Thanks to all who came to our final screening of the year, 5000 Blankets with special guest film producer Doug Shaffer! This is a heartwarming story for the holidays based on the real-life Bunch family. The Bunch family’s father and husband suffered a schizophrenic episode which caused him to escape to the streets. While taking to the streets to find him, the family encountered the homeless population in Fort Worth and formed bonds with that community. They decided to start a charity called Phillip’s Wish to try to deliver a blanket to every person in the city experiencing homelessness and out on the street during a winter with record cold.
There is a very similar charity in Chicago with the same mission called Chi-Town Blankets and I mentioned I would collect blankets for them if anyone wanted to bring one to donate. I didn’t really plan that out practically and was bowled over with these beautiful bundles of blankets we received—most of them, I believe, handmade. People offered me rides as I struggled with them to the door!
The lovely Independence Branch of the Chicago Public Library hosted us. They have a nice A/V setup and comfy, colorful furniture. The crowd wasn’t huge but they were very engaged in the film and, as is typical of our audiences, had some very thoughtful questions and commentary afterward.
Doug Shaffer, the producer of 5000 Blankets Movie, was there to talk about the film. He is an incredibly kind man, and was very open about his own mental health struggles with his depression and struggles with his autistic son. He is very passionate about the film’s message about mental health and very excited to speak about it, which has been typical of our filmmaker guests.
Thanks Doug for agreeing to be a part of this holiday screening! My favorite thing about this one was the generous spirit of the film’s message, the donations when I did not expect that many to come through, and the fact that I saw a few “regulars”—people who have come to other Mental Filmness screenings and are coming back! Those are the most valuable audience members to have. One introduced himself to me and we realized we had connected at a mental health event previously years and years ago! It’s starting to feel more and more like a community. 
