November 2024: Social Impact

Welcome to the Reel Nation Media newsletter for November! We are thrilled to announce significant advancements this month in our flagship initiatives, Olive Trees and Concrete and Sally’s Iron Mustangs, as well as our newest community-driven project, Sally’s Across America, and our growing alliances. Each of these achievements demonstrates our dedication to developing films that promote compassion, recovery, and social change. As always, your support is crucial to our ability to realize these life-changing stories.

Project Updates

Sally’s Iron Mustangs

With the final sound mixing and color grading nearing completion, Sally’s Iron Mustangs is on track to be finished by the end of November, marking a significant milestone for Reel Nation Media. This accomplishment reflects months of dedication and fundraising that allowed us to complete post-production without requiring additional outside funding—a huge achievement in itself. The film follows the journey of 64-year-old Sally Winchell, whose story of resilience has already inspired audiences in initial screenings. From an early idea to a polished final cut, Sally’s Iron Mustangs has been a labor of love and precision for the Reel Nation Media team, whose goal has always been to do justice to Sally’s inspiring story. 

With intentions to increase the social impact of our film, we have started a social impact project called Sally’s Across America.

The Sally’s Across America initiative is Reel Nation Media’s new campaign to bring Sally’s Iron Mustangs to communities nationwide, with a focus on community centers, senior centers, and organizations that promote health and wellness. Our goal is to screen the film in over 100 locations, particularly in spaces where women 55+ can gather, connect, and engage in conversations around aging, empowerment, and health. The screenings aren’t just showings; they’re structured to be interactive events where community members can participate in discussions and activities inspired by Sally’s story of resilience. We aim to make this film a catalyst for connection, support, and a renewed focus on personal well-being in communities across the country.

To achieve these goals, we’ve laid out a detailed plan that includes developing materials to support the screenings. We’re creating promotional kits for each location with items like posters, flyers, and branded banners to help organizers market the events. Each screening partner will also receive a discussion guide, feedback forms for participants, and suggestions on using the screening as a fundraiser. We’re reaching out to sponsors and donors from November through January to help cover costs for some of these screenings, so we can offer affordable or free showings, especially in underfunded areas. We’re also working closely with local organizations to use their networks for outreach and participation, hoping to bring in groups with a shared focus on wellness and senior engagement.

Sally's Across America Kickoff Event at the Kaufman's

In a private event hosted by Lancaster art patrons, Ben and Sylvia Kauffman, We kicked off Sally’s Across America with a launch event that introduced our campaign logo and mission. Sally herself made a surprise appearance, which added a lot of excitement to the event. Her presence underscored why this project matters: to inspire women across the country to connect with each other and prioritize their health and resilience. The event also served as an opportunity to meet with initial supporters and community leaders who are helping us get this project off the ground.

Two upcoming events are set to bring Sally’s story to local communities: On November 22nd at 4 PM, we’ll be screening Sally’s Iron Mustangs at the Brightside Opportunities Center in Lancaster as part of the Extra Give event series. This special “Dinner & a Movie” event will offer community members a chance to experience the film while supporting the work of Bright Side Opportunities Center. Then, on November 24th at 1 PM, we’ll host a free screening at Penn Cinema in Lancaster, sponsored by Keller Williams-Marilyn Berger & Associates. This screening is supported by a group of female business owners all aged 55+, who resonate strongly with Sally’s message of strength and resilience.

These events are more than just film showings; they’re community-building experiences that spotlight local organizations and empower audiences to connect with Sally’s journey on a personal level. As we gear up for the full Sally’s Across America campaign, these screenings are setting the stage for what we hope will be a transformative impact on communities nationwide.

Over the next few months, we’ll be setting up sponsorship meetings, building partnerships with organizations, and preparing to start the screenings in the spring. Follow Sally’s Iron Mustangs’s’ Facebook page to watch our progress!

Sally's Across America Logo

Olive Trees and Concrete

Reel Nation Media has officially begun production on Olive Trees and Concrete, a documentary that delves into the Palestinian experience through the lives of a family split between Gaza and the United States. This 45–60-minute film follows Ahmad, a photojournalist in Gaza, as he navigates the harsh realities of life under siege while staying connected to his relatives in the diaspora, who tirelessly advocate for justice and Palestinian rights from afar. Alongside Ahmad’s journey, the film also highlights the advocacy work of Palestinian rights advocates in the U.S., offering a unique view of activism that transcends geographical barriers.

