Following a brief argument with his parents, John and Hallie Twomey, 20-year-old Christopher John (C.J.) Twomey went outside to his car and fatally shot himself. He was living at home in Maine after being honorably discharged from the U.S. Air Force after his disappointment at not being accepted into the highly selective special forces unit.
In the brief exchange that preceded his suicide, he accused his mother of thinking that he was a failure and told her he would show her what failure is. Understandably his parents and younger brother Connor experienced profound shock, guilt, and grief.
Still grieving three years later, Hallie posted a brief Facebook request asking for people to scatter some of C.J.’s ashes in a place of special meaning. The responses exploded with final statistics showing that nearly 28,000 individuals offered to help.
Filmed in a natural manner with no voice-over comments, the film includes home video clips of C.J. as a youngster and young adult, photographs, and current footage, including many shots of persons scattering C.J.’s ashes in both the U.S. and faraway locales, including Fiji, China, Egypt, and Tanzania. Other segments show how C.J.’s experiences helped others contemplating suicide to seek professional guidance. That C.J.’s final act might have been a “poor snap decision” also demonstrates how rash suicide acts impact family members, friends, and others.
In addition to responding to requests to scatter ashes, many individuals sent the Twomeys countless gifts, artifacts, and mementos, including prayer shawls, coins, artwork, handmade jewelry, and more. In the final scene, we watch John, Hallie, and Connor sky jumping from three planes and scattering C.J.’s ashes. Credits provide an alphabetical list of locations where C.J.’s ashes were released, mental health statistics, and suicide hotline phone numbers.
Much more than just one family’s story of tragedy and grief, this documentary opens doors for discussions about loss, empathy, grief, hope, depression, and of course suicide. Streaming prices are also available. Highly Recommended.
Director’s Bio
Andrea Kalin is the creative visionary and founder of Spark Media, a production company dedicated to crafting stories with a strong social conscience. Her films have aired on major networks around the globe, screened theatrically to sold-out audiences, and earned more than 100 industry awards, including a Prime Time Emmy, Golden Globe and WGA nominations. Andrea specializes in bringing to viewers the emotional front line where lives of courage, perseverance and dignity transcend seemingly insurmountable hardships. Scattering CJ is her 12th documentary feature.
Director’s Statement
Hallie taught me what resilience looks like, about the depths of sadness, of what it means to summon the courage to get up and face the next day. She trusted us to chronicle her family's story during a period of unimaginable loss and great change in their lives, and we never took that trust lightly.
Without hesitation, this family embraced the documentary process, allowing our cameras to become an ever-present part of their lives. We were given access to their day-to-day moments, like accompanying CJ’s younger brother Connor to the welding shop or taking an early morning drive with John to work before spending hours upon hours with Hallie at home, packing ashes at her dining room table.
What we witnessed is a mother on a mission. And it soon became clear that Hallie’s posts describing her grief and guilt in brutally honest terms had struck a chord that resounded far and wide. She was inundated with heartfelt messages of condolence and thanks, both for sharing her pain and for giving others the strength to do so themselves. The Scattering CJ project took off before our eyes, and soon CJ’s ashes were traveling the globe, from that dining room table to hundreds of destinations the world over.
At the outset of our filming, we asked ourselves if participating in the documentary process would become the lasting testimonial to her son that Hallie craved. Despite all the good that had been wrought from the tragedy for so many others and over such distances, would she ever be able to find her own peace?
The questions we posed defied easy answers. They still do.
It’s been thirteen years since CJ passed and over eight years since we began our own journey alongside the family. Over this time, it’s been a privilege to get to know the Twomeys, to meet some of the “scatterers” and even end up working with one of them. Australian graphic designer Kelly Vella not only took CJ’s ashes to Fiji with an entourage of extended family, but also ended up generously donating her time and talents to a fruitful, long-distance collaboration; Kelly designed the film’s closing graphic that brilliantly illuminates the 1,000-plus destinations where CJ has been scattered. Fittingly, like the scattering project itself, the film was also enriched by the kindness and gifts of strangers.
Collectively our dedicated team aimed to make a film that coaxes out more of humanity’s innate goodness, adds strength to the purpose of a heartbroken mom and hopefully helps change lives. Ultimately, Scattering CJ might reveal a truth to others that we see more deeply than before we embarked on this journey: from the darkest loss can emerge the brightest of life.
