proudly welcomes visionary pianist Omar Sosa as composer. Omar Sosa’s musical trajectory traces the Diaspora from Cuba to Brazil; from Central America to Ecuador’s African-descent communities; from San Francisco and New York to Western Europe, the Mediterranean, and the African continent. True to his Afro-Cuban origins, Omar Sosa fashions a spirited vision of uncompromising artistic generosity that embraces humanity at large.

Winner of the Smithsonian Associates’ lifetime achievement award, a three-time GRAMMY nominee, and nominated twice for both the BBC World Music awards and the Jazz Journalists Association awards, Omar Sosa entwines the cultural traditions of Africa, Europe, and the Americas in a unique, cosmopolitan voice. Omar’s search for musical freedom transcends orthodoxy, as an artist who exemplifies Monk’s determination never to play the same thing twice. He crafts a stylistically unique yet thoroughly contemporary global jazz idiom that celebrates the diversity of voices in the music of the Americas and far beyond.