Entertainment, Movies - Army Times

From service to silver screen

Imagine the next big action-comedy produced by Clint Eastwood, directed by Oliver Stone, written by Alan Alda and Drew Carey, starring Chuck Norris and Bill Cosby with a soundtrack laid down by Shaggy.

Impossible? Probably. But long before they were famous, each of these Hollywood notables shared one thing in common — military service.

A new production company is aiming to draw from the same talent pool, creating movies written, filmed and acted entirely by active-duty troops, veterans and their families.

Dubbed GI Pictures, the project is an offshoot of Larry Meistrich’s Nehst Studios.

“We believe that the skills acquired during a military career are very complementary to those in the production of film and television,” Meistrich said, who has produced more than 50 features.

“Don’t worry if you don’t have experience. Great script ideas come from everywhere,” hesaid. “Many of the aptitudes gained in the military such as discipline, logistics, organization, teamwork and technical proficiency can be translated and retrained into film production skills.”

Cary Abbott, co-founder of GI Pictures, agrees. But getting the chance to develop those skills isn’t easy — and that’s why GI Pictures was launched.

Breaking in

“It is very hard to break into the entertainment business. They have walls and gatekeepers that make it difficult to meet the right people,” said Abbott, a retired Marine master sergeant.

He should know. He spent the better part of two decades chipping away at those walls.

Even while on active duty, Abbott dreamed of writing a blockbuster. He worked as an extra on the TV series “Pensacola: Wings of Gold” while stationed in southern California in the mid ’90s to learn the showbiz ropes while taking night classes on writing screenplays.

“I remember looking around on the set of Pensacola, and I kept saying to myself, ‘I could do this.’”

After he retired from the Corps in 2004, Abbott wrote a movie script for a story he called “Blood Stripe.” It took years before he could get in front of a producer who would give him the time of day. That producer: Larry Meistrich.

“In Hollywood, they expect you to pay your dues before you can get any access at all, but I figured, ‘Hey, I’m a retired Marine, I’ve paid my dues, give me a break.’ And that’s exactly what Larry did, he gave me a break.”

Meistrich liked “Blood Stripe” enough to option the script, showbiz-speak for purchasing the right to turn it into a movie.

“Larry has a great admiration and respect for veterans,” Abbott said. “And there is so much talent that military people can bring to this industry, they just don’t have a way in. I told him we could make an entire movie with veterans, and Larry said, ‘Well, let’s do exactly that.’”

And GI Pictures was born.

“So far, we have about a dozen screenplays that we’re considering, but we’d like to choose from a lot more,” Abbott said. The intent is to select one idea each year to produce; they hope to start production on the first in January. Cast and crew will come entirely from current and former service members and their families, with rare exceptions.

“For example, there are only about a dozen sound mixers Larry trusts enough to work with, so in cases like that, a veteran will be apprenticed with them.”

Abbott and Meistrich want to sign up both show-biz professionals with a military background and motivated beginners ready to train.

Although they’re open to all genres, “we’re not really looking for a military story” — at least not right away, Abbott said. They typically require massive budgets and are too politically charged right now, he said.

“I firmly believe that if you get a bunch of veterans together, they can do anything,” Abbott said. “There are future singers, actors, directors, producers and writers walking around in the sand right now. When they get back, they just need an opportunity. And we’re going to give it to them.”

For more information on how to pitch your movie ideas or sign up for cast and crew opportunities, go to www.gipictures.com.