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INTERVIEWS
REVIEWS Movie Review on Blog "Grain of Sand" January 14, 2005 KIRBY URNER, "Grain of Sand" blog A&E Weekend Movie Review Seeing Iraq anew Friday, December 31, 2004 SHAWN LEVY, The Oregonian Embedded images from Iraq Mike Shiley shoots footage that digs deeper than media coverage Friday, December 31, 2004 JOSEPH GALLIVAN, The Portland Tribune Film critic David Walker reviews INSIDE IRAQ: THE UNTOLD STORIES I'd like to think that if local filmmaker Mike Shiley's powerful documentary had come out several months ago, it would have helped change the outcome of the presidential election. But if films like Fahrenheit 9/11 and the incredible Control Room didn't get the job done, then Inside Iraq wouldn't have a made a difference either. Still, Shiley's film is an incredible guided tour of the Iraq that has yet to be adequately portrayed in mainstream American media... Friday, December 29, 2004 DAVID WALKER, Willamette Week A Portland filmmaker tries to show both ends of the political spectrum "the pain of their viewpoints" Friday, December 28, 2004 The Oregonian Living Section Filmmaker puts unique focus on Iraq A Portland freelancer takes an unusual route to war and brings back what the mainstream media haven't Friday, November 19, 2004 SHAWN LEVY, The Oregonian Filmmaker looks 'Inside Iraq' Documentarian brings his film to WSU for showing and discussion November 2004 JENNIFER K. BAUER, The Lewiston Tribune Filmmaker goes up close in Iraq November 9, 2004 ELENA BORYCZKA, The Daily Evergreen AUDIENCE "I trust that all is going even far better than you had hoped introducing the public to your film--it has to be met everywhere with nearly resounding kudos. Not to mention the shedding of tears, I suspect. It's beautiful, Mike, gutwrenching and raw and necessary. I'm so glad you presented it as one man's view and didn't digress into partisanship. It would have been an utter crime to taint your story. Good luck with introducing the country to your film; I know you must be very proud." Kelly Neely "Many of us have struggled with our military involvement and political reasons for invading Iraq. We have questions that aren't sufficiently answered by the mainstream media. Mike Shiley took action and went to Iraq while the rest of us stayed home. While his video covers unpleasantness common to all wars, Shiley has captured the spirit of the Iraqi people, uncovered military abuses and reveals the heart of the soldiers featured. He provokes the audience to ask ourselves hard questions while giving us a beautifully shot video. Is he biased? Shiley is human. To see death and destruction up close and not have an opinion is to be without a conscience." Diane Dennis columnist, radio host, television producer "Thank you for taking the risks you did so that the rest of us could get a better understanding of what's happening on the ground over there. I saw the film at Cinema 21 last Thursday and bought a copy of the DVD. We are going to have some showings in our home for friends who didn't make it to either of the two Portland theaters. I think you did a tremendous and admirable job, both in the filming and selection of places to film and in the editing to make it all hang together as a coherent whole. I was blown away by your description of handling and using the heavy weapons as providing a kind of 'testosterone rush.' I personally can't imagine feeling that, but I'll admit I've never been in such a situation. I applaud you for undertaking this difficult and creative work. I think this film has a future as an important source of information for citizens who are confused about the US 'project' in Iraq. I hope it will help form a groundswell of protests that will get even the President's attention. Thank you for your most valuable contribution!" William M. Wiest Ph.D., Professor of Psychology Emeritus, Reed College "I saw Mike finally for the first time this evening at the screening of Inside Iraq. I've also viewed the website for the film too. What amazed me is the range of reviews you published on the website. I was also a bit amazed anyone could find anything wrong with the documentary. Then again some people would find something wrong with receiving a million dollars too! I had seen some of Mike's video on Ch.2 , but this Documentary is everything a Doc. ought to be.. I just wished I had seen it when I was a young Videojournalist back years ago. I spent over 20 yrs. as A TV News Videojournalist at WFMY-TV in Greensboro, NC, and shot for both CBS News off and on, quite a bit for CBS Sunday Morning News and Gannett. I should also add that I spent a few weeks in the middle east as part of Desert Storm so I went into Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait. I also have worked in N. Ireland and a few other hot spots. But my Lord, Mike has done so much on his own, has collaborated with others and now look at the result. This Documentary is nearly flawless, balanced to fine degree.. the editing was classic and should be included in all "J" schools, in all Schools training future Documentary and News people. THe Sound Track, music, the way it was written, produced etc.. so mirrored my best friend and former Producer Andy Lockett who I worked with for many years. I only wish I could have worked with the three of you. Great going, I sure hope this film sees entry into festivals the world over and makes the impact it deserves to