by Dov Kornits
Director Cameron Brunt fills us in on his upcoming documentary Dogs of Valour.
After raising the funds himself, Aussie filmmaker Cameron Brunt has spent a large chunk of the last five years travelling Australia to meet with a near platoon of military veterans and their canine offsiders for his documentary Dogs of Valour, which investigates and celebrates the vital role played by dogs in the cruel and brutal theatre of war. Through candid, highly incisive interviews with military veterans, the documentary lays out how miliary dogs are trained, and then utilised in war. These dogs, however, are very quickly revealed to be much, much more than military instruments, with many forming strong, unbreakable bonds with their handlers. A thoughtful and deeply moving doco, Dogs of Valour is a fitting and overdue tribute to some of the under-celebrated heroes of war.
How did you become involved in this project?
“The spark for this story began with a stray Afghan puppy named Charlie, who was raised on a military base by Australian soldiers. Many of these base dogs were sadly put down due to rabies, but Charlie was saved by being hidden whenever commanders visited. One of my friends was among these soldiers, and Charlie had a profound impact on him. I found the concept of a dog in combat fascinating, especially considering the significant morale boost they provided. These soldiers risked their jobs to keep Charlie alive, which led me to explore the role of dogs in war. I started speaking with veterans to hear stories of the dogs who were trained and deployed for combat. The core of the story has always been the bonds formed in the heat of battle. Ultimately, I felt compelled to share the stories of these brave dogs who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the soldiers they considered part of their pack.”
Are you a dog lover?
“I don’t know many people who don’t love dogs! As a kid, I was fascinated by wolves and wild dogs hunting in David Attenborough documentaries, so this project was a bit of a dream for me. I found the unique role of combat assault dogs within special forces to have many similarities with a wolf pack in the wild. It’s a very natural role for dogs to take on, tapping into their instincts.”
From the trailer, it seems like there’s a lot of archive footage in the film…
“It has been fascinating to dive through all of this archive material, which I sourced from the veterans featured in the film. I especially love the footage from the ’60s. Even though soldiers weren’t allowed to have cameras during operations in Vietnam, a few managed to capture these unique scenes. The archive is crucial for a documentary, as it transports the audience into the jungle.”
Are your ambitions to continue working in the documentary space; is that where your passion lies, and who are your influences?
“On the narrative side, my influences include Terrence Malick, David Michod, and Michael Mann. In the realm of natural history, David Attenborough and Sylvia Earle are my heroes. Since I was a kid, my ambition has always been to create narrative features. I wrote my first screenplay at the age of seven. It was handwritten and inspired by watching Band of Brothers, one of the most influential TV series I have ever seen. My next project will be a feature film based on the Vietnam War Dogs, which feels like a natural evolution for me, given that I have spent four years learning all the details of this world.”
How was the film financed?
“This project was entirely self-funded, with most of the budget allocated to traveling around Australia to interview veterans. I spent a month in South Vietnam with a veteran dog handler who revisited the paths he once tracked with his dog, Caesar, in 1967, reflecting on their shared experiences. Despite our small budget, I managed to capture a significant amount of footage. Alongside directing short documentaries, TVCs, and music videos to fund my passion projects, I founded Electric Bubble, a film studio that has collaborated with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Lexus, Uber, and others. Although we are a small team, we work with highly passionate individuals who help us bring ambitious ideas to life within tight financial constraints.”
For more information on Dogs of Valour, head to the film’s official website.
