Vacationing
in Afghanistan
AFGHANISTAN
– a world rarely seen by Westerners
9 minute feature
a Full Monte Production
Leaving
the chaotic confines of Kabul, "Vacationing
in Afghanistan" enters a world rarely seen by
Westerners. Crossing Afghanistan's mountainous
region to the enormous Buddha statues left in
ruins by the Taliban, the focus of this film
is not the wild and stunning landscape which
it is set in, but the simple interaction between
two very different cultures, and the common
bonds found by the characters on this journey.
The war on terror, poverty, and the heroin trade
splash Afghanistan across news headlines making
it famous across the globe, however this film
doesn't attempt to address the complex geopolitical
maze and problems facing Afghanistan, it merely
enjoys the spontaneous encounters with its people.
It is the endearing humor of the Afghans which
this film celebrates.
Produced by
The Full Monte Productions
Aaron Rockett: producer, writer, and editor
John Monte: Camera and Editing
Glimpses
of Marla
IRAQ
– Marla Ruzicka before the war
5 minute tribute
a Full Monte Production
While
leaving Iraq before the war, our convoy broke
down on the desert highway. We got out and Marla
suddenly darted across the camera lens, while
a voice in the background says “bye bye.” Moments
later Marla was just a dot running into the desert,
the last shot I have of her.
Marla dodged the camera. Yet,
in this glimpse she reveals herself, utterly and
completely - her passion, her intelligence, her
tenderness, and her bold love. The facts of Marla’s
life have spread across the media, but the mystery
of who Marla was seems more accurately conveyed
by something more than fact or word.
By chance, or fate the song
“Lost Unto this World,” by Emmylou Harris, sing
the details of Marla’s story - “I was murdered
by the highway, and my cries went out in vain.”
It also asks us, “O you among the living, will
you remember me at all?”
Marla Ruzicka gave her life
to a question “How many Iraqi’s died? Her story
should capture the imagination of this country
and penetrate the halls of power with a simple
question, “How many?” Marla should be remembered
with an answer.
The piece closes with the
sun through the clouds of the Iraqi/Jordanian
border, credited “to Marla.” For in Marla’s lifetime,
I did not give her the credit she was due.
STILL
FIGHTING
AFGHANISTAN
- three years after the Taliban
7 Min. Trailer
a New View Films Production
STILL
FIGHTING: Power, Politics and the Afghan Woman
is a film about, for, and told by Afghan women
leaders. It is a production 3 years in the making
and follows four women, including Massouda Jalal,
the only woman who ran for president in the Afghan
elections. The evolving and treacherous socio-political
landscape of Afghanistan will come alive through
intimate portraits of three brave women on the
front lines -- fighting for their countrywomen's
rights in the areas of human rights, education,
and political reform. This trailer follows Massouda's
campaign through the chaotic drama of Election
Day, which came dangerously close to collapse.
Still Fighting captures the complex realities
of Afghan politics, and women’s roles in shaping
it.
Please contact www.newviewfilms.tv
for more information. Still Fighting is seeking
funds to bring this story to the big screen, and
welcomes contributions.
Virginia Williams: Director
Halima Kazam: Co-Director
Gary Griffin: Director of Photography
John Monte: Camera, Field Producer
Susan Bryant: Associate Producer. Sound
Aaron Rockett: Field Producer, Editor
We
capture rarely seen life in Iraq on the street
before the US invasion. Saddam’s Ministry of
Information strictly controlled entrance into
Iraq, demanding large fees for American Broadcasters
for limited entrance visas. The Ministry of
Information closely policed where the Networks
went and what they saw. The people of Iraq,
and the opinions of Iraqis remained largely
hidden from the press. The Full Monte entered
Iraq six weeks before the war to see the face
of Iraq by posing as a member of human rights
group, CODE PINK.
We talk to people on the
street about the coming war, have dinner with
families in their homes, visit the UN Oil for
Food program and go into the poor neighborhoods.
In the process viewers see how Iraqi citizens
have been caught between wars, sanctions, and
political pressure over the last quarter of
a century.
