Wow, we're almost done filmming

Well, we actually don't shoot on film, but I'm sure you get the idea.

Yesterday, producer, Sandra Keats, returned from a wonderfully successful shoot in Massachusetts. She was there shooting an episodes tentatively titled "A Year Without A Mother." It's about children having to cope with life while their mothers are stationed in Iraq. I'm sure it'll be a moving story. Sandra says she collected some excellent material. We're especially proud of her work because this is the first episode Sandra produced by herself. Most of this season Sandra has been working as Amanda's Associate Producer. From all accounts it sounds like Amanda did a wonderful job of training Sandra.

Now all that's left to shoot is a "pick up" shoot for our episode about two servicemen whose wives face deportation from the United States. This story, like all our stories, is also powerful and moving. ... We'll keep you posted on it's progress in the edit room.

Keep the Train Rollin'

Wow! There's so much happening with the production and press of Season II and planning for Season III. At the moment we have two producers in the field shooting two different stories: Amanda Spain in Tennessee shooting a story of about the town of Clarkesville, and Sandra Keats in Tacoma, Washington, shooting a story about how deployments impact children. If that's not enough we're planning our press campaign around the upcoming episode that deals with immigration issues countless military families are struggling with. At the same time I have to figure what Season III will look like. Will it be exactly like this season? Should we try something completely different? Should we try what we did in Season I? Oh, did I mention that we're editing an episode.

I've described this project as a machine with multiple, simultaneously moving parts all of which have to be kept in optimum working condition for the machine to function as intended. I've also described our crew as a team of railroad workers laying down track as the train approaches behind us. ... We gotta keep the train on track and moving forward.

"Silent Partners" Screening in Los Angeles

Last night, we held a special screening of "Silent Partners" at Sony Pictures Studio's Backstage Theater in Culver City. Lt. Dan Choi, our guest of honor for the night, presented the film. Read the press coverage we received in the LA Times!

The evening began with our very own hardworking Line Producer Sandi Williams and PA Joe Mielich setting up...Here's Associate Producer Steve Schrenzel trying to steal a cracker and Joe about to chastise him...
Dan arrives and immediately gives an interview...
Rick and Robert Greenwald...
Dan and Julianne Sohn getting ready for the Q&A panel
Jake Diliberto answering a question while West Hollywood Councilmember and moderator, John Duran, and the panelists look on...
Backstage Theater at night....

Click here for more pictures of the event.

"Silent Partners" is now available for viewing at www.intheirboots.com.

Vets for Hire

Currently showing at www.intheirboots.com:




A recent Department of Labor report stated that the unemployment rate for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans is an astonishing 11.2%; roughly 170,000 members of the Armed Services are unemployed.

Hector Torres served in the Army National Guard for 16 years in Desert Storm and Afghanistan. Since being home for over a year and a half, Hector still has not found employment. Despite receiving numerous rejection letters, Hector is not deterred. Hector remains positive and actively continues his job search while depending on his wife’s minimal salary and occasional contribution from his teenage daughter.

Tyron Bettis was an Avionics Electronics Technician in the Army and started his job search immediately after returning home from Iraq in 2006. His plan was to market his military skills to the private, civilian sector. Tyron even moved his family to Silicon Valley thinking there would be better opportunities. However, he found himself competing against people willing to accept lower salaries and has been unable to find a job that can support his wife and two children.

Charlie Phillips helped design a mobile computer data system in the Marines that changed the course of many battles in Iraq. He hasn’t had a job since he’s returned home. Charlie was even told by an employer that his military experience was a waste of time that set him back 5 years. As time passes and savings run low, Charlie must figure out how to pay for gas to drive to job interviews.

“Vets for Hire,” the third episode in the IN THEIR BOOTS series, chronicles the struggles of three veterans who thought their military service would open up doors to opportunities in the civilian sector. Upon their return, they find themselves waging a new battle against unemployment. With the assistance of people like Justin Brown of VFW and Congressman Glenn Nye, returning veterans are given a glimmer of hope by people dedicated to their successful transition home.

