Featuring a digital library of exclusive interviews with experts and officials, corresponding journalism and ‘Above and Beyond,’ a section dedicated to sharing ways we can all help end and prevent homeless, the campaign is anchored by our three-part documentary, Beyond the Wall: Homeless Zone , a social documentary.

Beyond The Wall: Homeless Zone , a social documentary
Produced by Ironcutter Media, LLC
in collaboration with WHI Productions, LLC

A new documentary chapter and digital library catalogue will be presented each week in November.

Week of November 10
• Part One: Street on the Streets
• Interview with Mary Cunningham, Author of Vital Mission and Director of Homelessness Research Institute.

Week of November 17
• Part Two: A Mission of Hope
• Interview with Pete Dougherty, Director of Homeless Veteran Programs, The Department of Veterans Affairs

Week of November 24
• Part Three: The Journeyman
• Interview with Madelyn Schrader, Licensed Professional Counselor

Week of November 30
• Interview with Michael Stoops, Director, National Coalition for the Homeless

http://blog.vva.org/?p=183

Arts of War By Marc Leepson

The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars located in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center is hosting the Washington, D.C. screening premiere of Beyond The Wall: Homeless Zone on Monday, November 3^rd , 2008.  

Steve Moore, CEO of the Washington DC Economic Partnership is scheduled to introduce the project and commence the screening at 6pm.

The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars is also hosting a light reception immediately following the event. 

For more information, email info@ironcuttermedia.com

Ironcutter Media is pleased to welcome Jon Sonnheim as editor for Beyond the Wall: Homeless Zone, a social documentary.

Earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature at the Miami University of Ohio, Jon recently completed his Master’s degree in broadcast journalism at Northwestern University.  Prior to that, Jon worked for two years as a general assignment reporter at a television station in Kentucky shooting, editing, writing and fronting daily stories, several of which were picked up nationally by CBS NewsPath. He also assisted a 60 Minutes crew with a human-interest story that aired March, 2007. With a mastery of Avid, Final Cut Pro and Premiere Elements, we believe Jon’s creative storytelling abilities will be a true asset to the project.

Welcome to the team, Jon! 

By KAITLYN KNOPP – Special to the Sun-Gazette

POSTED: August 30, 2008

When Alivia Tagliaferri wrote her first book about a year ago about post-traumatic stress, “Still The Monkey: What Happens to Warriors After War,” she never imagined it would take her to Washington, D.C., to make a documentary about homeless veterans.

“When I wrote the book, a whole new world opened,” said Tagliaferri, a city native and 1999 graduate of Penn State University.

After writing “Still The Monkey,” Tagliaferri found a study in 2007 about homeless veterans that said one out of four homeless people are veterans. This was odd to Tagliaferri, because veterans make up only 11 percent of the population.

“What I realized in researching this is we don’t have a clear understanding of it,” Tagliaferri said.

So she began her latest project, a film documentary about homeless veterans called “Beyond the Wall: Homelessness Among Veterans.”

“I am trying to help others learn,” Tagliaferri said.

This project brought Tagliaferri to Washington, D.C., where she visited various homeless-related services, such as shelters and soup kitchens.

With her was a team of cameramen and helpers that fit in with her “shoestring budget.” She was supported financially by corporations, the crew and individuals.

“We had fundraiser parties,” Tagliaferri said.

On her team were three high school award-winning filmmakers, Cory Jones, Nathan Baer and Marcus Clarke. She also had the help of good friend and producer Nancy Mantelli.

“The footage is really raw,” Tagliaferri said.

Tagliaferri said some of the most moving footage was shot at a shelter in Washington, D.C., where she and her crew spent two days filming. The shelter helps homeless veterans by providing social services and employment possibilities.

Tagliaferri interviewed veterans and those who provide services to the homeless.

“I wanted to make sure these veterans felt safe [in telling their story],” Tagliaferri said.

The footage, which was shot in June and completed by Aug. 1, was only the first step.

The documentary is in post-production and editing stages, and will be released Nov. 11, on Veterans Day, at www.beyondthewallmovie.wordpress.com.

The post-production stage is just as grueling as the actual filming, Tagliaferri said. Tagliaferri, sticking to a small budget, once again used a high school graduate to help with the music score.

Despite her young and ambitious crew, the documentary took plenty of energy from Tagliaferri to produce.

“I wanted to see what’s behind the number,” Tagliaferri said.

In 2009, she plans to submit “Beyond the Wall” to several film festivals and air it on public broadcast television.

To complement the movie’s release, Tagliaferri is releasing an updated version of “Still the Monkey” with a new title and cover.

“I am putting the documentary as a series, which I’m re-titling,” Tagliaferri said.

The overall producing and enacting of this project has been a long and heart-wrenching contribution on Tagliaferri’s part.

“It’s extremely powerful,” she said. “I’ve been moved to tears at times.”

