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We are so pleased to announce that Five Friends will be airing on Connecticut Public Television on December 10th @ 10pm.  CPTV is the third largest public television station in the country and the folks there have been incredibly supportive of the film.  They will continue to run the film, including the following Sunday, the 16th, so check your local Connecticut listings!  If you’re out of the Connecticut area, it may still be coming to you soon as we are discussing representation of the film to the other markets and affiliates around the country.  Come back soon for updates…

This comes from a fellow filmmaker, fan and now friend who recently saw the film:

Dear Hank,
Brianna may have told you I’d be writing. My wife and I are very regular customers at R+D and have become quite fond of your daughter over the years. I don’t need to tell you that she is a very bright and warm person with a great spirit. Having now seen FIVE FRIENDS, I can see from where that great spirit comes. Brianna was kind enough to lend me the film and I was impressed. I am fifty-eight and an independent film producer with a long history of having been a creative executive in the film business at the studio level. If a man needs to have five good friends at the end of his life in order to claim success, I am five short. Which is, of course, the power of the film. A wake up call, I suppose. It’s not too late, I’m hoping. If the intent of the film was to illuminate the importance of cultivating male friendship, then it was a success for me. I’m motivated. Of course it is also a portrait of a man. As the subject, you have to proud. You are a wise and thoughtful man and it was generous of you to share yourself with those of us who have the opportunity to see FIVE FRIENDS. Deepest congratulations on the excellent journey you’ve taken. And my congratulations also to the filmmaker who knows what he’s doing.

Curtis Burch

Thanks so much for the kind words Curtis!

We were invited to screen the film and have a workshop at the National Association of Social Workers conference in April in CT.  Here is what they had to say about the film:

The Evaluations of the Five Friends Workshop at the National Association of Social Workers/Connecticut Chapter Conference – April 20, 2012

Participant Responses included; Doctoral Students, Retired Social Workers, Licensed Social Workers, Practicing Masters of Social Work, PH.D Professors and Hospital Clinicians

1. If you had to give this training a grade, what would it be –  100% responded A+ with some giving the workshop an A++

Comments: Excellent; In depth look at men’s intimacy; Totally different workshop; Excellent, moving; generated so much to think about and loved this workshop

2. (a) I have acquired new knowledge – 100% yes;

(b) I have acquired new techniques and skills – 90% yes;

(c) I anticipate using knowledge gained from this program in my work/practice – 90% yes

3. I would like the trainer (Hank Mandel, MSW) to know that: It was a courageous topic and wonderful; Thank you, It made me smile – courage, strength, tenderness,      humanness; It was brilliant!; Your honesty and courage is much appreciated; Sharing the film has made a difference; I loved the film -Thank You!!; Use the film as a basis for weekend training for all folks to open this discussion; How very much more I got from this workshop than I had anticipated. Thank you!; Wonderful film, How brave! How courageous to explore relationships like this; Would love to see another film featuring inner city boys and their relationships with their father. Probably would need to be shorter. Also girls and their fathers.

4. What recommendations, if any, would you have for improving this workshop in the future? No recommendations – it was perfect; None – Very powerful; Can’t think of any – the film speaks for itself; Follow-up with a documentary on Emmit the baby, ie. young boy – issues adolescents; Do not turn the lights back on until the film is over; Thank you – keep up the great work; the rest of the answers to this question were blanks.

5. The instructor’s (Hank Mandel) materials were presented in a clear and organized fashion. 100% response of “completely”

It was an amazing experience with 100% of the participants buying Five Friends materials (DVD and Workbook) to use in the future.

Thanks NASW, we love you too!