thedrifter
04-06-08, 06:19 AM
Career training helping injured veterans
MEG BARONE, Correspondent
nthusiastically Friday to an audience of about 35 people at the Fairfield Museum and History Center about his post-Marine career goals in the film industry.
Popaditch received specialized training as a sound editor in the inaugural class of a unique vocational rehabilitation program, created by two former Connecticut residents.
Emmy Award-winning cinematographer and documentary filmmaker Kevin Lombard and his wife, Judith Paixao, established the San Diego-based Wounded Marine Careers Foundation in 2006.
The first-of-its-kind career training and job placement program provides active duty and medically retired Marines, who suffer from combat and non-combat-related injuries and illnesses, with professional skills in media arts, including filmmaking, sound design, editing, graphics and photojournalism. The foundation began after Lombard was asked to make a documentary about wounded Marines. "The wounded Marine story wasn't mine to tell," said Lombard, who decided to give Marines the tools to share their own emotional and inspiring stories.
"I didn't realize how therapeutic it was to tell a story," said Popaditch, who will serve as the training program's deputy director. He also works now as a sound professional.
"I don't quite have the eyeball for cinematography. Since my eyesight got degraded, I've become a much better listener. You hear things that other people might not notice, and a keen ear is very important to a production sound editor." Popaditch said. Friday's presentation also included comments from recent program graduates, retired Marine Cpl. Eric Cohen, 24, of Massapequa, N.Y., ; and active duty Marine Cpl. Brett Sobaski, 22, of Iowa City, Iowa. Also shown was an eight-minute film that the 19 inaugural students produced during the 10-week, 400-hour training.
The faculty included dozens of highly acclaimed industry professionals, who collectively have won three Academy Awards and 27 Emmys.
Sobaski called the faculty "an extremely elite group of cinematographers." "This course was more therapeutic than seven months of physical therapy," said Cohen, who was critically injured in December 2006 when his motorcycle was struck head on by an SUV shortly before his scheduled deployment to Iraq. Cohen said the program has given him new skills and renewed hope.
"We were prepared to die. We weren't prepared to be disabled," said Cohen, who added he loves "taking raw footage and turning it into a piece of artwork." In the audience were a number of veterans, including Tom Evans, of Shelton, who served as a Marine in Vietnam. Evans said veterans from his era were slow to talk about their experiences because of the treatment they received after returning from the war zone. He's grateful current military personnel have a green light to share their emotional stories.
Noyes Spelman, 85, of Westport, who served in the Marines during World War II, said the foundation is one small way that people can help those who risk life and limb in the protection of American freedoms.
Paixao said the foundation honors the young patriots who defend freedoms of speech and expression. "We would not have an entertainment industry, we would not have a media without them," said Paixao, who is working to raise the $2 million necessary for the next class, which begins in September.
"This foundation is especially great because it's giving them the skills that allow them to help themselves," said Paul Greatsinger, of Fairfield, a career Marine who retired in 2006.
Fairfield First Selectman Kenneth Flatto issued a proclamation and gave Lombard and Paixao a key to the town. Today, the three Marines will share their personal stories of injury, growth and healing during the 10 a.m. worship service at Southport Congregational Church, 524 Pequot Ave. An interactive presentation featuring Lombard, Paixao and the graduates will follow the service.
For more information, call the church at 255-1594 or visit www.southportucc.org.
For more information about the Wounded Marine Careers Foundation, or to make a donation, call 858-974-8134 or visit www.woundedmarinecareers.org
Ellie
MEG BARONE, Correspondent
nthusiastically Friday to an audience of about 35 people at the Fairfield Museum and History Center about his post-Marine career goals in the film industry.
Popaditch received specialized training as a sound editor in the inaugural class of a unique vocational rehabilitation program, created by two former Connecticut residents.
Emmy Award-winning cinematographer and documentary filmmaker Kevin Lombard and his wife, Judith Paixao, established the San Diego-based Wounded Marine Careers Foundation in 2006.
The first-of-its-kind career training and job placement program provides active duty and medically retired Marines, who suffer from combat and non-combat-related injuries and illnesses, with professional skills in media arts, including filmmaking, sound design, editing, graphics and photojournalism. The foundation began after Lombard was asked to make a documentary about wounded Marines. "The wounded Marine story wasn't mine to tell," said Lombard, who decided to give Marines the tools to share their own emotional and inspiring stories.
"I didn't realize how therapeutic it was to tell a story," said Popaditch, who will serve as the training program's deputy director. He also works now as a sound professional.
"I don't quite have the eyeball for cinematography. Since my eyesight got degraded, I've become a much better listener. You hear things that other people might not notice, and a keen ear is very important to a production sound editor." Popaditch said. Friday's presentation also included comments from recent program graduates, retired Marine Cpl. Eric Cohen, 24, of Massapequa, N.Y., ; and active duty Marine Cpl. Brett Sobaski, 22, of Iowa City, Iowa. Also shown was an eight-minute film that the 19 inaugural students produced during the 10-week, 400-hour training.
The faculty included dozens of highly acclaimed industry professionals, who collectively have won three Academy Awards and 27 Emmys.
Sobaski called the faculty "an extremely elite group of cinematographers." "This course was more therapeutic than seven months of physical therapy," said Cohen, who was critically injured in December 2006 when his motorcycle was struck head on by an SUV shortly before his scheduled deployment to Iraq. Cohen said the program has given him new skills and renewed hope.
"We were prepared to die. We weren't prepared to be disabled," said Cohen, who added he loves "taking raw footage and turning it into a piece of artwork." In the audience were a number of veterans, including Tom Evans, of Shelton, who served as a Marine in Vietnam. Evans said veterans from his era were slow to talk about their experiences because of the treatment they received after returning from the war zone. He's grateful current military personnel have a green light to share their emotional stories.
Noyes Spelman, 85, of Westport, who served in the Marines during World War II, said the foundation is one small way that people can help those who risk life and limb in the protection of American freedoms.
Paixao said the foundation honors the young patriots who defend freedoms of speech and expression. "We would not have an entertainment industry, we would not have a media without them," said Paixao, who is working to raise the $2 million necessary for the next class, which begins in September.
"This foundation is especially great because it's giving them the skills that allow them to help themselves," said Paul Greatsinger, of Fairfield, a career Marine who retired in 2006.
Fairfield First Selectman Kenneth Flatto issued a proclamation and gave Lombard and Paixao a key to the town. Today, the three Marines will share their personal stories of injury, growth and healing during the 10 a.m. worship service at Southport Congregational Church, 524 Pequot Ave. An interactive presentation featuring Lombard, Paixao and the graduates will follow the service.
For more information, call the church at 255-1594 or visit www.southportucc.org.
For more information about the Wounded Marine Careers Foundation, or to make a donation, call 858-974-8134 or visit www.woundedmarinecareers.org
Ellie