Should the military allow servicemembers to be in tv shows or movies?

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 16:39:40 -0500

Should the military allow servicemembers to be in tv shows or movies to depict the military correctly? I am thinking of movies like Act of Valor where there were. In other movies like Black Hawk Down I heard rumors that they had Rangers doing the fast roping scene. Should the military allow them to do this? Should they get paid? Should they have to take leave to do the movie?

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Jan 2 at 2015 10:26 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 22:26:33 -0500

NWLA is surprisingly a huge movie production area. Barksdale has been showcased in the movies The Guardian and Battlefield earth. Both of which have extras from the base. I personally am an extra in Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D. I have a troop that was in Vampires Suck. Know folks that were extras in Harold and Kumar escape Gitmo, Year 1, the TV series Salem, Drive Angry, Snitch, and that is off the top of my head.

Everyone I know did it on thier off days, on leave or on Comp Time Off (CTO).

Response by PO2 Corey Ferretti made Jan 2 at 2015 10:26 PM

PO2 Corey Ferretti — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 22:26:41 -0500

As long as they are not getting paid for it i don't see an issue with it. I think it helps bring a sense of realism to it because if the service member is doing a tactical part then it will as close to real as possible instead of watching a moving and going wow that was Hollywood right there.

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made Jan 2 at 2015 10:33 PM

LTC Yinon Weiss — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 22:33:07 -0500

Movies are always better when somebody from the military helps. I hate watching movies that cost $100M to make but are ruined because they couldn't get a single competent military person to point out tons of silly mistakes.

Let's avoid having this...
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/most-memorable-military-movie-discrepancies

Most memorable military "movie discrepancies"? | RallyPoint

Ah yes, we've all seen them; "so, there you were" in a theater or a room full of service members or veterans, one minute everything's ok, then all of a sudden there it is... the over-the-top military movie discrepancy! So, what was that moment that stands out most in your mind? What are those associated memories or stories that come to mind? Did the base theater erupt into 'chaos' over an unkempt/incorrect...

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2015 10:42 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 22:42:45 -0500

I don't see why not, currently policies are in place:

http://www.army.mil/info/institution/publicAffairs/ocpa-west/faq.html

http://www.hqmc.marines.mil/divpa/Units/LosAngelesPublicAffairs/FAQ.aspx

Navy and Air Force have similar policies under the auspices of the their public affairs

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 18 at 2015 11:51 AM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 11:51:21 -0400

Yes, (on leave) unless they have high clearances. It is a security concern to globally identify spooks and spies.

Response by SP5 Joel O'Brien made Mar 18 at 2015 12:12 PM

SP5 Joel O'Brien — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 12:12:47 -0400

This is a question that can answer from actual experience. While serving in West Berlin in the mid 1970s, a number of extras were needed in the making of a movie. Most of those extras were to be American Army members in Class A uniforms. I, along with several others from our unit, was chosen. However, it was to be on our own time and we could not wear our own uniforms. Wardrobe from the movie company provided appropriate uniforms for us to wear. We were paid 50$ a day for two days work and received lunches as well. As we were joint service with the Air Force, it was humorous to see people we knew were Zoomies walking around in Army greens. By the way, the movie was "Inside Out" (aka: Hitler's Gold), with Telly Savalas and Robert Culp.

Response by CAPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 10 at 2020 2:55 PM

CAPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 14:55:44 -0400

DoD is heavily invested in film production and has dedicated offices just for working with the industry. Oftentimes a producer will want military assets or personnel. Many times they don't want to fo that route because the service branches want to review and correct the script in return so as to ensure accuracy or correct a negative portrayal. The Navy was heavily involved, of course, with Top Gun, as they are with it's sequel. They often also use vets to portray servicemembers. Those vets, however, are often not the A level actors who bring in the money.