Dr. James J. Williams RISING ABOVE THE FRAY The Making Of A Documentary

Greetings and Happy Black History Month! Yes, I am still with you as part of this dynamic magazine. I’ve been away on a short sabbatical during the Holiday season in 2022. Now I’m back to continue providing you with great content for Prescription of Excellence. With that, please allow me to reintroduce myself in a different capacity: continued on page 6

I am Dr. James J. Williams, Chief Warrant Officer Five (Retired), United States Army. I am also the CEO of 1ManSho Productions, LLC. 1ManSho Productions is an independent, veteran-owned, documentary production company dedicated to uncovering and producing empowering untold stories that take on new perspectives with the intent to educate, uplift, and inspire.

As Executive Producer, I am proud to announce my debut film, Rising Above The Fray – A Documentary, which was prescreened on the eve of Veterans Day 2022 followed by a gala tribute on Veterans Day 2022. As I’m pitching to have this fil shown on various platforms, I will also submit this work at various film festivals as well.

This film tells the story of a few good men and women who served in the Army Warrant Officer Corps. Not only did they serve honorably, but they did so retiring at the highest rank of Chief Warrant Officer Five (CW5).

Mission

1ManSho Productions seeks to uncover and produce empowering untold stories that take on new perspectives with the intent to educate, uplift and inspire viewers. Our mission is to highlight and preserve the accomplishments and contributions of non-fiction and scholarly works.

Rising Above The Fray is the result of a phenomenological research study on African American Army Warrant Officers and their lived experiences while serving our nation. After the success defense of this research, I was bestowed the 2019 Leadership Excellence Award. That was followed by the 2019 Military and Veterans Appreciation Award. Moreover, Walden University conferred my terminal degree and encouraged me to use my scholarship research as a documentary. And here we are!

The Documentary

The brand-new “Farrell J. Chiles Legacy Award.” CW4 (Ret) Chiles was introduced at the gala, Named after the legendary author of numerous books highlighting the lives and achievements of thousands of African American men and women who served as Army Warrant Officers. Fittingly, the first recipient was CW5 (Ret) Montgomery pictured below. A Vietnam War combat infantryman, he (Montgomery) is also widely recognized as one of the Army’s foremost food service advisors, inducted into the Quartermaster Hall of Fame in 2007.

The Gala

On Veterans Day evening, a large distinguished group of senior Warrant Officers gathered at a wonderful Gala in celebration of the premiere of the documentary production, “Rising Above the Fray.” I briefed attendees on this documentary about African American Army CW5s. The concept evolved from his written dissertation to a 90-minute video with personal interviews. Dr. Williams is currently exploring options for the distribution of this great production, and he hopes to make it available via media and perhaps streaming platforms in early 2023.