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The "Catonsville Nine" war protest has sparked films and documentaries since it happened in May 1968.
But two Baltimore filmmakers are putting their own spin on what happened in a new documentary about the incident, according to 11 News reporter Kim Dacey.
The story of the Catonsville Nine has become a legend around the country. In 1968, nine Vietnam War protesters burned draft files and were subsequently arrested.
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"These people are amazing," said filmmaker Skizz Cyzyk. "They put their beliefs and principals in action."
That's why Baltimore filmmakers Joe Tropea and Cyzyk decided to produce "Hit And Stay," a documentary about the incident and how it sparked other similar war protests across the country.
"The fact that there are wars going on now, it's the perfect time for a film like this," Cyzyk said. "Because the Vietnam War was such an important war in the lives of so many people, and now a new generation has their own important war."
Tropea and Cyzyk have been working on the film in some way, shape or form for about three years, and they're close to being done. But they need to raise $20,000 to finish the piece. They hope to have the money by Sept. 11, Dacey reported.
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"We hope we'll make a documentary that will start conversations and get people to understand that there are people who take risks for what they believe in."
- Filmmaker Skizz Cyzyk
"We're trying to raise that money to put the film together, to edit it together, and shop it around to film festivals to see where it goes from there," Tropea said.
They're also looking for Catonsville residents who lived through the incident, to get different perspectives on the Catonsville Nine, Dacey reported. They hope "Hit And Stay" will allow viewers to form their own opinions.
"We hope we'll make a documentary that will start conversations and get people to understand that there are people who take risks for what they believe in," Cyzyk said.
Tropea and Cyzyk hope to have the documentary completed by early next year.
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