Documentary to explore work of charitable organization

In November, Michael Dalton will load up his gear, say goodbye to friends and family and board a series of planes that will eventually land him in the northern part of Iraq.

But unlike most people deploying to Kurdistan, the 20-year-old former Danville resident’s gear will be a camera, lenses and other equipment to film a documentary about a bastion of hope in the middle of a conflict-ridden country.

He and friend Matt Addington, a photographer, will be headed to the Kurdish city of Suleimaniya to document the work of Buy Shoes. Save Lives. The collective of Iraqis and Kurds make and sell traditional Kurdish shoes called klash to benefit Iraqi children in need of heart surgery.

Buy Shoes. Save Lives. is a project of the Preemptive Love Coalition — an organization devoted to helping impoverished people in Northern Iraq. Proceeds from the shoes go toward overhead operation costs and to help Iraqi children who suffer from unusually high incidents of heart disease, according to the organization’s Web site.

Dalton and Addington met at church in Orlando, where Dalton is in film school and a freelance videographer and Addington is a photographer. Addington had been planning a trip to document the project for some time while concurrently doing a number of other photography projects.

Dalton filmed a photo shoot that Addington set up, and that video eventually crossed the path of Buy Shoes. Save Lives. co-founder Jeremy Courtney, who proposed that Dalton come along.

The Westover Christian Academy graduate mulled over the decision, putting a lot of thought and prayer into it, he said. Ultimately, Dalton said he realized it was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

“To go to a nation that our country’s at war with, to do something that I’m passionate about, film and video, to help someone who really needs the help,” Dalton said, was something he couldn’t pass up.

Dalton and Addington will be covering every aspect of the organization, from the people making the klash, their lives, and the children who ultimately benefit from the sales.

Originally, Dalton said, the plan was for Addington to put together a book of the photographs. However, with Dalton on board, they’re envisioning a DVD and potentially other aspects as well.

“We really want people to be able to see the full

array of this,” Dalton said.

‘A second chance at life’ Dalton said he’s not particularly worried about security.

He said they’ll be staying with an American family that works with the organization for one thing, and for another, he feels he’s being guided and protected by God.

Still, Dalton and Addington have been advised to wear neutral clothing and to grow beards. They’re both having trouble with the facial hair though, Dalton joked, saying they’re working through some rough patches.

Getting ready to film Buy Shoes. Save Lives. has hugely impacted Dalton, who originally enrolled in film school with ambitions of making music videos.

“I realized a few months ago something I’d like to be able to do are small-scale adventures, where I can use personal creativity and what I’m passionate about and mix those things together,” he said.

Dalton and Addington are devoting much of their time now to raising money and watching other films and documentaries for inspiration.

“What’s so compelling is these (children) are being given a second chance at life,” Dalton said. “Without Buy Shoes. Save Lives. these kids would die. Which is really horribly unfortunate.”

“We’re certainly inspired by the story in and of itself,” he said.

For more information about the documentary, go to www.toopenyoureyes.com, and for more information about the organization, check out www.BuyShoesSaveLives.com

Contact Sarah Arkin at (434) 791-7983 or sarkin@registerbee.com.