Thursday, November 5, 2026
5:30 p.m.
Marston Exploration Theater | 781 S Terrace Rd, Tempe, AZ 85281
The Film
"This Is Not A Draft" was inspired by the Veteran Stories Podcast, where ASU alumnus Jack Blair interviewed fellow veterans and started to see trends emerging in the stories they shared.
Realizing the importance of all that he was hearing, he partnered with Death Denied Productions to create a film that would bear witness to their experiences.
Telling these stories is therapeutic for veteran storytellers — and a gift they give their families and friends. The tragedy of 9/11 had national and global impact. Jack Blair was of the many who felt that they should serve in the military to protect the country. These are the stories of some of those who answered the call.
This screening, is hosted in partnership with the ASU Pat Tillman Veterans Center. A dialogue with Jack Blair, Shawn Banzhof, ASU Pat Tillman Center Executive Director and Lois Brown, PhD, CSRD Director, will follow the screening.
Speaker Bios
Jack Blair is a documentary filmmaker, founder of Happy Jack Media, and military veteran whose 16 years of service included work as a U.S. Army Counterintelligence Agent. He studied Liberal Studies at Arizona State University and brings a commitment to listening, understanding, and human connection to his filmmaking. His award-winning documentary, This Is Not A Draft, explores the experiences of post-9/11 veterans—from their decisions to serve to the challenges of life after war. Through his work, Jack creates space for veterans to tell their own stories and for communities to better understand the lives behind the uniform.
Shawn Banzhaf is Executive Director of the ASU Pat Tillman Veterans Center. Since 2022, he has led, directed and inspired a department within Academic Enterprise Enrollment at Arizona State University. His team of twenty staff and over seventy VA work-study employees provide services to over 20,000 military-connected learners attending the university.
Sponsors
