FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

The Marine Corps Motion Picture & TV Liaison Office, is the entertainment industry's direct link to the Marine Corps. Since 1917, we have assisted film and television professionals to obtain accurate portrayal of the Marines. We are staffed with experienced personnel who are thoroughly familiar with industry production requirements. Our personnel will:

Act as a local, authoritative source of information about the U.S. Marine Corps providing authentication, verification and limited research for producers, directors, writers, property masters, wardrobe supervisors, film editors, etc.
Provide assistance and advice to scriptwriters during initial writing phases; review rough drafts or treatments and make suggestions prior to script finalization.
Arrange for and coordinate the use of Marine Corps aircraft and equipment not commercially available.
Coordinate requests for stock footage.
Arrange for and coordinate with USMC bases and stations or properties for location filming.
Coordinate requests for appearances of Marines as extras or show participants.

2. What is the procedure to obtain assistance?

Send a written request to this office. This letter should be on production company letterhead stating your proposal to produce a specific entertainment project. Include your production company's credits or "pedigree" and a synopsis of the story identifying any potential benefits to the U.S. Marine Corps and Department of Defense for assisting in the project. Additionally, the letter should identify your wish list for Marine Corps aircraft, equipment, personnel, and location requirements. Lastly, identify the general time frame in which you wish to proceed (expect a 6- to 10-week coordination period from the date you initiate correspondence before Department of Defense approval is received). For mailing address see: Contact
You must also submit a copy of your script. Once the script is reviewed and determined appropriate for forwarding to Washington, additional copies will be required. They will be sent to the Department of Defense with comments and recommendations for Marine Corps assistance.
The Office of the Special Assistant for Entertainment Media will review the material submitted and will have the final word on whether or not the Department of Defense will provide assistance on the project.
If Department of Defense assistance is granted, a project officer will be appointed to work on your production. You will also be required to sign a production agreement.
The producer has indicated an acceptable distribution agreement with a recognized distributor, or a capability to complete the production (i.e., completion bond or other industry-recognized guarantor of completion, such as the major studios or other source of financial commitment).

3. Who decides if the Marine Corps will support my production?

The Marine staff at the Los Angeles office will review your request and all supporting documentation and notes. Although we are the approving authority for Headquarters, Marine Corps, the Department of Defense is the overriding approving authority for the armed services (regardless of the branch of service).

4. What criteria is used to determine if my production will be approved?

The following criteria are used to judge the possibility of fully supporting entertainment industry requests. The production must benefit the Department of Defense or otherwise be in the national interested based on the following factors:

The production must help increase public understanding of the Armed Forces, the Department of Defense and the Marine Corps.
The production should help Marine Corps recruiting and retention programs.
The production must be authentic in its portrayal of persons, places, actual military operations or historical events. Fictional portrayals must depict a feasible interpretation of military life, operations and policies.
The production should not appear to condone or endorse activities by private citizens or organizations that are contrary to U.S. Government policy.
The producer must agree to sign and abide by the production agreement.
Assets requested must be available when required.

5. Will the Department of Defense want to review my completed project?

When the Department of Defense has provided equipment, location, and/or personnel support to a project, the completed production must be submitted for an official Department of Defense screening prior to public release and before the print is locked.

6. What does the project officer do? Can I get a technical advisor assigned to my project?

Usually the project officer can act as the technical advisor. On matters that require a special skill, a technical advisor may be called in if requested by the production company or when considered to be in the best interest of the Department of Defense. As with the project officer, the production company will be responsible for all expenses incurred by the technical advisor to include travel, housing, and per diem.

7. Is it possible to use active military personnel as extras in my project?

Active duty personnel may appear in your project but they must do so on a voluntary basis while in a non-duty status, and at no cost to the government. They can be hired individually as extras and in accordance with current and local industry standards.

8. Will the Marine Corps review my project to point out errors without my seeking official assistance?

The Marine Corps can provide courtesy assistance to your project. The main difference between full and courtesy assistance is that we cannot provide access to facilities, equipment or personnel for filming unless a project is approved for full support. With courtesy assistance, we will review your script and point out errors that you may or may not want to correct. We can also advise you on the correct types of equipment to use and the markings for them. If you would like, we may be able to visit the set to provide some assistance as well.

9. Does a television series or special require the same approval process?

Proposals for a television series must include objectives and format of the series and story treatment, or other evidence of overall series content. Each episode or special must still qualify individually under provisions of the basic policy. A specific plan to expedite review of scripts and tapes will be arranged.

10. What is the criteria of support for reality TV shows?

Support for reality TV shows are determined on a case-by-case basis.

11. What if I only need stock footage?

Department of Defense motion picture and video footage is available for purchase from a government contractor when a production qualifies for assistance. Any costs incurred in connection with the selection, processing, and shipment of stock footage will be your responsibility.

12. My project is still in development. Do I need to go through the approval process for research access to stock footage?