Together Again!

It's been a really long time since I posted anything, but I thought I'd close out this chapter in our lives. Gary is finally home, arrived on May 21st, much earlier than we expected, only a few days shy of 13 months. The kids and I had to drive to Norfolk, Va to pick him up (Boo!), but it was a great reunion (Yay!)! We stayed a couple of days in Virginia Beach to just enjoy some alone time together and we even went to the Pungo Strawberry Festival. It feels so good to be a family again! Although I know I can do it on my own, having Gary home to be a husband and father is all I will ever need. But as with the life of a military family, we hit the ground running - Gary is PCSing and is going to schools before finally reporting to U.S. Northern Command in November. We are already packed, moved, and have our home in Colorado Springs, Colorado and are ready for a brand new adventure! Please continue to keep the families and service members who are still serving in combat in your prayers.

Now playing at www.INTHIERBOOTS.com: Fractured Minds

Fractured Minds follows veterans through their treatment in the Houston-based Project Victory Program, a collaborative effort by TIRR Foundation and TIRR Memorial Hermann which helps wounded service members recover and successfully integrate back into the community. The film features four veterans living with TBI, including Claudia’s efforts to maintain her relationship with the daughter she doesn’t remember giving birth to, Daniel’s dedication to retrain his brain to compute math problems that used to come easy to him, Mark’s battle to conquer his injury-induced stuttering, and Bob’s drive to become a motivational speaker after surviving a life-threatening brain injury in Iraq. Through these personal stories of struggle and triumph, we begin to understand the diversity and complexity of TBI in veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Fractured Minds

We are close to finishing our latest film, Fractured Minds. Here is a sneak peek:



A recent Department of Defense report stated that the number of U.S. troops who have suffered wartime brain injuries may be as high as 360,000—roughly 20 percent. Many say that traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the “signature injury” of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. As the military, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and we as a society work to understand TBI, our latest film offers a fascinating snapshot of life with this common, yet incredibly complex injury.

Fractured Minds will be available on our website on the 24th of April, but people in the Houston, TX area can catch the world premiere screening on April 22nd as part of the IN THEIR BOOTS On The Road National Tour. Details here.

A MESSAGE FOR DADDY

I know there are many more important things going on right now, but for us, our lives revolve around Gary's return.  With about two months left of this excruciatingly long IA, we have three words for Daddy:

This time last year, we were making a quilt for everyone to sign and send with Gary to Iraq.  It's hard to believe so much time has passed - Cole's first steps, first birthday, Olivia's first day of Kindergarten, losing her first tooth - and so much more Gary has missed.  Although I would NEVER wish this kind of separation on anyone and it has undoubtedly been the hardest thing I've ever done, I have learned a lot about myself and my husband, and what we can get through together.   It will be so great to have him home - to have a husband and a father for our children - and we will cherish every moment.

National Network News

The ITB team has produced some fantastic work, and people are taking notice. A few months ago, some of the ITB footage from "The War Within" was used in an episode of Dr. Phil. Then, last week the SAPRO report was delivered to Congress and NBC's Chief Pentagon correspondent, Jim Miklaszewski, interviewed Angela Peacock, from the ITB film "Angie's Story." Her interview and more ITB footage ran the next night on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams. Tonight, ABC World News will air a piece on Taryn Davis, Nicole Hart, Tara Fuerst, and the other women of the American Widow Project. That story will also include footage from "We Regret to Inform You."

The mission of IN THEIR BOOTS is to get stories like these into the news, so that people can't forget about the sacrifices that are being made in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The stories we featured last season continue to get attention, and we have 10 more amazing stories coming in 2009.



If you haven't seen it yet, "Broken Promise" is available on the front page of www.INTHEIRBOOTS.c0m