>>> TONIGHT WE CONTINUE WITH OUR
SERIES FROM THE FRONT LINE TO
THE HOME FRONT.
AN INVESTIGATION OF POST-9/11
VETERANS BACK HOME AND IN
TRANSITION.
BUT FIRST, HERE'S A QUESTION FOR
YOU -- WHAT DO TOM HANKS, SOME
OF AMERICA'S BRAVEST WARRIORS
AND SHAKES SPPEARE HAVE IN COMM.
LET ME ENLIGHTEN YOU, THEY ARE
PLAYERS ON A STAGE BUILT IN A
PARTNERSHIP WEAN THE DEPARTMENT
OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND THE
SHAKESPEARE CENTER OF LOS
ANGELES.
TOGETHER THEY'RE ACTING,
BUILDING SETS AND PRODUCING.
A QUICK LOOK AT SOME OF THEIR
WORK.
>> I'M TOM HANKS, I'M AN ACTOR
AND I'M PLAYING FALSTAFF IN THE
SHAKESPEARE PRODUCTION OF HENRY
IV ON THIS VERY STAGE THAT HAS
IN FACT BEEN BUILT BY VETERANS.
>> I PLAY MISTRESS QUICKLY WHO
RUNS THE TAVERN IN THE PLAY
HENRY IV.
THEY INFORMED US WE WOULD BE ON
THE GROUND OF THIS BEAUTIFUL
V.A. FACILITY IN WEST L.A.
THE IDEA THAT THE VETERANS IN
TRANSITION WERE GOING TO BE OUR
RUNNING RUE AND THEY BUILT THE
SETS AND THEY LITERALLY CARVED
THE THEATER OUT OF THE WOODS.
OUT OF NOTHING.
>> GUYS AND WOMEN WHO HAVE
SERVED OUR COUNTRY AND ARE
TRANSITIONING INTO WHATEVER THAT
NEXT PHASE OF THEIR LIVES ARE.
WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT IF THEY
WENT INTO THIS VERY LINE OF
WORK?
THE SAME ONE I'M IN?
>> I WAS IN THE UNITED STATES
NAVY.
I WENT TO GUANTANAMO BAY.
I WAS A SECURITY GUARD THERE.
>> I WAS A UNITED STATES MARINE
CORPS FROM 1981 TO 1985 ON THE
MARINE CORPS'S SILENT DRILL TEAM
AND WE TRAVELED ALL AROUND THE
WO
WORLD.
>> I LEARNED ABOUT THE WEST L.A.
V.A. THROUGH ANOTHER VETERAN WHO
WAS HOMELESS AND I WAS
STRUGGLING WITH A DRUG ADDICTION
AT THE TIME.
>> THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH IS
SPONSORING A BIG PIECE OF THE
VETERANS IN ART PROGRAM AND THEY
ARE UNDERWRITING THIS SPECIAL
CLASS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE
GIVING VETERANS, CAME OUT OF ALL
OF THE CONVERSATIONS WAS THAT
THE VETERANS FELT WHAT THEY
WANTED MOST OF ALL WAS A JOB.
A JOB THAT HAD MEANING.
A JOB THAT WAS ASSOCIATED WITH A
COMMISSION, A JOB THAT WOULD
HELP THEM HAVE A SENSE OF
IDENTITY AND A SENSE OF PURPOSE.
>> SO THEN THERE IS YOUR ANSWER.
AND FOR MORE INSIGHT, BOTH TOM
HANKS AND THE VISIONARY BEHIND
THIS JOB AND REHABILITATION
PROGRAM JOIN US NOW.
GENTLEMEN, A PLEASURE TO HAVE
YOU HERE.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANKS.
>> TOM, LET ME BRING YOU INTO
THE CONVERSATION HERE.
WITH ALL THE THINGS YOU DO IN
YOUR PROFESSIONAL LIFE, WHAT
DREW YOU TO THE SHAKESPEARE
CENTER AND THEN TO THE WORK THEY
WERE DOING WITH THE VETERANS?
