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Contact: Donna Jannine                                                                                     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Director of Communications

631-334-1019/djannine@aol.com

***PRESS RELEASE***

FORCE BLUE’s Special Operations Veterans Unique Deployment to Restore Marine Ecosystem is Focus of New Documentary

Special Screening & Panel Discussion led by Theatre of War founder Bryan Doerries to coincide with

the UN’s Ocean Conference

New York, NY (May 30, 2017)- FORCE BLUE, the only non-profit in the world specifically created to aid former combat divers and Special Operations veterans in their assimilation back to civilian life by giving them a new, positive mission to help the planet, recently completed its inaugural deployment. Seven Special Operations veterans from around the world participated in an intense two-week program of class room and underwater instruction to repurpose their military skills for the betterment of marine conservation.  The unique deployment was captured by Working Pictures, Inc. a production company specializing in humanitarian and cause-related content and directed by Bobby Sheehan.  The screening of the documentary work-in-progress entitled Mercy, Love & Grace: The Story of FORCE BLUE will be shared with the public June 6^th to coincide with the United Nations’ Ocean Conference-a weeklong event where the leaders of ocean and world conservation will convene to discuss critical issues and seek ways to reverse the decline in the health of the world’s oceans.

Bryan Doerries, founder of Theatre of War and New York City Artist-in-Residence, will chair a panel discussion following the screening, that will include FORCE BLUE Team One member U.S. Air Force Silver Star recipient Pararescueman Roger Sparks, highly-respected psychotherapist Dr. Carrie Elk of The Elk Institute, marine biologist and national best-seller Blue Mind author Wallace J. Nichols, Jessica Harvey of The Guy Harvey Institute and FORCE BLUE co-founder Jim Ritterhoff.

“We are very excited to present this important documentary so the public can learn FORCE BLUE’s true mission of ocean conservation and individual healing through the words and experiences of the Special Operations Forces veterans of Team One, Ritterhoff stated. “It is an honor to have Bryan Doerries moderate our panel discussion since the missions of FORCE BLUE and Theatre of War are aligned to recognize and address the invisible injuries of war and to provide catharsis and healing to our veterans.”

The screening of Mercy, Love & Grace: The Story of FORCE BLUE is free and open to the public on June 6^th, 7-9pm at NYU’s Cantor Film Center, 36 East 8^th Street: rsvp@working-pictures.com

All of the military veterans of Team One, representing U.S Army, U.S. Navy, U.S Marines, U.S. Air Force and British Royal Marines, will be in attendance.

FORCE BLUE is a unique non-profit 501(c)(3) specifically created to unite the community of Special Operations Veterans with the world of coral reef conservation for the betterment of both. More than 40 percent of the 3million men and women combat veterans of the Iraq & Afghanistan wars are likely to experience some form of post-traumatic stress (PTS,) due in part to difficulty adjusting to an unstructured life after military order and/or trouble relating their military skills to civilian work. More alarmingly, 22 veterans a day commit suicide-more than three times the U.S. national average. FORCE BLUE gives former military trained combat divers and veterans of Special Operations Forces an important new mission: to experience and explore one of the most critically endangered ecosystems on the planet–and to adapt their training and teamwork to rebuild the fragile ecosystem and aid in its protection. FORCE BLUE teaches veterans: their skills and training are transferable and can still make a positive difference, camaraderie does exist after combat and helping can be the antidote to harming. FORCE BLUE welcomes the support of people and organizations who see the value in this unique mission and want to play a part in its success. Visit www.forceblueteam.org to learn more.

THEATRE OF WAR presents readings of Sophocles’ Ajax and Philoctetes to military and civilian communities across the United States and Europe. These ancient plays timelessly and universally depict the visible and invisible wounds of war. By presenting these plays to military and civilian audiences, their hope is to de-stigmatize psychological injury, increase awareness of post-deployment psychological health issues, disseminate information regarding available resources, and foster greater family, community, and troop resilience.

For more information please visit: http://theaterofwar.com.

WORKING PICTURES has produced numerous award-winning documentaries, television series and content for both causes and brands. For more information, please visit: www.working-pictures.com or call Sara Feldmann Sheehan at 914-261-9771 or email at saras@working-pictures.com.