FULL BATTLE RATTLE: SPECIAL SCREENING

The Film Society will present a special screening of the fascinating documentary Full Battle Rattle at 7:30 pm on October 17 at the Premiere Theatre Letterman Digital Arts Center. Co-directors Tony Gerber and Jesse Moss will be in attendance and participate in a Q+A after the screening. Full Battle Rattle unfolds deep in the Mojave Desert at the Fort Irwin National Training Center, where soldiers about to go to the Middle East receive a unique type of preparation. In the space of 1,000 square miles are 13 simulated Iraqi villages and about 1,600 "role players," soldiers and civilians acting out a variety of real-world situations in loosely scripted yet malleable scenarios. Full Battle Rattle focuses on one of these villages called Medina Wasl and the group of paid actors and soldiers who bring it to life.

Preceding the screening will be Adam Keker's Golden Gate Award winning short film On the Assassination of the President. Keker, who will also be in attendance, worked as a 2nd unit cameraman on Full Battle Rattle.

In addition to his documentaries, Tony Gerber has also worked on Matthew Barney's films Cremaster IV and Drawing Restraint 9 as associate director. He is currently preparing a series of documentaries on the Congo for National Geographic. Jesse Moss, a San Francisco native, has worked as a producer for Barbara Kopple and a speech writer in Washington. He founded Mile End Films and has made several documentaries including one about demolition derby driver "Speedo" Jager, who will also be the subject of his first feature film.

Tickets are $10 for SFFS year-round members. General public tickets are $12.50 ($11 seniors, students and persons with disabilities).