Deployment "Documentary" Trailer

MrGlory

MrGlory

Active member
Hello,

I deployed to Afghanistan as a Army National Guard Soldier and brought my own camera equipment. I filmed the deployment from start to finish in order to put together a nice unit video to give to the soldiers upon returning home, and to possibly be used as a training tool for those preparing to leave. I just put together this rough "trailer" of some of the footage and wanted to see how interested folks would be in watching something like this "outside" of the military (has the novelty of "over there" footage worn off?) and feedback on the style of the trailer itself:

Deployment Documentary Trailer - 13MB QT H.264 (or 9MB WMV)


I will be working on recruiting films and my own future deployments now using an HVX200, but I wanted to gauge a response to "cinematic" style filming of combat zone footage. If I did put together a releasable film, would interviews with soldiers be enough to carry it along, or do you feel a VO narrative is important? I usually find that the narrations force a lot of drama, but perhaps it is a necessary evil in these cases?
 
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Beautiful! I thought the cinematography was awesome. It really brought me into the reality of the place. It's not just like a static news photo - it really made me feel like I was seeing it and experiencing it with my own eyes. I didn't feel like an outsider looking in...I felt like I was in it. So it was pretty powerful in that sense. For narrations, I think it really depends on the story you have with your interviews. If you have enough meat to your interviews and can piece it together well enough to tell a complete story, without narration, then definitely do that. I think it would make it much more effective by leaving out any "outside" perspective on the situation and just let those involved in it tell the story. But, if doing that is too difficult or impossible then I think a well written narration track could be added to simply tie together the different elements. I think it is necessary to not let the narrator persuade people one way or another or add too much commentary - leave that to your interviewees, because that's who the story is really about. Like you said - don't force a lot of drama. If it is real, people will know. I think your video would definitely be effective outside of the military and that it not just a fun video for the unit - it should be shown to as many people as will watch. This is a true personal story about things that are real today. I encourage you to complete your project and to always keep in mind your reason for doing it, so as not to get discouraged. Keep up the great work!
 
Hey, thanks for the feedback, I appreciate it. I share your thoughts on the narration aspect, I'll definitely continue to play around with the footage trying to find a way to carry a watchable "story" along with the interviews and images. Whenever a documentary interjects the filmmaker's commentary or hindsight, I get turned off, but now I understand the why (outside of simply advocating an opinion) it just seems almost impossible not to in a 60-90min video without making a totally disjointed film (or on the otherhand, something that resembles a wildlife documentary), tricky indeed. To go along with the "trailer" I made a teaser poster based on a photo I took:

DeployedPoster.jpg
 
honestly if i saw that cover at blockbuster i would rent it just for the cover alone. I saw the footage and it looks great. Definitely try to pursue this further as a documentary. Try to incorporate a story or a theme add voice overs etc..i think it could work out.
 
side note: i'd put "Deployed" at the top and "a true life epic" at the bottom....just flip them. dont take it any other way, just a subjective opinion ;)
 
I agree with masterminds idea about flipping the title and the tag line. [coming from an advertising background - that's what I'd do.]
This a a project you have to finish. We've all read and seen so much about this, but the images I saw, and the mood of the trailer, are a totally fresh perspective - and seeing it from a soldiers perspective has huge potential.
Great stuff.

As for the structure of your film - have you read any books which might help you put it together? I have just ordered some from Amazon [still waiting for them]. I may be talking out of line here, as you may be totally bombed up on this, but it's just a thought.
Here are the titles I have on order:

"Directing the Documentary, Fourth Edition"
Michael Rabiger; Paperback; $49.95

"The Art of the Documentary : Ten Conversations with Leading Directors, Cinematographers, Editors, and Producers"
Megan Cunningham; Paperback; $28.34

"Writing, Directing, and Producing Documentary Films and Videos"
Alan Rosenthal; Paperback; $27.00

All three got excellent reviews.

I look forward to seeing your finished film! Good luck.
 
Thanks for your feedback, that is what I'm looking for, whether there is still interest in these images now that it almost seems the media is saturated by such poor quality shots. The hard part is telling a story from within situation. The story would mainly follow what it's like to be a National Guard person, called up, and living that life full time for a year. How folks coming from so many backgrounds and specialities come together for a single mission, and how those backgrounds provide the ingenuity (Starbucks Afghanistan or Christmas Parades etc.)to keep things interesting for the long haul. I want to do some follow up interviews to get the perspectives from the folks who go back to civilian life and there thoughts/hindsight.

