Tears shed at The War Days sound test - by N.L. Belardes
I was walking home yesteday, about to cross Eye Street when I bumped into reporter at large, James Burger. "How are you?" he said.
"I'm just trying to stir up trouble with my blog."
"I can see that," he smiled.
I've been getting emails from folks in the music community who had a good laugh about some recent trouble stirred up regarding threats I received. It was all some debate-centered fun, but it was time to move on.
And then Burger talked a little bit of politics... "You know, how politics can stir up debate. I like that."
I agreed, kind of like the Vietnam theme in the War Days Movie and the politics of sending kids to war...
Two days ago, I was at the Spotlight Theatre while they tested sound for the upcoming premiere of the blood and guts movie Landen Belardes directed, The War Days. Their sound man, Danny, watched the film and suddenly said, "Oh man!" He was full of tears...
It had just hit him that here was a film by kids who captured the spirit of Vietnam, who captured how kids were sent off to war, not really knowing what they were doing, or where they were going, while barely holding onto friendships. "My friends who died over there were like these kids," he said. His eyes were red, full of tears for the uncertainty of war, for the pain of lost friends. At first he said, "Please don't tell anyone I cried." But then upon further reflection he said, "You know what. You can tell people. Because this film is that important. I had so many friends who died who were just like these kids..."
The average age of death for an American soldier in Vietnam? 19...
The average age for an actor in the War Days movie? 14
"I'm just trying to stir up trouble with my blog."
"I can see that," he smiled.
I've been getting emails from folks in the music community who had a good laugh about some recent trouble stirred up regarding threats I received. It was all some debate-centered fun, but it was time to move on.
And then Burger talked a little bit of politics... "You know, how politics can stir up debate. I like that."
I agreed, kind of like the Vietnam theme in the War Days Movie and the politics of sending kids to war...
Two days ago, I was at the Spotlight Theatre while they tested sound for the upcoming premiere of the blood and guts movie Landen Belardes directed, The War Days. Their sound man, Danny, watched the film and suddenly said, "Oh man!" He was full of tears...
It had just hit him that here was a film by kids who captured the spirit of Vietnam, who captured how kids were sent off to war, not really knowing what they were doing, or where they were going, while barely holding onto friendships. "My friends who died over there were like these kids," he said. His eyes were red, full of tears for the uncertainty of war, for the pain of lost friends. At first he said, "Please don't tell anyone I cried." But then upon further reflection he said, "You know what. You can tell people. Because this film is that important. I had so many friends who died who were just like these kids..."
The average age of death for an American soldier in Vietnam? 19...
The average age for an actor in the War Days movie? 14
This entry was posted by N.L. Belardes, on
Saturday, May 14, 2005.
You can leave your response.
leave a response