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Lead The Way

As a retired United States Army Ranger, Special Forces Green Beret, and Tier 1 Assault Sergeant Major, John “Shrek” McPhee has seen the world and war like few have.

In this documentary short, John travels through Ireland and France to learn about the sacrifices of the allied forces during World War II and the history of the United States Army Rangers and Paratroopers.

The film takes place during the 75th Anniversary of D-day, in Normandy, France.

  • Josh Carrasquillo
    Director
  • Josh Carrasquillo
    Cinematographers
  • Karl Koelling
    Editors
  • Josh Carrasquillo
    Editors
  • Josh Carrasquillo
    Producer
    REI Presents: 1000 Mile Dream
  • Josh Maczinski
    Colorist
  • Greg Greiner
    Sound Design
  • Gregory Burrowes
    Location Sound
  • John "Shrek" McPhee
    Executive Producer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    8 minutes 43 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 1, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    20,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    France, Ireland
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    BMPCC 4K
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Josh Carrasquillo

Josh Carrasquillo is a filmmaker based out of Michigan in the United States. He is currently a Partner at Taproot Pictures and works on a variety of projects to include commercial and documentary work that "help people and brands share meaningful ideas — through film." His work has included national recognition and awards for the film "REI Presents: 1000 Mile Dream" (2020) a film made for REI (Recreational Equipment Inc.) that tells the story of Liza Dietzen, a woman who dreamed of competing as a dog sledder and now dedicates the majority of her time raising and caring for her sled dog team.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

"The film "Lead The Way" was an opportunity for me to gain perspective through the lens of veterans and their deep connectedness to their predecessors. Finding the story while traveling with a group of United States Army Rangers was a great creative challenge and ultimately led to a meaningful film that I hope provokes thought on what veterans experience. The individuals I travelled with are each connected and very much their own character. They each have experienced the brutality of war and they provided me with a great perspective and respect for the history that we experienced together. I hope the film provides audiences with a glimpse into what veterans past and present experience as they navigate a world after war."