Oscar-Winner Barbara Trent Presents ‘Soldiers Speak Out’

Theatre Palisades and Friends of Film will be showing excerpts from Barbara Trent’s film-in-progress, “Soldiers Speak Out,” on Friday, August 26, at Pierson Playhouse, 961 Haverford. The pre-screening reception starts at 7 p.m. and the film and presentation will begin at 7:30 p.m. “Soldiers Speak Out” gives a loudspeaker to the courageous and patriotic anti-war and anti-occupation movement within the military and their families. It will be a tool for enlightenment, organizing, mobilizing and counter-recruitment, Trent says. She will be on hand to speak about the importance of this film: “The words of these soldiers returning from Iraq are moving and authentic,” she says. “We need the public to hear their stories.” Other speakers on the program include Blase Bonpane, Office of the Americas; Jane Bright, Gold Star Families for Peace; and Nick Przvbyla, Iraq Veterans Against the War. Trent is a veteran of making significant documentaries on a shoestring and then engaging theaters such as the Laemmle chain to show those films and include political consciousness-raising Q & A sessions afterwards. “Cover-Up: Behind the Iran-Contra Affair” was created by Trent and her partner David Kasper, thanks to the help of many volunteers in their Santa Monica Empowerment Project, a maxed-out credit card and a free place to live in Venice. The film was completed in 1988 and shown widely in theaters and homes in the months leading up to the Bush-Dukakis election. Trent and Kasper’s next film, “The Panama Deception,” won the Oscar for Best Feature Documentary in 1993 despite the lack of national broadcast. It was made with similar budget problems, but thanks to community peace and justice groups throughout the country, it was screened in 80 cities whose citizens learned the truth about the 1989 invasion “Operation Just Cause” and saw, in Trent’s words, “a blueprint for how the war on Iraq has been carried out.” For the event at Pierson Playhouse, 941 Temescal Canyon Rd., R.S.V.P. to Bob@FriendsOfFilm.com or call 429-5016. A donation of $10 is requested. Trent will be showing “Soldiers Speak Out” again for the Topanga Alliance on Saturday, August 27 at 5:30 p.m. It includes a pot-luck dinner, free child care, and a bonus showing of her first film, “Bus to Topanga.” For reservations and information call 455-9389.