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. ----more---- 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.ecproductions.com/ http://www.searchingforhomethemovie.com LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-christiansen-b8338a7/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Searchingforhome/ https://www.facebook.com/unmaskinghope Twitter https://twitter.com/unmaskinghope YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpNvbex7REI&feature=youtu.be   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