New Doc Chronicles Marine’s Victory over War Wounds

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Wed, 11/05/2014 - 14:03 -- Nick Dager

Courage & Creativity - The Magic of ConvictionIndependent filmmaker Cirina Catania will screen clips from her new documentary – Courage & Creativity - The Magic of Conviction – at the Mopictive (Moving Picture Collective) on Veterans Day, November 11 meeting. The film tells the story of Marine Corporal Kionte Storey, a wounded hero turned athlete.

The meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. at Abelcine NY, 609 Greenwich Street, on the fifth floor. Catania said, “We all have gifts.  How can we recognize what those gifts are? What is our chosen purpose and how we muster up the courage to pursue our dreams even when others are saying no is what defines us. Kionte’s new life embodies all of that and more.”

She met Kionte more than a year ago and convinced him to let her produce a documentary on his new life to raise awareness of Kionte’s and other veterans’ challenges and achievements.  She hopes the film will gain nationwide recognition and understanding of the positive side of returning veterans and their potential to overcome.

Cirina CataniaAccording to Catania, Storey seldom shares the depression or darkness he experienced following his return from the front; instead tells others (and reminds himself), “It could have been worse. It is what it is and there’s nothing you can do but move forward. And he has moved forward achieving as goal after goal, including becoming the first African American and first amputee to reach the summit of Antarctica’s Mt. Vinson. He has also learned to snowboard, skateboard, ski; has medaled in Warrior Games track and swimming events and is now focusing on the International Paralympics.

The movie highlights the struggles and path to recovery Kionte has followed after the loss of his lower right leg to an IED (improvised explosive device) in Afghanistan in September of 2010. Like  so many men and women who returned home wounded he endured a long and painful (physical and mental) process to recovery even though he still carries the scars of war with him today www.kiontestorey.com.

Catania said she volunteered to film this and other returning veteran stories to share them with others on a very broad scale. “What more could someone ask?” she added.

Catania is the founder and lead creative at The Catania Group. She was also a co-founder of the Sundance Film Festival At the meeting she will discuss her film shooting experiences, techniques and activities as well as her production/post-production work. 

Catania will be making other cinematography presentations to help filmmakers and production people understand the complete project process will be made over the next few months in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago as well as potentially Montreal, Toronto and other major cities.

Visit http://tinyurl.com/mhpuyha for meeting/screening details.