Definition: Independent
Producer
An individual
or group of individuals who, against all odds and everyone's
better judgement, without the financial backing of a major (or
minor) film studio or production entity, creates or causes to
be created a film or television program.
There
is no harder job than being an independent producer, unless it
is being an independent producer of a documentary. It is a job
that rivals in its thanklessness that of prison guards and dog
catchers. I received an email from an ambitious young independent
producer named Mara Wallace not long ago about a subject that
is near to my heart. Mara wished to interview me for a documentary
chronicling those who entertained the troops in Vietnam. Like
so many independent productions, it was being financed by the
blood, sweat, tears, and Visa cards of its principals. I am asked
to do interviews on various subjects fairly often. Usually they
want to know about Hollywood during the studio era, or what Marilyn
or Rock Hudson was like, or if Howard Hughes asked me to do the
nasty. (He pretty much did, even though I was fifteen.) But this
was an interview of a different stripe. I said yes to Mara because
I wanted to go on record about the war as seen by me and many
others who sang and danced and played for the amusement of young
men and women who were about to die.
I
did not go with Bob Hope's show. I went alone, with a small band
of muscians, flying in helicopters from one end of South Vietnam
to the other. I'm talking the Delta to the DMZ. I was scared,
exhausted, sick, loved, hated, fucked, ignored, romanced, adored,
hungry for home cooking, and lonesome for my mother. Just like
the troops. Unlike the troops, I could go home, and when I did,
I vowed that I would never return but that I would also never
forget. I swear to you that a day does not go by that I don't
think of being in Vietnam. Just like the troops.
Now,
I am aware that there has been entertainment for fighting men
in the field since those hard-working girls followed General
Hooker's troops around during the Civil War, giving the Union
boys a little relaxation and providing the working girl's profession
with it's immortal nickname. (After a few months in a war zone,
singing and dancing may seem a poor substitute for those ladies'
ministrations, but it was the best some of us could do.) It may
not seem important for fighting men and women to have some rest
and relaxation. Unless you have been there. Then you know that
there is nothing more comforting to the troops in harm's way
far from home than seeing those dancing girls and hearing those
musicians, and yes, hearing Bob Hope's god-awful jokes, even
though the son of a bitch flew into Vietnam during the day to
do his shows and spent his nights in safety in Thailand and made
millions off of the shows by selling them to television when
he returned.
I
am so glad I participated in this documentary. As an independent
producer, Mara must now fight her own lonely war to get her show
completed. Mara, when you read this, please know that I wish
you all the luck in the world. And the rest of you: please watch
for Entertaining Vietnam later this year. It will take
Mara a long time to fight her battles and to make her documentary,
but when it is done, you will see something you have not seen
before, something rare.
Copyright
Mamie Van Doren 1999
February 28, 1999