Open Call: Pitch Reels

Hi Janice; Write to me at P_Hubbard@hotmail.com. I'm a film maker and know Carlos and Melida.
You can check out a short piece I did where Carlos and Melida make a brief appearance here:
www.current.tv/watch/21604416

I'm offering assistance and think we should talk about the possibility of working together.

Peace
sincerely;
Paul Hubbard
Providence RI

I've met Carlos. This video clip isn't one piece of the passion he brings. There should be a whole show or movie.

Carlos,I feel incredibly sad for you, Melida and Brian. I feel particularly sad in that your grief expresses the deeply buried fear that someone should arrive at my door to tell me one of my 2 sons has died. To me, although they are adults, I still see the beautiful souls of young boys that exist within their adult selves.

Carlos, you express the grief that I haven't had to face. I wish you, Melida and Brian success in your quest for a peaceful, loving world. A world in which nobody's child will be asked to die for any purpose whatsoever.

PLEASE make this documentary.... People need to see the personal cost this war has had, and to understand the depth of grief in losing a child, as Mr. Arredondo has...

We need to learn from his experience, so that no family has to go through this again, rather than sweeping the cost under the media rug.

Feel Carlos's heart.
extraordinary vibes flying through the air.

Invisible

His story touches the soul.
his pain becomes your pain.

Nonactivists sense his pain and struggle
to come to terms with their
passivity.
A parent's nightmare combined with a parent's love...
When they hear Alex's story through Carlos.

Please make this movie.

Please do this documentary!! All of the world needs to know this story!

I was angry at the build up to the war and felt helpless and I found Move On
and then other places to get involved
and started going to Meet Ups. Then when this happened, I began to attend peace marches. Little did I know, that my son, would be stop lossed to Iraq only four months later. Argh...

Peace to Carlos ans Melida Arredondo...

PEACE!!!

Bring the Troops Home...NOW!!!

And make this film!!

Proud member of MFSO

I had the honor and privilege of meeting Alex Arredondo. He stood tall and proud in his full Marine dress blues. It is an image I will never forget.

We do very little to pay tribute to the marines, soldiers, seamen and airmen that have given their lives for this country. We do even less for their families. Please honor Alex's memory and his family in allowing Carlos to tell his story. In doing so, we help to honor other families who have suffered the same loss.

I am a very good friend of Melida's. Throughout the years that I worked at UCHC with Melida, I have seen a tremendous amount that both Melida and Carlos have done in honor of their son's name. As a mother, I would feel very devastated if I lost one of my children. I honor and respect everything that both Melida and Carlos have been doing to support their cause. And because of this, and after having seen the film, I rate the film as having 4 stars.

Other interesting aspects of this story are the diverse situations and cultural styles that make up America's military families, and the reaction to anti-war demonstrations in America these days. For example, "That's a real buzz-kill" overhead on Long Wharf near display of flag-draped casket.

I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THE PRODUCTION OF THIS FILM. I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE IN THAT I HAVE MET CARLOS AND HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE WELL AQUAINTED WITH HIM AND MELIDA AND THEIR STORY.
THEY ARE WELL BALANCED AND MOST SINCERE. THEIR DEDICATION TO THE CAUSE OF PEACE IS MOST EVIDENT AND OUTSTANDING.
IN THIS TRAGIC TIME OF WAR WE NEED PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO GIVE THEIR LIVES FOR THE CAUSE OF PEACE. THE KILLING MUST STOP. THIS TYPE OF STORY CAN HELP OTHERS UNDERSTAND THAT NOTHING IS GAINED BY FIGHTING EXCEPT MORE FIGHTING AND DESTRUCTION.

To Janice Rogovin,

I met Carlos and Melida recently and was overwhelmed by their drive and positive energy. Carlos showed me his scrapbook and told me his story and I think it is a remarkable story. What touched me the most is Carlos's humility and genuineness. The way he is trying to increase awareness about the war is unique and extremely effective.

This remarkable story of a common man with uncommon courage and drive has to be told to as many people as possible and the message has to be spread to a larger audience.

Peace to all,
Kanchan

This war is not personnal for most of the folks in this country. We watch it on the TV evening news, hear the politicians babble, TV and radio talk show hosts pontificate. But only a small segment of this population really know and feel what war is all about. It is the soldiers and their families who are bearing the full frontal impact of this immoral and illegal war - two to three tours and counting. The stress, the pain of continual deployment is taking its toll on both the soldiers and their families and will for decades to come,long after this war is over.
Without the Draft this war is not personal for the rest of us, we can go about our business, check into what is happening over in Iraq with a click of the TV remote or turn of the radio dial and change channels and stations back to our sit-coms just as fast. Military families and their sons and daughters in uniform live Iraq every second of every day. This war is not personnal for most of us. When it does become personnal for us over here it might just end a little sooner over there.
That is what Carlos and Melida are doing every waking hour - they are sharing their experience in hopes that this war will be become personal for the rest of us and at some moment we will come to our senses and end it.

