Entertainment

‘Act of Valor’ Attention Surprises Filmmakers…Worries Some in the Military

Act of Valor Attention Surprises Filmmakers...Worries Some in the Military

(The Blaze/AP) — Navy SEALs never expected the film “Act of Valor,” starring real, active-duty Navy SEALs, to be this big.

Five years ago, commanders allowed a small, independent film company into their elite ranks to turn real-life training exercises into a feature-length movie in hopes of drumming up recruits fast.

SEAL officers thought the film would open in a couple of theaters in military towns, then quietly move to cable television, where re-runs would draw likeminded youths to join the special operations world.

Act of Valor Attention Surprises Filmmakers...Worries Some in the MilitaryThen came the Navy SEALs raid that killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan last year, and a high-profile hostage rescue in Somalia last month. President Barack Obama delivered his State of the Union address and gave a shout-out to SEALS, with Adm. Bill McRaven, the SEAL and bin Laden raid commander, sitting quietly in Obama’s box.

Now, the once modest recruiting project is set to open Feb. 24 in roughly 2,500 theaters nationwide, putting an uncomfortable spotlight on a group that prides itself on keeping its collective mouth shut about clandestine operations.

The officers and staff who helped bring the film about spoke on condition of anonymity because they are embarrassed by the massive media blitz and public interest, and — most of all — they are tired of getting grief from their special operations colleagues, whose daring exploits haven’t made it into the headlines.

One of the few that’s gone on record is overall special operations commander McRaven.

“It was initially started as a recruiting film so we could help recruit minorities into the teams,” McRaven explained. He said he didn’t think the film gave anything away to the enemy, nor would it put in danger the SEALs who starred in it.

McRaven told a Washington audience recently that he’d signed up for special operations forces after seeing the 1968 John Wayne film, “The Green Berets,“ and that he had worked on the movie ”Raise the Titanic” as a young ensign, also to drive recruitment.

Toward that end, the script was designed to showcase two things, according to producer-directors Mike “Mouse” McCoy and Scott Waugh: real acts of valor by SEALs on the battlefield since Sept. 11, and the SEALs’ unique technical abilities to reach a target by sea, air or land as the acronym suggests.

“We say to the team, ‘How would you do the operation?’” like capturing a terror suspect on a yacht, “and we would augment our camera plan to film what they came up with,” McCoy said in an interview.

“That’s why the movie took four years to make because we would have to wait for that training” to film a particular skill, Waugh added.

Act of Valor Attention Surprises Filmmakers...Worries Some in the Military

At a special preview in Washington last fall, the reaction from the SEAL community was positive overall. The preview was one of many the producers, known as the Bandito Brothers, made possible, both to gauge the community’s reaction and to raise money for the Naval SEAL Foundation, which benefits families of fallen SEALs.

The SEALs take pride in how much the movie gets right, such as how the team meets up with a submarine mid-ocean or jumps from aircraft thousands of feet above ground to land accurately to rescue a hostage in a remote location, just as they did in Somalia. None of the special operators thought it gave too much away to the enemy in terms of tactics.

Some SEALS, however, griped that the film was not technically perfect. For instance, during the high-altitude, low-opening parachute scenes, the SEALs have casual chats with the plane door open before strapping on oxygen masks and jumping out. One operator said they would have had the masks on for half an hour beforehand. Also, the Bandito Brothers requested the explosions be slightly larger than they would be in the field, and the guns often were un-silenced.

Some media commentators have expressed worry that the film could be giving away to much information to our enemies. Conservative political commentator Debbie Schlussel wrote in her blog Monday: 

“Originally, I was under the impression that the men in this movie were recently retired or about to leave the SEALs.  Not so.  They are not only active duty, but their faces are not obscured.  So much for the Navy SEAL precautions of keeping their identities secret.  And, although the action does not feature real-life SEAL missions, it features simulated missions that show what SEALs would do to capture a hostage, how they would fight off the bad guys, etc.  Is there a legitimate reason to give this information away to the public?  I can’t imagine the Sayeret Matkal (the elite Israeli version of a combined Navy SEALs/Green Berets/Army Special Ops unit) allowing its current operatives to film what is essentially a HAMAS/Hezbollah training film.”

