The first thing Bobby Lacer, director of the movie Fighting the Fire, said was that he wishes for his film to be profitable but it is clear that his primary motivation is not to purely make money. Nonetheless, that goal by itself is a commendable one as he claims its intention is to save humanity.
Cook tells the story of first fire responders through the eyes of a lieutenant, Brian Cook, detailing the trauma that stays with every individual long after a job is complete. The first screening of the 4 pm feature-length film will take place at the Henderson Showplace Cinema on Sunday.
The aim of the project, according to Lacer, is to improve awareness of mental health among first responders so that it can help those who serve above and beyond. At the end of the movie, for those who are dealing with mental health issues or those who know someone who is, there is a clear message to seek support.
It has been a passion of mine for many years. Each and every responder has at least one run or call that sticks with the person forever. “It’s something which they can’t seem to shake out of their head,” Lacer commented further.
According to the film’s website, James Dickey who portrays Brian Cook, began having mental health issues after a traumatic experience while combating a fire. The traumatic memories, in addition to other events he has faced in his fifteen-year career, started to bother him over time.
Brian Cook becomes an alcohol addict while enduring a serious depression which ultimately drives away his wife and children.
As Lacer put it, there are additional accounts from the first responders on duty such as the police, EMS, and even the dispatchers. He further elaborated that he did not want to abandon our sisters and brothers in different fields and as such Lacer claimed that the stories that these first responders portrayed are only ‘loosely based on actual stories I’ve heard throughout the years’.
Joe Whitledge, 14 years active member of the Henderson Police Department and founder of Defending Heroes Project puts forward his views of the film and draws a new perspective on the challenges first responders go through face.
Whitledge calculated that a normal person may come across a few traumatic occurrences in their life, but that figure should be multiplied by 4 or 5 in the case of first responders. When you add all the years of service, he estimates that number goes to over 800 or 900 in his case after 25 years of service.
The amount a first responder experiences when put against the average number of traumatic events an individual comes across is astounding. It’s something that has been stored back and goes on to the next call, Whitledge sheds some light on the other side of the coin. “At some point, it’s going to come barreling up.”
As Whitledge states, there are plenty of problems that emerge with being a first responder or even a veteran. Funds for issues such as trauma or tragedy, he claims, are one of the more effective methods in which The Defending Heroes Project helps.
According to Whitledge, it is crucial for first responders to talk about the trauma they have encountered, while also knowing that help is available. He wishes that this film would inform them of that.
In the case of Lacer, who wrote, directed and starred in it, the budget for the film was approximately $100,000. The whole process took about 13 months, including filming and post-production.
Having spent a good part of his life-fighting fires voluntarily, Lacer is knowledgeable about the subject matter. In 2004, while he was living in Henderson, he was a member of the Baskett Fire Department, later joining the Corydon fire and Civil Defense. Presently, he is with the Shelby County Fire Department. (He lives in Shelbyville.)
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