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Hi this is your host, Pete Blum. Welcome to American Heroes Network! Our core mission is Serving the Brave Men and Women who have Sacrificed to Ensure our Freedom. You will hear true stories from those that have served, learn about Veteran organizations and resources, and gain hope for your future knowing American Heroes Network, your community, and other Veterans are here and at the ready to serve and help you and your family. We will talk about the hard topics like PTSD/TBI. You will also hear military history, inspirational stories, learn about networking with the community, and more. So come join us and be part of our family.
Today’s guest is an acclaimed filmmaker & documentarian who has built his brand around socially responsible filmmaking that educates, inspires, and heals. He is a seven-time Southwestern Region Emmy Award recipient and has created and produced two films for Veterans. He is a compassionate man with Godly values who never stops helping others to begin the journey of healing. He is Founder & Owner of EC Productions. I would like to welcome Eric Christiansen.
You can follow Eric here
Websites
http://www.unmaskinghopethemovie.com
http://www.searchingforhomethemovie.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-christiansen-b8338a7/
https://www.facebook.com/Searchingforhome/
https://www.facebook.com/unmaskinghope
https://twitter.com/unmaskinghope
YouTube
Eric good evening and how are you doing today?
I wanted to start sharing a little bit about you with everyone so they understand how you got to the point of helping Veterans, and others dealing with trauma. So you had a love of filmmaking from an early age and turned that into a career. And during that time you became a trauma survivor yourself as a result of the Painted Cave Fire in California. I know you had to deal with the loss of your home and possessions and you turned that experience into something that would help others. Today we are going to share your story and your passion for making a difference in the world through film.
So Eric tell us about your early years in film and then about the fire
2nd grade 8-12 years old wanting to make films
Professionally since 13
The fire on June 27th, 1990 took his house and possessions
How did the fire change your life
Anger after the fire, lost everything material
Drinking problem
Got some spiritual help
Jan 13, 1991, stopped drinking
Tell us your story
I have worked in trauma recovery-related films for over 25 years and with veterans in the last 18 years. I have produced and directed to films about the truth, the healing and hopes of our veterans. “Homecoming: A Vietnam Vets Journey” and “Searching for Home Coming back from War.”
Run for the Wall – The motorcycle pilgrimage across the country to the Vietnam Wall Memorial in Washington D.C.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Angel Fire, New Mexico.
First film: Faces In the Fire
Used by the national institute of mental health
Huge clinical value
Tell us about your personal & company mission since finding God and a calling to help others
EC Manifesto/Personal Mission:
To create socially conscious, God-honoring films. To present non-partial, non-political and judgment-free portrayals of the human journey. To promote tolerance, understanding and above all empathy. To tell the unmitigated truth of life and the subsequent journey to healing (in some cases) and to always uncover and display the hope in any situation. To fearlessly become aware of and to work outside “the box” and the normal channels as they are opened up by the ultimate producer, God.
Allowing God to direct him in his day, things start to happen and grow
Prayer is great but God is waiting for us on the other end of action he is waiting for us to show up
Belief in higher power and letting go
Do his work and he will help you, it’s a working relationship
How do you connect with the community?
I am intrinsically linked through friends and past subjects in my films.
How are your films helping Veterans?
The two levels of connection and healing the films deliver are creating awareness and identification for our audiences. Giving Hope.
Eric let’s talk about your latest project unMASKing HOPE and why it is so important in today’s world.
Please tell us all about that and when we can look forward to seeing it.
No set date yet, about to go into post-production.
What action items would you give transitioning military or Veterans in order to be successful?
Find others like you! You are not alone!
Thank you!
About Eric
Eric Christiansen is an acclaimed documentarian who has built his brand around socially responsible filmmaking that educates, inspires and heals. Christiansen, a seven-time Southwestern Region Emmy Award recipient, explores the impact of trauma, the resilience of the human spirit, and how a powerful platform for hope can be built to help trauma survivors begin the vigilant journey of healing. A trauma survivor himself, Christiansen worked through the loss of his home and possessions in the Painted Cave Fire by creating his first film Faces in the Fire 25 years ago.
All of his films (Faces in the Fire, Homecoming: A Vietnam Vets Journey, Searching for Home: Coming Back from War) have been transformative in the recovery process for thousands of people whose lives have been compromised mentally, spiritually and physically by trauma. Leveraged as educational tools by top mental health institutions, Christiansen’s films migrate from the entertainment arena into environments that help additional audiences navigate the profound collateral damage trauma creates not only on the individual but the family and community as well.
“Searching for Home” is strikingly photographed by Mr. Christiansen and is sure to give comfort and support to countless veterans and their families.” the New York Times said prophetically of Eric’s most recent work, “Searching for Home: Coming Back from War”, a critical, audience and social success.
Eric directed, photographed and edited this film that brought the message of truth, healing and hope to millions. The film was first released theatrically then went on to public television with over 2300 airings in less than three years.
Anita Gates of the New York Times called Eric Christiansen’s documentary “Homecoming: A Vietnam Vets Journey, “a surpassingly worthy…touching film.” Eric’s other independent documentary, about grief recovery following a natural disaster, “Faces in the Fire” garnered critical acclaim including an Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement Documentary. The film is still being used today by the National Institute of Mental Health for training counselors and comforting survivors.
Throughout his career, Christiansen has also created content for major networks including Discovery, TLC, PBS, MTV, and an Imax film.
I hope you have enjoyed this episode! Be sure to keep coming back for more great episodes. If you want to talk to us about something you learned today, if you have questions, or you would like to be a guest on our podcast go to americanheroesnetwork.com and click on contact us.
Searching for Home: Coming Back from War is available on:
iTunes • Amazon Prime • Vudu • Google Play • YouTube • TubiTV • Pluto TV • Gravitas Pictures
His new film UnMASKing HOPE follows a disparate group of people whose extraordinary stories of survival most of us have heard only in snippets on the news. Having lived through mass shootings, terror attacks, combat and sexual assaults, these brave trauma survivors don “masks” to hide their pain and suffering as they navigate their new existence that is often stymied by PTSD, physical injury and emotional turmoil. In order to heal, they must confront what’s happened to them and begin their journey from seclusion to inclusion. And as we follow their moving stories, we are all inspired to find hope again and be who we were born to be.
I hope you have enjoyed this episode! Be sure to keep coming back for more great episodes. If you want to talk to us about something you learned today, if you have questions, or you would like to be a guest on our podcast go to americanheroesnetwork.com and click on contact us.
Thank you for listening!