CBS News reports on the skepticism from some within the military community towards the film:

The Bandito Brothers say the critics they most feared were the guys with whom they made the film.

“We had one goal: that the guys would want to share a beer with us afterwards,” said McCoy. “And we still are.”

Comments (75)

  • Gonzo
    Posted on February 22, 2012 at 7:26am

    I can’t wait to see it! It will be nice to see a movie about the U.S. military where they aren’t portrayed as psychos or manic depressives.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
  • SkunkWorks
    Posted on February 22, 2012 at 2:40am

    Once again it’s all about the race card. Straight out of Adm. Bill McRaven mouth but in the politically correct way.
    “It was initially started as a recruiting film so we could help recruit minorities into the teams,” McRaven explained.

    So I take it there is some unreported & unspoken allegations that the NAVY SEALS are a white boy club? The B.S. never stops.
    They will say no, it’s about the new role of the SEALS and the NAVY being a “global force for good” and having team members that can “blend in” more easily to the different countries & ethnics groups where the SEALS might be deployed in the future.
    So far I have not found it reported like that in searches I‘ve done on this story but I’m of the opinion it will be reported like that.

    Remember when the war on terror started? We did not have nearly enough people that could translate all the different languages of the middle east.

    Report Post »  
    • Airb0rne4325
      Posted on February 22, 2012 at 6:57am

      I will tell you a little secret. There is a “white man’s Army”. It is any specialty that is Paratrooper and above (i.e. Rangers, Special Forces, Delta). Very few Black people join these ranks. Not saying that they are discouraged from joining them, they just do not. In my Battalion of a little over 600 men there were maybe 10 Blacks. Latinos are there just as much as Whites, maybe a little more. So the “recruiting of minorites” was mostly aimed at Black people.

      Report Post » Airb0rne4325  
    • SoupSandwich
      Posted on February 22, 2012 at 10:00am

      I concur. Won’t swim or jump, don’t like large rucks ready to rock either. A few do, a very small percentage. BadDoggy will say I am racist, but… like he said, 300 in an understrength Bat and 6 are black? We had more Phillipinos than blacks. Why? More in a headquarters company than a line company-por que?

      Report Post »  
    • teamarcheson
      Posted on February 22, 2012 at 11:38am

      Napollitano, read me first…

      ======================================================

      When the time comes those SEALS and men like them will be training us in how to be the best against the Obama Evil that is here. The SEALs know who was sending them care packages and sending prayers for their safety. Obama and the LIBERAL hate these SEALS because they on soldiers like them are the only thing between us and those who would kill us if they could.

      Report Post »  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on February 22, 2012 at 2:13am

    Personally I am amazed Obama did not demand a personal role in the film leading the SEALS in the movie.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • nzkiwi
      Posted on February 22, 2012 at 4:11am

      Lol, Snow.

      For the couple of years that I have been reading your stuff, one thing never changes; your complete contempt for Mr Obama. I can’t help but giggle a bit every time.

      Best wishes to you anyway, mate. May your God walk with you.

      Report Post »  
    • FoeHammer865
      Posted on February 22, 2012 at 11:19am

      LOL. That is great. At least demanding a scene where he makes the “kill order” and everyone sitting around watching and waiting in his SIT room.

      Report Post »  
    • Machtyn
      Posted on February 22, 2012 at 12:03pm

      FoeHammer865: Perhaps Obama could be pointing at something at the same time…

      Report Post »  
    • Wolf
      Posted on February 22, 2012 at 5:43pm

      From the way the Turd has denigrated the military, especially the elite teams, the SEALs probably made a special request the brothers don’t show any scenes of him.

      Report Post »  
  • Ron_WA
    Posted on February 22, 2012 at 1:55am

    One thing you can be certain of is that no sensitive Tactics, Techniques or Procedures (TTPs) were divulged in this or any other movie in which DoD took part in.

    This has been kinda big hype on the military blogs, news & websites.

