The purpose of this film is to bring awareness to mental health support among the Military, Veteran and Public Service communities. We want to encourage members of these communities that it's ok to ask for help, you don't have to "suck it up", and you're not alone.
The tragic loss of his father inspired Kent West to join the Army, while the gravity of his deteriorating circumstance motivate him to do it quickly. There he found purpose in his life and finds love.
The story follows Kent, and his comrades, as they grow closer together through the rigors of Military Training and serving during the tragic attack of 9/11. Kent struggles with being medically discharged from military service while we parallel with his Unit who is deployed to Afghanistan.
Kent finds the courage to seek treatment years later, after a horrific car crash triggers the emotional trauma of a fatal helicopter accident, that happened during a training exercise. He struggles with, and ultimately discovers ways to manage feelings of separation and PTSD, as a Soldier adjusting to civilian world.
Realizing that not all wars take place on the battlefield.
Our goal is to produce a motion picture that will bring awareness to mental health support among the Military, Veteran and Public Service communities. We want to encourage members of these communities that it's ok to ask for help, and that they are not alone. But at the same time our picture will be fun, uplifting, and an emotional journey full of memorable moments.
DISMISSED is a movie for all and will demonstrate the power of a strong community and support system.
We are offering up to four sponsorship opportunities for the film, that include product placement, production credits, set tours during shooting, exclusive access to VIP screenings, and more.
Specialist Joseph Manns (Joe Manns) US Army, OCT 1998 - Aug 2002 was inspired to create this film based on a need he recognized in the Military, Veteran and Public Service communities - the need to normalize asking for help and to bring awareness to the general public that not all fights happen on the battlefield.
Military training, not just combat, sometimes comes at a cost. That cost may be injuries, loss of friends during training accidents, real-world traumatic events that occur during training, and feelings of anxiety or depression from military separation.
Manns says that he commonly recognized that his "battle buddies" don't see one another as combat veterans or non-combat veterans. In his experience he often felt like his service was "dismissed" by non-veterans when he didn't have a war story to tell.
Already struggling with separation disorder, and guilt of not deploying with his unit because of a medical discharge, he felt undeserving of treatment services offered by the VA. "I don't want to clog up the system for people who need it and deserve it more than me", he said.
Manns' hope is that this film will be the vessel that will deliver the message to neutralize the stigma that anyone is undeserving of mental health services.
Joe Manns is an award-winning entrepreneur whose interdisciplinary production experience encompasses live events, music and film. From documentaries to sold out shows, his talent, and passion is to move audiences through creative storytelling. 24 years of working with global brands, national recording artists, and pro athletes has landed his work on the Inc 5,000 list multiple times, as well as earning awards and recognition by authorities in the business world.
Austin Spicer is a Director based in the greater Tampa, FL area. Austin and his wife Hailey run their own production company, Spicer Productions, and produce independent film productions in the local area as they aim to make Florida a premiere location for filmmaking. His latest work is the novel film “Killer Miller” which premieres at a local theater in Seminole, FL in the next few months. Austin has several years of experience in writing, editing and cinematography which makes for a smooth flow of communication and directing the vision of his films.
Mak Ralston is a screenwriter and fiction author based in the Clearwater/Tampa area. Possessing a background in horror and science fiction, Mak uses storytelling to intricately unfold thematic lessons. With a knuckled down passion for characters and an education in psychology, Mak understands both character motivations and transformations. Alongside narrative storytelling, Mak has experience in editing, directing, cinematography, and script supervising; which allows for a deeper understanding of the filmmaking process. Incorporating this knowledge into the creative space, Mak’s scripts are practical and enthralling; while also delivering messages centered on gratitude, altruism, and rectification.
Hailey Spicer is one of few women behind the cameras here in the greater Tampa, FL area. Hailey built her career around the camera and with her vast knowledge of lighting, lenses and cameras she creates beautiful and unique images to tell stories that captivate you in the moment. She films several narrative projects a year showcasing her knowledge and experience.
Brittany Phillips is a Producer in the greater Tampa Bay area with multiple years of experience producing and directing commercials; as well as managing production needs and content creation. Brittany has produced a few local short films, expanding her skills in the narrative world. Overseeing a project from start to finish, ensuring the message of the story is conveyed to the audience is what she strives for as a producer. Brittany’s favorite part about producing is seeing all the puzzle pieces come together to bring the story to life.
Daniel Scott Dagesse is a Producer based out of the Tampa Bay area. Daniel has experience in almost every position on a film production including time in front of the camera. Daniel understands, from these experiences, communication is key for film productions. His knowledge of production and degree in Communication and leadership strategies puts Daniel in the best position to produce and assistant direct any movie. Quoting Orson Welles, "Making a film is like painting a picture with an army", but Daniel understands the army needs someone to communicate the vision of the director and that's what he does best.
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Wiley H Manns Foundation
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