In the months before the
war The Bush administration controlled headlines
with political and diplomatic pressure, while
Saddam Hussein strung along the weapons inspectors
with the international media in tow. The American
public rarely saw the Iraqi people on television.
In an apparent attempt to affect the media,
CODEPINK was granted Visas. And from the streets
of Baghdad CODE PINK hoped to attract the media’s
attention to the fate of the Iraqi people. While
numerous cameras showed up at CODEPINK’s colorful
demonstrations, the message did not get home.
Sitting down with every
major American network in the weeks leading
to the war-- not one of them wanted to show
this very rare look inside Iraq before the war.
Produced by
The Full Monte Productions
John Monte: Camera, Producer
Aaron Rockett: Writer, Producer
IRAQ – a journey before the war
Not For Broadcast: At What Cost?
5 minute trailer
a Full Monte Production
In
“Not For Broadcast,” a coffee vendor warns activist
Media Benjamin that if the United States invades
Iraq all Arabs will unite against the United States.
As we follow the woman’s group through Iraq, personal
interactions with Iraqi’s take on added relevance.
After Texas fisher woman, participates in an amusing
mock marriage in an Iraqi home she comments it’s
a “whole lot like Texas.” Whether playing marbles
with Iraqi children, or listening to the Southern
draw of an Iraqi Official (he had lived in Atlanta)
the trailer exemplifies many scenes in the documentary.
When our vehicle breaks down in the Iraqi desert,
Amira Matsouda paces on the side of the road worried
of what is come to her homeland. Occasionally inter
cut with President Bush’s State of the Union speech
“Not For Broadcast” contrasts the Bush Administrations
highly coordinated political campaign with CODE
PINK’s personal experience.
We are currently seeking funds
to expand the trailer into a short documentary.
We welcome support and contributions to share this
story of pre-war Iraq. Please e-mail for further
information.
Produced by
The Full Monte Productions
John Monte: Camera, Producer
Aaron Rockett: Writer, Producer
CUBA – 50 years of the revolution
90 Miles Apart: The Story of the Cuban Dissident
9 minute news feature
a Full Monte Production
In
this inside look, viewers are given a rare glimpse
of a radically changing Cuba. As the US went to
war last Spring, Cuban leader Fidel Castro reacted
to the White House's doctrine of preemptive action
by arresting 75 Cuban dissidents. Castro convicted
them of conspiring with the United States. In
interviews with the wives of those imprisoned
viewers will see the struggle for democracy in
Cuba. They will witness the consequences of speaking
out. Viewers are shown how the security apparatus
monitors and harasses them as they go about their
lives. Shot throughout Havana, this feature puts
the audience into the dark allies and door stoops,
and into the middle of bustling markets. 90 Miles
Apart exposes the complex realities facing the
Island nation.
UPDATE TO THE STORY: A central
figure in 90 MILES APART, Roberto de Miranda,
sentenced to 18 years by Fidel Castro's government
was recently released from prison. The Full Monte
is planning a return to Cuba in the coming year
to film this developing angle to the story.
Produced by
The Full Monte Productions
John Monte: producer, camera
Aaron Rockett: writer, producer Allison
Shelley: field producer
- 8 minute promotional video
Directed by Jacob Sutton
Observe
how a new road transforms a region of Afghanistan.
“The Road to Ghazni” chronicles the long steps
of reconstruction: workers patiently clearing
land mines, tractors pushing dirt, and steam rollers
smoothing pavement. In Afghanistan a new road
can mean fresh fruit at the market, or a life
saved by an ambulance. “The Road to Ghazni” captures
the sincere gratitude of Afghans and demonstrates
how hearts and minds of are won with fresh pavement.
With the miracle of laptop
editing (and intermittent electricity), The Full
Monte scripted and edited this film for USAID
on site in Afghanistan’s capital city, Kabul.
Produced by Jacob Sutton
For the United States Agency
for International Aid
Editing and Scripting of by
The Full Monte Productions
John Monte and Aaron Rockett
