Tag: Iowa Veterans

  • From Iowa and Back Expands Community Screenings Across the Midwest

    From Iowa and Back Expands Community Screenings Across the Midwest

    From Iowa and Back: The Vietnam Era is continuing to grow beyond its original Iowa screenings, with new community screening opportunities now available across the Midwest.

    The film centers on the firsthand stories of Iowa men and women whose lives were shaped by military service during the Vietnam era. While the stories begin in Iowa, the themes of service, sacrifice, family, coming home, and remembrance reach far beyond state lines.

    Expanding Across the Midwest

    Community screening information is now available for:

    These screenings are designed to be more than simply showing a film. Depending on the event, they can include a personal introduction to the project, recognition of veterans in attendance, a post-film discussion, and opportunities to continue preserving the stories of Vietnam-era veterans.

    Veterans organizations, libraries, theaters, museums, colleges, senior communities, businesses, and civic groups can all serve as hosts.

    Reaching More of Iowa

    Even as the project expands into neighboring states, Iowa remains at the center of the effort.

    One of my personal goals is to bring From Iowa and Back into as many of Iowa’s 99 counties as possible.

    That means continuing to work with smaller communities while also building stronger regional screening opportunities in places that can help reach surrounding counties.

    Some of the Iowa communities I am currently focusing on include:

    Ames and Story County
    A central Iowa location with strong regional reach and connections to Iowa State University.

    Davenport, Bettendorf and Scott County
    A strong eastern Iowa and Quad Cities market with the potential to reach audiences on both sides of the Mississippi River.

    Sioux City and Woodbury County
    An important northwest Iowa market with potential reach into Nebraska and South Dakota.

    Iowa City and Coralville
    A strong fit because of the University of Iowa, veterans organizations, libraries, and cultural institutions.

    Dubuque
    A meaningful location for the project, including a connection through Brian Johannesen’s song “Old Dubuque,” which became part of the film’s musical foundation.

    Council Bluffs and Western Iowa
    A future priority that can help the project reach western Iowa and the Omaha area.

    Bring the Film to Your Community

    I am continuing to look for communities and organizations interested in hosting From Iowa and Back: The Vietnam Era.

    If your city or county is not listed above, that does not mean it is outside the project. I want to continue expanding throughout Iowa and into communities across the Midwest.

    Learn more about hosting a screening:

    Every screening creates another opportunity to recognize veterans, bring generations together, and preserve stories while there is still time to hear them firsthand.

  • Film Festival Update

    Film Festival Update

    This documentary film has gone through quite an exciting journey. Brucemore’s Artisan Studio came on board about a year ago and their support and guidance has been invaluable. We shifted gears a couple times and ended up with both a short film and a full length feature, which will premiere this Friday, March 28th, Vietnam Veterans Day.

    The short film version has been submitted into 4 film festivals and accepted, so far, at both the Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival and the Farm to Film Fest. Today I was notified that we won the “Top of the Crop Iowa Made” category and I couldn’t be happier or prouder of this project. It’s a source of great pride to be not only working with so many great Iowans but also recognized for the work we’re doing.

    Follow along and see where this idea turned into a reality takes us. Link to premiere weekend here.