Anyway, that's the angle I'm looking to take, but being that I have to do it on the side it's difficult to make the arrangements, but I'll keep at it.

As for the poster I left my PSD file on my wife's laptop who is of course out of state with it. I will do the title/tag swap in about a week and post the change.
 
No worries.
Hey, I'm curious to know what your kit is. Obviously you'd need gear that's tough and light. What tripod, mic, lights [if any], accesories did you use? Is that a monopod I see in your photo?
 
Now my kit is an HVX200 with Cartoni Focus tripod or Bogen Fig Rig, and for audio: Sennheiser Evolution G2 100 lavalier/receiver. Looking to get the Steadicam Merlin if it works like it's said to. We've got the DVRIGPRO to put through a good workout this summer as well.

While in Afghanistan I was using a Canon XL1 and a Bogen tripod. If you noticed the softness of the images by the way, it's because I've been editing in a 16x9 project by blowing the image up 33% (I wanted the final product to fit in the coming TV's correctly at all costs, so far I think the loss of resolution is acceptable). I had the Canon 3X Wide lens and carried a large leg pouch to hold either lens when one was on the camera itself. In that shot, it's not a monopod ;) :

filming.jpg


WilliamsMatthews.jpg
 
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Ha! Now I see. Yes, I didn't think Armalite made a tripod.
Thanks for the shots and the info on your rig. I'm like you - I will put up with a little lost res to accommodate 16:9 as well. And to be honest, I thought you'd have a far less prettier picture with a 30% blow-up.
 
Really enjoyed the trailer, Mr. Glory, and I think you need to get this out to the general public (at least try). I've seen a number of docs about Afghanistan and Iraq that offer soldiers' opinions, but I always wonder what was left on the cutting room floor and what was edited out by the filmmaker (regardless of the soldier's opinions.)

I have one suggestion about your trailer, but take it for what it's worth. Part of the text says something like "See the first world war of the new millineum.... through the eyes of a soldier." Now, I feel a little awkward saying this to someone who is doing what you do and serving our country while I'm sitting on my ass enjoying a leisurely lifestyle, but I'll say it anyway. Something about that phrasing seems to "lighten" the gravity of what you and others are doing over there busting your asses and risking your lives (regardless of how one feels about the politics and foreign policy decisions behind the war). It's the first line that hits me a little strangley somehow. I can't quite verbalize it - but it seems like we're going on an exotic tour or adventure (the viewer) and I'm guessing that's not how you soldiers always view the experience. Maybe if it just said "The war in Afghanistan... through the eyes of a soldier."

I hope I don't sound like an a$$hole here, because I think this has the potential to be a VERY successful film - maybe that's why I feel like I'd be doing a disservice by not offering my honest opinion.

Also, the book suggestions made above are really good. I just finished reading "Documentary Storytelling for Video and Filmmakers" which was invaluable reading regarding the narrative structure. That's strictly what this book focuses on - how to adapt narrative, storytelling structure to "real life" events in documentaries. I highly recommend it. Here's the link:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/02...f=pd_bbs_1/102-1291027-9224914?_encoding=UTF8

Best of luck, be safe, and keep us posted!
 
Hey, no offense to the suggestion at all. I can see where you're coming from on the statement, yours is the first comment on it of that nature that I've heard so that's cool. It's actually supposed to leave you with an odd fealing, because the reality is that it is a bizarre situation, it is an adventure, but it's real life too. The "World War" statement brings the gravity of the situation home that is lost in modern coverage. There were over 20 different countries in the base I was at. As you said, whether someone agrees with motives or not, the scope and long term effects of what is going in this world in this age, are powerfull.

It got me to pondering the effects of that statement more though. I think we Americans have spent a lot of time "watching" real and fake life on TV/Theater for so long we see ourselves outside of reality too easily, we think we've experienced more than we have because we've seen bits and pieces of someone elses representation of reality. Even as a soldier, and having grown up seeing various war movies, you can't be prepared for the "reality of reality" as it hits you when you're in it. You have to go through this mental process of removing all your mind's "filters" while you stand there surrounded by a reality that belongs to someone else, in their land with enough mines that it will take 2000 years to find them all at the current rate. As much as TV tries to "It's a Small World" our lives, there are more INSANE differences in our cultures than we're able (or in the Politcally Correct world, "allowed") to respect because we "know" what we've watched. There are aspects of these "other" cultures that are truly hideous and disgusting at every level because they are forced, not chosen, but it's all they know, and these are the aspects that of course are not translated to us in documentaries, which of course shape our "knowledge" of this world and reality, and allow us to "respect" them that much easier.

