Three videos were produced and aired on KGW.com from Operation Mountain Thrust in July of 2006. These videos captured Canadian soldiers in heavy fighting in Panjawi, Hydarabad and Sangin. This was some of the first footage of Canadians in combat since the Korean war. The videos played on KGW.com, YouTube and were awarded the Emmy for Best Photography for web-based media in May of 2007 from the Lone Star Chapter of the Emmy Awards

To view the Lone Star Chapter's 2007 Advanced Media Awards webcast, click here and scroll to the bottom to of the page for the video link.

Links to the three videos are listed below:

Sangin - Ambush: Click here

Hydarabad - Dawn Raid: Click here

Panjawi - Firefight: Click here

Of these three videos, the Hydarabad - Dawn Raid was selected this month as one of their Top 20 Shock and Awe videos for 2007 by Military.com. You can find that video here and then click on the number 15 at the bottom of the player.

YouTube views on these videos have had a combined hit count of over one million views. The YouTube links are below:

Sangin - Ambush: click here

Hydarabad - Dawn Raid: click here

Panjawi - Firefight: click herre

To view the gallery, click here

KGW News: click here

OregonLive.com: click here

Huffington Post: click here

Sony Broadcast and Business: click here

HD Studio: click here

Government Video: click here

Kwantlen Chronicle: click here

Digital Content Producer: click here

Doonesbury - The Sandbox: click here

Over the course of the year in Afghanistan, I was featured in (8) phone-in interviews for BlogTalkRadio. To listen to these interviews, click here

For BlogTalkRadio's related blogs, click here

In addition, Taylor Marsh also interviewed me on her Blog Talk Radio program. To listen to that interview, click here

Trailer #3
Synopsis: The third trailer from the upcoming documentary by Scott Kesterson and David Leeson titled, AT WAR featuring music by P.W. Long.

For video: Click here

Other videos: Click here for video page

To view the AT WAR film site, click here

Trailer #2
Synopsis: The second trailer from the upcoming documentary by Scott Kesterson and David Leeson titled, AT WAR.

For video: Click here

Other videos: Click here for video page

To view the AT WAR film site, click here

Trailer #1
Synopsis: The first trailer from the upcoming documentary by Scott Kesterson and David Leeson titled, AT WAR.

For video: Click here

Other videos: Click here for video page

To view the AT WAR film site, click here

Synopsis: Scott Kesterson began his embed in March 2006 as a citizen-photojournalist and blogger. What resulted was a body of work that far exceeded his reporting from the field leaving a large portion of the story untold. To better tell the bigger story, some of the material is now being incorporated into a feature length documentary. Titled AT WAR, the documentary, directed by Kesterson and produced/ edited by Pulitzer Prize winner David Leeson from The Dallas Morning News, is a story of both Kesterson and citizen soldiers in their combined journey in Afghanistan and the human cycle of war. The film has been given the endorsement of KGW. In this video, KGW interviews Kesterson on his 15-month embed and the project as a whole.

For video: Click here

Other videos: Click here for video page

Souvenirs and Tokens: the reality of consequence...

As I sat at my desk, I opened the email that had been sent to me from a soldier that I had come to know over the course of the fifteen months I was embedded. In it he wrote, "The thing that scares me the most is that the war will be over and there will be no place for me at all." His words were a snapshot of a generation of people who have been forever changed and who will never be able to view this place they call home the same way again, "I forgot how much I don’t fit in here." This soldier had served three tours and was now preparing for a fourth.

Wars are not so much forgotten as misunderstood. The change that war brings to those that walk within its shadow is, at first, only recognized by those who wait anxiously for their loved one's return. It is a collision of two worlds, a supper alone with the kids and a loved one five-thousand miles away finding the other in the scent of a letter. War is the slayer of innocence, a giver of dark dreams with an impact on life just shy of death itself. War becomes the undeclared mistress whose embrace we never fully escape.

War could be reduced to the experience of moments; a series of "tomorrows" disappearing as if waking from a dream. Our lives in war are shaped by a culture where death becomes a vanishing point on the horizon, replacing our mortality with the promise of eternal life through honor and bravery. Yet, our lives are not defined by futures unwritten, or the accumulation of wealth, but by the lasting relationships and respect that we forge over the span of years we call, "life."

Those that pass through its portal, discover that war never allows us to return. Instead, we are left with the echos of emotions that chews our guts. War is intoxicating within its vortex of pain. It nurtures us like an orphan on the street. War is the elixir that reveals our common roots in humanity.