I have gotten to know and love Carlos and Melida. Not only have they suffered the most painful of pains with the loss of Alexander, they have worked tirelessly in sharing their pain with others across this country. What Carlos does, sometimes several times a week, traveling with his flag drapped coffin,flags,crosses,pictures, boots, prostetics etc.is very spiritual. I have watched and helped him set up and break down the display. I can tell you the experience of participating in setting up the display with Carlos is very moving and is the most personal of rituals. What Carlos does is having a very personal and profound impact not only on those who assist him but on the thousands who see the display or read about it in the newspaper or see it on TV. On a daily basis Carlos and Melida feel the pain of their loss.When Carlos sets up the display with such care and respect, you know that every single second he is honoring Alexander. Together they are publicly sharing their pain in hopes that other families will not have to experience this type of loss and God bless them for it.
Pat Scanlon (VN69') Veterans for Peace, Chapter 9, Smedley Butler Brigade
PS - Please visit patscanlon.com and download my song "Where is the Rage?"

Very wrenching. Would love to see this.

In a world of violence, conflict and war, Carlos, along with his wife Melida, are true peacemakers.

The extreme grief, shock and anger that Carlos experienced when he received the news of Alex's death in Iraq, are the natural reactions that a parent would feel.

However, unlike many parents, Carlos and Melida are able to turn their pain into becoming activists for justice, peace and nonviolence. His story is amazing as he honors his son's death by telling his story to others and promoting a vision of another world where war is not the answer.

I have been with Carlos on several occasions and his love and compassion serves as a model for all of us. This is a strong, beautiful story that all of us need to hear. I hope you will have the resources to make this film.

Please make this film. We at home have been relatively untouched by this war--no sacrifice has been required except from those who are serving and their families. And that is so often reduced to newspaper death notices and cliches. Carlos' story touches our deepest emotions and creates what Aristotle called catharsis for us. We all need this so that we can come closer to understanding what this war is and what it is doing to us, our country, and, most of all, the men and women we are putting out there in our places on the front lines.

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Arredondo when I was making a presentation about peace at a Hip Hop Awards show. He represented the families who have lost their loved ones to the war in Iraq while others represented those of us who have lost family members to the war in the streets of Boston. His participation made quite an impact on the events' attendees.

I have a loved one who is serving in Iraq. I truly believe that Mr. Arredondo's story about the pain that he suffered and still suffers today should be shared with the world. These are the stories that are never told. Peace, love and respect.

Cindy Diggs
Peace Boston

This story, this man's face and soul need to be seen by all, but especially by those who do not understand the criminal culpability of this administration.

Our children are being killed and they are killing other children.

I hope this film is made, and soon.

Ms. Rogovin,

I am hopeful that you will be granted the funds for this project. Not only will Mr. Arredondo's story allow society a glimpse into the life of a grief stricken family who lost a child to the Iraqi war, but it will also reach out to Alex's young friends, comrads, and counterparts. Society needs to hear the truth and Alex's story is just that!

I have known Carlos, Alex and Brian for a long time. Today, on Oprah I heard Elizabeth and John Edwards talk about how they have survived their son's death. John Edwards said that "Each has their own way of mourning their child. No should judge them." I think his words are wonderful especially in someone so wealthy and powerful. Carlos, his former wife Victoria, Brian and Alex were once a beautiful family. That died a long time ago and all suffered. Having Alex killed during wartime brings up all the old hates, the "she dids", the "he dids" and has compounded the grief. Carlos would take care of all the kids in the neighborhood. He is a kind man with a lot of love. When Alex was killed, all of that pain came out and almost killed him. Humans do not want to acknowledge the pain we all endure. We don't want to admit to it. Despite all the money a person might have, what Carlos did and what he has done since to survive deserves to be shared with all of our human family.
N. Sanchez

Most Americans are sadly untouched by this war, either directly financially or in human terms, so they are not fully engaged in affecting the policies that could get us out of it in a constructive way. Carlos tells and lives the story of the impact of the war upon families who have been its victims. His simple eloquence touches people in ways that more sophisticated language often does not. Drawing upon Carlos' and his family's testimonies and the powerful visuals of his truck and Camp Alex, and the news footage of the burning van, this could be a film of historic impact and importance. I certainly hope it can be done.
Howard Jennings
Alexandria, Virginia

Please, please, please let Carlos speak in his mother tongue and provide subtitles. This will allow his pain and emerging wisdom its full voice.

