One, I was at a comfortable point in my career where I became open to the idea of ‘how else can I make use of my skills?’  

Secondly, my dad was a World War II veteran.  He was in combat before I was born and was injured, but to this day, I don’t know what happened. He was a wonderful man with a lot of integrity who taught me about service to others.  I remember during the Vietnam War, my father was filled with tension and anxiety about whether my brothers would be drafted in the conflict.  We lived in California, and unfortunately the veterans returning home were treated differently than the WWII veterans.  They were damaged and shunned by the community.   They became lost in society.  I think, given my background, I had naïve ideas we (society) would never again see a war like that.  But we’re facing two wars, and as a mental health official, we know more about the mental health needs for our troop and veterans.  So I felt a compelled to get information and resources out there, that weren’t there before, for this generation of returning servicemen and women, before we face a situation of another lost society. 

And thirdly, I was driving through the city (Washington, D.C.) with my two daughters who were ages nine and five at the time and we saw a man wearing fatigues holding a sign that read ‘Homeless Vietnam Veteran.  Please Help. God Bless,’ prompting my eldest daughter to ask, “Mom, if we’re the richest country in the world, how can we let this happen?”  It was striking to me she felt ownership of the problem. 

At that moment, I realized I wanted to do more.  I was a busy single mom, raising two girls while juggling a career and I knew:  I can’t quit my job, but I can give some time.  Not only that, but this is something others can do too.   So I read ‘Starting a Nonprofit for Dummies,’ and founded Give an Hour.  

www.beyondthewallmovie.wordpress.com

BEYOND THE WALL:

Homelessness Among Veterans

(a social documentary)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Production of Documentary on Homeless Veterans supported by Fannie Mae

ARLINGTON, VA - July 2008 - Made possible by the generous support and contribution of corporate sponsors such as Fannie Mae, Ironcutter Media, LLC a Virginia based publishing and production company and WHI Productions, LLC are producing a social documentary focusing on the issue of veteran homelessness.  

Fannie Mae’s support of the program continues a long history of the company’s work to prevent and end homelessness.  The Fannie Mae Help the Homeless Program raises awareness and funds for Washington metropolitan area organizations that are working to prevent and end homelessness, with an emphasis on programs that help homeless people return to independent living. The Help the Homeless Program builds awareness around the issue and draws volunteers to serve the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless

The production commenced in June 2008.  Tentatively titled ‘The Homeless Zone,’ with the objective to create a social documentary that raises awareness on the issue of veteran homelessness, the documentary will feature stories of veterans living in a Washington DC shelter, and insights gleaned from interviews with organizations, charities and individuals that provide support to foster better understanding of the factors that contribute to and/or increase the risk of homelessness among veterans.

Scheduled for release November 2008, The Homeless Zone will weave these people, profiles and places into a story-telling triumvirate of video/ journalism/internet narrative via a platform website to reach a regional and national audience.  Featuring five  video mini-chapters, the website will host correlating journalism, and a digital library based on footage, research and interviews by person and topic to document an honest and insightful portrayal of the issue of veteran-homelessness.

Written, Directed and Produced by Alivia C. Tagliaferri, author and publisher of Still the Monkey, What Happens to Warriors after War, and Co-Produced by Nancy E. Mantelli, producer and founder of WHI Productions and teacher at West Potomac Academy, the production crew consists of three award-winning student film-makers, Marcus Clarke, Nathan Baer and Cory Jones, all graduates of Mantelli’s television and film production class.

For more information regarding this project, including production updates, schedule and lineup of interviews, please visit the project blog:  www.thehomelesszone.wordpress.com

Media Contact:

Alivia Tagliaferri

Ironcutter Media, LLC

alivia@ironcuttermedia.com

Ironcutter Media and WHI Productions Announce Production of Documentary focusing on Homeless Veterans

ARLINGTON, VA – May 28, 2008 - Ironcutter Media, LLC a Virginia based publishing and production company, and WHI Productions, LLC announce production of a social documentary focusing on the issue of veteran homelessness.  Production is set to commence June, 2008.

Tentatively titled ‘The Homeless Zone,’ with the objective to create a social documentary that raises awareness on the issue of veteran homelessness, the documentary will feature stories of veterans living in a Washington DC shelter, and insights gleaned from interviews with organizations, charities and individuals providing support to foster better understanding of the factors that contribute to and/or increase the risk of homelessness among veterans.

Scheduled for release November 2008, The Homeless Zone will weave these people, profiles and places into a story-telling triumvirate of video, journalism and internet narrative via a platform website to reach a regional and national audience.  Featuring 6 ten-minute mini-chapters, the website will host correlating journalism based on footage, research and interviews to document an honest and insightful portrayal of the issue of veteran-homelessness.

Written, Directed and Produced by Alivia C. Tagliaferri, author and publisher of Still the Monkey, What Happens to Warriors after War, and Co-Produced by Nancy E. Mantelli, producer and founder of WHI Productions and teacher at West Potomac Academy, the production crew consists of three award-winning student film-makers, Marcus Clarke, Nathan Baer and Corey Jones, all graduates of Mantelli’s television and film production class.

Production of this documentary and website launch is made possible by the generous contributions of individual and corporate sponsors.

For more information regarding this project, including production updates, and schedule of interviews and filming, please visit the project blogsite:  www.thehomelesszone.wordpress.com

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The Homeless Zone is a social documentary that takes a closer look into the issue of veteran homelessness, depicting the stories of veterans living in a Washington, DC shelter, and sharing insights gleaned from interviews with organizations, charities and individuals that provide support to better understand the factors that contribute to and/or increase the risk of homelessness among veterans.

Scheduled for release November 2008, The Homeless Zone weaves these people, profiles and places into a story-telling triumvirate of video/ journalism/internet narrative via a platform website to reach a regional and national audience.

Featuring 5 five-minute mini-chapters, the website will host correlating journalism and a digital library based on footage, research and interviews to document an honest and insightful portrayal of the issue of veteran-homelessness.