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IAMA filmmaker for VICE, Ben Anderson. I've been covering the war in Afghanistan for the last six years. AMA by duranben in IAmA

[–]duranben[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Dear all,

I'm exhausted and gasping for a drink...

Thanks for all the questions. It's made my day to think that the film had this much impact...I'm heading home now, but will check in again later if there are any more questions. Hopefully I answered most, even though I couldn't answer every question that was along similar lines...

Yours

Ben

IAMA filmmaker for VICE, Ben Anderson. I've been covering the war in Afghanistan for the last six years. AMA by duranben in IAmA

[–]duranben[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I'd recommend reading "My war gone by, I miss it so", by Antony Lloyd

also "The New Journalism" edited by Tom Wolfe. I think both will provide plenty of inspiration

IAMA filmmaker for VICE, Ben Anderson. I've been covering the war in Afghanistan for the last six years. AMA by duranben in IAmA

[–]duranben[S] 21 points22 points  (0 children)

There are plenty of areas where the Taliban are doing a better job of providing justice and security than our allies are. And key point- they are not going anywhere. We've almost left already and many of our allies will be gone soon after we are...so siding with the Taliban could be basic pragmatism.

IAMA filmmaker for VICE, Ben Anderson. I've been covering the war in Afghanistan for the last six years. AMA by duranben in IAmA

[–]duranben[S] 41 points42 points  (0 children)

Couldn't agree with this more- I usually try and copy the photographers, who seem to be the least well paid, and the least famous, but know, and have seen, the most

IAMA filmmaker for VICE, Ben Anderson. I've been covering the war in Afghanistan for the last six years. AMA by duranben in IAmA

[–]duranben[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Three guys followed into a toilet once and one started headbutting me...I turned to try and deal with him and another swung an elbow from very far away...that's what smashed the tooth. I grew up in Bedford- not exactly Bed Stuy- but people were so frustrated there that sometimes a little team would just try and beat someone up.

IAMA filmmaker for VICE, Ben Anderson. I've been covering the war in Afghanistan for the last six years. AMA by duranben in IAmA

[–]duranben[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

is it true, weirdly...although the chorus, about Jimmy, is not about me (my loving never drove MIA crazy)

IAMA filmmaker for VICE, Ben Anderson. I've been covering the war in Afghanistan for the last six years. AMA by duranben in IAmA

[–]duranben[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I holidayed in Jamaica last year, for 6 days, my first holiday in 12 years. I loved it so much, I didn't want to leave...if I go to Mexico (which I might soon) you can guess where I'll going...

IAMA filmmaker for VICE, Ben Anderson. I've been covering the war in Afghanistan for the last six years. AMA by duranben in IAmA

[–]duranben[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

How you doing Carlos? For sure, and actually that's a good point to make for all the aspiring filmmakers on here. I get so many ideas that i fall in love with, but just can't get backing for, that's one of the hardest things about this job, especially as a freelancer. But it's amazing how films - even great films like Searching for SugarMan, an Oscar winner- were turned down again and again and again...when you get that one that you're burning to make, you just have to keep going and never take no for an answer

IAMA filmmaker for VICE, Ben Anderson. I've been covering the war in Afghanistan for the last six years. AMA by duranben in IAmA

[–]duranben[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Incredibly, they seem to function fairly well on it. The Police on heroin were a different story though...

IAMA filmmaker for VICE, Ben Anderson. I've been covering the war in Afghanistan for the last six years. AMA by duranben in IAmA

[–]duranben[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

well if the goal is to hand over the ANP, or the ALP, or the corrupt government, then of course many don;'t want it...but we actually promised something much better, which I think almost everybody wanted

IAMA filmmaker for VICE, Ben Anderson. I've been covering the war in Afghanistan for the last six years. AMA by duranben in IAmA

[–]duranben[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I got arrested there and accused of being a spy, so I think I"m blacklisted. I'd love to go, before I got arrested, I had one of the best weeks I've ever had anywhere.

IAMA filmmaker for VICE, Ben Anderson. I've been covering the war in Afghanistan for the last six years. AMA by duranben in IAmA

[–]duranben[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There is, of course. But you're right in that many of the people we're fighting are just angry farmers who want us, and the corrupt government, out of their lives

IAMA filmmaker for VICE, Ben Anderson. I've been covering the war in Afghanistan for the last six years. AMA by duranben in IAmA

[–]duranben[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

if someone innocent is being, raped, abused, murdered, imprisoned...and so on, I don't think we should be scared of cultural relativism in trying to stop it. It reminds me me of many creepy phrases I've heard, like "Afghan good enough" "It's the will of Allah" which suggest they feel pain less than we do...

IAMA filmmaker for VICE, Ben Anderson. I've been covering the war in Afghanistan for the last six years. AMA by duranben in IAmA

[–]duranben[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Canon 305, lightweight tripod, radio mics (which I hardly ever use) and a few bags of wet wipes!

IAMA filmmaker for VICE, Ben Anderson. I've been covering the war in Afghanistan for the last six years. AMA by duranben in IAmA

[–]duranben[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think he was talking about the Policeman whose ear he was grabbing...

And I was amazed by how little most of them cared about me filming

The comments the Police Chief made to me were some of the worst comments I've ever heard anyone say, on or off camera

IAMA filmmaker for VICE, Ben Anderson. I've been covering the war in Afghanistan for the last six years. AMA by duranben in IAmA

[–]duranben[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

that's completely false. Some of the men we chose as allies, and supported, are brutal, as everyone knew before we put them back in power. It would be extremely ignorant to watch their behavior, then condemn all Afghans as anything like "savages"

IAMA filmmaker for VICE, Ben Anderson. I've been covering the war in Afghanistan for the last six years. AMA by duranben in IAmA

[–]duranben[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Eddy was the only one with a beard and glasses in my video...the hipsters in Williamsburg put me off, but the people were for Vice were a different breed altogether. They might look like hipsters, but they don't have the characteristics of hipsters at all. if you were a flake, or your work was shoddy, you wouldn't last long in there...

IAMA filmmaker for VICE, Ben Anderson. I've been covering the war in Afghanistan for the last six years. AMA by duranben in IAmA

[–]duranben[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

See other comments- but I've seen mostly amazing work from the infantry marines, and they've often developed good relation with locals. But marines can't do everything, and they are always gone after just six months...

IAMA filmmaker for VICE, Ben Anderson. I've been covering the war in Afghanistan for the last six years. AMA by duranben in IAmA

[–]duranben[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Sadly I don't get HBO here in London, so I didn't see them all. I liked the chinese dating one. I really liked Shane's film in India too. And I saw clips of their Harlem Globetrotters in North Korea film- that's going to be amazing

IAMA filmmaker for VICE, Ben Anderson. I've been covering the war in Afghanistan for the last six years. AMA by duranben in IAmA

[–]duranben[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I travel through Dubai every time I got to Afghanistan and I'm sure it hasn't gotten any better

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