Comments from people involved in our recent shoot (July 2010):

Thank you Marika, you are a true blessing.  We can't wait to share our story,
we're looking forward to it!
-S family

Hey M.
Just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed the shoot, and whatever I 
can do to help in the future: count me in. What you're doing is
important and awesome. I'm really proud to be a part of it. Rock on.
Looking forward to the future
-Z

It was a pleasure filming with you Helping other families through
what my family have gone through is such a blessing.
-S

Marika,
It was my pleasure to help out with The Word Is Love – and I hope my contribution adds to the video. I pray all goes well and that you’re able to get all necessary funding – this is a really worthwhile project.Take care, and yes, let’s keep in touch.
- Best, A

Marika,
I would like to thank you for the opportunity for letting me share my story. It was very hard for me to express those feelings but I'm very grateful I did.
-J

PROGRESS REPORT

What We Have Accomplished:

I would like to begin by thanking all of you for your generous support. Your contributions have allowed me to substantially advance our steps toward the completion of our film,The Word Is Love. There were a number of events that positively affected the scope of the story we tell. As you know, the research and subsequent footage previous to this shoot focussed on children whose mothers were in prison. During this year, and thanks to you, I expanded our story to include the impact of incarcerated fathers. This opportunity occurred in a very amazing way. I have screened the selected cuts of The Word is Love at a number of locations - St. John the Divine, The Theological Seminary, Big Brothers, Big Sisters of NYC, The Osborne Association – to name a few. It was through these screenings that I met my three subjects. By some miracle, they were in the audience or, in one case, on a panel with me. After the screenings, we talked and, in each case, we began a journey together that has allowed me to expand and strengthen this film. We are now including stories of children and their incarcerated fathers.

What's next:

I continue to fundraise so that we can now edit this film and release it. We need to raise fifty thousand dollars to begin and complete Phase One in our editing process. This will include:

Thank you, in advance, for continuing to support The Word is Love.  And thank you, once again, and with all my heart, for the funding that has gotten us this far.

Anything you can contribute toward this goal will be deeply appreciated.

You can still listen to this interview: Family Life Behind Bars Radio

Wednesday, October 7, 2009 " Family Life Behind Bars Radio" talked to Marika Turano, the documentary filmmaker of "The Word Is Love." 
Capturing the voices of children affected by arrest and incarceration, "The Word Is Love" looks at the impact of incarceration, but from a child’s point of view.
Listen to the show over the Internet at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/familylifebehindbars.
For more information, please visit the Radio Show page.