The documentary explores themes of resilience, identity, and home, interweaving Ahmad’s day-to-day life in Gaza—where he documents his community’s struggles and hopes—with the efforts of his family members in the U.S. who are determined to preserve their heritage and support their loved ones from thousands of miles away. From phone calls and video chats to moments of shared fear and hope, these interactions reveal the strength of their familial bond despite the physical and emotional distance.

This project is deeply personal for Abdullah Abu-Mahfouz, the film’s creator, who views Olive Trees and Concrete as an opportunity to explore his own Palestinian heritage and use his platform to amplify voices from Gaza. Through a blend of observational and poetic documentary styles, the film aims to foster empathy and build connections across cultural divides, presenting a powerful narrative of love, faith, and the unbreakable bonds that sustain the Palestinian people. Abdullah hopes this documentary will challenge viewers to see beyond headlines and engage with the human realities at the heart of the Palestinian experience.

Read the full director’s statement on our blog: https://reelnationmedia.com/2024/08/palestinian-filmmaker-displacement-film/

Ahmad, a photojournalist from Gaza.

Join Our Journey!

Upcoming Events

  • November 22nd at 4PM: Sally’s Iron Mustangs screening at Brightside Opportunities Center, part of Lancaster’s Extra Give event series. RSVP on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/share/1DNsAgPg3D/)
  • November 24th at 1 PM: Free community screening at Penn Cinema, Lancaster PA, sponsored by Keller Williams-Marilyn Berger & Associates.

Community Highlights

On Thursday, October 24, Reel Nation Media partnered with 5 Bridges Health & Fitness Linglestown for a social impact screening of Sally’s Iron Mustangs. Through our partnership with the gym community, we were able to donate 100% of all ticket sales, with a 100% RNM match, to our charitable beneficiary, The Harrisburg Area Food Pantry. 

The event served as a prototype of our initiative, Sally’s Across America. Through this initiative, we aim to gift the film to local organizations and community centers across the United States. These organizations will then use screenings like the one we held on Thursday to raise funds for their local organizations serving seniors. 

We thank our business sponsors for the event: Pikador , Ottopilot Entertainment, The National Civil War Museum, Rhinegold Honey of Orchard Park, and Pure Water Technology of Central PA and Northern Maryland for their continued support.

Funding for Sally’s Iron Mustangs

As we prepare to introduce Sally’s Iron Mustangs to communities nationwide, we are looking for assistance in order to meet our fundraising target of $60,000. With the help of this funding, crucial expenses for marketing, outreach, and administrative assistance will be partially covered, allowing local organizations to use the movie to strengthen ties within the community and promote social concerns. Potential sponsors can visit our sponsorship packet for support opportunities: https://reelnationmedia.com/sponsorship-partnership-deck-july-2024/ 

How You can Contribute

Meet for Coffee: Get to know us and join us for brainstorming sessions.
Pre-purchase a Digital Copy: Purchase Here
Attend Fundraising Events: Stay tuned for upcoming event announcements.

Social Media

You can also support us by following our social media channels:
Facebook: Reel Nation Media
Instagram: Reel Nation Media
LinkedIn: Reel Nation Media

Sally's Iron Mustangs Party on the Patio Screening Hosted by Ben and Sylvia Kauffman

Erin Price-Hamilton (left) and Abdullah Abu-Mahfouz (right) reveal Sally’s Across America
at the
Kauffman residence screening event.

Thank you for your support!

Our goal at Reel Nation Media is to craft films that change people in addition to entertaining them. We are incredibly grateful for your support and faith in our mission, which enables us to take on stories that motivate change and foster relationships in our communities. We look forward to growing alongside you—our friends, supporters, and audience—as we embark on these new endeavors.

Thank you for being part of the Reel Nation Media journey.

Keep it Reel! 

Abdullah Abu-Mahfouz & The Reel Nation Media Team