
THE HOME FRONT
A Short Film by Molly Loughman
Some stories don’t make the paper. | This one waited in the walls.
โThe Home Front is a 25-minute narrative drama set in a small town that could be anywhere.
A place with painted porches and buried truths. What begins as a reluctant return for a former journalist quietly unfurls into something deeper—a reckoning with grief, silence, and the stories we carry even when no one’s asking.
โ
This is not just about what was lost. It’s about what never left.

โ1 in every 5 Americans has lost someone to overdose.
(KFF Health Tracking Poll, 2023)
And still, we speak of it in hushed tones—if at all.
What We Carry
โ
Told through the eyes of a woman teetering between past and present, The Home Front is a quiet descent—part mystery, part elegy. Natalie, like a grown-up Alice in Wonderland, falls back through the looking glass of her hometown, only to find the world she left behind more warped and haunting than she remembers.
โโ
โ
The house is the rabbit hole.
The grief is the fall.
The art is the only clue.
And the poison? It’s everywhere.โ
โโ
โ
Shot in the glow of a real New England summer, the film lingers in the spaces people avoid—what’s unsaid, untouched, unfinished. The performances are rooted in restraint and real ache, capturing the kind of grief that doesn’t scream. It just stays.
This isn't a story of how someone died.
It's about what death leaves behind—and what it dares the living to face.

This film is about the stories we inherit, the ones we run from, and the ones we must find the strength to tell.
It’s an allegory of memory as a house—each room holding something we’re not ready to face.
— Molly Loughman
Writer, Editor & Executive Producer














![๐ทItโs been a season, but ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐
๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ญ is still standing strong, holding space, and gaining momentum for the year ahead. As we step into 2025, letโs take a moment to hold our loved ones close, check in on each other, and remind ourselves of the power of connection.
The opioid epidemic continues to devastate families, and too many are carrying silent pain. If you or someone you know is struggling, please know: ๐๐ญโ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ค๐๐ฒ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐๐ ๐จ๐ค๐๐ฒ. ๐๐ญโ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ค๐๐ฒ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐ก ๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ. You are worth the love, the life, the effort, and the kindness. You always were.
Letโs step into this new year with more care, more awareness, and more compassion. Letโs break the silence, erase the stigma, and stand together๐
*The Home Front* is a story about love, loss, and resilienceโ one thatโs all too real for so many. To learn more about our film and its message, check link in bio.
๐ฏ๏ธWishing you all peace, warmth, and connection this season.
[๐ธ by @isa.miranda.9 ]
#TheHomeFrontFilm #HoldThemClose #YouAreNotAlone #EndTheStigma #MentalHealthMatters #HappyNewYear](https://scontent-iad6-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.75761-15/475956245_17929873199985852_1405574774436431217_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=109&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiQ0FST1VTRUxfSVRFTS5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=8uPLQxPtNI8Q7kNvwELsqhZ&_nc_oc=AdrFVyLzKOgkzT52Pt7bj0eKF1C4ymOQEkvPN9lJPQ219yZhHroqdT6nnbzHokGtDVs&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad6-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=yl7iEI2kX-XjyH6RpJdShA&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQGNmSbAnpH1xlbXFBEBx4aaX-fH9bXNBD19uyN4OxTvlCF5PBIR3aAzIVTtLatEij0mH9ZSNJQD&oh=00_Af2_lzU2Rr8IDSyEfDMn0ZvHC4qzxWaJ8jf0J9lGd1dPLQ&oe=69F334EE)



![Itโs okay to not be okay.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a good reminder to focus on the importance of mental health and its impact on our well-being. Mental health conditions can affect anyone, regardless of gender, age, race, ethnicity, or income level. Recent data indicates America is facing an unprecedented mental health crisis among people of all ages and backgrounds, including young children and older adults.
To put into perspective, if youโre standing in a room full of people, at least one out of every five of those people likely experienced anxiety, depression, or other mental health conditions in the last year. The good news isโฆ mental health conditions are treatable. โ
๏ธ
Just like you might share tips with friends about maintaining a healthy weight or improving blood pressure, consider taking the opportunity this month to share your experience of how you are caring for your mental health. Help enforce the message that โitโs okay to not be okay,โ and encourage people to seek help when they need it.
[Source: samhsa.gov]
#mentalhealthawareness
#mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealth #publichealthcrisis #psychology #mindfulness #health #mentalwellness #darkness #itsookaynottobeokay #tellyourtruth #youmatter #youreworthit #nevergiveup #america #samhsa #mham #compassion #americans #mentalhealthawarenessmonth #mentalhealthrecovery](https://scontent-iad6-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.71878-15/503030704_1215235983946658_402560190339909727_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=102&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiQ0xJUFMuYmVzdF9pbWFnZV91cmxnZW4uQzMifQ%3D%3D&_nc_ohc=H7GToYcf1V0Q7kNvwEjTvfz&_nc_oc=Adqd4tiVQoKlHkGGRY0lG17xl_RNJjHLNBABEHFIBnN0TuQr3p5ENm5k47icyhuQXaA&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad6-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=yl7iEI2kX-XjyH6RpJdShA&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQF1czMqZrj83qOnU5pnaV66ReDlmjfrMSeufB0ZROWtUgd4ZNpwlLOg2p8k-z1EVbXcVTDQwWqN&oh=00_Af0deiY-Yi1Uk2Y8001xC4fknA1TQJOZGWrjt_Jj5Gxusg&oe=69F32000)









