EMMAUS, Pa. — A packed Emmaus Theater on Wednesday saw a special early screening of a documentary film that simulates efforts to stave off a Jan. 6, 2021-like attempted insurrection.
Gov. Josh Shapiro also stopped by for an introductory discussion about the film with its Philadelphia suburb-native executive producer — and his brother-in-law —Jonathan Steinberg.
In the movie "War Game," which stars a bipartisan set of former national government officials, members of the National Guard and military defect to support a losing candidate.
"I think the 'War Game' provides this opportunity to look at it through a lens that's not so abrasive. The election is what? Five weeks away? Time is up. We need to have the conversations with our neighbors, and we need to go to the ballot box and make a decision."'War Game' producer Mark DiCristofaro
The Emmaus High School Young Democrats Club co-presented the film, though the producers used a bipartisan group of officials from the prior five presidential administrations to run the simulation.
Participants in the filmed non-scripted exercise include former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Gen. (Ret.) Wesley Clark, former Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, and other real-life high-level officials, advisers and legislators.
Despite being just a simulation, the role-play was taken very seriously as a solution had to be found in six hours.
The opposing team led by veterans sought to undermine the government's attempt to de-escalate with misinformation, armed protesters and more.
After the film, there was a panel discussion that included co-director Tony Gerber; executive producer Steinberg; film participants Jack Tomarchio, principal Deputy U.S. Secretary for Homeland Security in the Bush administration; Vet Voice Foundation Chief Executive Officer Janessa Goldbeck; and Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Linda Singh.
'Very impressed with the idea'
"I believe that the issues that we cover here are so important," Tomarchio said during the discussion.
"You can write articles about it. You can have lectures about it. You can do all kinds of studies on this, and they're doing that.
"But the power of the media, the power of this movie to bring this crisis to you — the American people, I was very impressed with that idea, and that's why I wanted to do it."
Murphy and other panelists referred to various op-eds and endorsements by national security officials that have endorsedKamala Harris for president over Donald Trump because of his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol and other issues.
The film has received praise from the Sundance Film Festival, as well as outlets including The New York Times and the Washington Post newspapers, Rolling Stone and Variety magazines, and more.
It highlighted the challenge of de-escalating such a situation, with the need to rely on National Guard and law enforcement in the face of real-world concerns of extremism and defection potentially infiltrating those ranks.
The film still is in its "impact tour" throughout the country, highlighting swing areas.
As part of the war game, a private report was prepared and delivered to Congress and the Biden administration.
The film will become available for digital rental and streaming on Friday on Apple TV, Fandango and Amazon Prime Video.
Shapiro stops to support efforts
Steinberg's other credits include "Jericho" and Disney+ series "Percy Jackson and the Olympians."
During the panel, Shapiro emphasized the perceived danger of a similar event to what was presented in the film by echoing a well-known Benjamin Franklin quote about how the government is "A republic — if you can keep it."
"People forget that the way our elections are administered, not just here in Pennsylvania, but all across the country, is by we the people," Shapiro said.
"It's by ordinary Americans who are doing their part to protect our democracy. And so what I would say to all of you is you're not powerless at all. You're the ones with the power.
"And if you feel strongly in this process, then I urge you to go to your county board of elections and sign up" to be a poll worker.
Shapiro's time in the Lehigh Valley on Wednesday wasn't just focused on the film screening.
In Nazareth, he rallied staff and volunteers canvassing for Anna Thomas.
Thomas, a Bethlehem Township Democrat, is challenging Republican incumbent state Rep. Joe Emrick in the state's 137th House District.
The race in the heart of Northampton County's suburbs is one of the most competitive in the state this cycle.
"You live in... possibly the swingiest of all swing counties in the swingiest of all swing states in our entire nation. I mean that just purely politically," Shapiro said to laughs in Nazareth.
Shapiro was scheduled to moderate Wednesday night's panel discussion on the film, but instead, film participant Goldbeck, a Marine Corps veteran, acted as moderator.
Emmaus grad celebrates his work
The event was introduced by producer Mark DiCristofaro, a 2004 Emmaus High School graduate who now resides in Los Angeles.
He said his role in the film was to support the directors and coordinate work with other producers to bring it to life.
He said the Lehigh Valley and Emmaus High School gave him a safe place to learn and pursue his passions, leading him to his Hollywood career.
DiCristofaro said those in the Lehigh Valley who see the film should be encouraged to have a healthy civil discourse with their community about it, but also understand how fragile our democracy is.
Still, he said, they should also take away a sense of optimism.
"I think that as fatigued as all of us are about elections and talking about the insurrection, it's like you almost don't want to talk about it anymore, even me," DiCristofaro said.
"But I think the 'War Game' provides this opportunity to look at it through a lens that's not so abrasive. The election is what? Five weeks away?
"Time is up. We need to have the conversations with our neighbors, and we need to go to the ballot box and make a decision."
He also spoke to students at Emmaus High School this week and said he was impressed by "their creativity and optimistic outlook."
Emmaus High students at the screening said it was great to be able to connect with older members of the community over such political issues, and to see cross-generational engagement.
