The Draft Movie - DAY ZERO

[anthonymoody]

Hi Everyone,

I'm the producer of a film called DAY ZERO, a drama which uses the reinstatement of the draft as a backdrop for a story about 3 best friends who are drafted and given 30 days to report for duty. It asks the universal question: what would you do if called to serve?

We noticed a "surge" in traffic recently at dayzerothemovie.com and traced much of the activity back to this site, which I'd not encountered previously.

Anyway, thanks to Pat H, whoever you are, for bringing our film to the attention of the user community here. I can say without hesitation that I'm happy for the discussion sparked by even the notion of our film. I'm sorry the thread was closed, but I'm happy the conversation happened.

We made the film not to preach one view or another, but rather to provoke thought, discussion, and questions among the audience. Day Zero comes from the indie film community in NYC, not the mainstream/studio film industry. The film will have a (small) theatrical release later this fall which, if successful, will grow. I hope that many of you get to see the film and continue the impassioned discussion.

Best,
Tony Moody

[TheBluesMan]

Welcome to The Firing Line, Tony. Your movie sounds very good to me.

Here's a link to the website: http://www.dayzerothemovie.com

This thread could certainly spark another good discussion. Hopefully it will be more civil than the last one.

-Dave

[Trapper L]

There is also a poll regarding the question- if you were drafted, what would you do? It's a multiple choice poll. I was surprized by the responses. This movie should cause some stir among the ranks. My personal view is that this is a timely and high priority subject. I'm looking forward to the following commentary.

[w_houle]

The movie looks interesting, although there doesn't seem any likelihood that that the U.S Army would ever draft Frodo. On a more serious note though I remember reading something in school about a lottery in which the winner was killed for the prosperity of the rest of the community, and frankly what would be a quicker way to boost the economy than to open up the job market by killing off a part of the job market. If the Army really wanted to fill it's ranks, all it would have to do is just lower its standards. I mean most of the army's manuals are written at an eighth grade level, and I remember when the Lautenberg amendment turned into double jeopardy for a lot of L.E./ Military personnel.

[RedneckFur]

Sounds like a very intresting movie. I hope I get a chance to see it!

Me personally, I dont support the draft. Seems to me that its a very easy thing for the goverment to abuse. Using the draft to defend our homeland from a foreign invader, I'd support that. And I think if a foreign military was on their way here, you'd have so many volunteers, you wouldnt need a draft.

Using the draft to get soldiers so you can play 'police' in the affairs of another country, now thats another matter.

[anthonymoody]

Thanks everyone. We certainly hope the timeliness of the idea (and the quality of the film of course!) leads to success.

By the way, we've compiled a blog of articles that relate directly or indirectly to the draft. Most focus on troop levels and recruiting tactics, though some focus directly on the notion of reinstating the draft. To the poster above who wrote about lowering recruiting standards in order to maintain high troop levels - we've recently done it, and to what can only be described as a frightening degree. We've also resorted to all manner of referral bonuses, promotions, pay hikes, sketchy tactics, blah blah blah to add new troops and get existing ones to re-up.

If anyone is interested in the blog, there's a link to it from the dayzerothemovie.com page - sorry I don't have the blog URL handy at the moment...

TM

[JR47]

Anthony, your premise about the reinstatement of the draft is a solid one. However, even if that were done, why would the draft initially include people of the age group that you portray? Traditionally, it would be the 18-22 age group. Very few of them have established themselves as what appears to be partners in a law firm, or best selling authors. The group appears to be well into their twenties, or even approaching their thirties. That they would suffer severe social upheavals is understandable, but is a bit of a reach in actuality.

I have several family members who are active military. The recent pay increases were necessary to maintain them above the poverty levels in many states. Even with those increases, there are a LOT of military families that are eligible, and participating, in social services programs. THAT, sir, is pathetic.

[Let it Bleed]

Here is a brief overview of what would occur if the United States returned to a draft:

1. CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT AUTHORIZE A DRAFT
A crisis occurs which requires more troops than the volunteer military can supply. Congress passes and the President signs legislation which starts a draft.

2. THE LOTTERY
A lottery based on birthdays determines the order in which registered men are called up by Selective Service. The first to be called, in a sequence determined by the lottery, will be men whose 20th birthday falls during that year, followed, if needed, by those aged 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25. 18-year-olds and those turning 19 would probably not be drafted.

