Director of Oregon-Filmed ‘My Dead Friend Zoe’ about why telling veteran stories is important

While there are characters in many films that serve in the military, it is still relatively rare for veterans to get the opportunity to make films that reflect reality as it really is in uniform. Director Kyle Hausmann-Stokes would like to help to close the gap between the representation of Hollywood and what you actually experience, a goal of his mighty Oregon film film “My Dead Friend Zoe”.

“It is difficult for everyone to make a film,” said Hausmann-Stokes recently in an interview. “We can’t tell our own story often.”

“My Dead Friend Zoe”, which is opened on Friday, February 28, in which cinemas will be opened.

The story moves between the present, when the earnings suffer from post -traumatic stress disorders, it is determined not to face it, and in time in duty when we see the friendship that is between earnings and your co -gäfern Zoe forms (Zoe played by Natalie Morales).

In the present, Zoe seem to earn again and again and have conversations with her, although – as Zoe notes with dark humor – she is dead. Merit’s memories of Zoe keep them isolated from them around them, and she stubbornly refuses to talk about her feelings, even as a consultant for the veteran matters (played by Morgan Freeman), encourages you to do exactly that.

The missions are increasing when Merit’s mother (played by Gloria Reuben) began to take care of Merit’s grandfather (played by Ed Harris) and deserve to connect.

Hausmann-Stokes, who wrote the script with AJ Bermudez, says that the film is largely based on his own experiences and reactions to the loss of soldiers with whom he served.

While a large part of the story is about him, according to Hausmann-Stokes, he believes that all kinds of people can refer to elements of the film.

“I always subscribe to the idea that the specificity of universality is the same,” said Hausmann-Stokes. “We are so much more similar than we are different, and yes, veterans have gone through something that is unique in many ways. But everyone lost someone. Everyone has a friendship in which they are complicated with this person, and everyone has problems with their family. “

Hausmann-Stokes joined the US Army in 2001, just a month before the attacks on September 11 to the United States, as he said in production notes for “My Dead Free Zoe”, he became known during his time in the service As “Battalion Film” known Guy “secretly filmed” Airborne Jumps, Jungle Warfare Training and Tank Steam Manöver, edited them in short films in mine Barracks and distributed copies on VHS. “

When he was removed from the end of his attitude in 2004 for weeks, the Iraq war meant that his unit was dependent on a 12-month fighting tour in Iraq, which forced a delay in the plan of Hausmann-Stokes to get his release, And go to college.

But then, as he says in the production notes, Hausmann-Stokes was unexpectedly ordered to report to the upper office of the upper, where he was informed that he did not have to go to Iraq and could pursue his plans for a discharge and university studies.

In return for non-use, Hausmann-Stokes remembered the colonel who told him that his mission was to attend the country’s best film school, to develop his skills and be “our voice. You will tell the history of the soldier. “

Hausmann-Stokes attended the prestigious film school of the University of Southern California and has dedicated itself to projects that contribute to this.

Bringing the reality of the life of veterans to the audience can now be particularly important, at a time when relatively few people have direct experience with the military and have stereotypical ideas for those who serve.

“Yes, there are stereotypes” about veterans, said Hausmann-Stokes. “People think we are all hyperconservative or war wall, and that’s just not the case. Most people who join the military for two reasons: they want to be part of something larger than themselves, and they want to serve this country. Say what you want about different administrations and politics, but at the end of the day we are all incredibly happy to be born in this country compared to other places. “

From “my dead friend Zoe,” said Hausmann-Stokes: “I worked very hard to make this a purple film. I really think this exceeds politics. There is nothing political. “

While the film contains some scenes that were shot in Portland, a large part of the story plays in Molalla and was shot there in 2023.

“We made a total of 22 days in this film, and 20 these days were in Portland and Molalla with a majority in Molalla,” said Hausmann-Stokes. The cabin, in which Merit’s grandfather lives, was in the Molalla area in Clackamas County.

“I had the best experience in Oregon,” said Hausmann-Stokes. “I wrote the film in Wisconsin (where he grew up Hausmann-Stokes), because as I said, the film is autobiographical. But Wisconsin has no tax incentive for filmmakers, so we have adjusted to the Northwest’s Pacific. “

Hausmann-Stokes changed the film in such a way that it takes place in Oregon, as he said: “And really hug him.”

In addition to the premiere of Austin’s South by Southwest Festival in 2024, “My Dead Friend Zoe” also attracted attention because one of his executing producers NFL -Star – and Taylor Swift’s friend – Travis Kelce is.

One of the production companies of the film producer had connections to someone in Kelce’s team, according to Hausmann-Stokes, and informed information about the project. Hausmann-Stokes also put together a description and sent it to Kelce.

“He is a great supporter of veterans,” said Hausmann-Stokes about Kelce. “And it turns out that he was a big fan of Morgan Freeman. I think we were lucky in this case, and Kelce decided to come on board as an executive producer. “

Although Hausmann-Stokes has other projects in the works, he hopes that the audience for “My Dead Friend Zoe” when it is opened in cinemas.

“We are an indie film,” said Hausmann-Stokes. “And we hope that we can get people to go to the cinemas and to send Hollywood a message that people are still interested in original stories.”

“My Dead Friend Zoe” opened in the cinemas in the Portland region on February 28th.