The Home Front │ a short film

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LOGLINE:

Welcome to The Home Front.

We’ve been waiting for you✶ And we're glad your journeys have led you here.

My name is Molly Loughman, and I’m a media professional and graduate student at Emerson College, completing a Master's in Fine Arts (MFA) thesis project with the making of a mystery/drama fiction film, The Home Front. Slated for 15-20 minutes, this short independent film unpacks some of the many unspoken complexities of the opioid crisis through the window of small-town America as it struggles to reckon with it.

Journalist Natalie Cruz is called to return to her New England hometown to face down the pervasive darkness looming behind its closed doors. To dig deep into the shady corners of a bucolic lakeside neighborhood, the conflicted young woman must gain the trust of a grieving and strong-willed mother, whose prior public outcry is met with both curiosity and shame across their hushed rural community. Will both women navigate their dark encounters with the opioid epidemic amidst their conflicted efforts to help their community through it?

☾ FOLLOW THE JOURNEY:

☀ Instagram: @TheHomeFront_film

☀ Linktree: @TheHomeFront_film

☀ YouTube: @TheHomeFrontfilm

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ABOUT ME & THIS FILM:

is more than a 20-minute short independent film — It’s a microcosm of real events around us perpetuated by the increasingly fatal opioid epidemic. It draws inspiration and influence from my career as a journalist and my experience navigating the void it’s left in a small town.

As a local news reporter, I covered the crisis – everything from awareness events to personal stories to overdoses. Numbers were climbing and the newsroom was taking note. It became all too real for me toward the end of my journalism days when the epidemic hit home – I mean slammed home. My hometown suddenly began losing people, seemingly in scores. The community has since lost many of its young people, some of whom I grew up with and/or were near and dear to. Once you see the effects of this crisis, you simply cannot unsee it. I can’t turn back, I’ve made contact. Something needs to be said.

As a seasoned media professional and storyteller, I've sat down in countless settings, with countless people, recalling countless stories – Yet the one narrative I cannot seem to shake – and the one none of us should – is this tragic public health crisis that our country is combating every single day – Even on YOUR homefront. I’m telling this story now because it matters now.

If there’s one thing The Home Front is about: it’s the fine line where grief meets hope. I thought I knew my stomping grounds - my coverage area - and my people. But I’ve found there are secrets behind closed doors that need freeing, for people quietly suffering from addiction, but also for those affected by those who are – knowingly and unknowingly. There are many angles, many shades and many experiences that come with an issue and story like this. Like art, there is far more than what meets the surface.

This MFA thesis is not only a culmination of my years of study and passion for filmmaking, but it also addresses important themes such as social justice, community dynamics, and personal growth. I believe it has the potential to make a profound impact and raise awareness about the hidden issues we often overlook in our own backyards.

The Home Front is written, directed and produced by myself – Molly Loughman. Principal photography in July 2023.

☾ FOLLOW THE JOURNEY:

☀ Instagram: @TheHomeFront_film

☀ Linktree: @TheHomeFront_film

☀ YouTube: @TheHomeFrontfilm

༄WHY TELL THIS STORY?

OPIOIDS are a class of drugs used to reduce pain; they include the illegal drug heroin, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and pain medications available legally by prescription.

Prescription opioids are generally safe when taken for a short time and as directed by a doctor, but because they produce euphoria in addition to pain relief, they can be misused and have addiction potential.

Drug overdose is the leading cause of unintentional death in the US, and opioid addiction is driving this epidemic.

From 1999–2020, over 564,000 people died from an overdose involving any opioid, including prescription and illicit opioids.

This rise in opioid overdose deaths has hit us in three distinct waves.

The market for illicitly manufactured fentanyl continues to change, and it can be found in combination with heroin, counterfeit pills, and cocaine.

Information cited from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

✾ WHO ARE YOU TO HELP?

Drug overdose is the leading cause of unintentional death in the US, and opioid addiction is driving this epidemic.

