Tom Cruise plays Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in Top Gun: Maverick for Paramount Pictures, Skydance and Jerry Bruckheimer Films. Credit: Paramount Pictures/Paramount+
Top Gun: Maverick, of The mega-successful action movie starring Tom Cruise was nominated for six Oscars at this Sunday’s Academy Awards.
The film is full of nostalgic references to its predecessor and touching moments between generational pilots, but its sophisticated and thrilling flight sequences are consistently an impressed critic. These sequences, in addition to the film’s use of naval equipment and accurate depictions of naval uniforms and behavior, The Department of Defense’s entertainment and media office in operation for nearly 100 years.made up Comprising experts, engineers, historians, and military personnel, the office supports projects with a military focus or a military component.
Click here for details Top Gun: Maverick We spoke to three office workers about military film production in general. Air Force lieutenant colonel Alan Ortiz, former Army captain in the National Guard and former Navy lieutenant colonel David Deitch, who served as a naval adviser to the film.
This interview has been condensed for length and clarity.
What projects does the Department of Defense support?
Roberts: Our mission is to inform and educate the American public about the roles and missions of the Department of Defense and the military. It also reflects and protects the image of the entertainment space, including movies, scripted TV shows, TV series, game shows, reality shows, sporting events, talk shows, competitions and even video games. 80% of the projects we work on are not scripted.
Ortiz: In this office, we traditionally try to strike a balance. Just because a story has negative consequences doesn’t mean it won’t be told, or that we won’t make an effort to tell an important part of history. We have done projects like the 2012 American documentary film The Invisible War. This is about a difficult and difficult subject such as sexual assault in the military. It’s not easy to watch or talk about, but it’s an important discussion.
What is the approval process if a film wants to work with the Department of Defense?
Ortiz: While there is no hard and fast formula for determining whether the Department of Defense will support a particular project, there are some core requirements that production must meet. Our primary focus is verifiable evidence of funding and distribution.
Roberts: We do not support shows with stories that violate military policy. for example, There are programs on television that show men and women in uniform performing law enforcement actions such as kicking doors and arresting drug dealers. No domestic law enforcement.
Where does the Department of Defense get funding to work on projects like Top Gun: Maverick?
Roberts: All Department of Defense support for film production is at no cost to the taxpayer. This includes everything from travel, time on any type of aircraft, time on vehicles, petrol in vehicles used. A very wide range of fees to keep taxpayers from paying the bills of private companies. The invoice will be sent to the studio.
Daitch: For things like air sequences in movies, there are two ways to pay. One is that it was an evolution of an existing one. [the Paramount crew] To film it, because it had already happened.The other is what I actually gave when I had a very specific request that training couldn’t meet [Paramount] Flight time bill.
There are videos on YouTube that fighter pilots watch and critique. Top Gun: Maverick Training and fight scenes, basically pointing out what’s realistic and what’s taking artistic liberty. Would you like to call me?
Ortiz: When it comes to scripted work, we look for reasonable reliability in all the work we support.Obviously, without a script [projects,] It is different. But we try to get as close to it as possible. We really want to tell that story, clarify, project, and protect the image of the U.S. military and the men and women who serve it.
Roberts: We try to stay within the bounds of honesty, but we’re perfectly fine with a fictional approach. We are dealing with Marvel movies. No Hulk, no Thor, no Captain Marvel, no Iron Man, but we’re happy to support these movies. We really want to ensure the integrity of the entire organization.
Daitch: If we do show fights, we want to make sure they are as accurate as possible while not exposing sensitive information. We fully understand that this is a product designed for entertainment and often means you need to speed up your sequences. I am aware that I am not making a documentary here.
The first film ever to win an Academy Award for Best Picture—wings, In 1929, it was also a collaboration between Hollywood and the Department of Defense. What do you think is the enduring appeal of movies about war?
Roberts: It’s a rich tapestry of environments, a rich story containing incredible tales of heroism, loss and sacrifice, and I don’t think it ever gets old. The Department of Defense has 1.2 million people. That’s his 1.2 million stories, all unique and individual in their own way.
Ortiz: As the military-to-military divide continues to widen, there may be some interest from American audiences, where fewer and fewer Americans know those who served. As such, there is a fascination with the people who serve, and people want to know more about what it takes to become a fighter pilot and what goes on in submarines.
‘s “Dogfight Football” Top Gun: Maverick Navy genuine? If so, please explain the rules!
Daitch: I had never heard of it before seeing the movie. In many ways I understand the concept. If you decide to add a physical element, like chess, you attack and defend at the same time.I wouldn’t be surprised at all if it came from Tom. [Cruise]Joe [Kosinski, the director,] and Chris [McQuarrie, one of the film’s producers].
Other fun facts about making Top Gun: Maverick?
Daichi: Finally [of the movie] It’s a P-51 [Mustang]— It’s an old World War II aircraft. It’s Tom’s personal plane, and he flies it all the time, and actually flies it for the movies. He is an incredibly skilled aviator.In addition, there are many staff members who actually worked on the original work. [movie] It was the beginning of their career and this is kind of how they ended it.
