FILMS
Writer and Director / ONE HALLOWEEN - Short Film Writer and Director / AMERICAN GIRL - AFI Short Film Director & Producer / WAR INK - A Short Film & Digital Series Writer & Director / THE LETTER - ABC's Short Film Director / TALL TALE - short film Writer & Director / HEROES DON'T WEAR CAPES - Promo
NEWS AND DOCUMENTARY
Writer & Director / EARNING THE TAB - Digital Series Writer & Director / DIRT MOVERS - US Army Writer & Producer / EMILY'S BOY - Mundo FOX News Writer & Producer / WOUNDED WARRIORS - Mundo FOX News Writer & Producer / THE CRUCIBLE - Mundo FOX News Director & Producer / WHY I JOINED - Army Soldier Series Director & Producer / SPECIAL FORCES IN EL SALVADOR - Mundo FOX News
FILMS
Trailer to the short film ONE HALLOWEEN, a recipiant of the NALIP Latino Lens incubator grant, the Panavision New Filmmakers Grant.
ONE HALLOWEEN | A NALIP LATINO LENS INCUBATOR SHORT film
Written and Directed by: Rebecca Murga
Shot over a period of three days in North Hollywood, over 70 crew and cast members, 25 of whom were former military veterans and three wounded veterans, came together for production on ONE HALLOWEEN.
ONE HALLOWEEN is a film about an injured Soldier, wounded in the Afghanistan war, through one Halloween night as he tries to connect with his 10-year-old daughter.
"The story is based on my experience with soldiers in Afghanistan, as well as some of the documentary work I had done at Brooke Army Medical Center, in San Antonio. The main character will be played by my dear friend Juan, who lost both arms in the war and was burned on 80% of his body in 2004 when a fuel truck exploded in Iraq." - Rebecca Murga
Trailer to the AFI Conservatory Directing Workshop for Women short film AMERICAN GIRL. For more on the film please see: www.americangirlfilm.com
American Girl | An AFI Conservatory Directing Workshop for Women SHORT film
Written and Directed by: Rebecca Murga
Shot over a period of four days in Santa Clarita, California, over 70 crew and cast members, half of whom were former military veterans, came together for production on AMERICAN GIRL.
AMERICAN GIRL is a film about a young spunky Guatemalan girl who is driven by her late father’s dream to become an American. Accompanied by a retired smuggler, the two set out on a dangerous 2,000 mile journey through Mexico to reach the American border. Together they must overcome ruthless drug smugglers, human traffickers, and the harsh desert. But her journey doesn’t end there. The ending of the film reveals the sacrifices that immigrants make.
“The story is inspired by my father’s journey to America in his desire for a better life, and when I learned about a young Guatemalan immigrant who joined the Marines and was then killed in Iraq before becoming a citizen, it all came rushing together. To me, the desire for freedom is the heart of the American spirit…and for many that spirit beats within them, regardless of where they are born.” - Rebecca Murga
WAR INK | DOCUMENTARY Short Film
Directed by: Rebecca Murga
The War Ink Project is a documentary, digital series, and art exhibit that combines original video, photography, and audio of combat veterans telling their stories through their tattoos.
Over twenty-four veterans from California were interviewed 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.
WAR INK | DIGITAL SERIES
War Ink: 11 for 11, is 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 Full Series is available on wearethemighty.com. Below are five of the 11 in the series.
For more information on the project please go to www.warinkproject.com
the letter | ABC Short Film
Written and Directed by: Rebecca Murga
Rebecca’s film "The Letter" tells the heartwarming story of a little girl who writes a letter to Santa. This year, the only thing she wants is for her mother, who is deployed to Afghanistan, to come back home for Christmas.
“I want people to understand there are women out there who give up a lot to serve their country. They leave behind their kids, families, and homes, and don't ask for recognition or awards. They are strong women that walk around the streets, women you would pass by and never even notice, but women who would lay down their lives for their country, just like a man would. And, in some cases, they did pay the ultimate sacrifice. Those are the type of stories that need to be told”. – Rebecca Murga
TALL TALE | JAMESON FIRST SHOT
Directed by: Rebecca Murga
TALL TALE was a single scene submission showcasing my director's work for the Jameson First Shot competition with Kevin Spacey and his company Trigger Street Productions. They sent all short-listed directors, a one-page script to produce/direct in 6 days. Thanks to some great friends, and to Veterans in Film & Television, I was able to find and cast experienced Hollywood actors Blaine Gray and Max Thayer who both happen to be former Army medics. Over half the crew were military veterans working in entertainment.
Jameson First Shot is a competition that provides a platform for burgeoning filmmakers who have a vision and a voice, but do not have the benefit of knowing people in the movie business. Actor / Producer Kevin Spacey and Producer Dana Brunetti, selected 20 scripts out of 1,700 submissions, and my script, "Your Lovin' Ways" made that short list.