make. Thanks..." Jim Waters, Ph.D. Artisan Media "It was great to meet you yesterday as brief as it was. I was so impressed by your film and really impacted by it, you put a human face to this incredibly devastating war." Michel Jackson The Portland Film Project "Mike, I watched your film this evening at Cinema 21 here in Portland....I was in tears many times throughout. I don't normally send emails to strangers, but I just wanted to say "Thank You so much" for doing this film. It is very powerful and so important. The still shots that were shown before the movie started were also amazing. It was a bit difficult to watch them while some of my fellow theatre goers continued to chit-chat as, I suppose, they felt the movie had not started yet. Still the photos were very intense. I stood at the end and listened to you talking with folks. I have often found myself feeling caught in the middle, just as you described it. I feel so sad about what we are doing in Iraq... to the Iraqi people. And yet I cannot hate the vast majority of men and women in our armed forces, who are so young and inexperienced with life, and have so little understanding of what they have been thrust into. People want to make this mess into something black or white, but it is neither. Your film helped people to see that. I will let as many people as possible know to come see it. Anyway, just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your work. Be well and Good Luck." Nancy Grotton "I'm glad I got to thank you for the screening tonight. I would have found it difficult to say more because of the sorrow I was feeling. I admire very much the position you took with this film. Regardless of how we feel as individuals, there is so little information made available (other than on a completely superficial level typified by news reports) that deals with the human scale of the situations individuals find themselves trapped within. Dehumanization is a horrible process, a huge lie that promotes the most heinous actions. So, thanks for keeping the human so central to your piece. Thanks again, Mike. A very powerful piece." David Bryant President, Portland Independent Film Producers Group "I just got home from tonight's showing of your movie. After reflecting on it, I think that what I appreciated most was that you did not have any apparent agenda in the production of this movie. You did what I think journalists (even though you don't claim to be one) are SUPPOSED to do: report, and provide an analysis. Thank you very much. (If only Fox were that fair and balanced.....ooops, did I just commit some kind of copyright infringement?) Good Luck." Rhonda Baseler "I am a Vietnam veteran whose life has taken many turns, each turn, each new experience gives evidence that war is a seductive hell and peace is a bride of romance from which the dreams of building a family gives promise. In your film I see you seduced by the adventure, the danger, the machismo need to fire a gun. I know the feeling, I was a machine gunner in Nam, the trouble is guns kill. Adrenalin fevers can never burn away the memory of the innocent dead. Your insider look was better than most, you seemed to be looking on both sides of the street, there is an aire of objectivity and irony to this documentary. The irony is waxed in both soldiers and Iraqis. Where some soldiers do try to make humanitarian efforts to provide food, clean water, training and the like but somehow even this good guy image doesn't sit well in my gut. I just wonder how I would feel if my house was invaded by a bunch of criminals, or liberators, or whatever they called themselves and my house is destroyed in the process. They move in, maybe they killed one of my children, they take the master bedroom, the kitchen and we have to ask permission to use our own bathrooms. There is one of them that offers my children some candy and maybe some small amounts of food and water. My child smiles at this perceived kindness and I thank this person for his or her kindness but do you think I have any love for these murders, that I accept this indignity? That I must now have to bow, give thanks, smile and praise the invaders of my home? Yes, this is an irony of war and occupation. Or the idea that we have come to bring democracy to this puritanical Islamic cultural and you show us the market filled with pornography the Wests idea of freedom and the liberation of women. The irony of this pulls both ways as so called Islamic Iraqi men, a people so fanatic that they strap bombs to themselves and cry out to Allah with their lives and the lives of their enemies. These men so pure of heart, so fierce in their morals flock to the markets and theaters to spend their few resources to purchase and watch the sexual exploites of the white devils. Your film walks a difficult line, I can neither say this is a pro-war nor anti-war film, I can say only that it is a brief look, a quick sideways glance at the survivors of the streets of Iraq and a kind of non-condemming look at the soldier as a person not as a killing machine. It has inspired me to write you, I am troubled by the ironies, I see a need for a film that could not only look at what is happening but could take the courage to critique it, condemn it and try and stop it. Maybe your film will help spark that kind of thinking and hopefully that kind of film. I saw your film at Cinema 21 and only briefly mentioned to you that I was working with a young videographer to make a