"War Ink" Features The Stories Of Eleven Veterans In Honor Of The 11th Of November
Latest Series from We Are The Mighty Features Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Sharing Stories Through Their Tattoos
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- We Are The Mighty and the War Ink Project present War Ink, a digital series featuring compelling interviews and stunning photographs of eleven post-9/11 veterans who use their tattoos to tell stories from their lives on and off the battlefield. The eleven videos of the War Ink series are available on wearethemighty.com. Photos for War Ink can be found here.
"The War Ink Project embodies the profound impact storytelling can have on veterans and gives civilians a window into what it means to serve," says David Gale, President and CEO of We Are The Mighty. "We are honored to work with the War Ink team to launch this remarkable series."
Director Rebecca Murga is an Army Reserve officer and veteran of the Iraq and Afghan Wars. She interviewed twenty four veterans from California while renowned photographer Johann Wolf photographed them and their body art. The veterans featured in War Ink connect viewers to their emotional journey with stories of survival, loss, hope, anger and love.
- My Chuck Taylors Are in Heaven features Noah Bailey, an Army scout sniper who lost both legs in an IED ambush in Afghanistan. A tattoo over his heart depicts a burning Humvee, above it are his feet in Chuck Taylor sneakers flying to heaven, where they wait for him.
- In Suicide Butterflies, Heather Hayes, an Air Force mechanic who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, shares her passion for her service and her tattoos. One is a Banksy graffiti piece showing a woman shooting herself and the blood transforming into butterflies. "Basically it's a symbol of something really tragic turning into something really beautiful."
"We Are The Mighty is an incredible platform for veterans to share their stories in an authentic way," Murga said. "WATM's leadership, many of whom served, take the time to support and mentor veterans working in entertainment."
Murga is an award-winning filmmaker, writer, producer, and director of news and documentaries in English and Spanish. Murga joined the military shortly after 9/11 and was part of the Special Operations Command in Afghanistan. She has been published in The New York Times and is the first veteran to be selected for the prestigious AFI Conservatory Directing Workshop for Women for 2015.
"Movies helped me cope while growing up in a rough Puerto Rican neighborhood in Chicago," said Murga. I am grateful to be part of the War Ink Project working for and with fellow veterans. It's a way to make sense of our military experiences no matter how traumatic they may have been."
The War Ink Project was conceived by Chris Brown, Deputy County Librarian for Santa Clara County, and Army veteran Jason Deitch, with Karen Kraft and Richard Garzilli of Hero Media Group. Productions in the War Ink Project are staffed with crews of veterans working side by side with civilians supportive of the military. The War Ink series is being produced by Hero Media and Director Murga.
"With tattoos becoming mainstream and a shared form of self-expression, we saw them as a powerful way to engage civilians and inspire them to learn more about veterans and their experiences while serving our country." said Deitch, co-creator of War Ink.
Grants and support were provided by Contra Costa County Library, Institute of Museum and Library Services, Pacific Library Partnership, Cal Humanities, StoryCorps, and the Eureka! Leadership Institute. The Project was awarded the Schwartz Prize for outstanding work in the public humanities by the Federation of State Humanities Councils.
"The War Ink Project plans to to create a national archive of interviews and photographs," said producer Kraft. "The content will be used to produce documentaries, additional digital series and traveling art exhibits."
We Are The Mighty (WATM) is a media and lifestyle brand celebrating military service with stories that empower and inspire. Our team of veterans create and distribute content that is authentic and impactful for all genres, formats and platforms as well as branded entertainment, advertising, and live events. WATM is a trusted voice and resource for this community, companies and organizations who want to meaningfully engage this large and loyal audience.
For more information, visit www.wearethemighty.com and join our community on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
SOURCE We Are The Mighty
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