Actors thunder onto Marine base for movie screening

[thedrifter]

Actors thunder onto Marine base for movie screening

By Anthony Breznican, USA TODAY

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — The only thing missing was Ride of the Valkyries blasting from the three helicopters as they swooped in to land at the military base.

But their arrival did not herald Apocalypse Now; it brought Tropic Thunder.

Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr. and Jack Black choppered into the Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base on Sunday evening for a special USO screening of the comedy, about selfish, pampered actors who go overseas to make a war movie and accidentally provoke real jungle warlords. It opens Aug. 13.

It's rare for A-list stars to accompany an early free screening at a base — and unheard of for them to arrive in such dramatic fashion.
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"Put it this way, it hasn't happened in the year-and-a-half since I've been here," said Marine spokesman Lt. Tom Garnett.

Stiller, who also directed and co-wrote the film, wanted to screen his work for the troops early because it mocks actors "who get everything wrong" about combat.

With Black and Downey by his side, Stiller told the service members and their families packed into the 1,300-seat theater at the base that he was inspired by actors from war movies who brag about the intensity of their movie-rehearsal boot camp.

"It seemed ironic to me, because I thought the fake boot camp was nothing like a real boot camp," Stiller said, drawing cheers before adding with mock arrogance. "It's about 10 times harder, you guys … From experience, I can tell you firsthand."

Stiller went on to explain: "The idea for this movie is, what happens when a bunch of actors get stuck out in the jungle in a real-world situation? Because us actors, most of us are, what, wussies?"

"Speak for yourself, Ben," Downey quipped.

Before the film began, a solemn video of the Star-Spangled Banner played on the screen, part of the theater's standard opening. It was an incongruous intro to the raunchy, R-rated comedy, but the audience didn't seem to mind.

During the show, the actors stood in the wings, watching the audience watch their movie, laughing when they laughed.

"Every movie audience should be like this," Stiller said. "It would be the best thing ever."

Ellie

[thedrifter]

'Topic Thunder' stars take Marine base by storm

By Anthony Breznican, USA TODAY

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — Being an actor is nothing like being a Marine. For an actor, even a 30-minute helicopter ride from Burbank to Camp Pendleton, just north of San Diego, can seem daunting.

Before boarding a chopper for a special screening of Tropic Thunder at the base, star Robert Downey Jr. confessed: "I'm hoping the fact that I might puke right now is actually going to have the reverse effect, and that I'll suddenly be steady and calm by being in a helicopter."

Downey, along with co-stars Ben Stiller and Jack Black, landed safely. "It was pretty tame, actually," Stiller said after buzzing in over live-fire ranges, barracks and rolling hillsides.

"Sorry we couldn't get some explosions going off in the background," Lt. Ken Kunze joked as he greeted the actors at the base's landing strip.

"It felt like that kind of moment," Black told him.

Instead of the typical premiere's parade of limos, an entourage of Marines chauffeured the actors from the airstrip in armored Humvees.

"This is crazy," Stiller said as he donned a military-required helmet and flak jacket for the ride. "It's nice to be out of the norm, though."

The driver, Sgt. Clay Kirk, who oversaw prisoners of war as a field military police officer in Iraq, found celebrity duty much easier.

"Marines love you," he told Stiller, who responded, "Really?" with seemingly genuine surprise.

The Humvees pulled up outside the theater and before a mob of cheering fans. The service members and their spouses and children collected autographs, shouted favorite catchphrases and posed for photos — often asking Stiller to make his pouty "Blue Steel" expression from the modeling spoof Zoolander. He repeatedly obliged.

But it was Black, Downey said, who "won the day out there" — but not for his acting. Many gathered at the theater were fans of Black's comedic metal-rock duo Tenacious D. "They wanted me to sign a Tenacious D DVD just because I had a cameo in the movie," Stiller joked.