![Lightning crashed during our stormy, sizzling summer production. Managing and maneuvering voltages on set was GAFFER Meenakshi Garodia.
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐จ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฏ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ก๐๐๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฆ?
We had outdoor shoots and used some natural light, the weather, sun positions outside etc., which made it challenging, but nothing we didnโt surmount.
Given itโs a heavily visual film, it helped that the directorโs vision was very clear. And the DP was awesome too. It was overall a very good team and very cohesive in their vision and desire to make the best film. The team, the actors, the crew, everyone on this set were people I would be happy to work with again! The atmosphere on the set makes a big difference, and this set was very good.
#thehomefrontfilm โก๏ธ
[IMAGE: Meenakshi uses a meter to get a reading on lighting conditions using AD Miranda Yung as a stand-in. Credit/ @isa.miranda.9]
#thesis #mfa #mfathesis #emersoncollege #thesisfilm #filmschool #filmstudent #film #shortfilm #independentfilm #independentfilmmaker #production #femalefilmmakers #shortfilmmaking #opioidcrisis #addiction #home #americanhome #america #newengland #boston #bostonfilm #gaffer #gaffing #lighting #lightingdesign #lightingmeter #onset #crew](https://scontent-iad6-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/626011610_18089901305108247_2362815790388054050_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=102&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiRkVFRC5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=lQIIcpZo8goQ7kNvwG8aSoX&_nc_oc=AdqR4cJMd9I-ELtbbqGzsYIdR1vfbiv2DSvSCyb0-sQJVEnU4boMxutFuALIHlo-4Qs&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad6-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=yl7iEI2kX-XjyH6RpJdShA&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQEJWlyFOW34fzfTZB0wO_P4D7z8HImT5XUPEJMtPDjMfNC69AyOvCK1WyqAthadOXwEYf0f2l_Y&oh=00_Af3-1t8o70knbULT0crcVSeQOxwHYpZSzBx6a922Pg0lHw&oe=69F31CF2)

![๐ Where darkness meets light โThatโs The Home Front โ where the sun beams and shadows linger. But is tension grown from inside a home or does it make itโs way in?
The quest for inspirational art for this film brought me to original master of darkness and light, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610). The Italian Baroque artist is recognized for his dramatic use of light-dark (chiaroscuro) depicting subjects caught in dynamic and energized moments of psychological clarity.
Enigmatic, fascinating, rebellious and dangerous โ Caravaggio left a legacy of intense realism and naturalism in his highly-controversial artwork and as a person. His artwork and personality remain just as troubling and contradicting as society today.
Gritty realism in The Home Front did not come easy, but boy was it worth the legacy - just like Caravaggio.
As for all you rising filmmakers, DP Brittany Severance advises:
โ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ค ๐จ๐ง ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐จ๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐๐๐๐ก ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง. ๐๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ ๐ญ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐๐ง ๐๐จ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ-๐ฌ๐จ๐ฅ๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ง๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ก๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฐ ๐๐ฌ ๐ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ค๐๐ซ.โ
[Photos 1&6 / @isa.miranda.9]
#film #thehomefront #filmmaking #femalefilmmakers #emersoncollege #emerson #independentfilm #shortfilm #bostonfilm #newenglandfilm #preproduction #locationscouting #inspirationalart #baroque #caravaggio #windows #dark #light #mfa #thesis #nonfiction #femalefilmmakers #director #shadows #directorofphotography #behindthescenes #photography #art #artwork #fineart #lighting](https://scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/651859564_17982795203976539_6841213689105876246_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=104&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiQ0FST1VTRUxfSVRFTS5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=0OVG2eOYfMwQ7kNvwHlfm10&_nc_oc=Adpkl0Q83W0RocvL0gam5xUBoUytrnDYQQB7TZC6z-EN3q4Zt_fDr5vpPEeB6-r4tnM&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=yl7iEI2kX-XjyH6RpJdShA&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQH4kR-ZaH5skib-FyIrEFovkVqCSuGAdBVBA-X8Y4BTVCR8E4eZ7VYuCjZUPTE9OqdX-YUWQBhy&oh=00_Af2kbKS7mBL4KAKXda09F68pAywmPWB0_KZMtD-zz4v9YQ&oe=69F350EC)