documentary on Vietnam to the present veterans. You said you might be interested in some colaboration. Peace." Dan Shea Education WithOut Borders, www.ewobusa.org "I had the privilege of seeing this extraordinary film this past weekend (1/1/05) in Portland. I found it very profound and moving." Jennifer Winn "I think the questions you raised last night are part of the conversation we should all be having, and I think it is really admirable that you did the work to help us to have it. Keep it up!" Andrea Bielenstein The Harvard Alumni Club of Boston "Mike, Just a quick e-mail to say I think your film offers a unique perspective of the Iraqi conflict. Never before have we, as a country/society, had as much access to information about national and international events. However, I think the line has become blurred between objective reporting and opinion-based editorials. All too often reporters, writers, and film makers have a political or social agenda. And that leaves the viewer with the tedious task of having to decipher fact from fiction/spin. So thank you for taking your "man on the street" approach to a story that needs to be told. You followed through on your promise to take us "Inside Iraq"." Aimee Clark "Mike, This afternoon, my family and I saw your movie. Thank you for putting yourself in harms way to bring the truth to the American people. I must commend you on your "neutral" presentation of the facts of the mess in Iraq." Steve Weiss " Hi. I am a retired veteran (Vietnam era) an I think you are being very liberal with your views. I will do everything I can to get you off the radio. Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition." Portland, OR "My name is Dawn Lett and I am the Family Readiness Group Leader for the 671st En Co. My brother is the guy with the antlers on at Christmas. I went and saw your movie last Friday on the recommendation of JJ Morris. Honestly I am one of those tree hugging, everybody love your brother, out with Bush people and I have to admit I was a bit leery about going. It really was one of the best movies I have seen in a long time. You portrayal was non-political and very human. Having so many friends with the 671st I hear their stories and try to produce a mental picture of what things must have been like for them and what they have seen. Now I have a much better understanding. Christmas last year was a very hard time for myself and many other families with soldiers who weren't at home. It did my heart good to see them enjoying the season as best as they could and smiling. Thank you so much for having the interest, taking the time and putting yourself in pretty sketchy situations in order to tell the your story, the people of Iraq's story, and the story of the soldiers serving. Sincerely, Dawn Lett "I'm not sure which is more engaging and enlightening, the content and production of this particular project, or the enviable (emulateable?) abandon with which you exploit such worthwhile passion. No matter, both offer a contagion we may all benefit from. How refreshing to leave a theatre intelligently challenged beyond sleep. Again, congratulations on creating a vehicle that will touch many. I consider myself lucky to be one. The momentum is so clearly apparent, it leaves one fascinated and curious about the projects that preceeded this." Kimberley Mansfield "Thanks again for the great forum, Mike. Several IWW members remarked to me what a great forum it was and regretted that more people weren't there to see and hear it. Your efforts really yielded a unique view of events that are effecting us all in so many ways. Without efforts like yours we are just pawns of those who do know what is going on and have their private agendas and pursue them in our name. I wish you success and good luck with your film and future reporting and I know we would all love to have you come back and speak to us again. Stay safe, Gary Bills Industrial Workers Of the World - Portland Area Industrial District Council "Just want to express my disappointment in your documentary. I was hoping to get an honest appraisal of what was really happening in Iraq. Your documentary was as slanted as the rest of network news especially Nightline. My sense is you, like your liberal colleagues had a story about Iraq prior to going to Iraq. Your story was a grid as to what you filmed and what you wanted to hear." Rock Valley Iowa "I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your efforts in producing the film Inside Iraq. I attended the Walker Lecture in Concord, NH on October 27th. I was quite intrigued. I felt the film was disturbing, sad, humbling and devastating. However, I did smile a few times and remain hopeful that Iraq will come to a resolution in resolving their issues. You are a brave soul. I currently have a 19 year old son serving in the US Army over in Korea. He has orders to go to Iraq in March 2005. I pray that life for the Iraqi's changes for the better in the near future. As a mother, It frightens me to even entertain the thought of my son going to a place filled with such hostility. For my son, he wants to go, he feels the need to be there. Only you can identify with such a feeling. I praise you for your efforts in sending your message to Americans as to what is really happening in Iraq. You are quite a catch, wish you lived closer! :) I wish you all the best!!" Sincerely, Carrie Rodd, Manchester, NH |
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