    DoD sees this as recruiting drive especially for minorities. The Army & Navy Times had this article in it “ SEALs hope film blitz draws recruits:

    By Kimberly Dozier – The Associated Press
    Posted : Tuesday Feb 21, 2012 16:04:17 EST
    WASHINGTON — Navy SEALs never expected the film “Act of Valor,” starring real, active-duty Navy SEALs, to be this big.
    Five years ago, commanders allowed a small, independent film company into their elite ranks to turn real-life training exercises into a feature-length movie in hopes of drumming up recruits fast.
    SEAL officers thought the film would open in a couple of theaters in military towns, then quietly move to cable television, where re-runs would draw likeminded youths to join the special operations world. http://www.armytimes.com/news/2012/02/ap-seals-hope-film-blitz-draws-recruits-022112/

    The public may get to see some cool-guy stuff but they won’t get to see the sensitive TTP of how it’s planned, trained & executed in any meaningful way.

    Report Post » Ron_WA  
    • C-Delta Conductor
      Posted on February 22, 2012 at 2:13am

      I thought it would be interesting to see how the military and big war jingoists on the big government right would react to a secularist movie that is more or less propaganda for their favorite function of government. Their hypocrisy (although expected) is still baffling. The dirty truth of how the military works, how it recruits, who it recruits, and the social justice agenda it promotes is something that they have to avert their eyes to; this film merely brings it all to light.

      Wake up! Big wars and big military are the antithesis of small government and personal liberty!

      Report Post » C-Delta Conductor  
    • D-Fence
      Posted on February 22, 2012 at 7:56am

      @C-DELTA The SEALS and most all special ops are very diferent from “Big war, big military..”. You’ll continue to see the shrinking of the Navy, and other branches… and growth in special operations from all branches. Did you know that we have more Admirals than ships? Small effective, HONEST, NOT CORRUPT, government. Just say no to big government, central control, corrupt beuaracracies.

      Report Post » D-Fence  
    • Wolf
      Posted on February 22, 2012 at 5:29pm

      “…Some media commentators have expressed worry that the film could be giving away to much information to our enemies. ..”
      Really? Do they mean, like Dan Rather, Peter Jennings, et al, and Hussein Obambi do all the time?

      Report Post »  
  • 666Sucks
    Posted on February 22, 2012 at 1:49am

    Some of you are worried the film will devulge secrets? Are you kidding me? A Marxist Muslim in the white House who appoints people like this:
    http://patdollard.com/2012/02/napolitano-caught-employing-giving-top-secret-security-clearance-to-muslim-brotherhood-terrorists/
    You’re kidding right? We deserve what we are about to get!

    Report Post » 666Sucks  
  • Akridgerunner
    Posted on February 22, 2012 at 1:43am

    They really and truly did not think this movie would be ‘big’? Are they totally clueless or what?

    Report Post »  
  • lukerw
    Posted on February 22, 2012 at 1:31am

    When we fear that we may some day face a certain situation… we look to Models of Behavior, in order to memorize skills that could give us success: Face an Enemy via a Gun Fight Movie; Draw upon Courage via a War Movie; etc. I am saying: We feel a Conflict coming!

    Report Post » lukerw  
  • kryptonite
    Posted on February 22, 2012 at 1:22am

    I am far more concerned about what the Muslim-in-Chief can do to the SEALs.

    Obama killed Osama and will capitalize on it for the rest of his life. But IMO the Taliban came out on top. They killed 22 members of Navy SEAL Team 6, one helluva prize, considering SEALs are the Navy’s elite force, and the very same unit that took down bin Laden.

    Thirty American troops died in that chopper crash, the “largest number of American troops killed in a single day in the war,” according to the LAT. An eerie coincidence — or not.

    Report Post »  
    • Michael61
      Posted on February 22, 2012 at 3:49pm

      Conspiracy theory: those SEALs knew too much, and Obama let Taliban kill them.

      Report Post »  
  • donaldchar
    Posted on February 22, 2012 at 1:22am

    Yah, yah, yah. But giving away state secrets is characteristic of this regime, much more so than that of previous administrations. It was personally devastating when I served in USAF intelligence and was sworn to secrecy on many things, then to turn on the TV and hear president Nixon blurt out some of it. That‘s when I realized that we’re only as safe as we are because God is holding the enemy back for now.

