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IndependentCritics:
Why a film about Desmond Doss?
Terry:
The story is a perfect arc about a character who not only
accomplishes something, but who also changes the lives of those
around him.
IndependentCritics:
It's important to note before we begin that just this week
Desmond Doss passed away. It must be incredibly hard for you to be
here. Doss was your childhood idol? Can you tell me more?
Terry:
Yes, it is. I'd just seen Desmond a week and a half ago. He
pulled me up beside him and whispered "There's something I've not
told you." He was like that...simple, honest. I don't think he
actually told me anything new, but it was really nice seeing him
again. I was raised Seventh-Day Adventist in Rensselaer, Indiana.
Doss was a Seventh-Day Adventist who took seriously the commandment
"Thou Shall Not Kill." Desmond is the first conscientious objector
in this country who received the Congressional Medal of Honor, the
highest award for military service.
IndependentCritics:
As I understand it, Doss served as a medic in the military under
great duress. He refused to carry a gun, and never did despite being
on the frontlines in World War II.
Terry:
He risked his life repeatedly. In Okinawa, he almost
single-handedly saved 75 men by repeatedly going back under fire to
pull out dead and injured men.
IndependentCritics:
It's an amazing story. My understanding is that Doss had
repeatedly refused to tell his story. Clearly, he trusted you to get
it right.
Terry:
Desmond had reached the point where he wanted to share his story
with Adventist youth. He and his son contacted me, and I was able to
really sell him on the value of reaching out. He was progressive
enough to understand. I truly believed it would shed great light.
IndependentCritics:
So, you go from working on a film like "The Terminator" to a film
about a conscientious objector.
Terry:
I had just decided I didn't want to make films that were simply
gratuitous. I wanted to make films that were socially important. I
was married with two children and thinking about my legacy. What did
I want to leave behind? I was driving in Ireland, having
conversations and I realized that making films like this is what God
wants me to do.
IndependentCritics:
Can you tell me about your upbringing? How did you get interested
in film?
Terry:
I grew up in a Seventh-Day Adventist family. I didn't even see
television until I was 10-years-old. <laughs> My family was really
surprised when I announced I wanted to study film.
IndependentCritics:
So you moved to California?
Terry:
I received a full-ride scholarship to Pepperdine University.
IndependentCritics:
You've also modeled for Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren. In a
relatively young career, you've received quite a few awards. You
seem to be uncomfortable talking about that sort of thing.
Terry:
I'm grateful to be able to use my skills in writing and
cinematography to create films that bring people together.
IndependentCritics:
You won the Director's Award at Cinequest in Phoenix. That's
awesome enough in itself, but Cinequest tends to get really great
feature films...to win the Director's Award with a Feature
Documentary is really impressive.
Terry:
I was so nervous at the first showing, but audiences right away
seemed to love the film. Desmond was at the film's premiere in
Phoenix. In fact, it was his first time in a movie theatre. That was
the most exciting part for me. I'd worked so hard to convince him
that people would want to hear his story, and I was doing a Q&A
session after the screening when people started asking about
Desmond. I said "Why don't you ask him? He's right here." He stood
up and received a standing ovation.
IndependentCritics:
Wonderful.
Terry:
I can't take credit for the story of Desmond Doss. My greatest
pressure was to not screw it up.
IndependentCritics:
What have you learned from the experience?
Terry:
You can't be around Desmond Doss without being inspired. He
inspires you to not be so quick to pull the trigger when you're
serving and even when things aren't going well.
IndependentCritics:
He must have really inspired you. You started a foundation?
Terry:
Yes. The Shae Foundation. "Shae" is Gaelic for "gifted" and
"learned." It's also my daughter's name. The Shae Foundation was
started to provide positive and encouraging stories through all
forms of media. It is designed to encourage educational partnerships
and production opportunities. We're working on a starting a charter
school for fellowship and mentoring. We've got other projects we're
working on, as well.
IndependentCritics:
What do you think Desmond would want us to take away from this
film?
Terry:
I've known Desmond for six years. For all the time I've spent
with him, you could never really have a deep conversation with him.
Desmond was a simplistic person who basically believed in the ten
guidelines. I think if there's one thing he'd want us to take away
it would be the golden rule.
IndependentCritics:
Even though Desmond didn't carry a weapon, how was he affected by
the war?
Terry:
One of the first things he said to his wife when he got off the
plane after his return was "don't ever ask me about the war." She
never did. Every man was grossly affected. Desmond never could shake
it.
IndependentCritics:
In the film, you interview many of Desmond's fellow soldiers,
superiors and many who originally opposed his presence in the
military. How did you get the cooperation of these men, many of whom
tried hard to have Desmond thrown out or punished?
Terry:
Things started to change for Desmond on the frontlines. It seemed
like there was hardly ever a battle where there wasn't some story of
heroism involving him. As much as his superiors harassed him,
Desmond is now treated with a sort of reverence. All of the
men I interviewed now express regret at the way they treated
Desmond. Desmond, to this day, is the only Army soldier to receive a
Marine Corps honor. There's a Desmond Doss Boulevard on one of the
bases named in his honor.
IndependentCritics:
As if this film isn't amazing enough, there's even a connection
to 9/11 as I understand?
Terry:
We were actually filming on an Army base on 9/11. We were sitting
there filming, then watching the World Trade Center collapse. We
were actually locked down on the base.
IndependentCritics:
Which begs the question...in this time of war how has a film such
as this one been received?
Terry:
We've had people in both the Pentagon and White House see the
film and love it. Iraq war families have seen the film. It has been
very well received. Of course, this war is very different. There was
a study done among the soldiers in Iraq that hasn't gotten a lot of
publicity. 70% of them didn't understand why they were there and
wanted to come home. The reasons behind World War II were very
different from the war in Iraq.
IndependentCritics:
What's next for Terry Benedict?
Terry:
I've been working on this film for four years...two to film it
and two on the film festival circuit. I'm starting to work on other
projects, and I'm continuing to work with the Shae Foundation. I'm
seen as the leader of the foundation right now, but I plan to stay
on the creative side.
IndependentCritics:
Well, thank you for chatting with us.
Terry:
You're welcome. It's been a pleasure. Don't hesitate to contact
me if you have any other questions.
For more information on
The Shae
Foundation visit their website. |
