Engineer dreams of being film producer

Courtesy Photo | Relaxing in his room after work, 1st Lt. John Prettyman, 70th Engineer Battalion, edits his latest film project which follows the combat experiences of two Soldiers.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

08.26.2005

Courtesy Story

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Sgt David Kerr
70th Engineer Battalion

BAGHDAD -- Is there a future Steven Spielberg hidden among the Army's ranks in Iraq?

Walk into 1st Lt. John Prettyman's room and you might start to think so. You won't find the normal pictures or calendars hanging on the walls. Instead, Prettyman, with the 70th Engineer Battalion, has news articles that have captured his interest neatly taped to the white fiberboard wall. Piled on a cot, you'll see a computer, editing decks and perhaps the latest issue of Moviemaker magazine.

You'll also find a camera which can fit in the palm of a hand. This is how Prettyman is pursuing a dream that began in junior high.

The Tacoma, Wash., native has devoted his spare time in Iraq to creating a film of Soldiers" experiences in war.

Prettyman was born in California, land of big movie stars and even bigger starry-eyed dreams. Though he had creative aspirations, he majored in biology when he attended Pacific Lutheran University. He was an average student, never really fitting in and feeling as though something was missing, he said.

That changed when he attended the Army Officers Basic Course and shot a short film of his classmates.

Prettyman's film was shown during the graduation ceremony and he had his first taste of the future when fellow officers later came up and asked for his autograph.

He filmed another short movie of his unit during his first combat tour in Iraq in 2003. The film, a comedy reminiscent of National Lampoon, was seen by virtually the entire 70th Engineer Battalion upon their return.

"It had a lot of good special effects," said Sgt. Trinidad Rangel, of Oxnard, Calif. "He does good work."

Prettyman thought it was nice to be able to show the families and friends of Soldiers serving in war what the deployed engineers did to burn off steam.

Currently deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom 3, he has not missed the opportunity to work on yet another a film showing the day-to-day lives of the Soldiers of the 70th Engineers.

His focus this rotation is to show the surreal environment faced every day, in a multitude of situations, during numerous missions the Soldiers perform.

"I really didn't want to do anything that anybody has seen before," Prettyman said. "The focus is more on the mind of the Soldier. It follows two Soldiers as they go through the year."

Prettyman plans to further his education and seek a degree in film studies. He envisions himself starting out filming independent movies, working toward the day when he can get work as a film producer.

He says the military has given him the confidence and aggression to seek out what he wants. He feels he now has the courage to move into the market with a Soldier's battle cry.

• Date Taken: 08.26.2005
• Date Posted: 08.26.2005 14:21
• Story ID: 2841
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