Forked River Filmmaker Spotlights Vietnam Vets With New Movie

FORKED RIVER, NJ — As a child, Forked River's M.J. Walker spent a lot of time doing software editing, which turned into making music videos for friends and beginning filmmaking in 2016. Now, the 26-year-old is getting ready to release his first feature film.

"Retrograde Victory," which was shot around New Jersey including here in Forked River, tells the story of love and loss during the Vietnam War era.

Walker said that he took inspiration from his grandfather for the story. The main character, played by Zane Claudio (whom Walker says is "the best lead anyone could want") discovers what's important in his life after the war.

Main character Barry (named after Walker's grandfather) is supposed to be drafted, but isn't due to an injury. After a friend is killed in the war, he "finds out the hard way that there's more to life than materialistic things," Walker told Patch.

"Lots of Vietnam War films make it badass, but it's more than that," he said.

Walker, who describes himself as "an artistic," has put a lot of love and effort into the film.

"I came to the conclusion that the most complete art form is film," he said, noting that music, lighting, cinematography and more go into it. And Walker has spent the past several years devoted to this particular film down to the most minute details.

"I've gone out of my way to get the most accurate props," Walker said of his work to make the movie period accurate. For example, he went to great lengths sourcing a cigarette box that used a different font in 1967/68.

Principal photography wrapped at the end of last summer, and now Walker is doing b-roll, he said. He wants the movie to premiere "hopefully" in early 2024, and wants to send it to local film festivals.

"I don't know what the future holds," Walker said. Even streaming platforms like Netflix or Amazon Prime would be great, he said. But he's taking whatever opportunities come his way.

"At the very end of everything, we're hoping for distribution," he said. "That's the main goal."

For more information about "Retrograde Victory," visit its official website.