Vets Producing 15 Minute Documentaries

TUCSON, Ariz. - After serving on the front lines of war, veterans face a number of issues when returning home to civilian life.

"I found there (were) a lot of obstacles in my way, not just the GI bill or studying or finals or (anything) like that, but there's PTSD. There (are) physical disabilities," said Chris Mandia, who served with the U.S. Marines.

So, Mandia wanted to tell his story.

"I thought it was something that the American public needs to see. It's something that is kind of glossed over," Mandia said.

He is just one of a handful of veterans who've been selected by the Brave New Foundation to write, shoot, produce and direct their own 15 minute documentary.

"I realized that these veterans could tell a story about returning to home from a perspective that nobody else can capture," said Richard Ray Perez with Operation in Their Boots.

Working with a $4-million grant, the chosen vets go through Operation in Their Boots, teaching them the basics of film and how to translate their story onto the silver screen.

"I'm going to be documenting soldiers struggling from the battlefield to the college campus," said Mandia.

Other projects delve into everything from veterans dealing with substance abuse to troops coping with survivor's guilt after one of their comrades has been killed in the line of duty.

"I hope the public will get to see in these documentaries this unfiltered experience that will get them closer to the veteran experience," Perez said.

More than 20 films have already been made since the program's inception three years ago. You can see them online or on certain public television stations in your area. For complete listings or to watch them on the World Wide Web, visit www.intheirboots.com.