Backers,

Over the past 6 weeks we've completed a series of interviews with the 1/5 Marines and the footage and content turned out better than expected. We are now integrating the interviews with my footage from Afghanistan (see attached example) and plan to have a Rough Cut of the film done by September. We will then host some test screenings at Camp Pendleton, Quantico, The Pentagon and few other locations for feedback.

Step-by-step. Thanks again for your support.

Regards,

Dave

P.S. I finally shipped all the baseline items today (i.e., posters, hats, t-shirts, coffee mugs and BROTHERS AT WAR DVDs. Wow, it took a lot more time than it should have--thank you for your patience. I'll send out an update about the challenge coins; PATROL BASE JAKER DVD and soundtrack; and re-scheduling of the special events once we complete the film this Fall.

Team:

The PATROL BASE JAKER movie has been selected for the GI Film Festival in Washington, DC (May 12-16, 2010). Your generous contribution via Kickstarter to help fund the movie's post-production costs made this happen.

Tickets and passes for the World Premier of PATROL BASE JAKER are available at the GI Film Festival web-site: www.gifilmfestival.com

Thank you again for all your support.

Sincerely,

Dave

P.S. Your promotional items will begin shipping next week (i.e., hats, t-shirts, coffee mugs, posters, etc.).

----------------------------
David Scantling
Director & Producer
PATROL BASE JAKER Movie
www.facebook.com/patrolbasejaker

Team,

First of all, thank you to all of our Kickstarter supporters for helping us reach our fundraising goal of $45,000. Your support of Patrol Base Jaker will help this film educate viewers on the U.S. Marines' practice of counter-insurgency in Afghanistan.

If you or your organization are interested in hosting a screening of Brothers At War (2009) or Patrol Base Jaker along with an appearance and question and answer session with myself, please e-mail patrolbasejaker@thundertech.com.

To stay informed on the latest updates from Patrol Base Jaker, connect with our project on Twitter at www.twitter.com/patrolbasejaker or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/patrolbasejaker. You can also sign up for our e-newsletter at www.patrolbasejaker.com.

Your support for this project shows a demand for open and honest films that tell important stories. Thanks again for being part of our team.

Regards,

Dave

----------------------------
David Scantling
Director & Producer
PATROL BASE JAKER Movie
dave.scantling@gmail.com

Team:

We made the $45k goal on Saturday with over 48 hours to go--awesome! Thank you for your phenomenal support of the PATROL BASE JAKER movie project on Kickstarter.

I would like to send a special thanks to those backers that posted their answer to my question "why did you back this film project?" in the Comments section of the movie's Kickstarter project page. Please note, if you would like to make a comment, you need to do so prior to the end of the project at 1700 EST today (i.e., once the project closes you will not be able to post a comment).

I made this film because I continue to be stunned by the lack of information--and misinformation--about what's really going on with the war in Afghanistan (previously, I addressed some of the same issues with media coverage of the war in Iraq with my first film, BROTHERS AT WAR - http://www.brothersatwarmovie.com ). Specifically, I honestly don't know why there seems to be such an extreme filter by the Mainstream Media--and much of Hollywood--regarding the service, sacrifice and achievements of the US military in Afghanistan and Iraq.

For example, here's a media case study that's relevant to the PATROL BASE JAKER movie:

1. Please read Nir Rosen's article in the January/February 2010 issue of Mother Jones magazine about counter-insurgency in Nawa, Afghanistan (where the PATROL BASE JAKER movie takes place) - http://bit.ly/Mother_Jones

2. Then read my response (special thanks to Mark Stanley and the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting for publishing this on their blog) - http://bit.ly/Pulitzer_Center

I hate war and violence. And more ofter than not, the people who suffer most in any war are the civilians--especially the children--that get caught in the middle of the fighting. However, the events of 9/11 opened my eyes to dark side of radical Islam. For the sake of our democratic society, and the rest of the world, we need to find ways to address and counter the extremists that have taken passages from the Koran and used them to justify murder, terrorism and crimes against humanity. Otherwise, we run this risk--as Dexter Filkins of The New York Times puts it--of fighting "the forever war."

Regards,

Dave

----------------------------
David Scantling
Director & Producer
PATROL BASE JAKER Movie
dave.scantling@gmail.com

Team,

My filming of Lt. Col. Bill McCollough's Change of Command ceremony at Camp Pendleton, California, went very well today. I'll use the footage in the final scene of the PATROL BASE JAKER movie as a way to summarize for the audience the remarkable counter-insurgency accomplishments of the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, during their 7-month deployment in Nawa, Afghanistan.

Regards,

Dave

--------------------
David Scantling
Director & Producer
PATROL BASE JAKER Movie

(photo by Nate Bressler)

Team:

I'd like to give a "shout out" to Col. Joe Sheehan--my first backer for the PATROL BASE JAKER movie project on Kickstarter. Thank you Joe for your support!

