Barksdale lends helping hand in filming movie

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Nicole Spence
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs

Barksdale Airmen helped movie crews film “The Guardian” here Jan. 12 and 13.

Although originally slated to shoot in New Orleans, the devastation of Hurricane Katrina quickly changed the movie’s plans.

“We were planning on making the movie in New Orleans. Obviously, Katrina hit, and we had to move out, so we looked around and (this area) was really attractive,” said Tripp Vinson, the film’s writer and producer.

Making a set on base was no easy task. It required the help and cooperation from units. Security forces played their part in many ways, mainly providing base access for film members. Transient Alert provided support for aircraft, while civil engineering made a “base camp” for the movie crew.

Filming took place in multiple places on base, including the exterior of the wing headquarters, the flight line and hangar 1.

Maintenance squadrons from the 2nd Bomb Wing and the Reserve’s 917th Wing modified their work shifts in order to allow use of their hangar during the day.

“We had five members we adjusted to a swing shift, but they didn’t mind. They were pretty excited about seeing the filming,” said Master Sgt. Byron Blagec, the noncommissioned officer in charge of survival equipment.

Airfield operations also adjusted their schedule by working around a scene on the flightline.

The military personnel flight and the first term airman center pitched in for the occasion.

“The base has been unbelievably cooperative,” Mr. Vinson said. “Aside from locations, you can imagine how much equipment and technical advisors that we need, and everybody’s been supportive and have really gone out of their way to help us.”

In the film, Kevin Costner plays a legendary rescue swimmer currently instructing at “A School” -- the Coast Guard’s rescue swimmer’s school. Ashton Kutcher plays a young recruit who proves very talented but needs discipline.