I know Carlos. The pain he show when he almost kill himself because Alex was killed in Iraq affect many. In Spanish we have two words "comprender" and "compassion" to have understanding and to have passion. English don't have these same words. I want to see a film about what happen to Carlos, Alex and their family that day because there was no understanding the way that Carlos learn that his son killed. The Marines didn't even take him inside to sit down and give cup of water. Then they don't leave, for half hour, until finally Carlos exploded. What was his choice? He was denied right to be alone with the most terrible news of his life. He was denied the right to be grieving Father as he wanted. The Marines that day "followed orders" that have no "compassion", they could not understand the passion or feelings that this Dad go through. My son killed in Iraq too. I hit the Marines many times. I no speak good English. I threw things at them. They did not want to tell me but look for my daughter in law. I am his Mama. I sign papers for him to go at 17. I get angry and want to hurt Marines who tell me my hijo is gone. No cameras with me. Let's see if TV help a Latino tell the story in order "comprender."

I am hopeful that Janice can get the resources she needs to tell this story. It is really not just a story about Carlos, but about his son Alex, his son Brian, his wife Melida, and all of the youth of our country who have been misled into fighting illegal and unjust wars. Carlos & Melida strike me as no different from Cindy Sheehan -- only she engineered a strategic coup in confronting Bush head-on during a slow news cycle in Crawford, Texas.

For the sake of all the military families out there, who are dealing with great sacrifice in the midst of the dominant consumerist complacency in the US, this story should be told again and again. More than anything, it is a story of love -- love of country, love of family, and all of the pitfalls that lie within.

Ms Rogovin:
The moment that he feared the most became true for Carlos Arredondo and he did what many of us who lost our children in this war might have done. Those of us who have suffered the tragedy of this war live a life that seems like a tragic movie. Unfortunately we are the only ones seeing the images play over and over in our heads.

Please make a film about this father that can galvanize the public once and for all to make them stop watching teen idol and sit up and pay attention to the fact that their country is going down in flames ...to make them pay attention to the fact that the cherished sons and daughters of good people are dying in unprecedented numbers for this tragic and seemingly unreversible mistake.
G.C.

The cost of this war can be seen in the face of Carlos Arredondo. No father or mother should have to sacrifice so much.

~polly

I met Carlos and his wife, Melida when my husband was deployed in Iraq as I became an active member of Military Families Speak Out. Their strength and courage in speaking of their loss of Alex added to my resolve to remain committed to propeace work. Each time I listen to Carlos speak of their love for Alex and their commitment to preventing other families from suffering such loss, particularly minority families who are targeted for recruitment, it is like hearing it for the first time. Carlos is a deeply touching speaker who is able to expose the painful realities of war - I would love to see this film reach as many as possible.

Anne Sapp

When my daughter was pronounced medically unfit and "undeployable" by army doctors, then forced to go to Baghdad by her commander, I felt that I would never see her alive again. I attempted suicide when all else failed, believing it was the only way to get her home alive. Desperate parents do desperate things because they love their children dearly. War greatly intensifies the despair; especially when the parent loses a child or stands to lose a child to a war that the parent believes is unnecessary and wrong.

My daughter came back alive, but I feel Carlos' pain every day. All anyone would have to do is have one conversation with Carlos to know how deeply he feels. Carlos and his wife Mel are two of the most courageous people I know, and their story needs to be told. All they want is to keep others from going through the pain that they are going through, and that is why they deserve the respect of the entire world.

Denise Thomas
www.myspace.com/atlantadenise

As the mother of an active duty Lt. Col. who served in this illegal invasion in Iraq and Afghanistan, I decry the traitorous actions of the 4th Estate who have deliberately hid from the American people the hideous cost of this war. Since my aging son's retirement has been frozen by the involuntary servitude now required of anyone so foolish as to believe the recruiters' lies, I know that he can be sent back at any time.
We must show the people/peasantry of this country how they have been misled from the gitgo: how few are able to finish college on the GI Bill due to the many blocks thrown in their way the the US Government.
As my buddy says, "I spent 20 years fighting FOR my country; I've spent the last 30 fighting my country's government for medical help for wounds incurred fighting in Vietnam." History is prologue as Iraqnam continues in its quagmire, unstopped by either Congress or the sociopathic president.
Make this film; stop being a sycophant to the corrupt Bush administration.

To Janice Rogovin,

I attended Camp Democracy in DC in September of 2006. One day, I noticed a man setting up a display of a flag-draped coffin, a marine uniform w/boots, some photos and a tent. For several minutes, I watched and was touched by the the apparent reverence with which this took place.
I thought, "this man must be one of the buddies of this fallen hero of Iraq". Minutes later, this same man was introduced as the father, Carlos Arredondo. He told his story of hearing of his son's death and my heart broke open. Over the next few days, I talked with him many times and his story continues to touch my heart and, to this day, I carry a photo of Carlos, amid the display that honors his son, Alex, in my purse to remind me of the pain and suffering of his loss. Carlos has touched many people with his message. I commend you for taking that message to a broader audience.

Thank you,
Beverlie