The Puppets who fought in Vietnam

Two brothers drafted by Uncle Sam fight in the Vietnam War. Upon arriving home it seems the war hasn't ended.

  • Joshua Joseph Lynch
    Director
  • Joshua Joseph Lynch
    Writer
  • Benjamin David Martin
    Writer
  • Joshua Joseph Lynch
    Producer
  • Joshua Joseph Lynch
    Key Cast
    "Joey"
  • Benjamin David Martin
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Short, Web / New Media
  • Genres:
    War, action, adventure, comedy
  • Runtime:
    6 minutes 14 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 31, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1920X1080
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Ashville Fringe Festival
    Asheville, NC
    United States
    February 8, 2021
    South Eastern Premiere
    Funniest at Fringe Award & Fan Favorite Award
  • National Puppetry Fest
    Maryland
    United States
    August 17, 2023
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Joshua Joseph Lynch

I am a videographer with a passion for puppet cinema, capturing dreams and nightmares through the lens. I specialize in exploring complex emotions and primal themes, creating compelling stories and voices for my puppet characters. Building large immersive sets for these extraordinary journeys is a true art form that I am deeply passionate about. Throughout my career, I have collaborated with renowned puppeteers, including Poose the Puppet and Toybox Theatre, to produce captivating and mesmerizing puppet videos and performances. Among my favorite projects is "Nightmare on Puppet Street," that I shot with my talented daughter, blending the innocence of puppets with a macabre tale of terror.

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Director Statement

This film explores themes of camaraderie, loss, and resilience, delving into the complexities of the human (or puppet) spirit when faced with the horrors of war as well as the tragic experiences and challenges veterans face in their post war lives.

This film touches on the draft of young men and the unfair burden it placed on them and their future. As a young man, my uncle Don served in the U.S. military and was a victim of MK Ultra, a now declassified covert program conducted by the United States government. Thousands of soldiers and civilians were dosed with LSD without consent, in some cases like my uncle, causing permanent trauma. I wanted to bring light to these Governmental atrocities and raise important questions about the responsibilities and accountability of those in high positions of authority for creating lasting psychological and emotional damage on these young men.

Our intention was to honor the sacrifices made by War veterans in general and bring awareness to the often overlooked experiences of those who have fought and still fight. By presenting their stories through puppets, we hoped to create a sense of emotional connection, allowing audiences to engage with the characters on a deep level.

We took careful attention to detail in puppet design, set construction, and cinematography, and aimed to capture the authenticity of the era and the struggles faced by these unsung heroes.