FORT SILL, Okla. (Oct. 17, 2013) -- To help combat the enemy within the ranks of the Army, a film crew from Will Interactive, visited Fort Sill recently to produce scenes for an updated Sexual Harassment and Assault Response and Prevention interactive training program.
The company produced the currently fielded Army's Team Bound online training in 2010, and stopped at different posts to produce the new SHARP program.
The crew's last filming site was at Contingency Operations Location Mow-Way, here. The scene featured a Soldier named Spc. Christine Price who was serving her country on a deployment at an undisclosed location on a relatively secure base.
Artillery rounds boomed in the distance as Soldiers continued to take the fight to enemy combatants. Price focused on some off-duty jogging through the tent area where Soldiers slept and worked.
As the sun beamed down and sweat dripped from her face, she turned a corner and to her surprise, was in for a fight for her innocence with an enemy the Army has fought for years.
That adversary was not a member of a terrorist network from another country, nor a member of a communist or Nazi regime. Instead, this was an internal enemy which wears many faces, portrays itself in many forms, and does not discriminate against males or females.
Although it has been called several things, currently it's known as sexual harassment or sexual assault. Depending on the actions taken by those who give in to its vices, one thing can be certain, this enemy is real and has affected the lives of men and women of the U.S. military, employees of the Department of Defense and its contractors. In addition to victims directly impacted, the effects of this harassment or assault reach others multiplying its detrimental effects.
The Soldier depicted on deployment at the undisclosed base was a fictional character played by Catalina Lavalle, an actress based out of Virginia. She prepared for the role by talking with Soldiers and listening to stories of individuals who have been in a sexual harassment or assault situation.
On set, the actress acted out intense moments that brought some of the crew members to tears as she was slammed against the wall at the entrance of a tent and told "you have no choice in the matter, it's going to happen and there's nothing you can do about it."
During the scene, the crew saw that reflection of a camera was showing in her glasses as a cameraman was shooting the film at close range. To fix the issue, the crew enclosed her and an assaulter, played by Zach Steffery, dark light absorbing materials.
Lavalle said that although looking into the eyes of her co-worker was scary, when they put up the screen, she "suddenly could really feel what it's like to be secluded and helpless."
Although the scene was rehearsed and filmed several times before the director gave his final call of "cut," it was one of the more visible-emotionally draining segments of the project.
"With this film, we wanted to be able to emotionally connect with the viewers," said Skip Schwink, director and writer.
Vallery Linn, production manager, and Schwink echoed each other saying that one thing the crew aimed for was to be able to change individuals' attitudes toward online SHARP training by connecting through different emotions such as drama, comedy and interactive narrative.
"If we can change that one person, that one Soldier, then we have accomplished something," said Schwink.
"At Will Interactive, our tag line is 'Play it out before you live it,'" added Linn.
The interactive training is slated to feature different scenarios that outcomes can be modified with a click of the button.
She said the crew wanted to educate viewers of the film on actions that are considered to be sexual harassment or sexual assault, as well as to show them outcomes of different choices they make, and to show them how and when to intervene in potential sexual harassment or assault situations.
Linn also said that the updated training was meant to reflect the training of SHARP-related policies that have changed since the 2010 version of the training.
Soldiers from the 75th Fires 31st Air Defense Artillery and 214th Fires brigades served as extras, and Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle drivers.
The Soldiers also gave subject matter expertise to the film crew. A couple Soldiers, including Spc. Lashuna Sudler, 214th FiB, landed speaking roles.
Sudler played the role of a SHARP representative who was a sergeant first class. She said that it "just felt good to be a part of the event" and help the crew accomplish its goal.
She added she believes "the SHARP program is working" and that the reason she thinks the number of SHARP-related incidents are being reported is because more people feel safe because they are receiving the SHARP education starting at the Basic Combat Training level.
A release date for the online training has not yet been made.
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