HEROES DON'T wear CAPES | ARMY RESERVE PROMO
Written and Directed by: Rebecca Murga
Written, shot and edited over a three day weekend, "Heroes Don't Wear Capes" was produced with no budget, and with a production crew consisting of all Army Reserve soldiers. The short won both the 2014 Army Reserve Lt. Col. Wetzel “Scoop” Brumfiled “Best in the Army Reserve” journalism competition and the Keith L. Ware journalism Award of Excellence. There were more than 60 broadcast entries that were judged by active duty public affairs practitioners and journalists from the Fayetteville Observer.
NEWS AND DOCUMENTARY
EARNING THE TAB | THREE-PART DIGITAL SERIES
Written and Directed by: Rebecca Murga
Ranger School is considered one of the most difficult schools in the US military. In April 2015, Ranger School was opened to the first time to women. Nineteen women were allowed to attend the class. For the first time, one of them has opened up to talk about the experience. This is her story.
AN ARMY RESERVE FILM | DIRT MOVERS
Written and Directed by: Rebecca Murga
Horizontal construction engineers use bulldozers, cranes, graders and other heavy equipment to move tons of earth and material to complete construction projects for the Army, building one of the largest landing strips in California. Theyoperate tractors with dozer attachments, scoop loaders, backhoe loaders, hydraulic excavators, motorized graders and scrapers in order to help train members of the Army and Army Reserve.
This is the story of a few engineers working at Fort Irwin, California
Emily's boy | Mundo Fox news story
Written and Produced by: Rebecca Murga
Over 6,840 U.S. service members have been killed in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. This story follows a day with Emily Cortez, a Puerto-Rican women from the Bronx whose son Issac was killed by a road side bomb in 2007. She recounts the day she was told her son was killed and talks about how she feels about Memorial Day.
"For the longest time I focused on the soldier, on what he or she goes through, and it took me a while to step back and think of what parents go through. Emily is a woman who has been through the horror of losing a child, and still has the courage to talk about that pain to keep the memoriy of Pvt. Isacc Cortez alive. I was so touched I wrote a piece titled 'Memorial Day in the Bronx.'" - Rebecca Murga
wounded warriors | Mundo Fox news story
Written and Produced by: Rebecca Murga
The number of American battle wounded has passed 50,000, a grim milestone of more than a decade of war and a reminder of the war's enduring human cost. Producer Rebecca Murga travels to San Antonio, Texas to interview service members wounded in the war, as well as physicians who discuss how the Washington spending cuts impact research and care for soldiers.
“I believe its important to listen to the life lessons these service members pass on to us, as well as explore why it is important to fund the research and care of those service members.” – Rebecca Murga
the crucible | Mundo Fox news story
Written and Produced by: Rebecca Murga
Over 20% of all Marine recruits that enter Marine Corps Depot San Diego are Latinos. This story follows Marine recruits through training as they learn how to become Marines.
Why i joined | army reserve SOLDIER SERIES
Directed & Produced by: Rebecca Murga
A feature piece and dedication to the New York City police, fire department, and emergency services from the 2013 NCO of the Year produced as part of the Army Reserve Life channel.
"On a trip to New York City, I met a soldier named Sgt. 1st Class Jason J. Manella, the Army NCO of the Year. The more I learned about Manella, the more I liked him. He was the underdog of the NCO of the Year competition, after recovering from traumatic brain injury. He was in Afghanistan when his convoy hit an improvised explosive device. During his recovery, he began studying Army manuals to help with his therapy. Meeting him was an honor, but knowing him is humbling." - Rebecca Murga
special forces in el salvador | Mundo Fox news story
Written and Produced by: Rebecca Murga
As the United States shifts its focus from Iraq and Afghanistan to other parts of the globe, this story examines the focus of U.S. Special Forces in Latin American and South American. Producer Rebecca Murga travels to El Salvador to examine the way that U.S. Special Forces and El Salvadorian Special Forces are working together to train, as they focus on training, combating drug traffickers, and dealing with the growing crime.
"I wanted to examine the collaboration the U.S. has with Latin American and South American. As El Salvador deals with the excessive crime and drug cartels in their country, I am interested to know what the special forces mission is in other counties.” – Rebecca Murga
The Illustrated Man features Ryan Le Va whose personality is as colorful as the tattoos that adorn his body. Deployed in 2003, Le Va served in Iraq for 14 months as a member of the Military Police with the Army National Guard. His left sleeve shows a fuel pump and a piston engine representing his brother and sister whose support kept him going.
Le Va’s own symbols, a spider caught in a web and a broken robot, counters his own sense of humor. “Most of us are really funny guys,” says Le Va, “and ridiculously good-looking.”
WATCH RYAN "THE ILLUSTRATED MAN"