To view a trailer of the documentary, visit www.beyondthewallmovie.wordpress.com. The film is produced by Ironcutter Media, a small press and media production company.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HERNDON, VA (September, 5 2008) – Nancy E. Mantelli, a member of the Washington, D.C. Women in Film and Video, founder of WHI Productions and third-year teacher of Professional Television Production at West Potomac  Academy in Alexandria, VA employed three of her award-winning student graduates, Cory Jones, Marcus Clarke, and Nathan Baer to produce Beyond the Wall: The Homeless Zone, a documentary that seeks to explore the contributing factors that relate to and/or lead to homelessness among veterans. 

For Mantelli, a member of WIFV since 2001, the experience to work with the trio of award-winning students on such an important project was deeply gratifying. 

Over 150,000 American veterans are homeless; living in shelters, temporary housing, or on the streets, comprising nearly twenty to twenty-five percent of the overall homeless population in this country.  We not only verify the methodology that accounts for this statistic Beyond the Wall: Homeless Zone reveals the first-hand experiences and knowledge of the Americans providing support to these displaced former servicemen and women, and the journey of a displaced veteran seeking to rebuild his personal and spiritual foundation. 

Relevant, real and raw, Beyond The Wall: Homeless Zone is a social documentary that takes an un-skewed 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 providing crucial support to better understand the factors that contribute to and/or increase the risk of homelessness among veterans.

Written, directed and co-produced by Alivia C. Tagliaferri, author of Still the Monkey, What Happens to Warriors after War, the documentary is scheduled for release November 11, 2008, Veterans Day, on a platform website that includes corresponding journalism and a digital library of interviews.

The Woodrow Wilson Center for International Studies is hosting a screening of the documentary and sponsoring a light reception to follow in early November.

Stressing the importance of providing professional work and mentorship opportunities to her students to guide them at such a critical time in their budding careers, Mantelli believes the opportunity will greatly benefit her former students as they pursue higher degrees in film and media production and later, the work force.

 For more information, visit the project blog: www.beyondthewallmovie.wordpress.com

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Media Contact:

Alivia C. Tagliaferri

Ironcutter Media, LLC

Ph: 570.220.0026

Email: alivia@ironcuttermedia.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HERNDON, VA (September, 1 2008) – While summer is usually a vacation from work for teachers and students, one local high school teacher and three of her student film-makers spent their summer taping a documentary about homeless veterans.

Co-producer Nancy E. Mantelli, a third year Television Production teacher at West Potomac Academy in Alexandria, VA and three of her recent graduates, Cory Jones, Marcus Clarke, and Nathan Baer lent their professional and creative talents in the making of Beyond the Wall: The Homeless Zone, a documentary that seeks to explore the contributing factors that relate to and/or lead to homelessness experienced by our country’s former servicemen and women. 

For Mantelli, also a member of the Washington, D.C. Women in Film and Video, the experience to work the trio of award-winning students on such an important project was deeply gratifying. 

“To see the boys apply the knowledge and skills they learned over the last two years, and to take direction as paid professionals was an incredible experience and a teacher’s dream.  They not only gained invaluable real-world production experience, but real life experience.” 

Stressing the importance of exposing her students to professional work situations, in accordance with West Potomac Academy and Fairfax County Public School System’s mission of providing opportunities for students to acquire academic and professional knowledge related to career fields of interest, Mantelli believes the opportunity will greatly benefit her former students as they pursue higher degrees in film and media production and later, the work force.

Cory Jones and Nathan Baer are now freshmen at Columbia College in Chicago, IL, a comprehensive college for the visual, performing and media arts, while Marcus Clarke is attending the University of North Carolina’s School of the Arts, School of Film-making.   
 

About the Beyond the Wall: The Homeless Zone, a social documentary

Over 150,000 American veterans are homeless; living in shelters, temporary housing, or on the streets, comprising nearly twenty to twenty-five percent of the overall homeless population in this country.  We not only verify the methodology that accounts for this statistic Beyond the Wall: Homeless Zone reveals the first-hand experiences and knowledge of the Americans providing support to these displaced former servicemen and women, and the journey of a displaced veteran seeking to rebuild his personal and spiritual foundation. 

Relevant, real and raw, Beyond The Wall: Homeless Zone is a social documentary that takes an un-skewed 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 providing crucial support to better understand the factors that contribute to and/or increase the risk of homelessness among veterans.

Scheduled for its online debut Veterans Day, November 11, 2008, Beyond The Wall: Homeless Zone weaves these people, profiles and places into a story-telling triumvirate of video, journalism and new media narrative via a platform website to reach a regional and national audience.

The Woodrow Wilson Center for International Studies is hosting a screening of the documentary and sponsoring a light reception to follow in early November.

For more information, visit the project blog: www.beyondthewallmovie.wordpress.com

Media Contact:

Alivia C. Tagliaferri

Ironcutter Media, LLC

Ph: 570.220.0026

Email: alivia@ironcuttermedia.com

www.ironcuttermedia.com

###

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.  Titled ‘Beyond The Wall: Homeless Among Veterans,’ 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, Beyond The Wall 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 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.beyondthewallmovie.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.

Titled ‘Beyond The Wall: Homelessness Among Veterans’ 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, Beyond The Wall 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.beyondthewallmovie.wordpress.com

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Beyond The Wall: Homelessness Among Veterans 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, Beyond The Wall 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.