3. ALL PARTS OF SELECTIVE SERVICE ARE ACTIVATED
The Agency activates and orders its State Directors and Reserve Forces Officers to report for duty. See also Agency Structure.

4. PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND MORAL EVALUATION OF REGISTRANTS
Registrants with low lottery numbers are ordered to report for a physical, mental, and moral evaluation at a Military Entrance Processing Station to determine whether they are fit for military service. Once he is notified of the results of the evaluation, a registrant will be given 10 days to file a claim for exemption, postponement, or deferment. See also Classifications.

5. LOCAL AND APPEAL BOARDS ACTIVATED AND INDUCTION NOTICES SENT
Local and Appeal Boards will process registrant claims. Those who pass the military evaluation will receive induction orders. An inductee will have 10 days to report to a local Military Entrance Processing Station for induction.

6. FIRST DRAFTEES ARE INDUCTED
According to current plans, Selective Service must deliver the first inductees to the military within 193 days from the onset of a crisis.

[TheBluesMan]

Here's the link to the blog: http://drafted.blogspot.com/

[Wildalaska]

We made the film not to preach one view or another, but rather to provoke thought, discussion, and questions among the audience. Day Zero comes from the indie film community in NYC, not the mainstream/studio film industry.

really...and I assume that your life experiences and worldview derived from your membership in that community haven't coloured your message?

Surely you are not going to contend that you, as an artist, approach your art dispassionately and with no emotional feeling? And if you do not contend that, dare you are argue that your art ISN'T a result of your passions and feeling...both of which have a basis in an East Coast left wing social and cultural "community"....

WildmoviesareamusementnothingelseAlaska

[tomh1426]

I alredy have it saved on Netflix so as soon as they get it , I get it.
Netflix gave it 3-1/2 stars (their ratings adjusted to how you rate movies)
Its cool that your hear on TFL

[Bruxley]

I saw this in a member's signature:

War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worse than war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made so and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.

In memory of 1LT Scott Love, CW2 Chris Nason, and SGT Joe Nolan.

That member put his location as Iraq......

[anthonymoody]

Re: draft age - Day Zero takes place in an imagined near future. The film posits a time in the near future where events have unfolded differently than they have in reality (so far at least) - at least one additional terror attack here in the U.S. on the scale of 9/11, the war on terror being fought on many additional fronts beyond those of today, and the draft age being raised to reflect the need for additional troops. We use radio news and other devices to paint this backdrop and bring the audience into the imagined tomorrow.

Thanks again all for the interest, happy to be here.

TM

[JR47]

Ok, so let's get this straight. In your movie, additional attacks have occurred in the United States. We are now involved on how many additional fronts? Against whom? What has happened to the several millions of men who are of available draft age below the group that you portray? They have all been inducted? We, according to your portrayal, have a standing military of in excess of five million men?

That's stretching the parameters a goodly bit. Whatever, it's Hollywood. I hope that it does well for you. It's more fiction than fictional-history, though.

[joab]

I have heard that the government in your movie is portrayed as right wing, is that correct?

[Herbert]

Some of you guys are really jumpy and critical. Just because the movie is independent and set in New York doesn't mean that you have to attack it as instantly partisan before it even shows. The story is seems to be directed more towards the hard choice between the lives we live at home and the responsibility we have to serve in a time of need. Seems a few here are jumping into attack mode to attack the stories basis. Its a fictional film, a what if, doesn't mean that the director is saying that the events in the film are likely. They provide a backdrop for addressing the questions and issues the movie is portaying. Call back the attack dogs.

[TheBluesMan]

Good post, Herbert. Most folks will actually *watch* the film before they comment on it. It's called an informed opinion.

-Dave

[Wildalaska]

Herbert Im not making a judgement about the film, haven't seen it and probably never will...Anchorage AK isn't Indie Film territory

But the filmmaker put his state of mind in issue :P


WilddraftriotsAlaska TM

[JR47]

Just out of curiosity, I was referring to points made in the trailer, and statements by the producer. Why, or what, would make my watching the film a necessity to comment on on what the OP has written?

As far as a fictional scenario goes, don't attach straw polls to fiction.

Critical thinking may still be expressed without becoming an "attack dog", although in this forum (L&P) it doesn't appear to be necessary.

[Herbert]

While I understand a level of healthy skepticism of things originating out of NY, especially in the firearms community, it may turn out to be a good movie. I've seen some good indie films, I've also seen some horribly whacked out ones too.

