When we woke up to a flurry of emails started by Robert at 3 in the morning, we knew something big was brewing. We knew that the next movie had found us, and we were soon to be off on a wild ride of hyper-speed, micro-budget, documentary filmmaking.
I thought when I started working on Wal-Mart with its breakneck schedule and ultra thin budget was an impossible feat to achieve. We made it… barely.
On Iraq for Sale, we had less time, less money and some would say higher stakes-- the ’06 midterm elections. We needed a plan and we needed a team.
Organizing chaos is what I do. It’s a careful dance between what Robert needs to tell the story and the realities of time and money. We had many meetings about being tactical, about spending more time researching and plotting the story out on paper. Limit the number of production days. Limit the number of edit days. That’s where these things get expensive. It’s hard for a director to confine the story to paper. Paper isn’t film. It doesn’t have the same feel. It doesn’t convey the same emotion. But it’s a heck of a lot cheaper.
Our crew on Iraq for Sale was unflappable, dedicated and tireless. They made the paper come to life. They stuck to the schedule, even when it was clear there were not enough hours in the day to get through the mountain of work.
Perhaps more remarkable, was that Robert stuck to the schedule. It may have helped that our editor Carla’s last day was the day before she left to get married. Robert has no fear when it comes to taking on war profiteers and mega corporations, but he knows better than to mess with a bride.
The whole Iraq war was unnecessary. Some Green Berets could have parachuted in a distance away, found Hussein and taken him prisoner.
All the lives of our soldiers would have been saved and Hussein would be captured.
I do not trust the present administration. They have withheld information and lied to citizens.
If it were up to me I would impeach the president.
Dear JS,
I don't know what the families might receive if their claims are sustained in a court of law. No one at Brave New Films has asked that question of the brothers, sisters, wives, sons and daughters whose loved ones were killed in Iraq because of corporate malfeasance or the cutting of corners to make a few dollars more. Every family member I spoke with believes that there is absolutely no price that could be attached to the loss of those who will never return to them. I believe that to be a basic, honest, and right response to one of the most profound emotional injuries a human can experience.
Sincerely,
Kerry Candaele
Story Producer, Brave New Films
How much do the families in the lawsuit hope to receive after the lawsuit is settled? Thanks.
Check out T. Christian Miller's post in the Huffington Post today: "For the first time in three and a half years, with more than $30 billion already spent, the chief watchdog body of theRepublican-controlled House held a hearing yesterday on the reconstruction of Iraq. Now that's oversight!"
Keep the pressure on-- it looks like the film is working!
Dear JS,
I am the story producer who interviewed all the families involved with Iraq For Sale. No one was paid for participating. All the participants saw the issues covered in Iraq For Sale as important to bring before a public debate about war profittering in Iraq, and we have never considered paying anyone for thier honest, and in many cases deeply heartfelt, testimony. Thank you for the inquiry, as the same question is probably on many people's minds.
Sincerely,
Kerry Candaele
Brave New Films
In reading blogs in the Wichita Eagle newspaper today (Sept 29) there was a link to a story done by NPR recently about a poorly constructed $75 million Security Training Center -- in it it states:
"Melissa Block talks with Stuart W. Bowen, special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction, about the two reports. Bowen released both reports as he prepared to testify before the House Government Reform Committee, which has been looking into waste and fraud in billions of dollars worth of Iraq reconstruction projects."
I purchased your film and was planning on showing it to friends and neighbors. But in light of the above comments on NPR I am very reluctant to do so because it doesn't seem to be totally accurate. What is your take on the House Government Reform Committee mentioned above? It seems to discredit your films claim that congress is doing nothing. Please email me directly -- I wasn't able to find an address to email you directly on the Iraq for Sale web page.
Here is a link to the NPR story:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6161944
How much are the families getting paid for their interviews for the film?
You should have it any day now.
Sarah,
Very interesting behind the scenes stuff. Does this mean that the DVDs will start shipping to those of us who plan to do screenings?
While we do have a backup plan to show "The Big Buy" if this doesn't come out in time, it would be reassuring to know that the DVDs are in the mail.
Thanks,
Kim
http://dcdl.org