>> WELL, I'M A PROFESSIONAL
ACTOR AND THE BEST JOB AN ACTOR
CAN HAVE IS TO BE IN AN ENSEMBLE
DOING SOMETHING LIKE THE
GREATEST WORK OF ALL LITERATURE
AND ALL STAGE.
MY LIFE CHANGED THE FIRST TIME I
EVER WAS IN A PLAY, IT WAS A
LONG TIME AGO AND THE SAME CAN
OCCUR FOR ANYBODY WHO HAS A
CHANCE TO BE EXPOSED TO IT.
AN AWFUL LOT OF VETERANS ARE
LOOKING FOR -- LET'S PUT IT
UNDER A BIG SUBHEAD OF WHATEVER
THE NEXT CHAPTER IS IN THEIR
LIVES.
AN EXPOSURE TO ALMOST ANYTHING
THAT ATTRACTS THEIR PASSION CAN
LEAD THEM ON TO THE LIFE AFTER
SERVING OUR COUNTRY.
LIFE AFTER THE ARMED FORCES.
FOR US TO UTILIZE SPACE LIKE WE
HAD AT THE VETERANS CENTER, HOW
MANY PLAYS DID WE DO OUTDOORS AT
THE V.A.?
>> SIX.
>> THAT'S LITERALLY FROM THE
GROUND UP BUILDING A THEETER
FROM THE GROUND UP.
BUT THE BUILDING OF THE SHOW
ITSELF WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO
INCORPORATE MEN AND WOMEN WHO
WERE INTERESTED IN IT AND
WATCHED THEIR PASSION DEVELOP
BEFORE OUR VERY EYES AND GO ON
AND BECOME PAID EMPLOYEES OF THE
SHAKESPEARE CENTER THAT'S THE
HIGH COUNTRY INTRODUCES PEOPLE
WHO WILL MAKE A CAREER OUT OF IT
BUT ALSO THAT FABULOUS NEXT
CHAPTER OF THEIR LIVES THAT
STARTS FROM THEIR FIRST EXPOSURE
TO SOMETHING LIKE BEING IN A
PLAY WITH AN ENSEMBLE OF PEOPLE,
THE MAGIC OFTEN HAPPENS AT NIGHT
AND YOU WERE EVERYTHING YOU DO
IN THE COURSE OF SHOWING UP TO
WORK HELPS AID THAT PRODUCTION
FROM GETTING DONE.
IF YOU JUST WANT TO BE FROM AN
ALTRUISTIC PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT
CAN WE DO IN ORDER TO JUST BE
THERE FOR THE VETERANS WHEN THEY
COME HOME TO SAY MORE THAN JUST
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE BUT
INVITING THEM INTO A DIFFERENT
KIND OF SERVICE, WHEN YOU CAN DO
THAT AND HAVE IT BE AS ORGANIC
AS IT HAS BEEN FOR THE
SHAKESPEARE CENTER AND THE
VETERANS THEN IT'S ALMOST
SELFISH TO THINK THAT, HEY, WE
WERE ABLE TO DO WHAT WE WANTED
TO DO AND AT THE SAME TIME
INTRODUCE PEOPLE TO A WHOLE NEW
WAY OF LIVING.
>> TELL ME QUICKLY ABOUT THE
SHAKESPEARE CENTER AND THEN HOW
YOU DECIDED LET'S GET INVOLVED
IN THESE PROGRAMS THAT CAN HELP
BRING OUR VETERANS TO A PLACE
WHERE THEY CAN GAIN KNOWLEDGE
ABOUT SKILLS TO GET THEM BACK
INTO THE REAL WORLD?
>> I TRIED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY
TO CREATE A JOB PROGRAM THAT
WOULD SUPPORT THE VETERANS'
TRANSITION AND WENT BACK TO THE
DRAWING BOARD AND LOOKED AT THE
DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES WE HAD
AS WE BUILD A SHAKESPEARE PLAY
THAT COULD BE APPLICABLE TO A
VETERAN'S SKILL SET.
I DIDN'T KNOW HOW IT WOULD WORK
OUT.
