Corporal Parker is being charged with the death of one of his fellow brothers in arms. During interrogation and of the mission report, Parker relives the event and the trauma, remembering step by step his actions and the trauma that created his confusion.
I felt like the story behind Tango was one that needed to be told. As I have moved through life and worked in various fields I have made many friends that have served our country proudly, however many of them never get the treatment and support they ultimately need to cope with daily life once they return home.
These soldiers are taught how to kill and fight, but with the flip of a switch told to act “normal” and deal with the experiences they witnessed.
This film depicts the tip of an iceberg about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Unfortunately many that truly deal with this condition prefer not to seek treatment due to the stigma of their suffering being considered a weakness making them a less honorable soldier.
I hope this might serve as a spark to start a conversation and push forward the drive to develop a better reconditioning system for returning soldiers.
Corporal Parker firing his sidearm (blank gun)
Sargent Skinner explosion final composition
Composition overlay for explosion
This film took on a larger roll in my life as I started focusing my efforts on writing deeper characters and thinking more about the story instead of the quality of camera and equipment.
Working in corporate film, for the most part the story is already laid out or its pretty strait forward. However thinking more about the depths of a soldier and the experience of a soldier suffering with PTSD, I began to try to learn as much as I could.
I focused on creating the reality that I could to do justice to those who have served in military combat. I coordinated with a veteran who had been deployed numerous times as a military advisor not only on tactics but the effects of PTSD.
The military CID agent was an actual member of the military ranks having served on investigations. The other squad members work closely with military training missions at Fort Hood.
Corporal Parker interrogated by the CID Agent
Corporal Sizemore getting shot
Considering I have a huge interest in special effects and visual effects I wanted to explore squib body hits and wall impact hits to add further elements of realism.
Being a licensed pyrotechnician I was able to obtain and perform tests on the body hits for safety and accuracy of look. I purchased dark dust hit sweeny balls from a special effects supplier in California to create the look of bullet impacts on the walls.
Costumes and wardrobe was purchased through military surplus outfits around the metroplex. While a replica CID badge was ordered from an online retailer.
A front firing blank gun was utilized for the practical look and effect of a M9 handgun firing and cycling shell casings. The rifles used were all airsoft guns modified to appear as realistic as possible for camera.
