Seal Of Honor- The Movie

Here are answers to frequently asked questions regarding the movie

by Scott Mactavish

Is there a movie being made from the book?

Yes. My company, Mactavish Pictures LLC, acquired the rights to the book just before it was published. I’ve worked with author Gary Williams and the Murphy family since October, 2009. SEAL of Honor will be an independent feature film based on Gary’s excellent book.

What’s your background?

I'm a filmmaker, author and veteran of the US Navy. I enlisted at 17, served four years active, three reserve and later attended NYU Film School on the GI Bill, from which I earned a Professional Certification in film production. I then worked on two dozen big studio feature films all over the country, and eventually launched my company in 1998. We have offices in Manhattan and Virginia, and specialize in stories of honor, courage and commitment, including a documentary on fallen Navy SEAL Lance Vaccaro. We’ve produced hundreds of hours of content, and work with the best film technicians in the business. We have many friends and colleagues within the big Hollywood machine and at production companies across the country.

When will the movie go into production?

The screenplay has been adapted from the book and is being checked for accuracy by our friends in the Naval Special Warfare community. We're assembling our team and lining up production partners, and hope to roll cameras as soon as possible. Most films take several years to develop and produce, especially the big 'blockbuster' movies produced by the major studios. Contrary to popular belief, there is no magic Hollywood money tree. Films are financed through production partnerships, foreign pre-sales, tax credits and private equity, and it takes considerable time and legal maneuvering to put all of the pieces in place. That said, SEAL of Honor is being produced outside of the studio system, allowing us to move quickly and efficiently. A production timeline will be announced as it becomes available.

Who are the actors?

We have initial interest from several very well-known actors with significant credits; everyone reading this would recognize the names. It would be premature to announce casting decisions this early in the game. Also, just because we like an actor for a role doesn’t mean he/she will be cast in it. Professional actors book gigs months and even years in advance, and may be unavailable to work on SEAL of Honor. The cast is a very key element of the project, and we are taking every measure to ensure the right actors are cast in the movie.

Will the movie be exactly like the book?

The screenplay closely mirrors the book’s narrative. However, it's impossible to compact a book so rich in detail into a two-hour movie without tweaking certain events and characters. We’re also acutely aware of OpSec and PerSec, and will ensure our warriors’ identities and missions are kept confidential as required. Gary did an exceptional job with SEAL of Honor, and we are confident the adaptation will properly honor the book, and ultimately, Mike's life.

Is this the same movie based on the book by Marcus Luttrell? No. We have tremendous respect for Marcus, but SEAL of Honor and Lone Survivor are very different books. Our film explores Mike's entire life, from his early years on Long Island, to Penn State, to BUD/S and the Teams, and finally Operation Red Wings and the effect it had on Mike’s family and friends.

Do you have any technical advisors for the film?

Yes, we have many active duty, reserve and retired SEALs on our advisory team, including flag officers and men that trained and served with LT Mike Murphy.

Are there any crew jobs or extra roles available?

The short answer is 'no,' not at this point. Once we crew up and move toward production, our Unit Production Manager (UPM) will handle crew jobs, and our Casting Director will handle acting/extra roles.

How can I help?

We welcome your participation. As we move forward, we'll be forming Action Teams across the country to help promote the film. We'll post that info when it's available.

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05.13.2010- Mactavish Pictures is negotiating a co-production deal with a production company in California, and should have something firmed up in the next two months. No word on when production will start but they hope to get rolling ASAP!