In quiet hours of self-reflection, in the aftermath of its wake, war leaves us without refuge. Life in the safety of home presents the challenge of offering the same meaning and purpose that forms every breath in war. War tugs at our soul even from the comfort of distant soil. War beckons with a call from extended hand, wanting us back.

www.atwarfilm.com

Copyright 2007, Scott Kesterson

Death of a title: the rise of meaning...

I remember sitting in front of my computer one evening back in December of 2005. What I began to write was the proposal that would redirect my life. I titled it The Forgotten War, detailing my desired intentions of embedding for a full tour as part of the 41st Brigade's deployment to Afghanistan. Twenty-one months later, my thoughts laced with the memories of a country some 8000 miles away, I picked up my glass of wine and sat quietly looking over the themes of a film that was beginning to take shape. After a short discussion, we agreed that the title The Forgotten War was no longer enough.

It began as a project to document war from a soldier’s point of view. Where we arrived was at a place much deeper and unending, drawing our focus to topics that are not only universal to war, but formative to all of humanity, both past and present. A story filmed in Afghanistan, but not limited by its politics or borders.

War is death, for it brings with it a transformation that leaves in its wake the shadows of pasts that once were. Every person who has ever entered into its lair has never returned unchanged. I am no exception.

Amidst the rubble of the aftermath of fighting, the flag -draped coffins, and the daily rhythm of leather boots and guns, was the death of a title and birth of something new. At my feet now lies the white board, covered with phrases and thoughts, our sketches of the voice that the film was struggling to find. I picked up the white cloth and erased The Forgotten War with a single swipe. Another memory that fell to the shadows of time.

I looked to the notes on the board behind my head, "Our failure is not that we forget, but that we don’t know." War is the myriad of extremes, pushing us closer to the roots of our very being. From within stirs the passions of love, hate, fear, courage,and ultimately chaos. For those that walk the timeless path of conflict, war is never forgotten but entombed within their souls for the remainder of their lives. It becomes a reminder of all that is and all that can be lost. A symbol of our inner struggle to exist, for war is what ultimately defines us and what we all are. The title was there before us. It spoke, we listened. At War.

www.atwarfilm.com

Copyright 2007, Scott Kesterson

An Afghan commander shares chai, a traditional Afghan tea, with his soldiers at a base near the village of Khakaran, Zabul Province, Afghanistan. Sharing chai is an essential part of Afghan culture and friendship. (Photo Copyright 2007: Scott Kesterson)

An Afghan soldier pauses during a mountain patrol near the village of Kesay, Oruzgan Province, Afghanistan while searching for weapons caches and Taliban hideouts. (Photo Copyright 2007: Scott Kesterson)

Afghan soldiers sweep for mines and IEDs in the Chimbarak Pass, Oruzgan Province, Afghanistan. (Photo Copyright 2007: Scott Kesterson)

An elderly Afghan removes his artificial leg to show injuries sustained during a mine explosion while on patrol near the village of Tarin Kowt, Oruzgan Province. Afghanistan is one of the most heavily mined countries in the world. (Photo Copyright 2007:\: Scott Kesterson)

Utah Army National Guard soldiers practice carrying a coffin in preparation for a ceremony for 2LT Scott Lundell at Kandahar Air Field, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. (Photo Copyright 2007: Scott Kesterson)

An Afghan soldier, at right, sweeps for mines during a patrol near Terin Kowt, Oruzgan Province, Afghanistan. Even in small villages, the presence of soldiers and the continuing threat of Taliban attacks have become part of daily life. (Photo Copyright 2007: Scott Kesterson)

US Army Staff Sgt. Dustin Gladwell scans the horizon through a rifle sight as locals watch during a patrol near the village of Kakrak, Oruzgan Province, Afghanistan. In a country ravaged by decades of war, chaos has become part of daily existence. (Photo Copyright 2007: Scott Kesterson)

An Afghan boy tending his goats watches a patrol of Afghan soldiers with Canadian advisors during operations in Panjawi, Kandahar Province. Though early education is compulsory for youth, economics, tradition and threats from Taliban keep enrollment to less than 55%. (Photo Copyright 2007: Scott Kesterson)

A US Army National Guard colonel grieves the loss of one his soldiers during a memorial service at Kandahar Air Field, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. The fallen soldier from the Utah Army National Guard died during combat operations outside the village of Terin Kowt, Oruzgan Province, Afghanistan. (Photo Copyright 2007: Scott Kesterson)

US Army National Guard soldiers prepare for a ride to Kabul International Airport and their flight home. The soldiers, along with 3,500 other guardsmen from 49 states, were deployed for 15 months as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. (Photo Copyright 2007: Scott Kesterson)

Universal themes: the timeless nature of conflict

From the comfort of tile floors and the Oxford sofa, the white board began to fill with the interlinking themes that would shape the film. "The power of war images lies in the messages that convey the universal truths of humanity." It was a quote shared with me by David Leeson during one of our many email exchanges over this past year. As we pushed on through the early hours of the morning, that quote began to take tangible form.