My thought is that while a lot of those that despise us, do so on a mental level, meaning they hate our ideology and our decadence with what we think and personal freedoms we enjoy, what I find in return is not that we can't handle our differences mentally, for we're taught to respect differences in thought, I think we have the most issues with what these other cultures actually DO to and FORCE on each other physically.

People seem to forget why all these borders and boundaries still exist in the world. It's certainly not because someone forgot to erase them.

So, maybe in the end, I might just be furthering the disservice to us after all. The ability for us to simply "view" someone else's reality through a screen is causing a lot more harm than good I think in current generations, and those that personally see us as a threat to their boundaries and the forced ways of life inside them know that about us and exploit it; but then because we can "watch" their hate through a screen, we can dismiss it all to easily and place too much faith in others to protect the way of life that we enjoy, from that hate. Without a two way interaction between presentation and viewer, perhaps some subjects shouldn't just be "presented" for consumption.

Anyway, thanks again for the comment, you made a good point and got me thinking... :)

P.S.
I don't want anyone to get me wrong, all of the above is my perspective from my experiences. It's not meant to start political debate, but to discuss whether perhaps we should be more cognicent of what we produce as reality and the effects it does have on how we co-exist. I know that a lot of our foreign policy both openly and covertly while doing many good things, has also done a lot to fuel the anger of those that hate us or even cause some to turn against us. It's all the more reason for us as citizens to be vigilant and educated in what we as a country actually do in this world. And what issues we collectively take a stand on.
 
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Gentlemen, if you don't mind me weighing in with my .00002 cents worth...
I think I agree with dustino. I remember feeling a certain reaction when those titles came up, but I couldn't put my finger on it.
And it was only after reading dustino's post and your excellent and thoughtful response Glory, that I was able to pinpoint it.
Because you are dead right - the process of having these major events filmed and compressed in time and size to fit a TV takes away the very thing that the viewer NEEDS to feel and understand - that this is for REAL, and it is happening to real people, most of whom, like most of us, just want to get on with their lives, love their family and want them safe, anda surprisingly are a lot more like us than we realise.
So, getting back to the line about the "first world war of the millenium.." for me this feels a little like the kind of thing that FOX or NBC might use, to sensationalise and "sell" this film. Please don't take this is a criticism, because I believe your thinking behind writing that line is solid, and it is an interesting way of looking at it. But the wording or something is hindering it. It just goes to show what a hard job it is to write great words.
I wonder is there a way to get it across by touching on that more human aspect. I don't know.

Your response really got me thinking, and you make a verry interesting point about the whole irony of how trying to show people this experience is actually causing a greater misunderstanding of it. I still need to think about it, but my gut says that if it is done well, with sensitivity and intelligence and with a firm idea of what the actual story is, it can make a difference. So hang in there.
I hope this makes sense.

It's amazing actually - your initial post has turned into a discussion that I would much rather have in person with you guys, over a beer and with a lot of time to really mull it over. Unfortunately the internet isn't quite there yet...

cheers
 
Very nicely done and great-looking footage. Good luck with it all. I agree that your eye lends itself to a fresh perspective. There's nothing tired about it.

You'd asked earlier {in this thread} about voice-over narration. If you've got the natural sound to pull it off without it, go for it.

Not sure if you've seen it but "Gunner Palace" incorporated the filmmaker's own voice almost like journal entries. I saw it in theaters and Military Channel bought it. Sometimes the narration worked, sometimes not so much. I think the difference here is that he was a civilian unlike yourself. There's a detachment because you're left wondering "What the...???!?? is this guy doing?!?!?!".

Go with your gut when looking for feedback however. Many times, people will suggest changes simply because it's not the way they'd do it. That doesn't make them better changes, just 'their' changes.

In your case, totally different vibe and very well done. Kudos....
 
Bunyip said:
It's amazing actually - your initial post has turned into a discussion that I would much rather have in person with you guys, over a beer and with a lot of time to really mull it over.
Click to expand...

That would be excellent, I'll see if we can't arrange some kind of joint U.S. / Australian excerise to film over there ;).
 
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