2025: Tipping Points Lie Ahead for the FIGHT TO FIGHT
The year 2025 will be a tipping point for both THE FIGHT TO FIGHT documentary film and for women in the U.S. military, especially those serving in combat roles.
For the documentary, it will be a year of achieving major milestones in the critical areas of location filming, fund raising and production. After laying the groundwork more than 10 years ago, the effort of an amazing team of dedicated individuals working on a full-length documentary is coming to fruition.
For those in the armed services, it will be a year for closely tracking progress made by women in achieving fair treatment and the opportunity to serve in combat units. Unfortunately, early statements by proposed members of the new administration have made it clear there is a willingness to reverse gains made by women in the military over the past decade.
Before looking to the year ahead, however, it is worth celebrating major achievements from 2024.
Gratitude for Incredible Support
First and foremost, THE FIGHT TO FIGHT launched an initial round of fundraising in October. The goals were twofold: 1. Raise enough funds to keep the documentary team moving forward with filming, editing and paying for the many other things required create an independent filmi; and 2. To show major granting institutions we have grassroots support for our project.
Both goals were met, which fills me with the deepest gratitude. I want to extend a heartfelt thanks to all our donors beginning with the following nine Defender Level Donors ($1,000 to $5,000):
· Jonathan C. Clark and Theresa Tierney Clark
· Dave and Maureen Ellenberger
· Charlotte Falletta
· Nancy and Jeffery Rich, Rich Family Foundation
· Susan Lobsiger
· Colette Magliaro
· Jill Searle
· Coleman Smith
· Dawn Winters DeGraw
Very special thanks are also due to two Warrior Level ($5,000 to $10,000) donors:
· Tracy Reinhard Family Charitable Gift Fund
· Jennifer Natalya Pritzker.
And finally, deepest thanks go to a good friend and a great guitarist who donated at the Commander Level ($10,000 to $20,000):
· Larry Williams, Ph.D.
In addition to the fundraising campaign, other milestones achieved in 2024 include:
· Launching THEFIGHTTOFIGHT.com website
· Incorporating as an LLC
· Securing two fiscal sponsors, Women in International Security and The Film Collaborative
· Shooting five days of filming in three separate shoots
· Pitching to a jury of industry professionals as one of 10 finalists for a $10,000 grant from the Santa Barbara International Film Festivals’ Filmmaker Fund /The Veraison Fund – four winners will be announced in February of 2025
· Securing the services of Mark Romanov as the film’s editor and starting the editing process
· Submitting detailed information and film samples to several granting organizations
Looking Ahead to 2025
The year 2025 will be a momentous one for THE FIGHT TO FIGHT documentary film. By the end of the year, all shooting will be complete. The final shoots planned will be the most intensive of the filming process and will involve complex planning and logistics.
Most of the shooting will take place in the first half of the year, and this will mark the beginning of post-production and final editing. The goal is complete these phases by the end of the year.
Achieving these goals means that the film will be ready for festivals and distribution in 2026, the year of the 10th anniversary of the first women to enter training to serve in combat arms.
The year 2025 will also be a momentous one for women serving in the miliary, especially those serving in combat arms. Secretary of the Department of Defense (SECDEF) nominee Pete Hegseth is scheduled for a Senate confirmation hearing as soon as January 14th. Hegseth has publicly declared “we should not have women in combat roles.”
It is irrelevant whether Hegseth survives the nomination process or even modifies his stance about women, as has been reported. The point is that he has expressed a commonly held attitude that threatens the hard-fought gains women have made since 2016.
Clearly, the documentary team and all service women we know will be closely monitoring events in Washington, D.C. None of us thought the fight for fairness for women in the military had been won, but few thought the gains made might be reversed.
So, please help us support women in the military who must continually prove they have what it takes to serve on the front lines. Their battle, as we can clearly see, is far from over.
Thank you for believing in our work in 2024 and helping us turn our vision into reality in 2025. We are truly grateful for your partnership!
Joy Bronson served as a Naval Aviator from 1986 to 1993 and is the Director/Producer of THE FIGHT TO FIGHT documentary feature film.
The Fight to Fight documentary feature film is at a pivotal stage in and needs your support to reach completion. Donations are critical and greatly appreciated, however it is also helpful to sign up to receive our blog and pass on our website link to friends, family and colleagues who are veterans or who care about equality for women. Click here to donate and here to sign up for our blog.
Pete Hegseth Emerges as a Major Power Broker on Capitol Hill
Pete Hegseth, the President’s nominee for Secretary of Defense, is scheduled for a Senate confirmation hearing on January 14. It is not certain he will get confirmed due to allegations of drinking problems, a settlement to keep a scandal from going public, and questionable management of a firm he used to run. However, it is irrelevant whether Hegseth survives the confirmation process. He has emerged as a major power broker in Washington, D.C., and by extension the U.S. military, thanks to his deep connections to the newly elected President.
(Photo credit AP.org.)