Rest When You're Dead
- added July 12, 2006
- 20 responses
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- HereandNowFilms
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Garth Stewart is a freshman at Columbia University. He is 23 and fought in the invasion of Iraq. This pod follows Garth as he speaks of his time in Iraq, his schoolwork, and his political aspirations.
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- HereandNowFilms
- 07/12/06
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This is a great truthful pod. Thanks Garth for protecting our country our freedom.
Clean up the cut going into the party, it was confusing and seemed out of place.
Greenlight all the way. -
This is a compelling pod - the character draws you in - his experience as a soldier in the war colors who he is and influences the decisions he makes about his future. The plot takes us a journey, we travel with him, experience a few suprises, and ultimately we understand the reality of a returning veteran. It is always uplifting to see someone who faces challenges and chooses to see them as opportunities. Garth is determined to build the life he wants to live, no matter what.
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Thank you Mr. Stewart for going to war to protect me and my family and the rest of us here in America. Great story, much truth in what Mr. Garth Stewart says. An easy Green Light from me - Thanks again - Rich T
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I loved the way you told this story. Great in every technical element. I only wish the sound in the subway (near the middle) were shorter or at least more pointed. I wasn't really following.
But yeah, great job. GL -
As Garth's aunt I was really impressed with this video interview.
He has challenged alot in his life and grew up in a very poor enviroment. Althought some may look at a loss of limb as a tragedy, Garth has used the loss to make great gains in his life. My admiration of him is limitless. I do have one comment tho, the picture at the beginning of the clip of the couple is not his parents. The audio -vs- the picture seemed to suggest this. Just wanted to clarify. Garth will go far I believe. His gift of communication, and the fact that his outlook on life is that of a successful person will take him far. He has overcome much and will continue to move in the right direction. We (his family) love him and are VERY proud.... -
Hi Jcarro,
Thank you for your comments and impressions. We had Garth over just a day ago to show the piece to him. He really loved our work but, also, pointed out that the photo (that was in his photo album) was of different parents (not his own!) We are in the process of making the changes for an updated version to be aired on television. Stay tuned!
Michael and Edward-
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- HereandNowFilms
- 07/19/06
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Garth is not a person I feel I superficially relate to, nor did I feel initially, that I would be interested in anything he had to express.
This pod changed my mind and I believe his story is absolutely important and must be seen as much as anyone elses.
Garth seems to be a man willing to be led soley by his personal conviction and that in and of itself is bold. For some people such an action can become courageous, and I think Garth is one of those people. Even though I don't agree with the decisions he made initially.
I greenlight this pod because it really gave me a powerful view of an issue that I generally dissagree with (the war in Iraq, the idea that fighting in iraq automatically secures our freedoms, which it doesn't) because it's important to understand what motivates all of our actions in this world.
In my opinion this is the entire point of current, telling stories of people that inform, especially stories that you may on first glance think or expect to not be important to you.
On the personal/technical side:
I would like to have seen the end statement of what it cost him to go to college, come earlier in the piece, maybe connected to the area when he states he has to hit the books.
Then (of course my opinion) maybe there would be a place to add the statement said to Garth by the anti-war protesters "burden", then back to the dinner, and ending with "...I wanna serve..."
This pod is 90% amazing from start to the 6:17 point however everything from that point on is quality yet, I think from 6:17 on you have an arrangement that is less impacting. The clips from that point on might be better as v.o. added in various earlier parts of the pod.
Goodluck! -
TJ Walkup of www.omnificproductions.com says:
This was a great POD! I thought that Garth was positive and focused. He is poised and speaks with high hopes. In general I liked the service man as he is presented here. The reason for my green light wasn't because I believe for a second that Garth has been protecting my Freedom or defending Democracy. It is because he should be seen, with his new foot. He should consider what really makes a man free. There are many reasons we should support our troops. We cannot how ever let them be lied too or use these young mens bodies to defend a perverted view of freedom as Bush has presented. We have been wreckless in our use of power and the "people" need to turn that tide around to work for peace. This is a young man that could go to college even if he hadn't lost his foot. He is bright, positive and unfortunatley unremarkably illogical about the war. perhaps he will be informed one day. The truth will support our troops.
Garth deserves to see the truth for what it is. I support my brother in that truth. Do not be a pawn for the rich, the war mongers or the politicians on the hill. We are not a civilised race until we can do away with violence for diplomacy. -
As much as I hate war, this was yet another powerful story hard to ignore. Its too bad life is how it is :\ GL
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I tried to comment earlier, but it didn't post.
Anyway, great job telling the soldiers story. It's something that most people never get to hear. Hope it goes far!
check out my video link-
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- MarshallsMedia
- 07/21/06
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Airing this video belittles the real travesties of the Iraqi war. In this regard it is arrognat and wrong.
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As a disabled VietNam Vet I can relate to everything he had to say in the video. Trouble is Garth does have a touch of PTSD, I can see it in his eyes and hear it in his voice. I hope he gets help from the VA quickly.
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- floodlight
- 07/22/06
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Good job.
