The Rory Peck Awards 2003
Sponsored by Sony

Dodge Billingsley

Virgin Soldiers

Finalist: The Rory Peck Awards For Features

What was it really like for the US frontline troops fighting the war in Iraq? This film documents a month of fear, doubt, frustration and boredom as ‘India Company’ makes its way towards Baghdad. Billingsley captures a picture of what life was really like for frontline soldiers, many of them very young, who fought their way into the heart of the city.

Dodge Billingsley was embedded with the India Company. This film documents their progress. At the heart of the 3/7 Marines is Sgt Capitol, 27 years old, and a veteran compared to most of the others. He is in charge of ten young marines.

After nearly two months of frustrated waiting since their arrival in January, on 18 March the order is given to move north, they cross the border into Iraq on 21 March. Their first mission is to attack and destroy the 32nd Mechanized Brigade located west of Az Zubyer, neither Capitol or his men have been in combat, the sound of automatic fire can be heard. Sgt Capitol leads his men out into the fray.

Biography

Dodge Billingsley is a seasoned producer who has worked on documentaries worldwide. He founded Combat Films in 1997 and since then has covered conflicts around the world.

His recent work has taken him to Afghanistan where he was filming the prisoner uprising at Qala Jangi and, on his return, in the company of US forces for Operation Anaconda where he followed the soldiers and ‘marched into contact’ with enemy positions recording the fight between the US and Taliban forces.

With freelance cameraman Damien Degueldre, he was the winner of The Rory Peck Award for Features 2002 for the documentary “House of War”.

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