The Public Health Institute believes that all of us — doctors, pharmacists, parents, teachers, advocates, mental health providers, law enforcement, and others — have a role to play in combating this crisis. By working together, communities can launch multi-pronged approaches that advance priority, effective strategies to help prevent and treat overdoses and ensure safe opioid prescribing.

✾ WHY DO WE NEED FUNDING?

Creating a short film can be expensive, from renting equipment to feeding crew – the cost adds up quickly. This is a student short film so funds are limited. Donations go directly to feeding and transporting our incredible cast and crew - many of whom are working for FREE to bring this story to life. Without your support, making this film would not be possible!

The rest of the funds will go towards actors, commissioned artwork, production design, equipment, and post-production (Editing, Sound Mix, Color Mix, Film Score, Festival Entry Fee, Screenings and Art Gallery displays, etc.) Principal photography is slated for July 9-15.

Thank you for dropping by The Home Front and helping us hold down the fort. We’ve been waiting for you…

If you aren't able to donate please consider sharing our campaign, it would mean so much to so many.

☞ JOIN THE JOURNEY | INSTAGRAM: @thehomefront_film for production updates!

❀ GET THE PERKS:

☾ FOLLOW THE JOURNEY:

☀ Instagram: @TheHomeFront_film

☀ Linktree: @TheHomeFront_film

☀ YouTube: @TheHomeFrontfilm

☆ CREW ☆

Writer, Director, Producer & Production Designer│ MOLLY LOUGHMAN

Award-winning journalist Molly Loughman is making her directorial debut as a Master's in Fine Arts (MFA) graduate film student at Emerson College. A tenacious creative, Molly emerges into filmmaking from careers in journalism, public relations and marketing. Segwaying into film school from journalism, Molly began her film career in documentary, but more recently stepped into narrative fiction. She maintains her longtime thirst for capturing the real and raw realities taking shape around us every day.

Molly is currently completing an MFA in film & media art studies in Downtown Boston at Emerson College, where she also helps lead the School of Communication as its Communications Manager. Working under the Dean, Molly continues to produce, create/design, deliver and manage editorial, multimedia, and marketing content, along with a team of writers and videographers -- all while attending school full-time.

Prior to arriving at Emerson, Molly worked several years as a multimedia news reporter, writing for local communities across Greater Boston. She collaborated with a plethora of community members to become their voice and vessel to effectively tell their stories-- whether through hard news, soft news or feature stories. Molly’s byline has been featured in dozens of local publications, such as MetroWest Daily News, The Beacon, Cambridge Chronicle & Tab, Concord Journal, Lincoln Journal, Lexington Minuteman, Burlington Union, Bedford Minuteman, Billerica Minuteman, Eagle-Independent, Tewksbury-Wilmington Advocate, Beacon-Villager, and Milford Daily News. Before she departed the newsroom, the New England Newspaper & Press Association (NENPA) awarded her 1st Place for Feature/Social Issues, group series on suburban poverty; 2nd Place for Environmental Reporting; and 3rd Place for Business/Economics Reporting.

Growing up in rural Massachusetts, and now residing in Boston, when Molly's not busy creating, she's planning her wedding for early next year (!!) The true crime enthusiast and live music lover enjoys her beach bum days, game nights in, relaxing by on the water, and making memories with her fiance, Alex, and their family & friends.

Director of Photography │ BRITTANY SEVERANCE

Two-time Emerson College alumna Brittany Severance MA'10, MFA'20, is a visual artist and educator based out of Worcester, Massachusetts, with a focus on writing, directing, and cinematography. Her work explores themes of identity, perception, memory, and relationships, creating projects that often reflect domestic and daily life. Brittany’s short films and photography have been featured in festivals and museums, such as the Women’s International Film & Arts Festival, the Shawna Shea Film Festival, the Worcester Art Museum, the Fitchburg Art Museum, and the Vastlab Experimental Film Festival in Los Angeles. In 2018, she won Best Local Short for her film Off for the Weekend at the SSFF Shorts Film Festival. When she’s not making art, Brittany can be found teaching video production and film studies courses as an Assistant Professor in the Communication Department at Worcester State University.

