LIVE Q&A with Expert Panelists and Film's Director

Tuesday, April 12th, 2022

7pmET/4pmPT

Watch the film anytime before the Q&A from the comfort of your own home.

ABOUT THE FILM

In the US, more than three million children live in homes with service members and veterans who rely on caregiver support. Gabby, Terry, and Luther all have parents who were injured while serving, and each family has found a way to heal the wounds of war. Homefront shows how Gabby (9), a fierce animal lover with a stock of chickens, rabbits, bees, and dogs, loves her family and faces her fears about her Dad’s traumatic brain injury and PTSD via equine therapy. Terry (10), an enthusiastic boy and his parents, Taniki and Brandon, share their experiences and mental health struggles as they work to heal and help each other cope with depression and PTSD through honest conversation and embracing joy. Luther (9) is a charismatic boy who wants to be “like my dad when I grow up.” His father, Joe, a Navy veteran who lost his leg in an IED explosion, struggles through chronic pain to put family first.

PANELISTS

The Honorable Patrick J. Murphy, Moderator

 Patrick J. Murphy began serving our nation at age 19, when he enlisted in the United States Army ROTC program at the University of Scranton. For the past 28 years, in one role after another, he has maintained that commitment to serve—as a soldier, as the first Iraq War Veteran elected to Congress, as the Under Secretary and Acting Secretary of the Army, and as a champion for Veterans’ issues with an extensive background in health care management and innovation. Patrick’s leadership harnesses the power of public, private, and nonprofit partners to support Veterans in finding jobs, starting businesses, and securing quality health care and mental health services. His mission is to help provide all of America’s 20 million Veterans—including the more than nine million who rely on the Department of Veterans Affairs—with the opportunity to realize stability and success.

Ryan Manion, President, Travis Manion Foundation

Ryan Manion has dedicated her life to supporting our nation’s military, veterans, and families of fallen heroes. She is inspired by the character, leadership, and sacrifice of her brother 1st Lt Travis Manion, USMC, who made the ultimate sacrifice in the Al Anbar province of Iraq while drawing fire away from his wounded comrades on April 29th, 2007.

Serving as the President of Travis Manion Foundation since 2012, Ryan leads a national movement focused on assisting veterans and families of the fallen to take the next step in their personal journeys, and inspiring the next generation of leaders.

James (Jim) McDonough, Jr., Chief Executive Officer of Headstrong

Colonel (U.S. Army, Retired) James (Jim) D. McDonough, Jr., is the Chief Executive Officer of Headstrong, a leading, national-facing mental health network for our nation’s military connected members and their families. Prior to serving as CEO, Jim held several key leadership assignments within the veterans’ sector. These included two stints as Director of the New York State Division of Veterans’ Services, Senior Fellow for Veterans Affairs within the New York State Health Foundation and Managing Director of the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University, where he was responsible for the global deployment of the Institute’s widely recognized programs and services. Jim also served as Chief Executive Officer for Veterans Outreach Center in Rochester, New York, where he led the nation’s oldest continuing serving nonprofit dedicated to the needs of military connected individuals and families.

Kathy Roth-Douquet, Co-Founder and CEO of Blue Star Families

As Co-Founder and CEO of Blue Star Families, the nation’s largest grass-roots military family support organization, she is a national spokesperson for military-connected families. Kathy is a commentator on patriotism, civil-military affairs, the value of service, and the experience of military families. She has appeared on the Today Show, Fox and Friends, NPR, CNN, and other media outlets. Her work has appeared in magazines and newspapers across the country. She is a frequent speaker at universities, policy forums, military audiences, and civic groups. Kathy has served in the White House and in the Department of Defense. In the latter role, as Principal Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Acting), she received the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service for her work on defense reform. She is also a recipient of President George H. W. Bush’s Daily Point of Light Award, and received the Chief of Staff of the Army Outstanding Civilian Service Award. She is also a military spouse of 24 years, four deployments, and 9 moves.

Kristi Jacobson, Director of Through Our Eyes: Homefront

Kristi Jacobson is an award-winning documentary filmmaker. Her 2016 film SOLITARY (HBO), won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Investigative Documentary. Earlier films include American Standoff (HBO) which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, the critically acclaimed TOOTS. Her film A PLACE AT THE TABLE premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, was nominated for Best Feature Documentary by the Producers Guild of America, and won the IDA’s Pare Lorentz Award. Most recently, Kristi directed HOMEFRONT, part of the HBO/Max and Sesame Workshop’s NAACP Image Award-nominated series, “Through Our Eyes”; “I Am Not Going To Change 400 Years in Four”, co-directed with Angela Tucker (ITVS/ Independent Lens); and Procter & Gamble's “GOOD IS GOLD” 2021 Olympics Campaign films, featuring Olympians Tom Daley, Allyson Felix, Scout Bassett and Olympic hopeful Zeina Nasser. Next up for Kristi is an HBO documentary, and, as producer, on the upcoming AN ACT OF WORSHIP, Nausheen Dadabhoy’s directorial debut feature. She is a member of AMPAS, the Directors Guild of America, and has received grant support and/or fellowships from Tribeca Film Institute, Sundance Institute, Ford Foundation, Chicken & Egg Pictures, and many others.

HOW TO WATCH

1. If your screen says “Watch Now,” simply click to begin viewing. If your screen says “Unlock,” enter your email and password (you will need to create an account with Eventive if you don’t have one already) and the page will take you to the “Watch Now” screen.

2. You have 7 days to begin watching the film after it becomes available on April 7th. Once you begin watching, you have 48 hours to complete the film. You can watch at anytime before the Q&A – the film is 38 minutes long.

3. On Tuesday, April 12th at 7pmET this same page will host the live panel discussion and Q&A. You must be signed into your account to view. You can type questions and comments into the chat box.

4. Make it a Movie Night and follow this timeline to join in the fun simultaneously with the filmmakers and friends across the country:

Tuesday, April 12th

6:15pm ET (NY) / 3:15pm PT (CA)

Log in to Eventive to watch Homefront from the comfort of your home. The film is 38 minutes long.

7:00pm ET (NY) / 4pm PT (CA)

Participate in our live Q&A with filmmaker Kristi Jacobson, Moderator Honorable Patrick J. Murphy, and panelists Jim McDonough, Ryan Manion, and Kathy Roth-Douquet.