November 2019
> 2 weeks ago
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About Frances
Frances is an award-winning screenwriter. She is among the select 2% of over 60,000 writers from 125 countries who applied for Ron Howard and Brian Grazers IMAGINE ENTERTAINMENT IMPACT opportunities. Showcased on the IMAGINE Impact site for consideration by industry professionals are her screenplays RALLY POINT, along with its limited series concept doc, and her romantic comedy, Cha-Ching!
She has a Masters’ degree in Producing Film, Television & Video from American University in Washington, D.C., and a Bachelor's in Nursing with specialty training in Trauma, ER, and ICU.
Major A. Cheever (Ret.), is a Soldier for Life. She served in the US Army on active and reserve status for three decades as a senior NCO (E-7) and Officer (MAJ), making her one of the few female “Mustangs.” Although she retired in 2012, she was recalled to active duty in support of the COVID-19 mission to volunteer her service, knowledge, experience, and leadership. She was deployed to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany as a Nurse Case Manager (NCM) assigned to the Medical Transient Detachment (MTD), managing over 700 Joint Warfighters from EUCOM, CENTCOM, AFRICOM, and FORSCOM.
Her military leadership training has helped her to seamlessly transition into the production side of the entertainment business. Frances understands personally how incredibly powerful the entertainment platform is, how effective storytelling can entertain, and enlighten audiences. She provides an insightful and unique perspective to her screenplays of all genres.
Frances advocates for the Art of Healing by creating and producing content that accurately and respectfully portrays our military community and facilitates first look hiring opportunities for our Veterans and Wounded Warriors in the entertainment business in both performance and off-camera roles to get their stories and talents noticed and their “Boot in the Door”.
As the Military Production Manager and Advisor on the film JACKIE, (2016) starring Natalie Portman, she recognized that the best way to bring authenticity to the film was to utilize the actual military assets that performed the funeral services for President Kennedy. Those assets came from the Military District of Washington, most notably the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment “The Old Guard”. This ensured accuracy, substantial savings to the production, and the opportunity for our servicemen to portray and represent all branches of the military with dignity and respect. A production agreement with the U.S. Army, the Office of the Chief of Public Affairs, and the U.S. Army Military District of Washington was negotiated, and the military assets were secured.
On the Netflix series HOUSE OF CARDS season 4, Frances was given a unique opportunity to intern in every department essential to the production. She learned the valuable details of their unique skill sets and the workings of the entertainment industry. In order to better understand the organization, she stepped back and looked at the production as a military operation. She built an organizational chart that clearly outlines the production structure and its chain of command, in order to visualize the enormous amount of unique talent needed to make House of Cards an EMMY award-winning NETFLIX series. She was also the military liaison for casting, placing 50+ active military and Veterans on set.
Frances was the producer of the National Cathedrals Veterans Day concert with 2,500 people in attendance and over 6,600 watching it online streaming. She was able to facilitate jobs for Veterans in production and performance. She was the contracted screenwriter for the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) Warfighter Resilience Forum. Four emotionally intense scenes were written based on her interviews with a dozen combat veterans and Wounded Warriors. Veteran actors at four bases performed them theatrically across the country for Sailors and their family members. Recovery care management, mental health care providers, and resources were readily available to the Navy servicemen and women and their families.
She co-produced an award-winning short at the GI Film Festival titled MY VA EXPERIENCE, and is showcased in the VA national campaign, “It Matters.” She serves on the Advisory Board for the GI Film Festival, is a member of the American Legion Post 43 Hollywood, Women in Film, Television & Video, and the Association of the United States Army, George Washington Chapter, and is the Director of Operations for Veterans in Media & Entertainment, D.C., Chapter.
Frances' image is immortalized in Kent Twitchell's Freedom of Assembly mural at the Bob Hope Patriotic Hall in downtown Los Angeles.
Unique traits: Soldier For Life!
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Credits
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JACKIE (
0000 - 2016 )
Film by Pablo Larrain Project Manager/military advisor (US military) JACKIE was Nominated for 3 Oscar Awards. Another 45 wins & 162 nominations. Frances worked as the Military Project Manager and Advisor on the film JACKIE, (2016), starring Natalie Portman. She recognized that the best way to bring authenticity to the film JACKIE was to utilize the actual military assets that performed the funeral services for President Kennedy. Those assets came from the Military District of Washington, most notably the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard). She initiated the request for the support of The Old Guard and the Military District of Washington to recreate a Presidential State funeral with joint military personnel. A production agreement with the U.S. Army, the Office of the Chief of Public Affairs, and the U.S. Army Military District of Washington was negotiated, and the military assets were secured. After exhaustive research referencing original photographs and news footage, she worked closely with the Costume Department, Production Design team, 1st ADs, and Producers to ensure the placement, look and feel were exactly matched to that of the “The Old Guard” at JFK’s funeral. This ensured accuracy, substantial savings to the production, and the opportunity for our servicemen to portray and represent all branches of the military with dignity and respect.
Awards
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Big Apple Film Festival
(2021) -
GI Film Festival
(2017) -
Script DC
(2016)
Education
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American University
(2015-2017) -
University of Phoenix
(2005-2007) -
U.S. Army Academy of Health Sciences
(1981-1986)
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