Media: Shooting Robert King

[RYP]

http://www.bloodtrailfilm.com/home.php

Anybody seen this?
Robert King, 38 years old from Memphis is stalking the Tennessee woods. As he raises his Kalashnikov he reflects on what first took him to a war "fifteen years ago I was very naive, I was going on my only option in life to stay alive..."

Sarajevo, 1993. Robert, a 24-year old art graduate is aiming to be the youngest ever Pulitzer Prize winner. He's got 800 bucks in his pocket, has never been to a war and his ambition is proving tough. He gets shot at on the front line, fired by his agent and sets light to his apartment - all within his first month. Despite everything he is funny, charming, engaging and continues to be optimistic about his life's possibilities.

Grozny, 1997. We find Robert in Chechnya's bombed out streets and he's a far cry from when we last saw him. He's tougher, meaner, and wiser and his pictures have adorned the covers of the world's top publications - from Time to Figaro. He's becoming a force to be reckoned with in the industry. He is also much more savvy, "you can get into a lot of trouble here, you can just focus on booze and women and night clubs."

Robert moves to Russia and continues to flirt with conflict. In between bouts in Afghanistan, Rwanda, Albania and Kosova he parties in the vein of what he calls 'the Robert Capa' approach to journalism. "I didn't want to mourn silently in my fucking room".

Iraq, 2007. Robert now married with a family is in many ways more settled than we've ever seen him. Although the Pulitzer remains elusive he is now considered a leading combat photographer and Iraq has become his main pay cheque. But journalism has become much more deadly than it was in Bosnia. It's almost impossibly dangerous 'outside the wire' so Robert is forced to embed with the US military. With all the restrictions this brings, Robert is frustrated, unable to work and nostalgic for the relative freedom of the Bosnia days. And fifteen years of covering wars have had an effect, "yeah I'm cynical, how many dead bodies have I stepped over - I'm kind of damaged goods".

Shooting Robert King explores the complex web of motivations that drive someone to extremes: the insecurities and aspirations, the striving for excellence and acknowledgement and the seemingly conflicting need to be at peace and yet near danger. Over 15 years and three wars - from naivety to cynicism and finally achieving the recognition he sought, this film addresses the two questions that are always asked of those who report wars: Why do you do it? How does it affect you?