In the military: Project helping injured veterans find healing through humor

There’s nothing funny about war injuries … or is there?

Two local men have set out to spotlight the lighter side of that very dark subject in a full-length documentary called “Comedy Warriors: Healing Through Humor.”

The film, which is the brainchild of Saratoga Springs residents Ray Reo and John Wager, will document what happens when five severely injured service members are teamed with comedy writers and nationally known comedians. Together, they will develop stand-up routines that poke fun at the time the veterans spent in the service and the injuries they sustained in the line of duty. The documentary will also highlight their personal stories from when they decided to enlist, their experiences in combat and their healing process.

“Humor is the great equalizer. If you can laugh about something, you’re on your way to healing,” said Wager, an award-winning producer and director who has worked extensively as an independent filmmaker with the Wounded Warrior Project, a nonprofit group that assists returning soldiers as they recover and transition back to civilian life.

The idea for the documentary was born one afternoon a little more than a year ago, when Wager was having lunch with Reo, who is a talent manager.

“I was all excited about working with these courageous young men and women [veterans involved in the Wounded Warrior Project], and [Reo] was thinking about doing something with these guys already, about doing something with comedy and using it for healing,” Wager said.

They put their heads together, and “Comedy Warriors” was born.

Wager passed the idea by the deputy executive director at the Wounded Warrior Project and received the organization’s endorsement. An email was then sent to 1200 Wounded Warrior Project program alumni, asking for submission videos that highlighted their humorous side.

“We got 40 submissions and we got some great stuff. We had trouble whittling it down to five,” recounted Wager.

Meanwhile, Reo began to round up comedians to serve as mentors.

“I was a talent manager for over 20 years in LA, and I managed a lot of funny people, a lot of ‘Saturday Night Live’ people,” he said. “Being in LA for as long as I had been, I knew a lot of managers, lots of agents, lots of talent, and if for some reason I don’t know someone, someone I know knows someone to get to them.”

So far, comedians Zach Galifianakis, Bob Saget, Lewis Black, Brad Garrett and Kathleen Madigan have signed on. Reo hopes to recruit a few more.

“We’re teaming [the veterans] up first with writers, and the writers are going to help them work out the routine, and then the A-list comedians are going to mentor them, similar to ‘American Idol,’ ” Wager explained.

Once their routines are polished, the veterans will perform at several professional venues and ultimately in a large show hosted by one of the comedians. The entire endeavor will be captured on film.

Three male veterans and one female veteran from various places across the country were chosen to be part of the documentary. Their ages range from early 20s to 40, and their injuries range from severe burns to amputations. Although it’s hard to imagine any humor in disfigurements, these service people have found it, Reo assured.

“They’re just all amazing people, what they’ve gone through, and that they can talk about it and laugh about it and are so excited about the experience of it all,” he said.

“Comedy Warriors” participant Bobby Henline, a staff sergeant in the US Army, is missing one and a half of his ears and an arm and has burns over 38 percent of his body due to war injuries. His face is disfigured from burns, but his smile is still bright.

“There’s so much of life left to enjoy and live that I have to be upbeat, I have to go on,” he said in a “Comedy Warriors” pre-production video. “There’s four guys in my Humvee that didn’t make it, and if I wasted my life, stayed on the couch going, ‘Oh poor me,’ I can’t do that, for them.”

Reo said that the comedians he used to work with in Los Angeles were always quick to make light of any tragedy.

“I know that that was their way of dealing with whatever was going on in the world or their lives. Something about being self-depricating, too, that kind of makes us feel comfortable and makes other people feel comfortable, too, when it’s something that’s obvious. In Bobby Henline’s case, he knows how he looks and he’s the first one to take shots at himself,” Reo said.

Filming for “Comedy Warriors” began this month and will continue over the next four months in the veterans’ hometowns as well as in New York City and Los Angeles. The projected release date is August or September of 2012.

The endeavor is a labor of love for all involved. Participants are all volunteers, and the Wounded Warrior Project is covering travel costs.

“We’re definitely looking for financial support from the public and hopefully some businesses to finance it and be sponsors. That would help with this project a lot,” said Wager. “But at the end of the day, we’re doing this. I have a credit card. We’re making the movie.”

The filmmakers say the project will honor and provide healing for the service members involved and will be an inspiration to others who have been through similar trauma.

“One of our goals is to raise awareness,” noted Wager. “It’s one of our biggest goals. It’s not just a help in the healing process but to let other people know what these guys are going through. Hey, don’t forget these guys. They’ve gone through hell and back for us, and now they’re trying to get on with their lives. It’s an amazing thing.”