2008 Woodie Awards
Alum to show documentary
Rachael Burbank
Issue date: 2/29/08 Section: A&E
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The film, titled "The Forgotten Eagles," was originated and scripted by WWII vet and history buff Roger Marrs.
The film documents the pilots' achievements of the Aztec Eagles, a nickname that played on the cultural and political symbolism of the eagle in Aztec mythology and the modern Mexican state. The original Aztec Eagles were elite warriors of the Aztec army in pre-hispanic Mexico.
Unander was recruited by the producer of the film, Victor Mancilla, a native of Mexico City, to help with the project because Unander was already familiar with the Aztec Eagles. He had interviewed them for a book in progress.
Unander became the technical advisor and logistician for the film.
The pilots, who became national heroes, provided close air support to Allied ground forces in the liberation of the Philippines. Their actions earned praise from General Douglas MacArthur, President Harry Truman and the United States, Mexican and Philippine governments.
Unander wants to make a big-budget theatrical film based on these pilots' true stories. He is still working with Eravision Productions that will make more documentaries.
"Next project will be the incredible but true story of a heroic lady from Portland, Claire Phillips," said Unander.. "[She] was a spy and a leader in the Philippine resistance in Manila during the Japanese occupation in WWII. She won the Medal of Freedom,"
As well as working with film, Unander is currently working as Director of Public Relations and Marketing for Latin News, a Spanish-language newspaper in Portland.
Unander hopes to establish a Latin-American Studies major or department at Pacific.
The film is at 6:30 p.m., Friday at the El Centro Cultural in Cornelius, Ore.
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