MURPH: The Movie

What’s the movie about?

The film is a feature-length documentary based on LT Murphy’s entire life of honor, courage and commitment, as told by his friends, family and teammates. We’re producing the film to honor Michael and plan to release it in New York City to coincide with the commissioning of the USS Michael Murphy. A portion of the proceeds will go to the LT Michael P. Murphy memorial Scholarship Foundation.

Is this movie based on the book “SEAL of Honor?”

No. My company, Mactavish Pictures, LLC, acquired the rights to SEAL of Honor just before it was published and we have been developing it as a big-budget feature since then. However, since the Bin Laden takedown, six new SEAL movies have gone into development, including the Bin laden mission, the Somali Pirate mission, and a SEAL Team SIX series by a major television producer.

We believe Mike’s story is incredibly unique and deserves to stand out from the crowd, so we’re producing MURPH first, and will continue to develop SEAL of Honor for future production as a major feature film. We are extremely pleased to announce that SEAL of Honor author Gary Williams has agreed to join our team as a co-producer.

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 own 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 company. I am also the co-author of a book based on a SEAL officer who was awarded the Navy Cross for actions in Afghanistan, due out in early 2013 from St. Martin’s Press.


When will the movie go into production?

We commenced pre-production on May 5th and plan to premiere in the first week of October 2012.

Is this the same movie based on the book by Marcus Luttrell?

No. We have tremendous respect for Marcus, but 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. The film is being produced from a completely original treatment.

Why a documentary?

Currently there are six dramatic films in production. We are doing a documentary to coincide with the commissioning of the USS Michael Murphy and will produce SEAL of Honor as a feature down the road.

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.

Where will the film be seen?

We plan to premiere the film in NYC in October, and then promote it nationally with help from pro-military and veteran organizations. Eventually we intend to land a broadcast slot and have relationships with HBO, History Channel, The Military Channel, etc.

Are there any crew jobs available?

The short answer is ‘no’ at this point. Once we crew up and move toward production, our Unit Production (UPM) will handle crew jobs.

How can I help?

We eagerly welcome your active participation. As we move forward, we’ll be launching a crowdfunding page and recruiting motivated team leaders around the country to help promote the film. When the appropriate time comes, we will be making additional announcements.

How can I get a premiere showing in my city?

At the correct time in the production process we may ask for assistance in securing locations and venues for premiere showings.


Are corporate sponsorships encouraged or permitted?

Absolutely. Corporations or businesses interested in becoming a sponsor are encouraged to contact Scott Mactavish for details