I HIRED PROFESSIONAL THEATER
PEOPLE TO BACK UP THE VET AND I
NEVER NEEDED THEM THAT CAME IN
THAT TOOK OVER AND RAN THE SHOW
FROM START TO FINISH.
>> TOM, YOU TALKED ABOUT HENRY
IV, NEGOTIATION PLAYING
FALSTAFF, SHAKESPEAREAN
HISTORIANS SAY HE'S FASCINATING
AND YOU GET TO WEAR A FAT SUIT
WHICH IS COOL FOR THE AUDIENCE.
>> I GET TO LOSE 180 POUNDS A
NIGHT.
>> ISN'T THAT GREAT?
YOU NEED TO DO A NEW BOOK, THE
TOM HANKS DIET, LOSE 180 POUNTDS
IN ONE NIGHT WHAT DID YOU GET
OUT OF IT?
>> I GET THE CORE EXPERIENCE
THAT THE THEATER PROMISES IN THE
FIRST PLACE.
PARTICIPATION IN SOMETHING THAT
IS GREATER IN YOURSELF.
YOU CAN ONLY CONTROL WHAT YOUR
OWN ACTIONS ARE.
YOU CAN ONLY PUT FORWARD THE
PERFORMANCE INSIDE YOUR HEAD AND
YOU MUST RELY ON EVERYBODY ELSE
WHO IS IN THE ENSEMBLE ON STAGE
WITH YOU, WHEN WE WERE ON THAT
STAGE, OUR PROFESSIONAL LIVES
WERE IN SOMEBODY ELSE'S HANDS
BECAUSE IF OUR RADIO MICS GO OUT
AND THAT WAS ALL A VETERAN CREW,
IF THE CUES DON'T COME
BACKSTAGE, IF THE PROPS ARE NOT
IN THE PLACE, WE HAD VETERANS
WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OF
THOSE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS OF
IT.
THAT IS THE REASON THAT.
>> AGENTS DON'T WANT TO HEAR YOU
SAY THAT.
THAT'S ANATHEMA.
BUT THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF BEING
IN A PRODUCTION THAT IS GOING TO
RUN FROM WHAT WAS THE -- A MONTH
OR FROM THE FIRST OF JUNE TO THE
FIRST OF JULY IS ALMOST -- IT'S
NOT UNLIKE THE CAMARADERIE AND
SKILLS AND EXPERTISE AND
LEADERSHIP THAT IS NECESSARY FOR
WHAT THEY DID ON THE SERVICES AS
IT IS.
>> WHEN WE SET UP OUR CREWS, WE
CALLED THEM SQUADRONS AND WE
HAVE PLATOON LEADERS AND WE USE
A LOT OF THE MILITARY JARGON TO
HELP THE VETS FEEL COMFORTABLE
AND UNDERSTAND THEIR IDENTITIES
AND THEIR MISSION AND THE
MEANING OF THEIR JOB AND THE
PURPOSE OF WHAT THEY WERE DOING.
SO IT WAS FUN TO HAVE A.
WE HAD A TONY AWARD WINNING SET
DESIGNER WHO SAID I NEVER HAD
THE ARMY BUILD MY SET.
>> WHEN THE ARMY PUT TOGETHER
THAT SPEED RAIL IN ORDER FOR
PEOPLE TO SIT DOWN YOU KNOW
THOSE GRAND STANDS AREN'T
MOVING.
WE HAD MOMENTS WHERE WE WERE ALL
GETTING TOGETHER FOR ONE REASON
OR ANOTHER, EVERYBODY INVOLVED
IN THE PRODUCTION AND EVEN THE
ACTORS WERE ASTOUNDED AT HOW BIG
THAT PHOTOGRAPH WAS.
>> IN TERMS OF WHAT THE WORKERS
ARE DOING, AGAIN LOOKING AT IT,
MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS THIS ISN'T
VETERANS WORKING AT THEATER.
THEY BECAME THEATER PEOPLE.
WHAT HAVE THEY BEEN ABLE TO GO
ON TO DO AFTER ONE OF THESE
PRODUCTIONS WRAPS?
