While enrolled at Evergreen State College's Tacoma campus, film student Ronald Lagman saw heavy doses of sex and violence - a la Quentin Tarantino style - grace the screen in several of his classmates' films.

Lagman knew he wanted something different out of his work. After seeing a documentary about a Filipino World War II veteran in 2002, Lagman instantly knew he'd found a great subject for his first movie.

Born in the Philippines but having lived in the United States for nearly 14 years, Lagman is still very passionate about the country where he grew up and spent his youth. "I still have a strong connection to the Philippines," said the 39-year-old Lagman. "Call it Filipino pride."

Lagman is in the midst of working on Lolo, a short film about a 77-year-old Filipino World War II veteran who lives with his family.

The story of Filipino veterans was brought to light more recently last year when a $198 million compensation package for Filipino World War II veterans was included in the U.S. stimulus bill. Within the $787 billion stimulus package approved by Congress in February 2009 were provisions recognizing and compensating Filipino veterans who fought under the American flag when the Philippines was still an American colony. More than 250,000 Filipinos served alongside U.S. Soldiers to defend the Philippines from the 1941 Japanese invasion and resist subsequent Japanese occupation.

"Here is something that not many people know about," said Lagman, who draws inspiration from directors Martin Scorsese, Christopher Nolan and Spike Lee. "If I can get the word out about this part of American history, then I'll be doing a service."

Lagman's film - the title translated means "grandfather" - is a narrative and will focus on the veteran's life living with his younger nephew in Tacoma. "The idea is really to touch on the family's life, but the main story is about the grandfather," he said. "I would love for it to spark people's interest in the role Filipino veterans played, but the movie is really about the people."

The 15 to 20 minute film will be shot entirely in Tacoma, and is the first of three short films that will be combined to make a longer film, Love, Green Cards and Karaoke.

After graduating from Evergreen with a bachelor's degree in liberal arts/media last year, Lagman worked at the college teaching and doing some IT work. He also joined the Air Force Reserves, and has served with the 446th Aerospace Medicine Squadron at McChord Field for seven years. Lagman had wanted to start work on the movie since he graduated, but had a hard time due to his hectic work schedule. Now, faced with some down time in his schedule, Lagman has really sunk his teeth into the project.

"I have this time now and I don't want to prolong the movie anymore," he said.

Lagman is currently in the pre-production process and is working to raise money and compose storyboards. "It's a very expensive endeavor," Lagman said of making a movie.

The Reserve staff sergeant hopes to finish production on Lolo by November or early next year and screen the movie at The Grand Cinema in Tacoma. He also plans to bring in a historian to answer any questions audience members may have about Filipino World War II veterans.

For more information about the project, visit www.kickstarter.com/projects/ronaldjlagman/lolo-grandfather.