THE DAILY EVERGREEN
Washington State University Student Newspaper

Filmmaker goes up close in Iraq
A Portland freelancer takes an unusual route to war and brings back what the mainstream media haven't

November 9, 2004
ELENA BORYCZKA

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Images of war fill Beasley Coliseum

Inside Iraq: The Untold Stories" is a documentary produced and directed by Mike Shiley, a Portland, Ore., man who said he is more of an adventure traveler than a filmmaker or photographer.

Shiley's film takes viewers throughout Iraq and includes glimpses into the lives of the Iraqi citizens and American soldiers stationed there.

When Shiley first set out to make the trip to Iraq, everyone who was close to him told him not to go. What drove him to cash in airline miles and pack everything he needed into one large bag was a curiosity of what was happening in Iraq beyond the usual television fare of car bombs and press conferences.

Some of the more dramatic scenes in the film include a tour of the interior of a bomb shelter that also serves as a memorial to those who perished in it. Shiley said looking at the infrastructure problems plaguing the people of Iraq was particularly troubling. "We haven't done anything (to the infrastructure) in that country since we rolled in there," Shiley said.

An interest in politics drove undecided freshman Ryan Miller to attend the film. Miller, who has seen other political films, such as "Fahrenheit 9/11" and "FahrenHYPE 9/11," said Shiley's documentary was interesting and reinforced his views on the war. "I thought (the film) was well done," Miller said. "It made me a little more reassured. It's nice to know that there are people (in Iraq) that are really glad we're there."

Kasey Irwin, a junior hospitality major, went to the film on Sunday at Beasley Coliseum because she wanted to learn more about Iraq. She also said she thought the film was interesting and that it strengthened her views on the war in Iraq. "The film did not change my mind about the Iraq war," Irwin said. "Instead, it reinforced my beliefs and made me understand what the Iraqi people really think of democracy and America. It gave me a new perspective of what is really going on in Iraq and the politics behind it."

Shiley, who introduced the film, answered questions and sold books and DVDs, said he has submitted his documentary to 12 film festivals, including Sundance and Cannes. He said he hopes it will one day be seen in movie theaters nationwide.