Shadow Company (2006)

Directors:

Nick Bicanic
Jason Bourque

Writers:

Nick Bicanic (interview material)
Jason Bourque (written by)

Genre:

Documentary

Tagline:

The Rules of War have changed.

Plot:

Thousands of private soldiers operate in Iraq alone... and many more around the world. These individuals...

Awards:

4 wins

Cast

Alan Bell	...	Himself - President, Globe Risk
Phil Lancaster	...	Himself - Major [Ret.], Canadian Army
Madelaine Drohan	...	Herself - Author + Journalist
Robert Young Pelton	...	Himself - Author + Adventurer
Peter Singer	...	Himself - Political Analyst
Doug Brooks	...	Himself - Government Lobbyist For Security Companies
Stephen J. Cannell	...	Himself - Producer
Cobus Claassens	...	Himself - Security Contractor
Slavko Ilic	...	Himself - Security Contractor
Neall Ellis	...	Himself - Private Military Contractor
Frances Stonor Saunders	...	Herself - Author + Historian
John F. Mullins	...	Himself - Soldier of Fortune
Eike Kluge	...	Himself - Professor of Ethics
Tasha Bradsell	...	Herself - Journalist
James Ashcroft	...	Himself - Interviewee
Rob McKintyre	...	Private Security Instructor
Gerard Butler	...	Voice of James Ashcroft (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tim Spicer	...	Himself (archive footage)
Mark Thatcher	...	Himself (archive footage)

Directed by
Nick Bicanic
Jason Bourque

Writing credits
Nick Bicanic		(interview material)
Jason Bourque		(written by)

Produced by
Nick Bicanic	....	producer
Remy Kozak	....	producer
Les Lukacs	....	co-producer
Andrew Wanliss-Orlebar	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Bob Doell		(music composer)

Cinematography by
Jason Bourque		(filmed by)

Film Editing by
Les Lukacs

Production Management
Les Lukacs	....	post-production supervisor

Art Department
Colin Lorimer	....	comics
Colin Lorimer	....	illustrator

Sound Department
Ewan Deane	....	dialogue & sound effects editor
Ewan Deane	....	sound re-recording mixer
Peter Eliuk	....	assistant sound editor
Amy Giammarco	....	post audio supervisor
Dean Giammarco	....	sound re-recording mixer
Robert Hunter	....	technical support
Maureen Murphy	....	foley artist
Doug Paterson	....	adr recordist
Gordon Sproule	....	foley engineer

Visual Effects by
Stuart Mackay-Smith	....	animator: 2D/3D
Seán Travers	....	compositor
Andrew Wanliss-Orlebar	....	graphic design

Camera and Electrical Department
Richard Fulop	....	camera operator: Los Angeles interview
Dominika Juillet	....	photographer: undercover (as Dominika Wolski)
Jarred Land	....	camera operator: Sierra Leone filming/Toronto interview

Editorial Department
Seán Travers	....	colorist

Music Department
Andrew Wanliss-Orlebar	....	music supervisor

Other crew
Nick Bicanic	....	interviewer

Thanks
Robert Young Pelton	....	acknowledgment: additional Iraq footage by

Production Companies

• Purpose Films

Distributors

• Documentary Channel (2010) (Canada) (TV)
• Journeyman Pictures (2007) (non-USA) (all media)

Other Companies

• DBC Sound  audio post-production facility (as dbc sound inc.)
• MAC-C-SOG  footage: Iraq
• Shaman Digital Media  high definition finishing facility (as Shaman Digital)

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Filming Locations:

Canada

Company:

Purpose Films

Quotes:

Interviewer:Did you ever consider flying helicopter as a civilian? As an alternative career?
Neall Elliss - Interviewee:No.
Interviewer:No?
Neall Elliss - Interviewee:No. There's not enough excitement.
[laughs]
Neall Elliss - Interviewee:You know it's all a game. War is a game... It's the ultimate game. There's nothing to touch it.

Soundtrack:

Mes

Awesome film.

I just received my copy in the mail, and to be honest, I was completely surprised by the sheer entertainment value of the film. it's edited remarkably well, written well, and the interview subjects are interesting, and entertaining. Graphics and text inserted during conversation explain technical phrases or give statistics that you'd ask for naturally, so there's no drop off in wishing things were explained more. It's quite neat.

The documentary is very objective, taking no side in the issue. It goes back quite a ways in the contemporary history of the Mercenary/Contractor world, while still being relevant to today's world.

Highly recommended to anyone interested in Foreign Policy, or Military oriented subjects.

-Chris