Jordan Michael Martinez poses next to a poster from his film, “The Gatekeeper.” (Photo: Jordan Michael Martinez)
I’m a USC master’s in cinematic arts – production – alumni, Army combat veteran, paratrooper, film director/writer and a member of the American Legion Hollywood Post 43. A recent graduate of USC’s film program, I would describe my war epic “The Gatekeeper,” as a combination of Vincent Ward’s “What Dreams May Come” and Clint Eastwood’s “American Sniper” — a rather unique combination never before attempted in a war film or in cinema.
“The Gatekeeper” is a 20-minute military thriller starring Post 43 members Christopher Loverro and Jennifer Marshall.
After awakening in a war-zone, an Army first sergeant (Loverro) must confront the causatum of his actions in combat in order to see his wife again. The film explores the relationship with his best friend and comrade, Emmanuel and his wife, Krissy Tuason (Marshall) who begs him to not go back overseas but instead retire to finally start a family with her.
Over a year and a half in the making, I’m excited to share this film with with the world and especially the veteran community, to include the American Legion.
The lead cast members are all U.S. military veterans and trained theatrical actors, which makes the film all the more authentic to the Post-9/11 military combat experience.
Shoot scenes of “The Gatekeeper” on-location near Edwards Air Base was a bit nostalgic for me. It’s where I trained jumping out of military aircraft as a paratrooper. We shot on the Blue Cloud Movie Ranch where many of the Iraq sequences of American Sniper were also filmed and the West Los Angeles Veterans National Cemetery lies.
Many Post 43 members were hired to help crew on the film and many donated their time, energy, and assets in order to help make the production of the film possible.
There’s a proliferation of post-traumatic-stress-themed films being produced that, I feel, do not adequately capture the true essence and the reality of the situation facing the soldier who is returning from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. In fact, advocating for an environment that offers a culture within and out of the military for positive mental health is a much more positive attitude than just merely labeling it as a PTSD problem. I really wanted to present the bigger picture of what many career soldiers and returning combat veterans go through.
Army Col. Arnold Strong — who also has a small role in the movie — supports supports this movie’s message and said it best:
“‘The Gatekeeper’ shows the true trials and tribulations that returning vets have reconnecting with their spouses.”
Ironically, Daniel Stroud, the military advisor on “The Gatekeeper” served with both Loverro and I in combat overseas. Stroud is retired Army and served as Loverro’s first sergeant in Iraq (2005) and my command sergeant major in Afghanistan (2012).
Loverro and I have partnered on numerous other productions and we both believe that through filmmaking we can continue serving outside the military by helping other fellow veterans. We’re highlighting issues that plague many of our returning veterans.
For screenings and more information on the film, visit TheGatekeeper2020.com
Author: caLegion Contributor
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