NonFiction Film: Reconstruction
TAKING CHANCE
In April 2004, Lieutenant
Colonel Michael Strobl, USMC, came across the name of 19-year-old Lance
Corporal Chance Phelps, a young Marine who had been killed by hostile fire in
Al Anbar Province, Iraq. Strobl, a Desert Storm veteran with 17 years of military
service, requested that he be assigned for military escort duty to accompany
Chance's remains to his family in Dubois, Wyo. Strobl was shocked at what he observed along the way. Caught by surprise, he felt he had to record it all in his personal journal under the title, "Taking Chance." (photo: Kevin Bacon as Lt. Col. Strobl in the film)
Step 1: The Original Report
Strobl’s journal writing is strictly factual. He is reporting the details of his duty, the ‘cargo’ he transported, the people involved, the travel, and his emotional experience. Filmmakers used this document as the basis for their film – 95% of the film is absolutely factual. Other elements have been added to tell the story in a compelling way.
Read Strobl’s journal writing and write the 10 steps of an official military escort. You will pull this info from beginning to end of the report.(photo: the real Lt. Col. Strobl)
Read Strobl’s journal writing and write the 10 steps of an official military escort. You will pull this info from beginning to end of the report.(photo: the real Lt. Col. Strobl)
Step 2: Chance Phelps and the Military
Now, you need research, some context to understand the military terms, images, and procedures portrayed in the film. Start with the young Marine, Chance Phelps. Your goal is to learn and record the following:
(A) Define the difference among
(A) Define the difference among
- a platoon,
- a battery,
- battalions,
- a regiment, and
- a division. Each of these are essential in understanding who Phelps was, where he was, and what he did. Every troop will carry such a description with varying functions.
Step 3: Viewing the Film
In preparation for viewing the film, you will need to pick out THREE key excerpts from Strobl’s journal writing specifically to study how they are RECONSTRUCTED for film. Copy these passages WORD FOR WORD onto your study guide (or you can "cut and paste" them). We need to see Stroble's language in order to evaluate the use of film language. Consider choosing your excerpts for these reasons:
(photo: all "extras" in Taking Chance are real members of the military.)
- They are significant to the plot.
- How is setting written versus visually portrayed. What is the effect of the written and the visual?
- How is a main character in the text portrayed in the film? Is it what you expected?
- Are supporting or minor characters from the report even in the film? Are these characters changed? enhanced? or deleted entirely?
- How are subtle things, like the mention of the St. Christopher medal, focused on or removed from the film?
- How are film techniques used to portray Strobl's subtle shifts in mood?
(photo: all "extras" in Taking Chance are real members of the military.)
Step 4: Post-Film Reflection
We'll do this part in the classroom after the film. But if you were absent, you can still access the video clip here.