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Dodge Billingsley

What was it really like for the US frontline troops fighting the war in Iraq? With unprecedented access, award winning film maker Dodge Billingsley reveals the true story of the men – very young - who fought their way into the heart of Baghdad.

"Dodge and Capitol"

Dodge Billingsley stays with India Company to document their progress. At the heart of the 3/7 Marines is Sgt Capitol, 27 years old, and a veteran compared to most of the others. He is in charge of ten young marines.



After nearly two months of frustrated waiting since their arrival in January, on March 18 the order is given to move north, they cross the border into Iraq on March 21.



Their first mission is to attack and destroy the 32nd Mechanized Brigade located west of Az Zubyer, neither Capitol or his men have been in combat, the sound of automatic fire can be heard. Sgt Capitol leads his men out into the fray.



There follows a month of fear, doubt, frustration and boredom as India Company moves in fits and starts forward to Baghdad. Finally they are posed on the outskirts of Baghdad...word comes that the Iraqi military has totally collapsed.



Only Saddam's irregular troops stand between the Marines and the heart of Baghdad. Tanks lead the assault punching two large holes in the fence and Sgt Capitol and his men pour through and into the compound. Dodge Billingsley stays with them throughout.



Biography

Dodge Billingsley is a seasoned producer who has worked on documentaries worldwide. He founded Combat Films in 1997 and since then has covered conflicts around the world including: United Arab Emirates, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, the Republic of Georgia, Uzbekistan, Russia, Turkey, Bosnia, and China. Pakistan, and Afghanistan.



His recent work has taken him to Afghanistan where he was filming the prisoner uprising at Qala Jangi and, on his return, in the company of US forces for Operation Anaconda where he followed the soldiers and ‘marched into contact’ with enemy positions recording the fight between the US and Taliban forces.



He has also been filming in Ukraine for PBS and is developing a film focused on the former Soviet Union.

Dodge was gained a BA in history from Columbian University followed by an MA in London. He is an experienced lecturer and is also a recipient of the MacArthur Foundation Regional Security Travel grant and has written extensively for various defence and security journals.



With freelance cameraman Damien Degueldre, he was the winner of The Rory Peck Award for Features 2002 for the documentary “House of War”.