![โ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐. ๐ฐ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.โ
#thehomefrontfilm
๐ฏ๏ธ
[Photos/ @isa.miranda.9]
#behindthescenes #makingamovie #filmset #lightscameraaction #mfathesis #shortfilm #independentfilm #mfa #thesis #film #boston #emersoncollege #newengland #filmmakers #femalefilmmaker #opioidcrisis #opioidaddiction #opioidepidemic #community #smalltown #addiction #mentalhealth #actress #acting #socialjustice #publichealth #community #awareness #home #grief](https://scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/651435023_17982350456960638_6789669331546686933_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=103&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiQ0FST1VTRUxfSVRFTS5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=fS7GcGZf0U0Q7kNvwGXw3by&_nc_oc=Adof7PY_bO6KAlykdNYgjpGBXiTOI4ahsS1PaIG48IWKOu4_156nGTrHfwjyZV1zG3E&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=yl7iEI2kX-XjyH6RpJdShA&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQGKrZ46WheI-xS2RhbApHBTBxSzuqH0_bN15uA_51yNzsMIP1XoWFH0ORX2u8JkfKfry28ckTp_&oh=00_Af2zPFhrcId54OOx_mM8x04JA92J0yjVr1vtpHou6uR40g&oe=69F338BA)


![INTRODUCING Assistant Director | ๐๐ข๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐ ๐ฌ
A strategic scheduler and team player, Miranda Yung was an absolute asset to The Home Front film production. After the director, Miranda was next to first on set and next to last to leave. She stayed three steps ahead and kept us ready to roll.
Mirandaโs comprehensive contributions stretched far beyond time and crew management. She worked doggedly to keep us filming ethically, with compassion and integrity โ accounting for best interests of the director, cinematographer, cast & crew. To top, Miranda is a major contributing (& gifted) artist and filled other roles to ensure this film got shot.
๐๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐จ๐๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฏ๐จ๐๐๐ญ๐, ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฃ๐๐๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐๐ข๐๐ข๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐ฌ ๐๐?
โWhenever Molly asks me if I want to be involved in something, itโs always going to be an immediate โyesโ from me (time-willing). Even though we hadnโt worked intimately together before, I knew she had a kind, compassionate heart and a tenacious, devoted spirit, and I was so happy to have the opportunity to collaborate with her again.
Then, she told me what the project was about. I was so moved. I was moved by her personal connection to the story combined with her impressively detailed vision being so key in making non-fictional characters real to me.
Iโm so incredibly, deeply honored I had this opportunity to step [out] and make a difference by creating this amazing art with an amazing team of beautiful, lovely, incredibly talented humans. It was the greatest honor to care for them as their AD, and ensure everyoneโs health and safety in making the best film we could possibly make. It was hard. It was painful. It was a dream.โ
๐ Stay tuned for full Q&A! #thehomefrontfilm
๐ธ: @isa.miranda.9; @brittanyseveranceartist @videobrittie; @molly_elizabeth4
#assistantdirector #crew #keycrew #filmmaker #artist #film #makingfilm #gradschool #womensupportingwomen #femalefilmmaker #womenofcolor #mfathesis #shortfilm #independentfilm #emersoncollege #bostonfilm #boston #newengland #newenglandfilm #independentfilmmakers](https://scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/651919731_18010261409835557_432770904118173172_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=101&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiQ0FST1VTRUxfSVRFTS5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=flLQuLhYs98Q7kNvwF_IjUP&_nc_oc=AdpEoUUPVZrpDy88O9pM23Qa8lKWfsjXzY743HaDHdfxxDflDvEYK5wvAgt3F1iviDc&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=yl7iEI2kX-XjyH6RpJdShA&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQEZu58B_rLz3XIqtcejYWHMziimIXPZw0OkVRnw7sl5nbHhqqoWu3qSsvgPaD9vvJGsXVJyDkzl&oh=00_Af0IqX9-OYFY0n4mCupqqnmu4PF6OhbNr-eCKtTZRpT93g&oe=69F3240E)

