G.I. Jobs - March 2007 -
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Published on: 7/7/2005
Last Visited: 2/16/2007
I can't give them a career, but I can open the door."Jody Hart, 35, grew up in Eugene, Oregon.He joined the Marine Corps in 1992, spending four years on active duty working in supply in Okinawa and Camp Pendleton.
Hart once returned home to his hometown to visit and found the town engulfed in the production of the film Without Limits , the story about the life of Steve Prefontaine, the popular track athlete of the 1970s starring Donald Sutherland.
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I caught the bug," said Hart.
Just years later Hart started Combat Casting www.combatcasting.com, an L.A.-based management company that provides actors and production personnel for military and paramilitary roles, such as police and SWAT roles, for television and film productions.He has more than 100 "veteran" actors on-hand , and his ranks are growing.
The idea unintentionally came to Hart while he was working in San Diego on "Pensacola: Wings of Gold" where he was responsible for managing the weapons and props.One of his first experiences was an episode where Marines stormed a beach.
"Since we were on Camp Pendleton, I suggested to the producer that we might as well use real Marines," he said.The producer liked the suggestion and started using active duty Marines for some shows.The development made Hart's life easier, but the realism also impressed his superiors.
"It made it easier for me handling weapons to hand these guys the weapons and give them the same commands as they would on the firing line , cease fire, unload, choke, clear," said Hart."The whole production crew was amazed."
Jody Hart U.S. Marine Corps (1992-1996)Jody HartU.S. Marine Corps (1992-1996)Hart continued working behind the camera , weapons handling, props, art department, and crew , for about four years before landing an acting job.Being surrounded by actors and working on the set taught him some valuable lessons.
"I learned that people come in and out of this business and think it is a game.Their professionalism was not what I was used to in the military , people not showing up on time, complaining about everything," Hart said.
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Hart continued to bring along some of his buddies from the military as extras and to help on the set, which made it easier to train the actors and execute the scenes.
About the third season, Hart landed a somewhat bigger mission for a platoon of veteran actors for an appearance in Princess Diaries II.
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They are not used to that," said Hart.
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The company represents both men and women who have served honorably, not just in the military, but also in the police and homeland security fields like Border Patrol, according to Hart.
"We started out basically as a background/extras casting company.We are now diving into principle roles with actors and crew," said Hart.Hollywood has quickly realized the realistic advantage his "troops" bring, primarily because of their weapons and tactics expertise.
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Chandler and Hart actually met when they worked together as technical advisors on Behind Enemy Lines.
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Chandler, Womack and Hart all readily admit that Hollywood can be an unforgiving battlefield, but insist veterans have the right stuff if someone prepares for a career in acting.
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If you think this is "your year" and want to see if you have what it takes for a career in film or television , whether it's in front of or behind the camera , maybe Combat Casting should be your first stop in L.A., according to Hart.
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