While filming for Marvel's
The Avengers was
underway in Cleveland, Ohio, countless set videos and photos showcased a scene shot depicting the Military Police joining NYPD forces against the mystery secondary villains of the highly-anticipated film. And recently elaborating on the experience, via
U.S. Army, check out what they had to say below.
Twenty-five Soldiers assigned to the Columbus, Ohio-based 391st Military Police Battalion were battling bad guys with Captain America and his Avengers superheroes during an intensive battle scene that will soon play out in movie theaters worldwide in 2012.
"The combat scenes had great realism," said Lt. Col. John Clearwater, deputy director for OCPA-LA. "It's a tribute to the U.S. Army Reserves and the veteran 391st MP Battalion. They rocked the streets of Cleveland with their 50-caliber machine guns and Mark-19's. The film crew was blown away by their firepower and teamwork."
Staff Sgt. Michael T. Landis said he hopes the Army Reserve brought realism to the set and movie goers get a sense that all Armed Forces service members are heroes, not just those in the Army. "It's easy for us to make on-the-spot corrections to tactics and uniforms," he said. "The director actually took our recommendation on one scene and let us all engage the enemy as opposed to only the gunners in the trucks engaging." Landis said it made the scene more realistic and helped portray the Army in a more positive light.
Spc. Michael Eiring said it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play a driver and foot Soldier during the scenes. "Our participation not only brought life and excitement to the movie but gave moviegoers a look at Army Reserve Soldiers and who we represent," Eiring said.
For Spc. Daniel Lee, going to the movies can be frustrating when it is obvious that non-military actors are representing the Armed Forces. "We used actual tactics that we know," he said. "Instead of trying to teach civilians the same thing, we were able to accurately portray the fighting warrior."
One Soldier fighting aliens and saving innocent civilian lives was Spc. Felicia Scarbro. She said moviegoers will watch the movie and see that Army Reserve Soldiers are highly trained, prepared and ready to deploy in support of operations around the world. Scarbro said it's time to end the "weekend warrior" caption placed on reserve-component Soldiers.
"We may meet as a unit one weekend a month, but every day we do things to strengthen not only our civilian skills but our military tactics and techniques," she said. "We consolidate what our active-duty counterparts do in a month into a single weekend battle assembly."
Spc. Michael Harvey portrayed a medic during the filming and said he had a great time being able to watch how a movie goes from an idea, to a script to shooting on a live location. He can't wait for the international release of the movie. "It was our time to show the world the Army Reserve Soldier," he said.
Harvey said the experience is one he will never forget, but also said he hopes the actors and production staff left with a positive experience working with the military police. "Hopefully, they had just as much fun working with us as we did with them," he said. Spc. Steven Sargent said he hopes the movie will help build new-found respect for the warrior citizen.
Sargent said he hopes the Soldiers did not disappoint the actors or director. "We took on this challenge the same way we would take on any military task," he said. "We were punctual, professional and always prepared."
If you don't remember, the Military Police's scenes filmed alongside the NYPD required them to shoot up, left and right, as the aliens climbed out and in of NY buildings. And the mystery villains' ship was also hovering over them during so.
Marvel's The Avengers is the Super Hero team up of a lifetime, featuring iconic Marvel Super Heroes Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins. Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner with Samuel L. Jackson and Tom Hiddleston, directed by Joss Whedon, Marvel's The Avengers will be released May 4, 2012.