NOTE FROM DIRECTOR/PRODUCER - My name is Chris M. Wilborn. Two years ago, production on Moving With The Spirit  began — but in the first year, disaster struck. Our hard drive crashed, and we lost every single frame of footage. It was devastating. But that moment forced me to live out the very story I was trying to tell — a story about resilience, perseverance, and creating against all odds.

MOVING WITH THE SPIRIT - This film follows Gary Gee, Israel Solomon, and Johnson Simon, three Indianapolis artists who continue to push forward despite setbacks, using their art to inspire, heal, and challenge their community. Their stories — and mine — show that no obstacle is too big when the mission is to honor history, build culture, and uplift others.

Gary Gee channels the rhythm of hip-hop and the grit of street culture, transforming raw emotion into narratives that push against societal boundaries. Israel Solomon’s geometric compositions bring clarity and order to chaos, reflecting perseverance and the unshakable power of representation. Johnson Simon, with expressionistic strokes and figures in motion, captures the essence of movement itself—embodying the spirit of those who refuse to be confined by limitation.

Gary Gee (left), Israel Solomon (middle), and Johnson Simon (right) are artist transform struggle into resilience, using faith and creativity to build community, and the main participants in the film.

Together, their work transcends canvas and paint. It becomes legacy in motion, a living archive of resilience, and proof that creativity is not a luxury—it is a necessity. Moving With The Spirit is more than a film; it is an urgent reminder of what’s at stake when voices go unheard and a testament to the change that is possible when art leads the way. The story calls us to witness, to remember, and to carry forward the dialogue, because the future of culture—and the healing of community—depends on it.

To finish this film and bring it to Sundance, Tribeca, and the world, we need $30,000 to cover post-production, sound design, editing, and final deliverables. Your support isn’t just funding a documentary — it’s fueling a movement of resilience that will inspire artists, dreamers, and entire communities to keep going when everything seems lost.

Indianapolis was once recognized as a thriving hub of Black art, business, and culture. Indiana Avenue, in particular, was home to one of the highest concentrations of Black-owned businesses in the nation, alive with jazz clubs, galleries, and community gathering spaces. It was a city where culture wasn’t just entertainment—it was survival, pride, and legacy.

Today, much of that history has been erased or forgotten. Artists in Indianapolis still carry the weight of that legacy, but they are often underfunded, overlooked, and left without the resources necessary to thrive. Despite their talent and impact, many face systemic barriers: a lack of sustainable funding, limited access to galleries or collectors, and little recognition beyond local circles.

This is why Moving With The Spirit is not just a film—it’s an investment in visibility, representation, and change. By following Gary Gee, Israel Solomon, and Johnson Simon, the documentary shows what’s possible when artists are given the platform they deserve. Their stories prove that creativity can heal, preserve culture, and rebuild community, but only if they are seen, heard, and supported.

Supporting this film means more than finishing a documentary. It means reclaiming Indianapolis’ identity as an art city, amplifying voices that have long gone unheard, and fueling opportunities for artists who are shaping the culture of tomorrow. When people invest in Moving With The Spirit, they are investing in legacy, in dialogue, in healing—and in a movement that cannot wait.

Israel Solomon (Art Above) for Oscar-winning Costume Designer Ruth E. Carter - created in the Children's Museum (Indianapolis) for Ruth's museum exhibit: "Afrofuturism in Costume Design"

Moving With The Spirit is more than a film—it’s a community movement. From the beginning, we’ve been backed by organizations who believe in the vision: GANGGANG Culture, the Harrison Center, Indy’s Global Village, Roberts Camera, and many more. Their support shows that this story has weight, purpose, and momentum.

Indianapolis is full of artists whose creativity reflects resilience, culture, and innovation. Yet too often, they lack the resources and platforms needed to thrive. Without sustainable opportunities, their impact remains underrecognized, and the city misses a chance to grow culturally and economically.

This film answers that need.

By following Gary Gee, Israel Solomon, and Johnson Simon, Moving With The Spirit elevates artists who embody the city’s creative spirit and opens dialogue around healing, representation, and legacy. With community partners already standing beside us, the story is positioned to inspire not just art lovers, but local leaders, policymakers, and future generations.

An investment in this project is more than helping a documentary get made. It’s helping Indianapolis claim its place as a cultural leader, ensuring artists have the support to build legacy, and sparking the kind of creative economy that benefits the entire city.

Finishing an independent feature documentary takes resources, and our next big step is raising $30K. Hitting this goal will allow us to complete production and post-production, including original scoring, sound design, and editing, while also funding a strong marketing campaign to help launch the film into top festivals nationwide.

Once we reach that finish line, every additional contribution will go directly toward our impact campaign—bringing Moving With The Spirit, our team, and the participating artists to screenings and festivals across the country. These costs include travel, lodging, food, festival submissions, and promotional materials. Beyond the festivals, we plan to host community screenings, panels, and workshops that create cultural dialogue, inspire the next generation of creators, and show how art can drive economic growth for Indianapolis and beyond.

Your support doesn’t just help us finish a film—it helps us build legacy, visibility, and opportunity for the artists and the community they represent. Every dollar brings us closer to making that possible.

Here are three ways you can help support our film:

• PLEDGE a donation to our project to help us finish the edit and bring the film to the world in 2026. Any amount helps!

• SHARE our campaign page with 3 friends who you think might be interested in learning more.

• FOLLOW by clicking the blue “FOLLOW” button at the top of our crowdfunding page – it’s totally free!

Every step of support brings us closer to telling this story the way it deserves to be told.