OR: What was the inspiration for your film?

CF: I knew I wanted to do a film on American soldiers, but I just didn’t know how I was going to execute it in an easy to follow story. Then my fellow classmate/Producer Rylee Atkinson gave me the idea of starting with the Iraq War and going back in time and showing the audience the wars and troubles our military has gone through, but they always are ready to serve.

OR: When did you conceive the idea for your film and how long did it take before it was realized?

CF: I was sitting at school when it was announced that each of the students must complete an end of the year project. I’m not to big on projects, but I knew this would be a great time to tell the teacher that I was willing to produce a short documentary as long as I didn’t have to write a paper or something like that. The teacher said yes.. I asked a class mate to help… and here we are after a few awards later.

OR: What was the most challenging aspect of working in a short film format?

CF: I am no professional by any means! I am simply a 17 year old amateur who is an aspiring director who was looking for a way out of a homework assignment. I found the hardest part was trying to convey the entire story in such a short time and trying to get people on board to help, even though they would not be getting paid.

OR: What was the most challenging aspect of your production?

CF: Deadlines!! The script wasn’t finished until we were shooting and I hadn’t even seen the script yet. Then I had a week to edit everything and mix the sound. I ended up staying up to 2 A.M. to get it finished, hit the render button, went to bed and woke up at 5:30 to go to school only to find that the render had failed. So I had to render it at the last minute and had a bunch of technical difficulties. At the end of the day, about 100 people saw it and their were many tears from the parents. All in all, that hardship and stress was worth it. (I feel like now would be a good time to tell you this was a no budget film, and I really need money to produce more films, so if you are reading this and have an extra dollar, would you ever be so kind to spare one, nah I’m joking but an extra dollar would be nice.)

OR: Do you have any advice for first-time filmmakers?

CF: It seems like every video I watch they all say the same thing. For a while when I would hear other filmmakers say “pick up a camera and shoot” I would unconsciously become depressed. I was thinking they were going to tell me the secret tip to getting distribution and agents… and millions, but over and over again they all said the same thing. I’m only 17, but I’m just now following that advice, so that is the best advice I can give you. Find something you love and shoot it to death, If you don’t you will only regret it. I look forward to seeing your film on the big screen!