Drone Videographer │ ETHAN DE AGUIAR

A self-proclaimed “artrepreneur” & New Bedford native, Ethan de Aguiar is an experienced filmmaker, focusing on the art of storytelling. Ethan brings the essence of the subject matter to life with cinematic visuals that create a unique experience for audiences. Ethan has built long-term working relationships with notable local organizations such as Southcoast Community Foundation, YMCA Southcoast, NB Creative, Destination NB, Viva! Fall River and Fabric Festival, to name a few. With a multi-faceted eye on both the creative aspects and data analytics of video marketing, Ethan creates long- and short-form visual content that delivers impactful results.

Gaffer │ MEENAKSHI GARODIA

Meenakshi Garodia is a multimedia artist and current Affiliate Faculty at Emerson College where she is also a candidate for an MFA in Film and Media Arts. She has written and directed multiple well-received plays (Don’t Talk) and short films (Solo), with an emphasis on women and patriarchy and her film series Voices, about Indian Immigrants. She is passionate about analog film. She typically is working on at least four projects at any given time!

She is on the board of a non-profit helping survivors of domestic violence, BIG and the Brookline Commission for Women. Her ceramics have been exhibited at MassArt and non-profit fundraisers. Meenakshi holds an MBA and previously worked in corporate strategy at a Fortune 500 company.

Contributing Artist & Assistant Director │ MIRANDA YUNG

Miranda Yung (she/her) is a festival award-winning independent filmmaker, visual artist and film fellow at Upstander Project. A recent MFA graduate from Emerson College and the former Associate Creative Producer at Emerson Productions, Miranda has cultivated a diverse portfolio in narrative short films, branded content, music videos, and dance films. Acting on her great passion for storytelling and faithful dedication to using her gifts for the good of humanity, she aspires to become a creative leader in writing, producing and directing culturally-responsible films that confront the human condition to inspire betterment and healing in society.

Assistant Producer │ MICHAEL BUENO

Michael Bueno is an armed forces veteran and multi-media artist based in Boston. He was born in New York City and raised under the Caribbean sun in the Dominican Republic and has spent most of his life traveling. His background in photography, journalism, and film has all been inspired by his Caribbean culture and is intricately woven into all of his work.

Assistant Producer │ MATT BERENTSEN

Matt likes to think of himself as a "Swiss army man," taking on any task thrown his way. Working in video production, radio/podcasting and photography, Matt enjoys telling stories through any medium possible. He has been mainly focusing on his TV and Film career since graduating in 2020, working on sets for networks including; Marvel, Showtime and TLC. He currently works as a production assistant for various projects in New York City.

Assistant Camera │ MICHELLE FALCÓN FONTÁNEZ

Michelle Falcón Fontánez, is a multimedia storyteller working in photography, film, and public art. Michelle has witnessed and personally experienced injustices that have shaped her views of the world, motivating her pursuit of making change through art. Her artistry has primarily focused on social justice issues, advocating for women's rights, dismantling colonialism, and calling attention to Puerto Rican issues -- ultimately creating work to illuminate voices that have not been heard.

Michelle’s early work consists of solo producing a women's focused documentary on the impacts of the economic crisis of Puerto Rico before Hurricane María. She expanded this work into photographic public art murals representing Puerto Rican people and culture through a spiritual realm: "El Litoral" and "A Call To Our Ancestors." Her latest short film tells the story of María premiered at this year’s Boston International Film Festival.

Currently, Michelle is working with a nonprofit in a three-part mini-series that unpacks the psychological and environmental impacts on Puerto Ricans living in South Holyoke, during the 1970s fires. Recently, Michelle has contracted to DP a short documentary featuring the Cuban soccer community in Miami and a documentary about Afghan refugees who relocated to a small town in Massachusetts.

Production Design Assistant │ MEHVISH ALI

Mehvish Gulzareen Ali is a Bangladeshi visual artist, aspiring designer and music fanatic who is interested in examining multiculturalism, colonial history, female identity, and politics of fashion through her creative work. She is a storyteller who combines her love of art, photography, fashion, music and films to explore unconventional ways of expressing provocative and/or controversial topics. 