Conceptual support access may be granted by the Los Angeles office upon receipt of a letter stating that you are conducting research for a project and that you will not copy or use footage in your possession for any purpose other than research. This is not project approval. You still will have to go through the approval process once your script is complete.

13. What is the process for buying stock footage?

You should submit a request in writing to the Los Angeles office. The request should state the reason the footage is needed and there subject matter of footage desired. If the request is for footage to be used for historical purposes only, approval can be granted buy the Los Angels Public Affairs Director.
If you are looking for footage that will be included in a feature film, you must:
a. Contact the Los Angeles office requesting access to the Defense Visual Information Center (DVIC). Once approved, you will need to arrange for your representative to visit the DVIC to research, select and purchase the required footage.
b. The DVIC is a Defense Contract Agency; therefore, the public requestors are charged $100 minimum which is nonrefundable. This charge includes two hours of research with the researcher. A charge of $43 per hour will be assessed for research beyond the first two hours. Duplication charges apply as well. The DVIC staff can explain the fee schedule to you.
c. The DVIC has transferred most of its material prior to Vietnam to the National Archives in Washington, D.C. You may contact them directly.

14. What are my financial responsibilities to the government

a) The production company will be billed only for those expenses considered to be additional expenses to the government. In no way can the government finance entertainment projects. The following are generally considered to be reimbursable costs:

Travel and per diem.

Civilian overtime.

Damaged equipment.

Commercial power or other utilities for facilities kept open beyond normal duty hours, or in such cases where the production company's consumption of utilities is significant.

Costs incurred in diverting or moving equipment to a specific location to support production requirements.

All flying hours associated with production company requirements, except when missions coincide with and can be considered legitimate operational and training missions.

Military manpower costs for Marine Corps Reserve personnel assigned to production support (such as drivers and pilots).

b) Additionally, the production company is responsible for insuring that all Marine Corps equipment and facilities used are restored to their original, or better condition.

c) The production company will pay for all transportation and billeting needs of the project officer. To ensure rapid communications with decision-makers are possible, the project officer should travel with and be billeted with the film's producers. Per diem for Marine Corps personnel is non-taxable. The production company will also make the same arrangements for any technical advisor requested by either the Department of Defense or the production company.

15. How will screen credits be handled?

Upon receipt of your notification of completion of principal photography, the project officer will suggest appropriate names and wording to be used in the credits. The credit title will be confirmed for final use only after the film has been officially reviewed and approved.

16. Will I need to provide a copy of the project, still photographs and promotional material to the Marine Corps?

Yes, when the Marine Corps has assisted on a production, you will be obliged to furnish, on request, prints, duplication material or video release copies.

This material will only be used for historical purposes or for internal information. This material will not be used by The Marine Corps to compete with commercial exhibition.

17. Can the Marine Corps help with advertising or promoting my film?

All charges will be compiled by the military installation furnishing the Marine assets and monitored by the assigned project officer, who will provide then to the production company.

The production company will pay for all transportation and billeting needs for the project officer. To ensure rapid communications with decision-makers are possible, the project officer should travel with and be billeted with the film’s producer. Per diem for Marine personnel is non-taxable. The production company will also make arrangements for any technical advisor requested by either the Marine Corps or the production company.

Beyond operational expenses, the production company will not be charged for asset usage.

18. May I re-use footage shot or purchased for this production on sub sequential projects?

Motion picture footage shot with Department of Defense assistance and official Department of Defense footage released for a specific production are not to be used for other productions without approval.

It is your responsibility to ensure that stock footage obtained from the DVIC is used only in conjunction with the production specified unless specifics approval for additional usage has been obtained from the Department of Defense.

Edited motion picture footage from completed productions and from animation will not be released except by special authorization from the Department of Defense. Requestors will be required to furnish letters of identification on categories of material when the original source cannot be determined.

19. What does your Production Assistance Agreement cover?

The main points of a government production agreement are:

The Department of Defense (DoD) will appoint a project officer to the production who will coordinate military support for the production company and will verify that depictions conform to the approved script.
The production company agrees to consult with the project officer if there are changes to the agreed-upon script.
The operational capacity and readiness of the military may not be impaired by the support provided.
There will be no deviation from DoD safety standards.
The production company will not damage or impair the appearance of DoD property and will restore property used for the production to the same condition, or better, in which it was made available.
The production company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Department of Defense, its agencies, and personnel for any injury or damage to its personnel, equipment, or agencies, that occur on or with DoD property, unless it is determined to be caused by the negligence of DoD personnel and/or property.
The production company agrees not to reuse or sell any footage shot or provided through the cooperation of the Department of Defense without the DoD's approval.
The production company agrees to provide an advanced screening of the production to the Department of Defense in Washington D.C. and/or other suitable location(s).
The production company agrees to provide appropriate military credits at the end of the film.
The production company agrees to provide videotapes/DVD, posters, photos and media material to the Department of Defense for historical/internal use only.