    Report Post »  
  • Big Media Bias
    Posted on February 22, 2012 at 1:14am

    Obama has already given away all of our military secrets. He sends out his staff to detail every single blink, middle finger and GPS coordinate from SEALS during their Bin Laden raid. The Kenyan loves telling everyone about his military escapades from live feed video. Why doesn’t he hook up with Larry Sinclair again and leave us alone until November.

    Report Post »  
  • 666Sucks
    Posted on February 22, 2012 at 12:52am

    Your worried this film will give away secrets? Are you people living in a coffin?
    http://patdollard.com/2012/02/napolitano-caught-employing-giving-top-secret-security-clearance-to-muslim-brotherhood-terrorists/
    We are soooooooo screwed!

    Report Post » 666Sucks  
    • TSUNAMI-22
      Posted on February 22, 2012 at 1:07am

      Thanks for the link. I needed to change my underwear at the 5 minute mark forward.

      I must have said to myself “are you f-ing kidding me” about 15 times after that point.

      We are in some serious doo-doo.

      Report Post »  
    • kryptonite
      Posted on February 22, 2012 at 1:52am

      Yep. For the past few days I‘ve had this pressing thought that it won’t matter if we get “lucky” and Barack Hussein holds free and fair elections (he’ll lose if he does). How naive can we be? Traitor & Co. have access to ALL our military secrets, and they pal around with terrorists. America signed its death warrant on November 4, 2008.

      Report Post »  
    • nzkiwi
      Posted on February 22, 2012 at 4:31am

      Good grief! That was shocking.

      Report Post »  
    • USAMEDIC3008
      Posted on February 22, 2012 at 12:12pm

      And some wonder why I fly one of my US Flags
      has been upsidedown .
      started the same day It was elected

      Report Post » USAMEDIC3008  
  • paperpushermj
    Posted on February 22, 2012 at 12:46am

    Every creak of a door, soft muffled noise in the late hours of what is an unusually quiet night, shadows that weren’t their but 2 minutes ago. This is the fate of Americas Enemies… WE WILL COME FOR YOU

    Report Post » paperpushermj  
  • joe magarac
    Posted on February 22, 2012 at 12:05am

    I’m retired military and I can tell you this. There are about 75% officers who are pure “look at me” politicians and there are 25% decent, take care of my troops and leave me alone types. These pretty-boy, glory hound people are the ones getting promoted to the upper ranks. They leave the “real” military and self-serve themselves with Pentagon assignments, White House Fellow Programs and the like leaving the real officers to take care of combat operations, living in the mud and holding their troops guts in for them when they get blown up. This is why this movie is out there. LIKE THE SEALS HAVE EVER HAD TROUBLE WITH RECRUITING!. Give me a Frickin Break Already.

    Self-Serving, Posers trying to advance their careers by partnering with Hollywood.

    UGGGGHHHH!!!!

    Report Post » joe magarac  
    • broker0101
      Posted on February 22, 2012 at 12:11am

      JOE, If you’d care to clarify that you meant to call out about 75% of GENERAL officers, you’ll get some small amount of respect and credibility from those who know. If you meant @75% of all military officers then you’re a liar, a fool or both.

      Report Post » broker0101  
    • Cesium
      Posted on February 22, 2012 at 12:24am

      I saw the movie at an early screening weeks. Ago. I thought it was great until I saw that they decided one of the enablers of the evil muslim master mind was a Jew. And the heroes were all american looking christian goyim. Really? they had to make the bad guy a Jew and the heroes christians? Not surprised

      Report Post »  
    • TSUNAMI-22
      Posted on February 22, 2012 at 12:44am

      The other night, Huckabee was interviewing the director and producer (I believe) when the comment was made that live ammo was used in the making of the movie. The next clip shown was an M-4 spewing visible flame out the muzzle.

      I could be wrong, but I always thought that the squib ammo was the only time flame is visible and is purely for the cinematics (for show). I’ve shot all kinds of .223 and 5.56 through my M6A3 and have never seen any muzzle flash – even in the dim light.

      Is their claim of utilizing real ammo BS, or not? I wonder.