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Mehvish has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communications from Boston University and is currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts degree in Film & Media Art at Emerson College. She just had her first Solo MFA Thesis Exhibition titled ‘Blue Rebellion’ at the former Men’s Warehouse in the garment district of Downtown Boston in 2022 and is currently working on her thesis film ‘Out of the Blue’, which will be released in the summer of 2023.

Contributing Artist │ EMMA LEVINE

A passionate and emerging artist, Emma Levine is an undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration at MassArt. Inspiration for her work is drawn mostly from the people, places, and interactions that surround her. Using vivid colors and sentimental imagery, she aims to capture the beautiful nature of everyday life in her paintings.

Photographer │ ISABEL MIRANDA

Isabel Miranda is a Boston-based artist who grew up in South America, South-East Asia and Southern Africa. Growing up aboard influenced her interest in street photography and documentary filmmaking, where she explores topics such as spirituality, music and identity. Her photography is inspired by Saul Leiter, Ernst Haas and Joseph Koudelka. Her past projects Downtown Crossing (DTX) and La Plaza focused on connecting with the diverse community that surrounded her in Boston, MA and Santa Fe, NM. In 2021 she completed a photobook, One-Way Mirror which is her visual journal for the 2020-2021 pandemic year in Boston.

She is a recipient of the 2019 Emerging Photographer Scholarship for the Santa Fe Photographic Workshops and the grand prize winner of the #NewVisions2023: A Student Exhibition. She has exhibited her work at the Aurora Gallery and Bromfield Gallery in Massachusetts, as well as the 2022 Women Street Photographers exhibition at Artspace PS109 in New York City. Her short film, So Powerful, was screened in the 2022 Global Peace Film Festival and the 2022 Acton Boxborough Cultural Council's Our World Film Series. She holds a B.A. in Geography and Studio Art from Clark University and is currently pursuing an MFA in Film and Media Art at Emerson College.

Sound Recordist │ PATRICK SNOW

Patrick went to college for Elementary Education before moving on to a career in Public Access TV. As Youth Media Coordinator for ActonTV he hosts filmmaking programs for teens where they learn filming techniques and work in teams to create original short films and comedy skits. He is also the host of ActonTV's summer kids camps and helps to run Film Festivals in Acton and Chelmsford.

Patrick is passionate about Film and storytelling. He has written and directed several short films and has served as a DP and lead editor on both feature-length films and web series

Script Supervisor & PA │ DONNIE CADMAN

Donnie Cadman is a filmmaker based outside of Boston, Massachusetts. A graduate of Emerson College's School of Film & Media Art, he earned an MFA for his thesis film, The Lesson. His recent film projects include the music video SAVE ME, produced by Dane Blake, and collaboration on the short films Gone and Dearests, both directed by Tyler Coon. He is currently the assistant producer for the upcoming documentary El Colmadon directed by fellow Emerson graduate Michael Bueno.

Donnie utilizes film to visually captivate people's imaginations as well as reconcile individual truths. He hopes this will motivate others to create positive change. Donnie has nothing but thanks and gratitude for his family, friends, and mentors who have helped and believed in his vision.

Grip │ JAKE SNYDER

Jake Snyder, Grip Department, is a Communications Media major with a focus ​on Film/Video. Jake currently attends Fitchburg State University, where he received the title of 2022-2023 Film Student of the Year. Lighting credits include​ ​Wrench​, Subtle Signs​, ​The Letter and Hooky​.​

Production Assiatant │ ZAC SCOTT

Zac Scott is a filmmaker and musician from the Boston area. Zac works as a Recovery Counselor and is in recovery himself. Aside from creative projects, Zac enjoys basketball, snowboarding, traveling, and spending time with family.

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♥ SPECIAL THANKS

☾ FOLLOW THE JOURNEY:

☀ Instagram: @TheHomeFront_film

☀ Linktree: @TheHomeFront_film

☀ YouTube: @TheHomeFrontfilm

✉ CONTACT

The Home Front Team:

[email redacted]