US Navy Documentary

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brystew_512

Member
I am buying my equipment right now to shoot an 8 month long deployment of a squadron on an aircraft carrier. The Squadron will be going on a ship and then directly into Iraq and then back to the ship. It will be the first time this navy command has operated directly in a war zone. The premise of the documentary will be to show the life a sailor lives. I have found that there are not many videos out there of navy life. Well here is a list and why I have chosen each thing if you have any advice on ANYTHING!!!! Please let me know I really need the help.


HVX-200 - I figure shooting in HD would be the best quality and it would help me market it to networks.

4 8 gb p2 cards this is so I will at least have a decent amount of time before downloading to a hard drive.

1 p2 drive to download to the hard drive.

probably up to 10 1 terabyte Lacie hard drives for content storage I am trying to come up with something better but this seems to be the best option.

1 power book laptop to do rough edits and for uploading the video.


Thanks for taking the time to read this. I am working with a 25,000 budget so this is pretty much what I came up with and think will work best for my conditions. If you have ANY advice as far as shooting style, equipment, experience in this area of military filming please help me out. And thanks again
 
Check out "Enduring Freedom" here: http://www.americanrogue.com/ It's the military video "standard". American Rogue was hired by the Navy/Marine Corp to produce a short and this is a piece of it. It was filmed on the Panavised Sony Cinealta's back in 2003 by military and American Rogue cameramen. Got to work with American Rogue on the upcoming National Guard production (entitled "Citizen Soldier" on their site), they're an amazing group.

You can see a trailer for my own deployment video in this post: http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=55428

Work "bottom up", talk with the enlisted and the enlisted chief's to get "in" with the squadron where the rubber meets the road and so they'll help you not make a fool of yourself if you're not familiar with protocol etc.. It'll help when you need to get access to the higher ranks, and money shots. A list of standard interview questions (before you get to ad-lib questions) really helps when it comes time to edit, so you can sort through responses and organize them.
 
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Thanks!

Thanks!

I watched your trailer a month or so ago and it is great. Thanks for the reply. Are you still planning on releasing it on dvd. How did you go about filming it all while being deployed there and working? Did you get release forums signed from everyone you interviewed? I ask because I am enlisted and will be doing it in the same fashion you did so to speak.
 
That is cool. I spent 5 yrs in the Navy on aircraft carriers. Im sure you cant give details on ships movment but what type of squadron. Keep your head on a swivel, I cant count the # of times I'd seen people bust there head on wings in the hanger bay. Talk to the AOs there the most fun. Good luck and stay safe
 
I checked with the Military channel and they said they weren't interested in it because they're going to be starting up a show that includes footage shot on deployment, and to submit footage to that show when it starts up.

If I find enough interest I might edit something for public consumption (I have a 90min version for the unit members).

I mostly interviewed soldiers from the unit and didn't use any release forms. I think if it's going to be a commercial product it would probably be a good idea though.

I was actually in an aviation unit when I deployed, I was just filming during my free time, but I was making little videos and putting them on my unit's website for the families at home to watch, and those videos made their way to the National Guard Bureau in D.C. and they requested to have me film exclusively for the duration of the deployment, which I did. I now work full time filming/editing for National Guard recruiting productions as a civilian, and will be maintaining my military commitment in the Air National Guard.

A very important aspect is to meet with the Public Affairs personnel and find out all the do's and don'ts as far as photos and videos, OPSEC, etc. and have a good relationship with your immediate chain of command of course ;).
 
Monkeymeat --- I am in a Prowler squadron. The whole video will be about our lives and the ordeals of the sailor life. I will be keeping ALOT of the detail information out considering the importance of our aircraft. To me there has not been much focus on the sailors of our navy since the beginning of the war yet they have contributed just as much as any other service. yes you are right the ao's are very interesting but in our command they play cards allot not with bombs. None the less i wont leave them out. As for the flight deck I was 30 seconds from getting a shot of some guy walking behind our jet and getting blowen into the netting on the side of the ship. Would have made for a great safety video. well thanks for the advice and support.

