People:

This summer, Justin Timberlake accepted a servicewoman’s invitation to attend the Instructor Battalion Marine Corps Ball, and Saturday he made good on that promise.

“What I didn’t know was how moved I would be by the whole experience,” Timberlake, 30, posted afterwards on his website.

Politico:

“To all of you that serve every day for us… Ensuring our freedom, I say: My deepest gratitude to you. I’ve met so many of my heroes… From Michael Jordan to Michael Jackson. And, nothing makes me feel more honor and pride than when I get to meet one of you. Last night changed my life and I will never forget it,”

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From KGTV ABC San Diego:

Two student filmmakers are bringing the stories of U.S. Marines wounded in combat in Iraq to light. Ryan Smith and fellow student Sebastian Maselli entered their documentary, “The Blood We Shed,” for consideration in the national G.I. Film Festival and it was accepted.

The festival, now in its fifth year, draws entries from professionals, as well as top film schools, but this was a project both were connected to. Maselli spent seven years as a Marine and was among the first wave of troops sent to Iraq in 2003. He finished his active duty tour at the Wounded Warrior Battalion at Camp Pendleton.

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I first heard about Battle: Los Angeles last year while attending Comic Con in San Diego.  As you can imagine, there were quite a few projects being hyped that weekend and, honestly, I didn’t pay too much attention to this particular film.  Why?  Because, when it comes to projects that feature our military, I’ve been let down too many times before.  My first reaction is typically, “Here we go again.”

As the trailers started to circulate the web, I begrudgingly admitted they looked pretty cool.  My geek streak is certainly wide enough to get down with some old-fashioned alien invasion stuff and I realized that the movie would feature my beloved Marine Corps, OSR (Ooh-Stinkin’-Rah). However, my distrust still prevented me from getting excited about it.

As the release date neared, I was torn.  Do I go see the movie, take my licks and try to enjoy the action aspect of it or do I give it a pass?  I decided on the latter.  I was not going to pay good money to go watch my brothers and sisters get crapped on again.

Then, last week I read an article in which Aaron Eckhart talked about the film:

“This movie, in my opinion, is meant to be a love letter to the Marines. We had their full cooperation. They had my full cooperation. I tried to get it right. I think this movie is very reverent towards the military and reverent towards the ranks, both the officers and the Marines and the grunts. I don’t see how any Marine can see this movie and feel like they’ve been at all taken advantage of. I think this is going to be an oo-rah moment for them.”

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“Chosin,” winner of Best Documentary Feature at the 2010 GI Film Festival opens in theaters this week. Produced by combat decorated Marines (and NY City friends) Brian Iglesias and Anton Sattler, this Academy qualifying theatrical exhibition is sponsored by PepsiCo. There will also be a Q & A with filmmakers at all of the Fri, Sat, & Sun shows (more info on that below). 

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After 60 years of silence, the survivors of the Chosin Reservoir Campaign of the Korean War take viewers on an emotional and heart-pounding journey through one of the most savage battles in American history.  In the winter of 1950, 15,000 U.S. troops were surrounded and trapped by 120,000 Chinese soldiers in the frozen mountains of North Korea. Despite overwhelming odds, the men never lose faith in each other. Refusing to surrender, the men fight their way to freedom through 78 miles of unforgiving, mountainous terrain and ultimately save the lives of 98,000 civilian refugees.  

In the years before Anton and I met, our professional careers ran along parallel paths.  Upon graduating from film school, we both served as Marine Corps infantry officers and deployed twice to fight in Iraq, leading U.S. Marine and Iraqi forces in combat.  In the fall of 2008, we returned to civilian life.  Six years had passed since college graduation, and our responsibilities had left us no time to focus on the long-term goal of becoming filmmakers.  The economy was horrible and our industry connections were few, but after surviving our experiences at war, neither of us was willing to give up on our dream. (more…)

Back in the late seventies I spent four years on active duty in the Marine Corps. As my military obligation was nearing completion I began a job search in the private and public sector. I narrowed my public sector job hunt to the FBI and the CIA. The CIA responded first and the application journey was like a Robert Ludlum thriller. My first interview was in a large room with only two chairs. Seated across from me was a man with a scar from ear to ear. I envisioned him being garroted in some third world country–he had my attention. Apparently I impressed him enough to recommend me in the next step of their process. Multiple flights from California to D.C. using assumed names, paying for everything in cash, meeting in safe houses, and submitting to a variety of tests only added to the mystique.

Alas however, it was not meant to be. A major stumbling block was a personality test the Agency gave all Jack Bauer wannabes. Scoring applicants on a 0-10 scale…a zero meaning you could live on a deserted island for years, a ten meaning you had to be constantly surrounded by people…I scored a ZERO. Yep, a zero. The psychologist said in all the years of administering the test he had never seen “a zero personality.” Now, I admit I somewhat skewed my answers. I figured they were looking for paid assassins they could drop behind enemy lines and remain secreted for weeks. Wrong! The agency was looking for “threes” and “fours.” On occasion my wife still reminds me I have been rated a zero personality by the federal government. I actually think I’m up to a .5, maybe even a one, but needless to say I’m not really comfortable in public settings making small talk… unless I’m undercover (but then I’m a completely different persona and my criminal alter ego takes over). (more…)

Relax…this is not another NAMBLA story but give me a break. If you spent three years infiltrating a group of pedophiles you’d have a few stories serving as life lessons.

NAMBLA has a magazine but not a centerfold. If they did my nominee would be John from San Francisco. He was truly one of the more interesting characters I met at the Miami NAMBLA conference. Heavyset, in his late fifties, with his Mohawk hairstyle, a bad case of dandruff, earrings, shorts, and black knee high socks he made quite a fashion statement whenever he entered a room. John identified himself as a “gaythiest.”  He had been to prison twice for child molestation and was caught a third time but for some unstated reason the victim refused to cooperate with the police. John admitted to being “out as a gay” and “out as an atheist” but “those things are different. You go around saying you like to run your hands through a little boy’s hair, or you like to kiss him or do other things like that, it doesn’t get the same reaction.” My only response is, “dah!” (more…)