CC helping filmmaker raise funds

Filmmaker Chris McIntrye at the Marine Corps War Memorial in Washington, D.C. CC Ray Elliott is helping to find funding for the documentary “Angels at War.”

Ray Elliot
USMCCCA Member
I met Marine Corps Vietnam veteran (1967-71) and filmmaker Chris McIntrye at the Washington, DC, Memorial Day Parade where my daughters participated in the parade with the Spirit of ’45  and a  wreath was laid at the Marine Corps War Memorial just outside of Arlington National Cemetery. His most recent film is “21 and a Wakeup” that “is based on a dozen true stories, most surrounding the final days of the 24th Evacuation Hospital, the last major Army hospital in the south to close as America abandoned Southeast Asia.”

Written, directed and produced by McIntyre, the cast includes Amy Acker, JC Chasez, Danica McKellar, Faye Dunaway, Tom Sizemore, Ed Begley, Jr., Wes Studi, Andre Royo, Tim Thomerson and Ben Vereen.

Lieutenant Mary Marsh, a nurse who served in the 3rd Field Hospital in Saigon, says, “Nowhere have I seen what military nurses go through shown more realistically. I believe this is the best portrayal of women at war ever put on film.”

Now Chris is completing a related and companion documentary, “Angels at War,” where he interviews 100 Nurses, Doctors, Corpsmen and Patients about the Medical Corps in Vietnam from ‘63 through ‘73. The most powerful part of the documentary, he says, “are interviews with family and coworkers of the eight nurses killed in Vietnam — the only eight female names on the Wall along with 58,274 men.

See http://www.21andawakeup.com/angelsatwar.html for more information and also how you can help make this documentary a reality. Normally, Chris said he’d finance it himself, but the Agent Orange cancer from his two tours in Vietnam has returned so aggressively that most of his savings goes to his stage-four cancer care, so he could only afford to invest $20,000 which he has already done. The goal now is to raise the final $30,000 to complete the documentary.

There are three ways you can help financially:

1) The first is an actual investment of $1,000 or more, which will be returned next year with 20% interest when he will license 21 and a Wakeup to television and DVD.

2) The second option is to leave the $1,000 as an investment in both the Angels at War and 21 and a Wakeup where 1% of all revenue from Angels plus 1/10 of 1% of all income from 21 is paid to the investor in perpetuity, though there is no guarantee how much this might be.

3) Lastly donations in any amount can be repurposed after Veterans Day to one of several Vietnam Women’s Military Charities between November 2013 and the end of the year for a full tax write off.

He hopes to have the necessary funds all together soon “because this time of year provides a unique opportunity to rent editing suites, telecine bays, etc since they’re largely unused until July 8 when the TV production season starts and runs 24/7 through Thanksgiving.” For only $30,000 now, he says he can rent equipment and services now that will cost close to $100,000 after July 8. When Angels is complete Chris “will donate the masters to the Library of Congress and National Archives so the story of the brave and dedicated folks who served under almost impossible circumstances half a world away two generations ago will be preserved forever.”

He doesn’t want to promise anyone they’ll make any money because it’s a fairly obscure subject, which is why he is only looking for a small amount of money in contributions or investments. Most of the interviews are already done, so artistically it should turn out okay, he believes. But more importantly, he says, “If I don’t tell their story, I’m not sure anyone ever will.” Which is why I agreed to make a contribution and see if anyone else would be willing to help.

I have several DVDs of  21 and a Wakeup, news articles and two pages of quotes I can send you, if you have an interest in helping financially or would like to be interviewed for the documentary. One of the most poignant quotes is from Everett Alvarez, Jr., CDM, USN (Ret) who was shot down over the Gulf of Tonkin in 1964 and was Hanoi Hilton’s longest serving POW. He said, “The hardships, danger, suffering, dedication and raw reality of the Medical Corps are vividly detailed in this powerful, dramatic, epic production.” Let me know, and I’ll send the DVDs and material. He asked me to pass along to me the names of those who receive the DVDs and ask them if he might contact them directly. Or if you’d like to contact him for more information, let me know, and I’ll give you his e-mail and/or phone number. I also have the agreement, if you are interested.

Ray Elliott, Tales Press
2609 N. High Cross Road
Urbana, IL 61802
217-384-5820
talespress@talespress.com, http://www.talespress.com