Historically humanity has never existed without conflict. Driven by the uncounted aberrations of moral reasoning, it is perhaps best summarized by Robert Louis Stevenson's fictional characters, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, "…that man is not truly one, but truly two… committed to a profound duplicity of life [defined] by the good and the evil." Few groups know that statement as well as the soldiers who find residence within the culture of war.

AT WAR is a film driven by a belief that one of the most misunderstood stories of war is war itself and the soldiers who are called to fight them. It is the attempt to present a film devoid of political persuasion, presenting the chaos of war and the humanity caught in it's grasp whether soldier or civilian.

As our sessions blurred into nights and nights into days, what began as a loosely threaded theme was taking shape to express the messages both universal and specific to ourselves, humanity and the ongoing war in Afghanistan. A subject that is both timeless and pressing to our realities that are shaping around our modern lives.

At the close of the week's sessions, we had achieved our goal. And in the quiet of the morning I found myself reflecting on a conversation I had with a Special Forces Operative following one of our patrols, "On the ground, politics disappear; the moments become defined by the person on your left and on your right and the commitment to keep each other alive." He continued, "No one who has ever been in combat wants more fighting. We accept it as part of our job. Our goal is to do our job, do it well, and come home alive... all of us."

www.atwarfilm.com

Copyright 2007, Scott Kesterson

US Army 10th Mountain Division soldiers watch as a CH-47 Chinook helicopter lands at the forward operating base near the village of Terin Kowt. The US soldiers were heading back to Kandahar to prepare for their return home following a 15-month deployment in Afghanistan. (Photo Copyright 2007: Scott Kesterson)

A NATO C-130 Hercules drops needed supplies to the US Army Special Operations forward operating base near the village of Oshay, Oruzgon Province, Afghanistan. Air resupply is often the only way to deliver supplies due to difficult terrain and limited road access. (Photo Copyright 2007: Scott Kesterson)

A US Army National Guard advisor listens to an Afghan commander talk by radio from his forward operating base in Khakaran, Zabul Province, Afghanistan. The commander was trying to find out why critical supplies were not delivered with the recent helicopter re-supply. The base in Khakaran could only be re-supplied regularly by airlifts. (Photo Copyright 2007: Scott Kesterson)

An Afghan soldier climbs through a window during a search for weapons near the village of Sera, Oruzgon Province, Afghanistan. Weapons cache searches are a regular part of the daily operations for both US and Afghan soldiers in the area. On this day, no weapons were found. (Photo Copyright 2007: Scott Kesterson)

Afghan soldiers along with their Canadian advisors conduct a routine “presence” patrol in the Panjawi Valley, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. Patrols such as this are part of the strategy of stabilization in the region, by attempting to maintain a visible presence in local villages. (Photo Copyright 2007: Scott Kesterson)

A man accused of rape hears the charge A man accused of rape hears charges against him read by an Afghan police constable near the village of Khakaran, Zabul Province, Afghansitan. His swollen feet are the result of an interrogation the night before that included a beating with a truncheon. He now awaits an unknown fate as the constable functions as judge and jury. (Photo Copyright 2007: Scott Kesterson)

A US Army advisor grabs an Afghan soldier to advert him from danger as a rocket propelled grenade misfires during a training exercise at the forward operating base near Oshay, Oruzgan Province, Afghanistan. The grenade landed on the ground several feet ahead of the soldier but did not detonate. No one was injured. (Photo Copyright 2007: Scott Kesterson)

1st Lt. George Leverton, an Army advisor, rides a donkey along with two Afghan soldiers during operations in Zamburay Valley, Oruzgan Province, Afghanistan. Due to the rugged terrain, much of the operations in Afghanistan prevent use of modern transportation. (Photo Copyright 2007: Scott Kesterson)

Villagers struggle over radios given out by US Army 10th Mountain Division soldiers near Ghazni, Ghazni Province, Afghanistan. Humanitarian assistance is a regular part of the US Army’s mission in Afghanistan. (Photo Copyright 2007: Scott Kesterson)

An Afghan soldier sits watch above the Chimbarak Pass, Oruzgon Provence, Afghanistan. The pass, a critical trade route for Afghan commerce, has been a target of Taliban attacks. (Photo Copyright 2007: Scott Kesterson)

Subject-driven storytelling : allowing the truth of the moment to speak

I reached between the seats of the truck for another can of "Rock Star." It was now close to 3am as I drank my fourth can of the Taurine based energy drink in less than three hours. The trip to Austin, Texas was one of those down-and-back, same night exploits for the purpose of securing the release of music from an Indie band we had been introduced to. Seven hours of driving, a 30-minute meeting, and a pending agreement that brought us one step closer to a musical composition that added the desired dimension to the visual experience that was evolving on our editing screens.