I think questioning the movie because you don't think the events that occur to move into the story's timeline are likely is a fallacious. Thats is why its a story right? It can take alot of troops to successfully occupy a country, Iraq only has 25 million, think of what an Iran, Pakistan, or Indonesia would take as far as troop strength to do what we are currently failing to do in Iraq.

[Powderman]

I am VERY pro-military. If I could--even if I had to re-enlist as a PV1/slicksleeve, I would go back in tomorrow!

That being said, I must say that the US military itself--specifically, the Army--is responsible for its own personnel shortages, especially the one occurring right now.

Does anyone remember the Gramm-Rudman bill--the one that resulted in what can only be described as wholesale career massacre during the late 80's and early 90's? Thousands of soldiers were kicked out for numerous reasons; the two tools used the most were the "up or out" rule, and the Weight Control Program.

With the up or out rule, you had certain timelines to meet in your military career. You HAD to achieve a certain rank by those timelines, or you were toast. It did not matter what kind of soldier you were, how valuable you were to the unit, or how much service you had--if you fell under the microscope, you were GONE--no questions asked.

A lot of good soldiers were forced out during that time. At a meeting of NCO's on Fort Bliss in 1991, we were told, "If you have ANY Article 15's in your records, do not have at least an associate's degree, and have not completed BNCOC (for my rank, SSG/E6), you will NOT be allowed to retire."

Well, it's now come full circle to bite them square in the behind. I only hope that a lesson has been learned.

[joab]

I was in in the 80's and many of those that did not meet the up requirements needed to be out as there were good reasons that they did not get promotions
The army at that time had way too many just riding out retirement starting form about year five or at least from E5
That was also the era of the $400 hammer
The weight control programs were also very necessary, but in a lot of cases either went to far or were based on inaccurate science of the day

A 6' I was considered four pounds overweight at 184
But before the program nobody addressed Sgt Larry's 5'9" 300 pound frame

He was a great mechanic, one of the best I have ever known, but not much of a soldier
Which one should be more important to the army?

[anthonymoody]

Herbert's take is a good one. The film is ultimately about the very personal choices and circumstances faced by the main characters. Hopefully there will be something about one or more of the characters, where they are in their lives, how they've lived their lives, the choices they've made in the past, and the choices they make in the future, that will resonate with the audience. And get the audience to think and discuss.

The backdrop we paint is more or less arbitrary and needn't hold up to extremely close scrutiny. Not that I couldn't arbitrarily answer the questions posed, but in the end, the answers are just that - arbitrary. We painted a backdrop that allowed us to "draft" people a little further on in their lives, with more at stake and more perspective as a result of the added years under their belts. Not that 18 year olds don't have tons at stake (and obviously it could be argued that since they have more years ahead of them they have even more at stake than a 30 year old). But 18 year olds rarely have the life experiences and perspectives of 30 year olds. It was a choice we made, nothing more.

As for having put my "state of mind" and its impact on the film in issue, I will say two things. First, it might be helpful to understand the influence on the process of making the film of the writer, director and producer. Most importantly, every film is different in this regard, particularly with indie films. And since you don't know the particular dynamic among the 3 people in question on Day Zero, it's tough to assume much of anything about how my personal political beliefs may or may not have impacted the final cut of the film, wouldn't you say?

Second, I will say that among the 3 people - writer, director, producer - in question on Day Zero is an extreme lefty, an extreme righty, and a centrist. And yet we still managed to make a film we're all extremely proud of.

TM

[joab]

But which side of the aisle do the leaders of the film's government fall?

[Herbert]

Not to take the thread too off topic but from my experience in Iraq you need skilled professionals more than soldiers. Most deployed personnel don't leave the FOB, it doesn't matter if they are in tip top shape or not. What does matter is if they know how to do their job, alot don't.

Besides I've heard of plenty of hefty NGs and Reservists pulling their weight, so to speak, out on patrol. As long as they aren't OBESE (emphasis added) it doesn't really matter if they are 10 pounds over what the army should say they should weigh.

Back to the topic of the draft, the draft would definately be necessary if we were to expand operations any further than we currently have. Any additional theater of operation would gridlock the Army and require FOR THE DURATION "stop loss" of all troops in order to avoid the draft. Even then it would be a risky prospect as it would be very difficult to replace casualties using a volunteer system. So I don't think the premise of the movie is all that unrealistic. I don't want to imagine what Iran would be like