Mrglory --- That is interesting how you got your job. That is what I really want to do. I tried fr awhile to get into combat camera but it just wasn't gonna happen so I will just get out and work somewhere as a civilian after school or something. Did you talk with your Public Affairs Officer in your command when you did this or did you go higher up? I will definentaly have OPSEC in mind considering our job and aircraft. As I said to Monkeymeate it is more to show the lives on a carrier and sailors adapting to Iraq life. Also you are right the chain of command is a really important part of the deal. I have been filming ever since i got to the command just for that reason so any time they want something they come to me and when I am filming they are used to it and dont yell at me or something. Plus they always have my back. How do you like working for the recruiting office? Do you do any other documentary stuff besides your deployment video?
 
When I deployed to Afghanistan, the first week I was there I found the base Public Affairs and met with them to introduce myself and my plans, and get all the "rules" from them. Along with the chain of command, it helps to be able to respond if someone questions that you've already talked to Public Affairs and they're apprised of what you're doing.

Working for recruiting is very busy, we fly all over the country to get footage and interviews for a new series of job related recruiting videos (using the American Rogue videos as a "style guide"). I'm currently working on Medical and Chaplain videos.
 
I'd look for an alternative to the Lacies.

My experience has been they are unreliable and their customer service is nonexistent
 
You haven't listed anything about lighting or audio in your package? What are you planning on using?
 
mcgeedigital said:
I'd look for an alternative to the Lacies.

My experience has been they are unreliable and their customer service is nonexistent
Click to expand...

I'd have to second this... Lacie's are okay for scratch disks, but I'd use a different setup/brand for what will be your masters. I've had good experience with G-Tech drives or you can build your own by getting the enclosures and drives (with Seagate drives preferably) to save some cash.

Whatever drives you choose, it might be a good idea to budget in a disk utility/file recovery software - such as Diskwarrior for Mac OS X. Just in case.

Good luck.
 
Thanks again for the advice everyone!

MrGlory --- I just talked to our command PAO about it today and he is going to help me get everything in line for while we are over there. I just gotta hope he follows through. It is so tuff getting these guys to give a care sometimes.

McGee Digital --- Well it looks like I may be doing that then. I have never delt with lacies. I have been looking for alternatives and I am sure smaller drives would be more reliable.

pmg --- Very good point thanks for bringing this up as of right now I have for audio an AZDEN SGM-1000and for lighting I am only planning on getting a nice LED light for on camera stuff. Any advice would be much appreciated. I will be running around doing all of this on my own so it has to all be self contained.

pheboglobi --- Thanks for the idea of checking out the G-Tech drives I will do that in the morning. I have been looking for some alternative to the lacies it is just hard to find exactly what i need. Any other advice would be appreciated.


Once again thanks all!!!
 
Hi Brystew,

I've spent a few years bouncing on and off aircraft carriers as a civilian journalist.

Here's a few random thoughts:

1. About damn time someone profiled Prowlers. In my mind, they are among the unsung heroes of Navy Air. As you know, better than most I'd guess, they're among the oldest in the fleet, but with one of the very highest optempos. This is one of the things I'd try to highlight -- what makes the Prowler community different.

2. Mr. Glory's advice about getting in good with the chiefs and senior enlisted is critical for the very reasons he says. But I'd also try to interview the Air Boss and skipper (of the ship) as quickly as possible, as well as their CMCs. Buy-in from them will be key to getting those money shots and having talked to them early will give you and the PAO top cover for the inevitable shi*heads who dislike the presence of any cameras -- whether they be in uniform or not. Plus its good to get relatively unbiased comments from honchos outside of the squadron talking about what you do and the contributions you make. That is, it's better to have the air boss saying you're one of the most important units in the wing than your own skipper.

