The Dunn family struggles to regain their balance and composure after the middle and only male child has been severely injured in Iraq. The fog of war hits home in this touching and often humorous portrait of perseverance.

Interview with Writer/Director Jason Aaron Goldberg

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

I wanted to bring a different perspective to the veteran/wounded warrior story. I wanted to show what it’s like for the family at home.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

If you love watching movies that give you visceral reactions, you should definitely watch THE THREE Es. As a storyteller, I want to make audiences feel. I love movies that make me laugh and cry and my goal is to give that to audiences in my own films. At every screening we’ve had audience members have told me they laughed and cried a lot, so I’m really pleased and excited by that.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

I think THE THREE Es is really grounded in family. So all the themes that come with that are there. There is love, anger, frustration, confusion, fear, rivalry, and so on. People who watch the film have no problem relating to these characters.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?

This project has come a long way. It started as a short play over ten years ago. Progressed into a full length play. And finally a screenplay. The play and the film are a bit different from one another at this point. I kind of see the film as just one version of this story. But all that script development on the play worked for the screenplay in many ways. This was always going to be a talky movie. It’s low budget, which means more grounded in dialogue.

Plays for me are an audible medium, no close ups. Whereas film is a visual medium, and a lot of work is done in post production to manipulate the flow and feeling. Like I said, this for me is just one version of this story. I’d love to see the play produced more, and I’d love to see it done with different ethnicities. There is nothing in this script that says this is a white family, so it can be done with any actors really.

Aside from that, with the film, as we put the full film together, I got really excited once we had the score and soundtrack. It elevates the whole thing. I love our score being almost completely trumpet/bugle. I knew I wanted that, but it was a question of if we could accomplish it. We got lucky and had one of the best trumpet players in the world, David Perrico, come on board. We did two recording sessions and he just nailed it. Then we had a great band called “The Big Friendly Corporation” give us use of their music and they had songs that really worked for the film. So for me, we had a good movie in the editing room, Joe Campanale and I knew that. But once we got the music in there, we had what I felt was a really good movie.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

So far the feedback has been great. I can’t tell you how amazing it is to have a family of a veteran come up to you after a screening and say “thank you” for telling this story. I wasn’t expecting or anticipating that, so it’s meant a lot to me.

It is also really fun to go to a festival and meet other film makers and general audience, you become friendly and go see each others films. Then after the screening those people come up to you and really praise the film and the experience they just had. The fun part of that is the dynamic of a new friend wanting to see your film, but they also worry that it will be terrible and they have to put on a good face.

Then the lights come up and they just had this experience where they laughed and cried and it wasn’t at all what they expected and they’re so excited that you’re not a terrible film maker who just wasted their time. Then you all go get a drink and become even better friends.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

Honestly, not really. I know what we’ve got here. I’ve lived with this story for a long time.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

Visibility is really what it’s all about. We just want to have more people see the film. As indie film makers it is always a challenge to get seen, especially in this fast moving world of online content. I’m really thankful that wearemovingstories.com wanted to do a piece on us.

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

At this point in the film’s journey we’re talking to people about distribution. So sales agents, producer reps, talent agents, are reaching out and I’d like to hear as many pitches as I can before we make any decisions. I’ve been in the game long enough to know not to just jump at the first thing. I really want to work with people I feel good about.

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

I hope the film makes people think about all the veterans out there with traumatic injuries and the families who are supporting them, caring for them, struggling with them. I want people to know we’re all in this together. With only 1% of American citizens involved in our all volunteer military it is easy to feel detached from these endless wars we’re engaged in.

But with these conflicts, we’ve got more amputees than any other conflicts since the Civil War. Back then a canon ball could rip off a limb. Now it’s IEDs and maybe you lose multiple limbs. And when these brave men and women come home, they need support, but so do their family members. They have to know they are not alone, that people care, they are not forgotten no matter how much time passes. Their sacrifices are not in vain.

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

Can you imagine your brother, or sister, or parent as a multiple amputee?

Would you like to add anything else?

I want to thank you for reaching out to us and helping spread the word about our little film.

What are the key creatives developing or working on now?

I can’t speak for everyone, but for myself, I always have a lot of plates spinning. I am actively looking for a project to direct that I didn’t write. I work with writers every day with my publishing company, Original Works Publishing, and I love to collaborate, so bringing someone else’s script to life is something I want to do. At the same time, I am developing a web series and just finished writing the first season. It’s about what happens after we die, but it’s kind of like a workplace comedy. I’m also developing a bigger budget feature film, an action thriller with wounded warriors as the leads, kind of like a 21st century Lethal Weapon. I’m also working on two new plays.

Interview: August 2016

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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela

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THE THREE Es

The Dunn family struggles to regain their balance and composure after the middle and only male child has been severely injured in Iraq. The fog of war hits home in this touching and often humorous portrait of perseverance.

Length: 88 minutes

Director: Jason Aaron Goldberg

Producer: Jason Aaron Goldberg, Joseph Campanale

Writer: Jason Aaron Goldberg

About the writer, director and producer: Jason Aaron Goldberg is a film and theatre artist and president of Original Works Publishing. THE THREE Es is his first feature film.

Key cast: Allan Goldberg, Jill Klopp, Marlena Shapiro, Vanessa Elgrichi

Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): All of the above.

Funders: Self financed.

Made in association with: Self produced.

Release date: Still playing festivals. Official release date still TDB.

Where can I watch it in the next month? A few more festivals before years end. Follow the film on Facebook for all the current screenings or if you’d like to screen it in your town or city.