Garth: keep going! -
I myself am a disabled veteran. I didn't sacrifice such as you did but I'll never again have feeling in my left arm so I do empathize. I honor your service to your country greatly but I do have one question for you though...
How do you... Or how does ANYONE for that matter make WAR... more humane? What could possibly be humane about war?
I'm sorry but I can't greenlight this. I found no brutal honesty or sincere self-reflection here. I do however hope you keep at it and continue in your quest for service to your country.-
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- PacificSpin
- 07/23/06
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Re-reading my previous comment I decided I should elaborate further. Again I appreciate your service and your desire to continue serving in some way but when it comes to this video....
Where's the story?
What is the 'cautionary tale'?
Where is the lesson learned or lesson to be taught?
How did you make this war "more humane"?
What impact do you plan to make on the world in order to improve it now?
What should I take away from this other than you seem like a 'decent fellow' who's now missing a leg?
I would love to see more from you... But don't shoot from the hip... Take aim, get a perfect bead and blast me right through my consciousness!
Put your soul behind it and smack me so hard that I walk away dazed from the lesson I just learned from the story I just heard.-
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- PacificSpin
- 07/23/06
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Yes GREEN light. Being in my fifties, I realize that most that will comment here have a frame of reference that spans less then a decade. That is a handicap when it comes to fairly analyzing events of these days. By that, I mean few here would agree with me when I say that we are in WW III. WWI was not WWI until the historians declared it so in print. Same for WWII. The alliances are forming. Everyone is choosing sides. This is just the beginning of a very dark period right around the corner.
Garth, God BLESS him(and all service persons, man or woman), I would be proud to call my son. This pod shows a man standing very tall on one leg. He may not have clear cut goals and the pod does not seem to explore what his beliefs are. We only get a sense of the measure of his determination to overcome obstacles. But he has political aspirations. Fantastic. He has a good head on his shoulders. He will find his way and my hope is he will not find himself to be a cog in the machine. I pray he holds onto the values he was raised with and does not find them stripped away by Washington's boys. -
Garth is my brother and I personally take offense to the way some feel he is unworthy.
To some of the comments posted on this video (tomdog mainly). where do you get off posting problems on this video without posting any solutions to go along with it. This video is showing how one Enlisted Soldier was injured and is now using that to his benifit and if it is going to be said that this belittles the real travesties of the war well lets hear what they are and I garentee that both Garth and myself have met more than one person who has experianced those travesties and they would cerainly say that Garth deserves this.
on a different piont of this video I would like to piont out that there was a mistake in the editing of this video, the picture of the man and woman shown when our parents are brought up is not our parents that is a different family that is helping my brother in college(sorry if that is irrelivant but it gets to me).
I green light this video because it shows how someone can endure such a loss and still be able to adapt and overcome which is an inspiration to me.
Good luck in college brother... -
Garth,
I enlisted in the Marines in 1989. I volunteered for Iraq but the war was over before I could fly out from MCAS El TORO. In 1994 I left the Marines. One month after I left the Marines during college, I had a shooting accident and lost the sight in my right eye. Fifteen peices of shrapnel hit me in the face from my old 30-06 rifle. One piece piereced my retina. I was wearing sunglasses but it still didn't help. I still have 7 pieces in my face. I finished college and strugled financially for several years. Now, I own 2 companies and earn a very good living. I had do door-to-door sales with a "lazy" eye. Believe me, it has been hard. Everyday, I am reminded about my accident. In other words, don't dwell on your leg. Life goes on and although you will look at your artificial leg on the door, you are not your injury. You are already taking the right steps by talking about it via the web. Be optomistic, positive and proactive in your own success.
Glenn Anthony (Business owner/film maker/writer)
USMC 1989-1994 -
You have put together a fantastic collection of images. I would like to see more of Garth just walking down the street or working out. You cannot tell by his stride that he is walking on a prosthetic foot. I would also change the sequence a little: start with him speaking at a ceremony, after that the "rest when you're dead" piece, then walking and talking about receiving abuse as member of military.
One thing you have in there must be removed. I would like to know what motivated you to use the piece of footage where he says he is where he is today "with no help." Why would you want to show him in that light? A more interesting story would be about all the help Garth has received along the way. Garth has had a lot of support from all corners, public and private. Even by you producing this little documentary, you are helping him along. But his parents are not paying for his education, that is true. Garth has so many choices and opportunities, he is doing all he can to manage some balance in his life. Garth has overcome many challenges and obstacles.
I have the coolest kids in the history of the universe.
Rock On Garth
p.s. to floodlight, the dumbass who wants everyone to be as sick as he is: Garth is very strong. Everyone has their own level of resiliency. -
Congratulations Garth Stewart. The first half of this video is just brilliant. Nice and tight. Supple use of music. Bold in it's depiction of Garth's physicality, his earnestness and his acceptance of his injury.
What I don't understand is why he wants to enter public life. He seems to want to change things, but it's not clear what perspective he's offering. Is it a conservative self-reliance? Is it toward some kind of social reconcilliation? It's not even clear (maybe I missed it) what he's studying.
My advice?
Be aggressive with your material. Be a journalist. Ask the right questions. Fill in the gaps. Don't be neutral off camera.
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