A special movie premiere, featuring the powerful and impactful work by area military veterans, is coming to Colorado State University.
Veterans will be showcasing their short films at CSU as part of an innovative program created by the grandson of World War II Gen. George S. Patton. Community members are invited to a free screening of the Patton Veterans Project in which veterans from Northern Colorado and CSU will present their short films, which serve as a therapeutic pathway to help strengthen family, community and professional bonds.
The screening is set for March 7 at 6 p.m. in CSU’s Lory Student Center Theatre. Attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy several short films, along with snacks and refreshments. A cash bar also will be available.
Veterans from Northern Colorado attended a three-day workshop at CSU Feb. 23-25 in which they learned the concepts of cinema from filmmaker Ben Patton and a team of professionals. The event was hosted by CSU’s Adult Learner and Veteran Services.
ALVS Director Ben Schrader, a U.S. Army veteran, was among the participants at the CSU workshop in February. Schrader produced a short comedy about the words used in everyday life and how they relate to war and the military.
As part of the project, Schrader and other participants storyboarded, directed and acted in the films. For Schrader, he said the comaraderie of working with other veterans was an enjoyable experience.
Patton Veterans Project screening
Date: Thursday, March 7
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Lory Student Center Theatre
“You’re just breaking bread, having conversations and just realizing that you’ve been through a lot of similar things,” he said. “That’s one of the great things about the Patton Project: It’s reestablishing the kind of comaraderie you had in the military. You see that other people are struggling, but there are people who are there to help you grow and heal.”
The Patton Veterans Project has served as the foundation for clinical research that suggests filmmaking intervention can help military personnel make the transition back to civilian life.
Marshall Spring — a disabled Marine Corps veteran who was among the participants who worked on the film with Schrader — can attest. Spring explained that the Patton Film Project was a “game-changer.”
“Frankly, I went in with moderate expectations, but I was blown away,” he said. “Not only did the project exceed my wildest hopes in terms of filmmaking fun, but it also became a lifeline for my mental health. The camaraderie and shared purpose instantly shattered any sense of isolation I was feeling.
“Making movies with fellow veterans became not just a creative outlet, but a powerful therapy session in disguise. The positive impact rippled far beyond the screen, leaving me with lasting friendships and a renewed sense of purpose. If you’re looking to bridge the gap between creativity and mental well-being, look no further than the Patton Film Project. It’s the real deal.”
The short films for the March 7 screening will cover a variety of topics, including loss and friendship, Schrader explained. In addition to the films produced at CSU, other films from past Patton Project workshops also will be showcased.
To date, the Patton Veterans Project has hosted more than 70 film workshops at nine military bases, VA hospitals, universities and private clinics, enabling over 1,400 veterans from 18 to 80 to collaborate on more than 300 short films expressing their experiences.
Stacy Litwin, a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserve who was deployed in Iraq, participated at the Patton Veterans Project at Aims Community College in Greeley in January. She had seen a flyer for the event at the Veterans Affairs office in Loveland and thought it sounded interesting.
During the workshop, Litwin and others produced “(L)EDGE,” a five-minute film that explored the complex issue of suicide among veterans.
“We were trying to create some awareness,” Litwin said. “We wanted to make people aware of the resources available and how the VA is there to help you.”
According to Patton Project organizers, community screenings break down barriers between veterans and civilians and educate the public about the mental health challenges facing veterans and military families today.
Schrader said that he is looking forward to the March 7 screening and encouraged CSU and Northern Colorado community members to attend. He added that veterans who didn’t get to participate in the Patton Project should watch the films, as there will be future workshops in the area.
“The premiere is going to be great,” Schrader said. “It could be something that you or someone you know could really benefit from.”