Accolades
“Scattering CJ isn’t just about the unimaginable loss the Twomey’s experienced; it’s about social media’s potential as a positive force, and the healing that comes from a sense of community and a shared humanity.” Lonnie Frazier, Educational Media Reviews Online
“Scattering CJ is one of the most powerful movies I’ve seen in a long time. It’s a wonderful example of how a family took their grief and their loss and tried to do something for the greater good of this world.” Dr. Jerry Reed, national expert on mental health and suicide prevention, and Senior Vice President, Education Development Center
“It’s a story of communal healing the likes of which could soften the heart of even the most jaded cynics…[captured] with all the respect and dignity it deserves.” Nathanael Hood, The Young Folks
“Scattering CJ gave people an opening to talk about suicide.” Lindsay Tice, Lewiston Sun-Journal.
“Scattering CJ is an intimate and heart-breaking tale which offers unique lessons about the power of human compassion.” Katka Reszke, Festival Director, ReelAbilities: Boston
“Scattering CJ demonstrates of the power of a simple heartfelt, brave, honest act. This is a wonderfully made, powerful and important film.” Dr. Katherine Schear, The Center for Complicated Grief, Columbia University.
“Now is the time that we really need to be proactive and invest in public mental health and in suicide prevention. I thank you all for your leadership and creativity in bringing forth this new film.” U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin (MD-8)
“Stories are at the heart of social movements. What a powerful piece of filmmaking. It’s a beautiful work of art.” Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas, Mental Health Advocate and Speaker
Awards
- Audience Award, Dunedin International Film Festival
- Pioneer Award for Excellence in Leadership & Public Service, Richmond International Film Festival
- Awards for Excellence for Documentary Feature, Women Filmmakers, and Contemporary Issues Awareness Raising, Impact DOCS
- Award of Excellence, Films for Social Change, Accolade Global Film Competition
- Award of Excellence, Documentary Feature, Accolade Awards
Festivals and Special Screenings
- Camden International Film Festival
- Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival
- ReelAbilities Film Festival: Boston
- DOCUTAH International Film Festival
- Dunedin International Film Festival
- Richmond International Film Festival
- Salem Film Fest
- Alexandria Film Festival
- FlickFair On Demand Film Festival
- Hope Rising for Suicide Prevention
- Female Filmmakers Fuse Festival
- 320 Festival
- Emerge Film Festival
- Annapolis Film Festival
- Part of program for National Council on Mental Wellness “Hill Day at Home,” sponsored by 16 bi-partisan members of Congress.
- Worldwide virtual screening to commemorate Survivors of Suicide Loss Day
- Centerpiece of Stronger Together “mental health bootcamp” event that featured panel discussions on suicide prevention, survivorship, and mental health initiatives
- Series of live and virtual screenings hosted by stage legislatures, national mental health advocates, community mental health and suicide prevention groups, including local chapters of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).
What academic subjects would this film be suitable for?
Scattering CJ would be a valuable documentary resource for high schools, community colleges and universities offering classes in health sciences, mental health, communications/social media and sociology.
What kind of film collection would this title be suitable for?
Scattering CJ would be a valued resource for film collections focusing on health sciences, mental health awareness, grief and survivorship studies, and communications/social media. The film could also fit into any unique library programs or events such as Mental Health Awareness Month, Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and Survivors of Suicide Loss Day.
1 of 11
The picture of CJ that Hallie Twomey gave to all the scatterers who brought CJ's ashes around the world
2 of 11
Producer Andrea Kalin (left) with Hallie Twomey (right)
3 of 11
CJ and Hallie Twomey
4 of 11
CJ's photo at the Pyramids of Giza
5 of 11
Hallie Twomey Interview
6 of 11
Hallie and John Twomey packing CJ's ashes for scatterers
7 of 11
Hallie, John and Connor Twomey at Memorial
8 of 11
Hallie Twomey packing CJ's ashes for scatterers
9 of 11
Heidi holding CJ's ashes at Joshua Tree National Park
10 of 11
Heidi scattering CJ's ashes at Joshua Tree National Park
11 of 11
Map of Scattering Locations