>> IN MY COMPANY IN THE FALL
EVERY YEAR WE DO A SPECIAL
PRODUCTION FOR HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS TO INTRODUCE THEM TO
SHAKESPEARE AND WE WORK WITH
GUYS WHO WORK FOR DISNEYLAND
CREATING THE HAUNTED MANSION AND
STUFF LIKE THAT OTHER GUYS WENT
TO WORK AT OTHER THEATERS AS
USHERS, A COUPLE WENT ON TO
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS, ONE IS A
SOUND ENGINEER NOW.
WE PARTICULARLY FOCUS ON VETS
WHO ARE SERVICE CONNECTED AND
PART OF THE VOCATIONAL REHAB
PROGRAM AT THE V.A.
SO THEY ARE REFERRED TO US BY
THEIR CLINICIANS WHO ARE WORKING
WITH THEM WHERE AT THIS POINT IN
THEIR LIVES IT WILL BE A KEY
TRANSITIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR
THEM SO WE HIRE GUYS AND WOMEN
WHO HAVE BEEN OUT OF WORK FOR
FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AND THEY
BEGIN TO SEE THEMSELVES
DIFFERENTLY AND REALIZE THE
SKILL SETS THAT BUILT WORKING
FOR THE ARMED FORCES CAN APPLY
IN OTHER WORK ENVIRONMENTS SO
THEY BUILD THIS CONFIDENCE IN
THEMSELVES TO GET THEMSELVES UP
AND OUT.
SO OTHER VETS GO TO WORK IN
OTHER VENUES.
SO THEY GET THEIR TEETH FIXED,
THEY START GETTING SPEECH
COACHING.
THEY START DRESSING DIFFERENTLY.
THEY START GOING OUT ON JOB
INTERVIEWS.
AND THERE'S A WHOLE NUMBER OF
VETERANS THAT ARE A PART OF AN
ORGANIZATION CALLED NEW
DIREC
DIRECTIONS.
THERE ARE CONVICTED FELONS WHO
ARE COURT MANDATED TO BE THERE
BECAUSE THEY HAVE DRUG PROBLEMS
AND ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT
ISSUES.
THOSE GUYS JUMPED IN AND WERE
THRILLED TO BE A PART OF THIS
AND IT TURNED A BUNCH OF THEM
AROUND.
>> WE HAD A MOMENT BACKSTAGE --
AND IT HAPPENED EVERY NIGHT
BECAUSE MYSELF AND A FEW OTHER
CAST MEMBERS WERE WAITING TO
MAKE OUR ENTRANCE AND WE HAD
THREE MINUTES IN WHICH WE HAD
DOWN TIME AND ONE OF THE GUYS
RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THE
PROPS IN THE RIGHT PLACE, HE AND
I WOULD SIT BACK TOGETHER AND
WE'D TALK ABOUT HOW THE SHOW WAS
GOING, HOW THE AUDIENCE WAS
REACTING, HOW FULL THE MOON WAS
OR HOW COLD IT MIGHT GET AND I
CAN'T TELL YOU HOW OFTEN HE SAID
BOY, I'M GLAD I DID THIS, I
CAN'T BELIEVE I'M INVOLVED IN
SOMETHING THAT IS AS MUCH FUN
AND WAS AS INVOLVE FOG HIM AS
BEING IN THIS PLAY WAS AND ALL I
COULD SAY WAS MY FRIEND, I FEEL
THE SAME WAY.
>> I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH
TOM AND BEN FOR SPENDING TIME.
IT WAS AN INTERESTING
CONVERSATION, WE COULD HAVE GONE
ON FOR HOURS, MAYBE WE'LL
CONTINUE IT DOWN THE ROAD.
>> THANKS.
>> YOU BOTH BE WELL, TAKE CARE
NOW.
>>> AND FOR MORE INFORMATION ON
THE SHAKESPEARE CENTER OF LOS
ANGELES THE CHAPTER 31
VOCATIONAL PROGRAM THROUGH THE
V.A. AND THE LATEST MOVIES
INVOLVING TOM HANKS, VISIT US AT
METROFOCUS.ORG.
