Veterans' Stories: An interview with filmmaker Michael King
Director Michael King and panelists at the New York State Military Museum. (photo, Urvi Kalra, '18)
The most valuable events MDOCS hosts are ones that not only have a Skidmore tie-in, but have a strong community connection as well. The screening of When War Comes Home was just that: a story centered around
Director Michael King
Iraq/Afghanistan veterans returning home from war to find that their invisible wounds would prove to be their greatest challenge yet. To make this screening more meaningful for all attendees, MDOCS partnered with the New York State Military Museum and Latham Joint Force Headquarters to host the screening at the museum with veterans in attendance and on the stage for a panel discussion following the film. The panelists included Jordanna Mallach (Iraq/Afghanistan), Eric Olsen (Iraq/Afghanistan), Ed Bushey (Korea) and Robin Temple and Charles Bearce (Vietnam).
The film, directed by award-winning filmmaker Michael King, follows three soldiers returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan as they try to acclimate themselves into civilian life. "An estimated 20% of the 2.6 million military service members who served in Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from post-traumatic stress (PTS)," states King. PTS is gradually becoming a more recognized condition in the military communities, as its effects can at times be debilitating and not only affect the veteran, but as the film proves, also the family members and friends supporting them.
Visiting the Perspectives of War class at Ballston Spa HS.
King's visit incorporated two screenings of the film, one at the New York State Military Museum on Thursday (October 13) and one the following night at the New York State Museum in Albany, New York. He also visited Nicky Tavares's "Documentary Film Production" class and Cecilia Aldarondo's "Documentary Writing" course. King also paid a special visit to Ballston Spa High School to visit a class on perspectives of war to further the conversation of filmmaking with a younger generation.
MDOCS student Emily Rizzo '18 sat down with King during his visit to discuss more about this topic and his career in filmmaking. Listen to the interview clip here.
