"JD Johannes pimp slaps the cliche war documentary."

Baghdad Happens is the story of an improbable, unforeseeable, irreplicable sequence of events that took place one day in Baghdad.

In his fifth documentary on the Iraq war, JD Johannes throws many of the cliches of what a war documentary should be out the window.

"Our guiding vision was to ask, 'What would PBS and Bill Moyers do?' then do the exact opposite," Johannes said.

"The soldiers in this documentary were really up beat.  They had been on a string of successful missions and they could tell the fortunes of war were turning in their favor," Johannes said.  "So, we took that positive energy let it show through."

Johannes conducted the interviews with the soldiers at Joint Security Station Black Lion a day after the successful mission.

"These guys were riding high at that moment and you rarely get to see that in a documentary," Johannes said.

Other anti-PBS aspects include a disco-funkadelic-surf-rock soundtrack and Johannes narrating the documentary on-camera in a tavern.

"My co-producer Brad asked, 'Where are you most likely to tell this story?' so, I put on a super-fly suit I wear to film festivals and Brad interviewed me at a drinking establishment," Johannes said.  "That may explain why I become more animated as the movie goes along."

While most documentaries about Iraq are political, or try to play up emotional angst, Baghdad Happens shows the complexity of military operations, putting it in the larger context of war.

"Humans have been fighting wars since the dawn of time.  The inherent nature of war never changes.  Only the technology changes.  For some reason, we seem to forget that," Johannes said.

Like his previous four documentaries, Johannes shot all the footage and interviews in Iraq himself.

"Some people think I have a production crew--a camera man, sound guy, production assisstant.  Nope.  It is just me doing the best I can to overcome the environment."

"No pre-interviews, no studio interviews, no lights.  In that regard it is almost the exact opposite of how most documentaries are made."

This is also the first documentary where Johannes gives some of his personal background.

"I tried to answer a lot of the questions I get from people, 'Why do I do it?'  'How did I get started doing it'  'How many times have you been shot at?'"

"A lot of people after watching my documentaries think the soldiers are actors, or things are being recreated on an elaborate set.  A lot of people don't realize I'm right there shooting all the video in the middle of a war zone.  People have complained saying they wanted multiple camera angles to show all the action.  Sorry, but it is just me with one camera on my shoulder."

Johannes was in Iraq in October of 2008 and visited the area where the raid in 'Baghdad Happened' happened.

"It is a completely different place.  I kept saying, 'This is not the Baghdad I used to know.'"

Johannes hopes to cover Afghanistan this summer and then decide whether to keep covering wars or get a grown up job.

"A year ago, some Hollywood types asked me if I could make 13 episodes like 'Danger Close.'  I told them, 'I'm not sure if I would live through it 13 times.'  I was willing to give it a go, but they thought it would be bad for ratings for the host to get shot-up so it never went anywhere."

The dangers of filming documentaries in Iraq are briefly touched on in the movie 'Baghdad Happens'.

"I am always suprised at how little apprehension I have at putting myself in harms way," Johannes said.

"I have put a lot of thought into that because I do not fully understand it.  I think I have part of it figured out, but not completely."

The Hebrew military philosopher Martin Van Crevald said that for every 100 men who recoil from the horrors of war there is one who finds it the most marvelous of experiences.

"Count me as that one out of 100," Johannes said, "but it concerned me that I am that one out of 100."

"I think I found part of the answer in the New Testament.  The Apostle Paul writes in the book of Colossians: 

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.  FOR YOU DIED, AND YOUR LIFE IS NOW HIDDEN WITH CHRIST IN GOD...." (emphasis added)

Johannes also refers to Colossians 2:20, "Since you died with Christ.."

"Now, this may not be theologically correct, but follow me for a second," he said, "we often hear the term 'born again' but how can we be born again if we are always alive?  I don't think we can.  When I accepted Christ and believed, I died.  And that may be why I have little fear of death."

"That explains why I'm not afraid of dying in combat.  But it does not explain why I am not worried about getting maimed.  I think a lot of people go through life with fear.  When I first started this project I kept repeating Joshua 1:9 when God speaks to Joshua saying, 'Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.'"

The Sermon on the Mount was also a common reading for Johannes.

"Jesus is saying do not worry.  Worry is useless.  It accomplishes nothing.  Not trusting in God, is a sin.  It elevates the things of the world as a source and provider above God."

"For some reason God had kept me alive.  He has seen me through some amazing things and allowed me to do so many things.  The women and men in the Bible were strong and courageous.  Jesus was not a wimp.  He and the apostles were some tough guys.  And therefore, with the fortitude God has given me, I'll go back to war and keep trying to follow the purpose and path he has put me on."