Talk:Shadow Company
Placing unreferenced, promotional text contributed by SW user HelenaC here. Diane Farsetta 11:20, 4 October 2007 (EDT)
SHADOW COMPANY - an award-winning feature-length documentary film released theatrically in 2007. The film begins with a historical look at origins of the word and existence of the "mercenary" and evolution into "PMC" from earliest conflicts dating back to pre-Roman history. Diagrams and original art work help illustrate and bring to life the complext concepts and the film engages both those voices supportive and opposed to the use of private contractors. The balanced perspective earned directors Nick Bicanic and Jason Bourque an early invitation to screen in Senate. Both Amnesty International and Blackwater praise it publically for its "balanced and fair" portrayal of the subject which "allows audiences to make up their minds for themselves".
On Sept. 21, 2007, director Nick Bicanic was invited to testify in a Senate Democratic Committee Hearning about the use and existence of PMCs and specifically, the reputation of Blackwater in relation to the controversial incident in Iraq on Sept. 16th. The first-time director stressed, as does his film, that the most necessary step in addressing and assessing the accountability and ethical implications of PMCs in modern warfare (inside Iraq and beyond)is education and learning about the roots of the industry. He urged both those who villify or glorify the PMC world automatically to step back and reassess their predisposed notions of the people who do the work. "It's much more complicated that saying all is good or all is evil," and much of his motivation, and ensuing recognition, for making a balanced film was "empowering audiences to access all the knowledge so they can ask informed questions." Shadow Company contains the only Blackwater solider in Iraq footage in existance.
Shadow Company won 2007 Leo Best Film, Best Directing, Best Writing and Best Editing. An early cut of the film was used as research by Leonardo di Caprio for "Blood Diamond"
The film is available on DVD and has a Chicago week long theatrical engagement at the Gene Siskal Film Center from Oct. 5, 2007 to Oct. 12, 2007.
www.shadowcompany.com has a trailer and recent interviews.
