War Stories From the Front Lines
"My War Diary" collects video clips from soldiers in the field, to detail war.
July 27, 2007 — -- What do you get when you combine user-generated content, the military and prime time television? The new documentary series "My War Diary," that's what.
"My War Diary," which premiered last May on the Military Channel, is made by and for the men and women serving on the war front. Unlike previous attempts to document wartime experiences, this series incorporates the stories with footage, personal accounts and even rap videos created by those serving on the front lines in Iraq.
The show's executive producer, Eric Schotz, insists that what separates "My War Diary" from the pack is its authenticity.
"Our show is about putting clips in context so you know where they came from, who shot them, and what was on each side of the clip," he said. "It doesn't matter whether you're for the war or against the war, this is from a perspective that you usually don't see. It's shot by the people who are serving in Iraq."
The clips, which are submitted over the Internet as well as through soldiers' families, cover a wide range of topics and emotions -- from the comical to the terrifying to the awe-inspiring. Each episode provides a different perspective on the war in Iraq, adding a new dimension to perceptions of the conflict.
"What makes this show unique is that we're looking at the first war shot in the digital age," said Schotz. "The videos from this war are the equivalent of the letters that were sent home from World War II and Vietnam."
But unlike the letters from previous conflicts, these videos are making their way to the Internet and TV, to be viewed by hundreds, thousands, perhaps millions of people, giving civilians a sense of the war from the Americans who live it every day.
"The one thing is, no matter what people feel about this particular war, nobody really has any disdain for the soldiers that are serving. And I think that is the most incredible and powerful part of this -- you see a side to real people in extremely stressful situations [who show] dignity and grace and a sense of humor," said Schotz.