Regards,

Dave

P.S. Joe gave me the attached photo featuring the two of us "back in the day" at Camp Fallujah, Iraq (circa Fall, 2006). Joe was leading several key Civil Affairs missions for the Marines and MNF-West in Al Anbar Province and I was an Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (ADUSD) on an economic development task force based at the US Embassy in Baghdad.

Team:

Here's a view of my luxury suite that also served as my movie production studio at Patrol Base Jaker (aka the "Staff and O's" tent). Thanks to Andrew Lubin of Leatherneck Magazine for sending me this photo.

Regards,

Dave

---------------------
David Scantling
Director & Producer
PATROL BASE JAKER Movie
330-696-1039 mobile
dave.scantling@gmail.com

Team:

If possible, please go to the PATROL BASE JAKER project page on Kickstarter today, click on the "Comments" tab, and post your answer to the question "Why Did You Back This Film Project?" Here's the direct link to the project page - http://www.bit.ly/6x7INQ

Your thoughts and comments will help potential backers decide if they will make a pledge or not.

5 days to go and we're 68% of the way there. Thanks in advance...

Regards,

Dave

P.S. The attached outtake shows the oven that several Marines built at Patrol Base Jaker. It gave them a way to cook real meals as an alternate to the baseline of eating MREs three times a day during their 7-month deployment in Afghanistan.

Team:

We just passed the $30k milestone on Kickstarter! Awesome! 6 days left to reach the $45k goal. Please consider inviting your friends and colleagues to make a $5 pledge today. It's very important because the number of people that have made a pledge--almost 100 so far--is one of the key factors that is helping me close some of the larger pledges from corporate sponsors. Invite your friends and colleagues to be a part of the team that gives a "greenlight" to the post-production of the PATROL BASE JAKER movie. Here's the link for the PATROL BASE JAKER project page on Kickstarter to include in your message - http://www.bit.ly/6x7INQ

Thanks in advance.

Regards,

Dave

P.S. I'm getting ready to fly out to California from Ohio for my last day of filming to complete the PATROL BASE JAKER movie. I will be at Camp Pendleton for the 1/5 Marines Change of Command ceremony on Friday, 19FEB10.

------------------------------
David Scantling
Director & Producer
PATROL BASE JAKER Movie
330-696-1039 mobile
dave.scantling@gmail.com

Team:

We are making great progress on Kickstarter--thank you again for your support.

Here's the latest update on the PATROL BASE JAKER film post-production activities:

1. Marc Roberge (lead singer of O.A.R.) just sent me the rough cut version of "Morning Sons"--the Original Song that he's writing for the "Operation Khanjar" scene in the film. It's awesome!

2. I have one filming day remaining to complete the movie production--the Change of Command ceremony on Friday, 19FEB10, at Camp Pendleton, CA, where Lt. Col. Bill McCollough will relinquish command of the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines.

3. My next major post-production milestone will be to complete a solid cut of the film by 15MAR10 to submit to the GI Film Festival (Washington, DC: 12-16MAY10).

Step-by-step...

Regards,

Dave

P.S. Be sure to check out my posts on the fanpage regarding Nir Rosen's article about Nawa, Afghanistan - http://www.facebook.com/patrolbasejaker

------------------------------
David Scantling
Director & Producer
PATROL BASE JAKER Movie
330-696-1039 mobile
dave.scantling@gmail.com

Team:

I'm in Chicago today--headed to the Pritzker Military Library to do some research on counter-insurgency (COIN) for the PATROL BASE JAKER film production.

We're making amazing progress on Kickstarter--$6,375 pledged by 69 backers. We have 14 days to go to reach the $45,000 goal. Do you know any potential corporate sponsors or businesses that may be interested in making pledges at the $2,500, $5,000 or $10,000 levels to host film screenings? Please let me know.

Plus, I'd like to give a "shout-out" to the Kickstarter staff--they have the PATROL BASE JAKER project featured today on their homepage "spotlight" and on the "popular" page.

Step-by-step...

Regards,

Dave

P.S. Please invite everyone in your network to a) make a pledge to support this film and b) join our Facebook fanpage - http://www.facebook.com/patrolbasejaker/

------------------------------
David Scantling
Director & Producer
PATROL BASE JAKER Movie
330-696-1039 mobile
dave.scantling@gmail.com

Team:

The 1/5 Marines honored their 4 comrades that were killed in combat during their 7-month deployment in Afghanistan at a Memorial Service this morning at Camp Pendleton, CA. It was a moving ceremony with lots of emotion.

Fortunately, the rain held-off long enough for the ceremony to be held outside on the parade deck. I had 4 teams with 4 different cameras, respectively, covering the event--RED ONE, Panasonic HXV, Canon 5D Mark II and Sony Handycam. We shot great footage in a way that was respectful to the Marines and their families.

Regards,

Dave

Team:

Greetings from Camp Pendleton, CA. I"m here filming the Memorial Service for the 4 Marines that were killed in combat during the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 7-month deployment in Afghanistan.

I'll post an update with photos later today.

Regards,

Dave

P.S. Thank you again for your support of the PATROL BASE JAKER movie project.