3. Find the JOs that know what they're doing and learn from them. Some will be absolutely clueless, but some will be real pros. Oftentimes it will be hard to tell the difference at the beginning of the cruise, but will become readily apparent with a month or two. If nothing else, they'll be a great resource for swapping tips and ideas with, but they can also be real lifesavers in fixing gear and taking your skillset to the next level.

4. Buy a lipstick cam. Footage from inside the cockpit is one of those money shots you just can't afford to miss. It's like doing a profile on car racing and never getting a driver's eye view of the race or a story on an Emergency Room and never seeing an operation. The squadron's very reason for being is what the pilots and backseaters do up there everyday. Obviously, because of the mission, there's much than can't be recorded. Just a shot of a take off and/or landing will be fine. Now, You may have CO that absolutely nixes the idea right from the start, but his concept of what is acceptable may change. I've seen it happen. You'll kick yourself for months if suddenly the door opens and you don't have the gear -- especially with a project of this scope. Who knows, you might even convince the skipper to let you fly a training mission...but you'd have to get all your flight clearances done before you deploy. Again, I've seen it happen.

5. Prepare to work with the ugly monster that is the U.S. Air Force. If the whole squadron is going ashore into Iraq than I can only presume you'll be the guests of the U.S. Air Force. This can be good and bad -- on many different levels -- but one thing is for sure: The SPs -- or Security Forces as they like to call themselves now -- can be a real pain in the ass on the fight line. Again, interview the base commander early to work yourself into their good graces and get some top cover-- as well as to get some great non-Navy comment on how cool and critical the Prowlers are.

6. Go on some ground combat patrols outside the wire. Unlike the traditional Prowler mission, where you guys are primarily supporting the rest of the air wing, the job now -- again you know better than most -- focuses on supporting the grunts on the ground suppressing IEDs etc. Footage of those guys out where the rubber meets the road will really make your project sing. If nothing else, interview some grunts -- a battalion intel officer or s-3 or company commander that knows the contribution you guys make and let them sing your praises for you.

7. Keep it real. Get people talking about the personal price the deployment is taking. Beyond the typical missed birthdays/anniversaries/funerals will be marriages that disintegrate, deaths within the unit, the physical/mental/emotional exhaustion from working inside a combat zone.

8. Try not to take things for granted. Your great advantage (total 24-hour a day access) is also your great disadvantage. What outsiders will consider interesting will be old hat, everyday life for you. It's hard to see things with fresh eyes five months into a deployment -- or, if you're more seasoned, even one day into a deployment. You've been there and seen that a million times already. The greatest war correspondents will search out the mundane, scratch the surface, and find the amazing. A good way to keep yourself grounded is find a few books (novels or biographies) that capture life aboard ship or in a warzone. You'll find yourself going "oh yeah, I guess that is kind of different" more often than you'd think.

9. Never be afraid to ask. There will be all kinds of cool shots and interviews that will present themselves. As a civilian journalist I had a certain amount of latitude in being able to seek forgiveness than ask permission. I know that's not as easy as a member of the crew. And, depending on the command climate, it might be tough even to ask permission. Whatever the circumstances, I would encourage you to keep pushing the envelope. Safety first on the flightline, always, but keep asking to shoot different angles (they're some great ones towards the bow just fore of the number 3 (I think) cat.). I even know one guy who someone convinced the air boss to let him climb one of the fore riggings (I think it was an antenna mast or something) for an "aerial" shot during flight ops. Some of my best pix have been from the safety helo running alongside the big deck -- again, you'll only get those seats if you ask.

Hope any of this is helpful.

Fair winds (you'll need 'em in Iraq) and following seas,

Jon
 
JRAnderson

Thank you very much for the comment. I agree with everthing you said and you hit alot of very good points. At the moment there is a snag in the whole deal so I am not sure how much further this will go but I am still going to try and get this plan to come together.

MrGlory

nice video I liked it. Did you film it all? Or is it compsed of shots from verious other people?
 
I filmed one of the interviews shown. I was behind the scenes on all the Medevac sequences shown as well.

Here's a couple still shots I took:





 
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