      Report Post »  
    • kryptonite
      Posted on February 22, 2012 at 2:18am

      @Cesium
      the enablers of the evil muslim master mind was a Jew. And the heroes were all american looking christian goyim.
      —-
      If that’s the case, then the left is behind this movie, as per usual. That said, you sound bitter — and foreign.

      Report Post »  
    • Cesium
      Posted on February 22, 2012 at 1:09pm

      all american. 3rd generation. grandfather wwII vet

      Report Post »  
  • broker0101
    Posted on February 21, 2012 at 11:52pm

    Although the current Under Secretary of Defense, who signed off on this project, is a former SEAL and therefore has by utmost respect, I know for a fact that many other elite Spec Ops groups think this publicity is hilarious and embarrassing to the SEALs. Most notably, Delta Operators.

    Report Post » broker0101  
    • Concerned Green Beret
      Posted on February 22, 2012 at 5:37am

      You got that right! Most in the spec ops community look at the SEALs as a bunch of clowns anyway. They didn’t need this movie for that. After all what real spec ops organization has liasons stationed in Hollywood????

      Report Post »  
  • 30mmgunpilot
    Posted on February 21, 2012 at 11:51pm

    Good on ‘em for making this movie. Can’t wait to see it. Hopefully it will get some kids truly motivated about the military and generate some interest in defending these United States. “Top Gun” (ughhh) was the last military “blockbuster” that I remember as being a decently made, semi-realistic “historical fiction” kind of movie. From the previews I’ve seen of this one…Well, can’t wait.

    As far as worrying about our spec ops boys being exposed…I know a couple, and they are sharp cookies. I wouldn’t worry about them…worry for the poor SOB’s who might be looking for them.

    Report Post »  
    • Cesium
      Posted on February 22, 2012 at 12:59am

      cept for the part where one of the evil guys is a jew. Just reinforcing antisemitism

      Report Post »  
  • EndTheFedNOW
    Posted on February 21, 2012 at 11:47pm

    Establishment Media Ignores Massive Ron Paul Veterans March

    http://www.infowars.com/establishment-media-ignores-massive-ron-paul-veterans-march/

    The msm, including Beck will not tell you about this. There were over 500 vets there. The military supports Ron Paul more than anyother candidate

    http://www.armytimes.com/news/2012/02/military-ron-paul-gets-most-military-donations-020912w/

    thats the army times neocons. im just hear to spread the truth, since the media will not.

    Report Post » EndTheFedNOW  
    • bulletsinthegun
      Posted on February 21, 2012 at 11:59pm

      why

      Report Post » bulletsinthegun  
    • broker0101
      Posted on February 22, 2012 at 12:03am

      ENDTHEFED, It is my contention that you are actually here to prove definitively that you are barely literate. You’re doing a Bang-Up job. I’m convinced.

      Report Post » broker0101  
    • Joey8
      Posted on February 22, 2012 at 12:18am

      Isn’t it funny how these idiots come on here and bash cops and military but then they claim that the military supports ron paul? Bash us one second then use us for their political gain.

      Report Post »  
    • 30mmgunpilot
      Posted on February 22, 2012 at 12:27am

      Yeah, I’m in the military, and I’m not excited about Paul. Don’t really know anyone else who is either. Meh. Let ‘em flap their gums.

      Report Post »  
    • EndTheFedNOW
      Posted on February 22, 2012 at 12:37pm

      Dude yall are two faced haters. Yall are the ones who worship the miltary when it fits your agenda, then bash them whenever they dont. Ive never said one thing negative about the military. So keep on making crap up boys

      Report Post » EndTheFedNOW  
  • The Third Archon
    Posted on February 21, 2012 at 11:46pm

    People who think a recruitment video will put SEALS in harms way are splitting hairs–the SEALS are ALREADY, substantially, in harms way; the difference of a few thousand more recruits would more than make up for any “advantage” a potential enemy could hope to gain from watching those movies.

    And good luck to any man who makes the SEALS his enemy–he is going to need all the luck he can get to survive very long!

