2008 Woodie Awards
Documentary filmmaker looks inside Iraq
Lisa Hofer '09
Issue date: 3/1/07 Section: News
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On Tuesday, March 20, the United States will have been in Iraq for four years. Yet most Americans know little about the country, why the military is there, or what the troops are doing.
Mike Shiley, an amateur documentarian, who is trying to break this information barrier on college campuses delivered a lecture, "Inside Iraq," to Providence College on Thursday, February 22. The lecture, which was sponsored by the Board of Programers (BOP) and held in Slavin Center '64 Hall, attracted about 95 audience members.
"I come from this not as a Republican or Democrat, but as a human," said Shiley.
After Danielle Silva '07, of the BOP Lecture Committee introduced Shiley, he asked the attendees from the PC community if they knew someone serving in the U.S. military; about 90 percent of the audience said they did. Only two people, however, said they "knew a lot about Iraq." With this telling introduction, Shiley narrated his story.
As a civilian with no filmmaking experience, Shiley decided in 2003 that someone needed to tell the story of what was really going on in Iraq. With this goal in mind, he created the documentary, "Inside Iraq: The Untold Stories."
Setting out in early December 2003, Shiley forged an ABC press pass at his local Kinko's. Once in Iraq, he shot 40 hours of film over a two month period. Back in the United States, he spent a year editing the film to create two 42 minute segments. Using the forged press pass to gain access to more restricted areas, and conducting interviews with day laborers while they worked clearing mine fields, proved Shiley's documentary did not shy away from dangerous or controversial situations.
The first segment was a close personal look at the people of Iraq: Shiites, Sunnis, and Kurds. With 50 percent unemployment, the Iraqi people face extremely difficult economic situations as well as the constant threat of violence from rebel forces.
The second part of the documentary focused on the experiences of American soldiers. As an embedded journalist in the army, Shiley documented the daily life of the Tank Battalion patrolling the Syrian border.
Mike Shiley, an amateur documentarian, who is trying to break this information barrier on college campuses delivered a lecture, "Inside Iraq," to Providence College on Thursday, February 22. The lecture, which was sponsored by the Board of Programers (BOP) and held in Slavin Center '64 Hall, attracted about 95 audience members.
"I come from this not as a Republican or Democrat, but as a human," said Shiley.
After Danielle Silva '07, of the BOP Lecture Committee introduced Shiley, he asked the attendees from the PC community if they knew someone serving in the U.S. military; about 90 percent of the audience said they did. Only two people, however, said they "knew a lot about Iraq." With this telling introduction, Shiley narrated his story.
As a civilian with no filmmaking experience, Shiley decided in 2003 that someone needed to tell the story of what was really going on in Iraq. With this goal in mind, he created the documentary, "Inside Iraq: The Untold Stories."
Setting out in early December 2003, Shiley forged an ABC press pass at his local Kinko's. Once in Iraq, he shot 40 hours of film over a two month period. Back in the United States, he spent a year editing the film to create two 42 minute segments. Using the forged press pass to gain access to more restricted areas, and conducting interviews with day laborers while they worked clearing mine fields, proved Shiley's documentary did not shy away from dangerous or controversial situations.
The first segment was a close personal look at the people of Iraq: Shiites, Sunnis, and Kurds. With 50 percent unemployment, the Iraqi people face extremely difficult economic situations as well as the constant threat of violence from rebel forces.
The second part of the documentary focused on the experiences of American soldiers. As an embedded journalist in the army, Shiley documented the daily life of the Tank Battalion patrolling the Syrian border.