Lt. Col. Deborah Brown has spent her Army profession providing religious steering to service members. Now, she is attempting to encourage others by way of her debut documentary.
Roughly 150 folks, dressed to the nines, gathered on Jan. 13 on the downtown Norfolk Waterside Marriott for the premiere of “Pounders: We’re who we’re.” The 40-minute documentary chronicles the lives of 4 people as they overcome the challenges of dwelling with spinal twine accidents and pursue their ardour of driving bikes.
“They’re the epitome of resilient,” Brown stated.
Brown, who lives in Williamsburg, wrote and produced the movie by way of her enterprise, DAT Gypsy Productions. She first envisioned the enterprise 30 years in the past however it took a backseat to her army profession. She has served the Army as a chaplain for 23 years.
When requested about making a documentary now, she stated it was all concerning the timing.
“And on a religious stage, God stated I may,” Brown added.
Brown introduced this movie to life with the assistance of her brother, Wendell Thompson, a Williamsburg resident who resides with a spinal twine damage. He is among the 4 “pounders” featured within the documentary.
Thompson, a 59-year-old Army veteran, was injured in 1985 in a service-related incident. He’s paralyzed from the waist down, and not too long ago had his left leg amputated on the knee. He’s nonetheless an avid motorbike rider.
“After we journey bikes, we pound the highway, pound the freeway,” Thompson stated. “We’re pounders regardless of being in wheelchairs. That’s what that is about.”
Driving bikes, Thompson stated, frees his thoughts and his physique from the wheelchair and helps him overpower adverse perceptions, emotional struggles and bodily obstacles.
“I’m not right here to surrender,” he stated. “I’m not about to. I by no means will.”
Marcus Claude, 42, is the youngest and most up-to-date pounder. The Emporia resident was driving in February when he nodded off behind the wheel a couple of mile from his residence. His automobile collided with a tractor trailer.
“I spent all my life working, working, working and attempting to save cash,” Claude stated. “Nevertheless it was like God stated, ‘Hey man, I’m going to place the brakes on you.’ ”
Claude, a member of the Nationwide Guard, goes by way of the method of being medically discharged. He additionally served within the Army.
He stated since his crash, he has a “new lease on life” and has grown nearer along with his household.
“I misplaced the flexibility to run, bounce and do all these issues however on the flip aspect, I gained all these great folks in my life,” Claude stated.
The documentary was filmed in Williamsburg and Emporia, in addition to New York Metropolis and Detroit, from July to October. JaeTech Studios, primarily based in Hampton, dealt with the cinematography.
Different “pounders” featured are Mark James from New York Metropolis and Roosevelt Stevenson Jr. of Detroit. Brown hopes the 4 pounders’ tales — and people of their caregivers — will encourage others to beat no matter challenges they face.
Whereas Brown continues to be actively serving the Army at Fort Eustis in Newport News, she plans to dedicate extra time to DAT Gypsy Productions and is seeking to discover extra tales that seize the essence of resilience and rejoice the human spirit.
“It’s about not quitting,” Brown stated. “You’ll be able to’t stop since you are in ache. You’ll be able to’t stop since you had a stroke. You’ll be able to’t stop as a result of we now have a grip on you. We love you and we’re going by way of it with you.”
“Pounders: We’re who we’re” will be streamed on-line at datgypsyproduction.com.
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