The Hurt Locker military reservation in the Mojave Desert in California. He was taught to use C4 explosives, learned how to render safe improvised explosive devices, and how to wear a bomb suit. Mackie plays Sergeant J. T. Sanborn. Describing the experience of filming in Jordan in the summer, he said, "It was so desperately hot, and we were so easily agitated. But that movie was like doing a play. We really looked out for each other, and it was a great experience. It made me believe in film." Several hundred thousand refugees of Iraq live in Jordan. Bigelow cast refugees who had
This Is the Life (2008 film) Awards at ReelWorld Film Festival in Toronto and Langston Hughes African-American Film Festival in Seattle. The film was selected for the invitation-only National Black Arts Festival in June 2008 in Atlanta. On July 31, 2008, the award-winning documentary debuted as a finished work at Allison Anders' 'Don't Knock The Rock' film series in Los Angeles to a sold-out audience. Other official festival selections include: National Black Arts Festival, BET's UrbanWorld Film Festival, San Francisco Black Film Festival, Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival, Black Lily Film & Music Festival, Arizona Black Film Showcase and Roxbury Film Festival. "LA Weekly" wrote