Even when it came time to dim the lights for the screening, the audience was reluctant to let the actors leave. One man yelled out for Stiller to tell a joke. Another threw a pair of sunglasses up to Downey, who caught them, put them on and was about to walk off before realizing the Marine had been proposing a trade: his glasses for the actor's porkpie hat. Without hesitation, Downey whipped off the hat and flung it to him.

"We're really happy to be here," Stiller told them. "And thank you for everything you do protecting our country."

Ellie

[thedrifter]

Movie stars visit Camp Pendleton for screening of 'Tropic Thunder'

8/6/2008 By Oname Thompson , Division of Public Affairs
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Actors Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr. flew into Camp Pendleton, loaded into military vehicles and treated Marines and sailors to an advance screening of "Tropic Thunder" in partnership with Navy Morale Welfare and Recreation, Marine Corps Community Services, DreamWorks Pictures’ and the USO.

Complete with a combat green carpet, the base theater hosted the event on Aug. 3 at 7 p.m. Once at the theater, the trio shook hands with troops, posed for pictures and introduced their new action comedy before hundreds of Marines, sailors and their guests.


"We were really excited to show this movie to the military personnel who do so much for our country,” says Ben Stiller. “I think they really got a kick out of seeing a bunch of spoiled actors complaining about how hard it is to do a war movie. But seriously, it was really hard. We almost did a boot camp, but then decided on a cast dinner instead."


Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr. lead an ensemble cast in this action comedy about a group of self-absorbed actors who set out to make the biggest war film ever. After ballooning costs (and the out of control egos of the pampered cast) threaten to shut down the movie, the frustrated director refuses to stop shooting, leading his cast deep into the jungles of Southeast Asia for “increased realism,” where they inadvertently encounter real bad guys. “Tropic Thunder” will be released nationwide on Aug. 13.


The event was part of a long-standing cooperative relationship among DreamWorks Pictures, the Department of the Navy and the USO. Since 2002, Navy MWR has partnered with DreamWorks, Paramount and the other major movie studios to bring advanced screenings to military bases in the United States and special presentations for our troops assigned overseas, including those stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. To date, almost 700,000 Sailors, Marines and their families have participated in these special screenings and presentations stateside and overseas.


The USO has partnered with all the major movie studios in Hollywood since 1941, ensuring America’s men and women serving in uniform have access to the top stars of the day. This screening event is the latest example of top entertainers volunteering their time with the USO to improve life for our troops. This generosity is played out on military bases around the world; last year alone, top celebrity entertainers partnered with the USO to deliver 453 unique entertainment events on 74 tours to the troops wherever they serve. This entertainment complements the USO’s other unique morale-boosting programs, such as Operation USO Care Package, Operation Enduring Care and USO Operation Phone Home. Programs and services like these are available at the more than 130 USO centers around the world and also are now available to troops deployed in remote areas via the new ‘USO in a Box’ and ‘USO To Go’ programs.


Navy Morale, Welfare and Recreation consists of more than 50 different activities, including fitness centers, libraries, child development programs, youth activities, golf, bowling, movies, and food and beverage facilities. These programs and facilities support mission readiness, personnel retention, and overall quality of life. With more than 120 locations, Navy MWR programs operate on every Navy installation worldwide and aboard some 280 ships. Navy MWR provides critical support to Sailors and their families, enabling commands to focus on their primary responsibility – mission accomplishment.


The Marine Corps Community Services consists of Food & Hospitality, Semper Fit/Recreation, Retail, Services, Marine and Family Services, and Support Divisions. All of the programs are offered to Active Duty military personnel, Retirees, Family Members, Guests, DOD and NAFI employees. The goal at MCCS is to present programs designed to enhance the "Quality of Life" of the Marine Family by providing quality services and activities.


Editor’s Note. (1) USO photos of the screening are available upon request. (2) Neither the Department of the Navy nor the United States Marine Corps officially endorse DreamWorks’ "Tropic Thunder." However, the Navy, Camp Pendleton and the USO are grateful to DreamWorks for its willingness to provide free, off-duty entertainment to Camp Pendleton's Marines and sailors.

Ellie