Documentary films, like most films, are usually created from a script. The creative direction is established first, and the footage is then captured that will fit the needs of the story’s vision. The process is a time honored practice of filmmaking, bringing to the viewing audience an experience that begins and ends with the filmmaker’s script.

AT WAR film is different. Breaking from past trends, it is based on subject- driven storytelling that allows the truth of the moment to speak without the interference of personal bias. There was no script; rather, the filming was grounded in witnessing the experiences as they evolved over time. It is based on the tenets of ethical photojournalism with the constant requirement for context to better understand the truths. The goal being to ultimately assure ourselves that we have been as fair and accurate in the way the story has been told, to include mood and feel.

As I pulled into the drive-way, the first glimmers of dawn could be seen on the horizon. My thoughts took me back to one of the many mornings awaking in the rural landscapes of Afghanistan. A world thousands of miles from where I sat in that moment, yet seemingly so close that all I had to do was close my eyes to see. A waking dream of sorts, bringing with it the many sites, sounds and smells that could not be conveyed by images alone. The music began to play. The images raced by. The feelings' of the moments stirred from deep within. I knew then we were one step closer to our goal.

www.atwarfilm.com

Copyright 2007, Scott Kesterson

An Afghan soldier mounts the national flag on the roof of their truck before leaving on patrol near Solemanbad, in the Daikondi Province, Afghanistan. The Afghan soldiers, in conjunction with US Army Special Operations, were in the village to return the body of an Afghan soldier to his family. The soldier had been killed by an IED. (Photo Copyright 2007: Scott Kesterson)

US Army 10th Mountain Division soldiers fire a 105mm Howizter in support of operations in the Zamburay Valley, Oruzgon Province, Aghanistan. Taliban fighters used the Zamburay Valley as an base of operations for attacks throughout the area. (Photo Copyright 2007: Scott Kesterson)

Afghan soldiers following intelligence leads, remove children from a room before searching for weapons near the village of Hesar, Oruzgon Province, Afghanistan. No weapons were found during the search. (Photo Copyright 2007: Scott Kesterson)

A US Army National Guard advisor, scales a mountain in the Zamburay Valley, Oruzgon Province, Afghanistan in search of Taliban fighters hiding in the rocks above. The yellow smoke was used to locate his position after a short firefight with the Taliban that resulted in the death of one Afghan soldier. (Photo Copyright 2007: Scott Kesterson)

Local Afghan children spontaneously raise their hands to show that they do not have weapons as an Afghan army patrol approaches. Searches are a part of daily life in Afghanistan. (Photo Copyright 2007: Scott Kesterson)

Afghan soldiers wait outside a village near Tarin Kowt, Oruzgon Province, Afghanistan, during an early morning patrol. Intelligence reports had sighted possible Taliban activity in the area. (Photo Copyright 2007: Scott Kesterson)

An Afghan soldier is rushed to the medical clinic at the Canadian forward operating base near the village of Panjawi, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. The soldier collapsed from heat exhaustion during 100 degree temperatures. (Photo Copyright 2007: Scott Kesterson)

An Afghan soldier practices tactical movement during training operations with US Army Special Operations at the forward operating base near the village of Oshay, Oruzgan Province, Afghanistan. The primary role of US Army Special Operations and US Army National Guard advisors is to train the Afghan National Army. (Photo Copyright 2007: Scott Kesterson)

Afghan police watch as Afghan soldiers and US Army Special Operations construct a new check point near the village of Kesay, Oruzgon Province, Afganistan. Check points are used throughout the region as way of providing security along roads and near villages. The strategy was proving successful in the region by helping local villagers re-establish trade and commerce. (Photo Copyright 2007: Scott Kesterson)

An IED is destroyed after being discovered by US troops during a patrol to the Chimbarak Pass, Oruzgon Province, Afghanistan. IED’s have become an increasing threat in Afghanistan, as Taliban fighters adopt tactics used by insurgent fighters in Iraq. (Photo Copyright 2007: Scott Kesterson)