What kind of film provides a backdrop for drama, romance, success, courage, loss, and even comedy? What genre has everything imaginable from the best to the worst that humanity has to offer? What setting can portray the full range of emotions? If you seek a vehicle to show all of these things and more, one time-honored medium is the war movie. War, as a background, offers all the elements of plot and interaction that filmmakers and performers alike can use.

These films offer a range of tone from optimistic, as in “Top Gun,” to despair, as in “Platoon.” They can show every backdrop from realistic, gritty intensity, as in “Black Hawk Down,” to surreal, as in “Full Metal Jacket” or “Apocalypse Now,” from comedic, as in “Good Morning Vietnam” or “Stripes,” to human drama, as in “Dogfight” or “The Sands of Iwo Jima,” from historic, as in “Patton” or “Battle of Algiers,” to fictional, as in “Aliens” or “Lord of the Rings.” Characters run the gamut from the guy next door to the larger than life, from harder-than-nails to philosophical, from the coward to the hero, and they come in both genders. Don’t think for a moment that war movies are limited to scenes of battle with guns and bombs: there are many aspects to any conflict, from the reasons behind it to the personal stories of the participants, from the preparations and the endless, anxious waiting to the implications for those at home whose lives are affected, as in Gene Hackman’s anguished portrayal of the father of a missing veteran in “Uncommon Valor” (or just ask my parents!) or Blythe Danner’s spirited depiction of a Marine fighter pilot’s wife in “The Great Santini.”

War is ultimately a clash of human wills, and that human dimension is boundless. In preparing for and fighting in war, almost any situation you might imagine, and many you would not, has arisen. The interactions and the motivations behind these moments have dramatic opportunities of unlimited flavor. The realm of characters to be explored and developed against these backdrops is endless. Time takes on whole new meanings in war, where thirty seconds can be an eternity and a hectic day can pass in an instant. The medium practically begs for talented artists to use some of the range and variety of possibilities offered.

If you are looking to make or participate in a film that offers the full breadth of conflict, whether man against man, man against himself, or man against the elements, war movies offer a great context to do so. If you want a canvas on which to compose a portrait comprising the spectrum of all that is human reality and beyond, this realm beckons. And should you choose to accept this mission, you need not jump straight in to a feature-length film: there are endless vignettes that make for magnificent short movies of any length.

Are you wondering where to begin in this exciting landscape? Are you curious about where to get background information on conflicts from the Peloponnesian Wars to the current fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq? Do you know where to get help in filming a movie on the deck of an aircraft carrier, in the desert at Fort Irwin, or with US Marines at Camp Pendleton, or any number of other exotic locations? Would a dose of realism, such as advice on military terminology, life, techniques, and equipment, whether present or past, help you with your film? As it so happens, Audition For Hollywood (“A4H”) and its affiliates has the expertise and contacts to help you get the specialized knowledge and assistance that you and your fellow artists need for this project.

The company has created a diverse and sophisticated network of seasoned industry executives and successful business owners to retired military personal who collectively are able to direct filmmakers working on shorts to large all encompassing projects. A large benefit being offered to Talent and Filmmakers via the A4H online network is the core and expanded group of contacts within the network. You can access the support network by submitting your project or question to: support@auditionforhollywood.com

Seth Milstein is a Major in the US Marine Corps Reserve. He has served in Iraq and has trained tens of thousands of Marines and Sailors in counter terror, civil-military, and special operations since the terrorist attacks of 9-11. He has written several published articles, consults for several government institutions, and teaches about terrorism and homeland security issues.