    Report Post » The Third Archon  
  • Puddle Duck
    Posted on February 21, 2012 at 11:38pm

    I am equally concerned about the exposure of training methods, tactics etc that the special ops teams use…this can be used against them by a very tough and savvy enemy in Afghanistan. Sometimes it’s better to say nothing at all and let rumor and fear help the mission along rather than tipping off your enemy so that they have rough ideas of what to expect and how they expect it to unfold. Doing so in peacetime is one thig but when at war it’s unforgivable IMO. The Sate Dept and the NSA should have stepped in long ago and said NO to this dubious project.

    Report Post » Puddle Duck  
    • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
      Posted on February 21, 2012 at 11:45pm

      All they have to do is contribute to Obama 2012, and they will get all the battle plans they want. Holder will make sure no secret is secret, cause we are all cowards.

      Report Post » Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
    • Jayms
      Posted on February 21, 2012 at 11:56pm

      Haha, ridiculous. Look, if you think someone can just watch a movie and then suddenly be an expert you’re delusional. Training special operations teams takes lots of money, the right people with the right experience, the right kind of training, and the right kind of infrastructure, intelligence, and hardware.

      This movie is no greater threat to our troops than any other military movie.

      You’d just as soon be able to do a triple axle after watching ice skating on TV.

      Report Post »  
    • CatB
      Posted on February 22, 2012 at 12:23am

      The MILITARY cleared the film .. anything they didn‘t want in isn’t!

      Report Post »  
  • RAMJR
    Posted on February 21, 2012 at 11:31pm

    If this, in any way, puts our special forces in harms way, scrap it! At least for me, the last I would be concerned about is a profit, if I was putting lives in danger. If this helps terrorists, in any way, there should be a call to shelve it, even if it would be entertaining. One life lost, because of this, should not be gambled…but I would give that call to those faces that are in the movie, those we should be supporting any way they need us to. God Bless our Men and Women in the Military!

    Report Post »  
  • circleDwagons
    Posted on February 21, 2012 at 11:30pm

    Now i want to see this movie!!! hope the U.S. gets some good recruits.

    Report Post » circleDwagons  
  • Itsjusttim
    Posted on February 21, 2012 at 11:30pm

    Just another way to wreck the military, make movie stars out of them. Take them into your midst, to make them like the flesh of Hollywood.

    Report Post » Itsjusttim  
  • USAMEDIC3008
    Posted on February 21, 2012 at 11:27pm

    Its a movie
    I have seen a few good war movies in my young
    life of 60 years,However when you have been there,done that
    I have to go back to my first statement
    IT’S A MOVIE

    Report Post » USAMEDIC3008  
    • broker0101
      Posted on February 21, 2012 at 11:57pm

      Impressive that you’ve “been there, done that”. In which Team(s) have you seen combat?

      Report Post » broker0101  
    • USAMEDIC3008
      Posted on February 22, 2012 at 12:48pm

      Sorry did not mean to mislead
      I was in the ARMY
      Med. support for 19thS.F.TDY
      Most of the time in UH-1C…UH-1H
      And it was a long time ago.And as a medic I got to
      Move around ,spend time with different Units .
      My horn is small and I dont blow It much

      TO all who have served.Are serving,and will serve…
      May God Bless
      With much Respect & Love

      DE OPPRESSO LIBER

      Report Post » USAMEDIC3008  
  • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
    Posted on February 21, 2012 at 11:26pm

    The Occupy movement is working on a film that will star real-life OWS members, it’s called Acts of Vandals” the other title was Fecal Force Five, but that was rejected.

    Report Post » Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
  • honor007
    Posted on February 21, 2012 at 11:25pm

    Finally, a movie worth the money to go see!!!
    It‘s been a long time since I’ve been to a movie theater.
    God Bless our Troops~

    Report Post » honor007  
  • PointBlankReality
    Posted on February 21, 2012 at 11:22pm

    Well, all concerns aside, I cannot wait to go see this film! God Bless our men and women in uniform!

    Report Post »  
  • MEANS2RESIST
    Posted on February 22, 2012 at 1:20am

    Lets just show our adversaries how we operate eh? Commiewood doesn’t care who they compromise, as long as there’s profit in it for them.

    Report Post » MEANS2RESIST  

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