‘You Don’t Have To Be A Veteran To Tell A Veteran’s Story;’ My Dead Friend Zoe’s Director Talks About The Importance Of Proper PTSD Representation, And How They Brought His Story To Life

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In creating films about veterans’ war experiences, great care is required to ensure the narrative is impactful and truthful. The 2025 film, “My Dead Friend Zoe,” directed by Kyle Hausmann-Stokes in his feature debut, has garnered universal acclaim for its heartfelt and accurate portrayal of PTSD. When I asked him about crafting a story that authentically depicts the life of a soldier, both before and after combat, his response left me inspired.

As an ardent admirer, I can share that Hausmann-Stokes initially conceived the concept for “My Dead Friend Zoe,” originally titled “Merit x Zoe,” as a short film. Surprisingly, despite being a seasoned director, he emphasized that one doesn’t necessarily have to be a veteran to narrate a story about war. However, there is one crucial aspect that you should focus on: immersing yourself deeply in the experiences and emotions of your characters, especially when portraying the harsh realities of war.

It’s just as simple to narrate tales about the military and veterans as it is to tell stories about anyone else. The key lies in including those individuals in your narrative. I don’t believe that you have to be a veteran to craft a veteran’s story or have served in the military to tell a military story. Instead, what matters most is to engage with those people and fill your production with their presence. So, we managed to get one veteran for free – myself, serving as both the writer and director of the film.

The movie titled “My Dead Friend Zoe” features Sonequa Martin-Green, a previous star from “The Walking Dead” and lead actor in “Star Trek: Discovery,” as well as Natalie Morales, a familiar face from “Grey’s Anatomy.” This film narrates the tale of a war veteran grappling with PTSD, who experiences visions of Zoe, her fallen comrade from the conflict, who sadly became a casualty of war.

The film, produced by Travis Kelce in his transition into the movie industry, can be seen as a narrative somewhat based on his life experiences. It was largely influenced by two of Hausmann-Stokes’ comrades during his military service. Over time, the director assembled a cast predominantly comprised of veterans (approximately 90%), and the lead actors faced the challenge of conducting extensive research to ensure their portrayals felt genuine.

Initially, our script had elements of a manifesto or an autobiography. However, since we had many veterans in our cast, it evolved significantly. We opted for a mostly real cast, and Sonequa and Natalie learned quite a bit from them through a process akin to osmosis. Additionally, they conducted extensive research. I believe, as Sonequa points out, that stories can be more impactful when they are highly specific, yet universally relatable.

As a film enthusiast, I was blown away by the number of cast members in this movie who had served in the military before making it big in Hollywood. Even one of the lead actors, Morgan Freeman, enlisted with the U.S. Air Force from 1955 to 1959. It’s fascinating to see such a dedicated crew that brings a unique perspective to the stories they tell on screen, like Martin-Green and Morales in this film.

Instead of concentrating solely on battle scenes like many top war movies do, My Dead Friend Zoe stands out by delving into the mental struggles and aftermath that soldiers often face once they’ve left the war zone. Although being a former veteran can lend credibility, it’s clear that the director is deeply invested in both his cast and the narrative. Catch this unique comedy-drama on the big screen when it premieres in theaters on February 28th.

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2025-02-28 16:37