We have been in the news lately. Our heartfelt thanks to those who compiled the pieces below:
WKBT News - Broadcast
FILMMAKING CONVERSATIONS WITH DAMIEN SWABY - PODCAST
Ep 196: Heroes Unseen: The Journey of APACHE BLUES: Welcome Home
By Damien Swaby
FILMMAKING CONVERSATIONS WITH DAMIEN SWABY
March 31, 2024
In this compelling episode, we sit down with Dave Merlino and Dustin Sweet, the creative powerhouses behind the thought-provoking documentary “APACHE BLUES: Welcome Home.” Dave and Dustin embarked on a multi-year odyssey, traveling over 30,000 miles across the continental US to delve into the hearts and memories of Vietnam War veterans. Their mission: to uncover the true essence of the war and the silent, enduring bravery of those who fought.
The Taos News - Article
1/24/2024
There is an epidemic of loneliness in the United States that disproportionately affects men. Studies show the suicide rates for men are almost three times those of women. It’s a complicated subject with several contributing factors, but depression is considered one of the leading causes.READ MORE
CBS News - Broadcast
BY: Chris Holmstrom
1/23/2024
The filmmakers share their journey as they met with veterans to make the documentary, to understand their experiences in the Vietnam War.
KRQE News - Broadcast
Awards Focus - Article
By: Byron Burton
Deadline - Article with Oscar Qualification List
UNM News - Article
Documentary by former UNM-Taos adjunct professor eligible for Academy Award
By: Carly Bowling
December 14, 2023
Winning an Academy Award is a crowning achievement for filmmakers, but to even be named eligible is an incredible feat in itself. “Apache Blues: Welcome Home,” a documentary co-directed by Dustin Sweet, a former University of New Mexico-Taos adjunct professor, and Dave Merlino has made the cut as one of 167 documentary feature films eligible for an Oscar in the 96th Academy Awards.
“It’s still a little shocking. It’s not a thing that I thought we would do with this film at all,” Sweet said. “I’m really enjoying what it has done for the visibility of the film.”
Production Hub - Article
Thursday, November 9, 2023
In our latest Anatomy of a Scene interview, we chatted with Directing Duo Dave Merlino and Dustin Sweet on ‘Apache Blues: Welcome Home.’
Which scene was your favorite to work on in Apache Blues: Welcome Home?
Both: This was a harder question to answer than we thought because there were many impactful moments during filming that we loved being a part of. But when being asked to pick just one, we would have to say it’s the moment with the helicopter cockpit recording made by one of the pilots.
On The Page - Podcast
Host: Pilar Alessandra
Nov 10, 2023
Writer/directors Dave Merlino and Dustin Sweet set out to document the stories of the men who served in the 9th Cavalry Regiment in Vietnam. But what they ended up with was a documentary about the need to talk through trauma. Here they discuss their years-long journey making and distributing Apache Blues: Welcome Home.
We first spoke about this project in Episode 656 of the podcast which you can CATCH UP ON HERE
Script Magazine - Article
Finding The Right Direction - Panel Discussion
Join this panel discussion featuring a panel of directors as they share their invaluable insights into the world of visual storytelling and delve into their creative processes. Gain inspiration and knowledge from their collective experiences and discover the secrets behind their directorial achievements.
Vents Magazine - Article
Longtime friends and filmmakers Dave Merlino and Dustin Sweet entered the world of documentary filmmaking very organically; their documentary film Apache Blues: Welcome Home started out as a small project for a friend of Dave’s and grew into a full-scale film. During the making of the film, Dave and Dustin traveled all across the United States, speaking with Vietnam War veterans to understand the human impact of war. The duo would be the first to humbly admit they didn’t know everything before diving headfirst into the world of documentary filmmaking, but they earned their stripes every day on set, learning as they went.
Homeland Magazine - Article
Page 26-27
We Are The Mighty - Article
Breach Bang Clear - Article
Vero Beach News - Article
The weeks since their return home quickly turned to months, which grew into years, which have become a lifetime, and still the Vietnam War is there.
Even now, nearly five decades later, these men who went to war young in a tumultuous time cannot escape the haunting memories that lurk in the jungles of their minds, waiting to ambush their everyday lives.
