Interview: Filmmaker Andrew Renzi & Subject Hector Barajas – Ready for War

What does it mean to be stuck behind enemy lines? For his third docu feature, Andrew Renzi (Fishtail, The Benefactor, They Fight) adds a dose of humanity to contrasting realities of three veterans who found themselves deported from the place they call home (United States) after the completion of their tours of duty. World premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival, Ready for War is about second chances and the almost insurmountable odds of trying to make it back home — for a second time. I sat down with Andrew and the subject of his film Hector Barajas to find out how he found the subject, his approach to the the complex and under-reported nature of the film, and how a selfie with Richard Gere might have saved his and his crew’s life. The docu continues its fall film festival tour prior to being showcased on Showtime.