CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
After weeks of coordination with various organizations across Charleston AFB, filming of the movie "Dear John" was completed here Dec. 3 and 4 with rousing success.
"This is my first time working with the Air Force for a movie and there was a warm reception from everyone we worked with," said Billy Badalatto, unit production manager for the $50 million movie.
"Dear John" is a romantic drama about an Army soldier who falls in love with a conservative college girl while he's home on leave. The screenplay is based off the novel written by Nicholas Sparks who also authored "The Notebook" and "A Walk to Remember."
The production crew for the movie filmed scenes inside a hangar on the base and in and around a C-17 on the flightline during the two days. They also filmed a Charleston aircrew performing an airdrop training mission over Charleston AFB's North Auxiliary Field Nov. 20.
"Charleston AFB offered a variety of ways we could use an aircraft that the script called for," said Mr. Badalatto. "We wanted to show the public how much the Air Force contributes to the global effort of supporting our troops. We're a big fan of the military and what they do."
Several Airmen from the base served as subject matter experts during the filming because trained professionals were needed to perform certain tasks that not just anybody could do. Members from the 437th Aerial Port Squadron and the 14th and 16th Airlift Squadrons here volunteered to complete their Air Force Specialty Codes required and were not paid as extras.
"It feels good to help out with the making of the movie and to help provide a positive image for the Air Force as well as for our sister services," said Airman 1st Class Marvin Richardson, 437 APS air transportation journeyman. "We supplied empty pallets, forklift support, prepared the aircraft, provided cargo inside the hangar and selected pallets and loaded them in the aircraft."
In addition to being in the movie as subject matter experts, some Charleston Airmen helped fill roles as extras.
"This is an awesome experience and it's great getting to work with [actor] Channing Tatum," said Airman Brandon Jones who served as an extra and is assigned to the 437th Security Forces Squadron. "It's pretty cool that they're putting a movie out like this instead of just another action film. It seems pretty realistic, so it will probably hit home for a lot of people."
The Airmen were Airmen Soldier extras used in scenes as background actors to make scenes look more natural when they were boarding or exiting a C-17.
"Many movies these days are becoming more joint oriented, so it only seems natural to include the Air Force in the making of this movie to show the capability of a C-17 as a transporter and as a significant contribution to our troops," said Army Lt. Col. Gregory Bishop, Public Affairs West Region Army Entertainment Liaison.
The movie, which has a storyline spanning from spring 2001 until 2007, is being filmed completely in Charleston, S.C. and surrounding areas. The premier date in 2009 has yet to be determined.