Behind the scenes – Coast Guard Motion Picture & Television Office

Monday, August 16, 2010

Posted by: LT Connie Braesch

Oprah filming

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (March 4, 2010) – MOPIC coordinated the Coast Guard’s involvement in “Oprah’s” Nick Schuyler episode, resulting in more than 6 million viewers and the first-ever Boating Safety Message on “Oprah.” Coast Guard photo by PA1 Mariana O’Leary.

Have you ever seen the Coast Guard represented in a T.V. show or movie? What about the “Deadliest Catch” or “The Guardian”?

Wave Tank

SHREVEPORT, La. (March 3, 2010) – MOPIC coordinated a Coast Guard helicopter hoist over an open-air wave tank during the filming of “Mayday: Bering Sea,” which chronicled the search for the crew of the Alaska Ranger. Coast Guard photo by PA2 Thomas Blue.

How does the old cliché go? A picture is worth a thousand words. If that’s the case, what is a hit cable T.V. show or big screen movie worth? A lot I’d bet, and it’s a great way to tell the Coast Guard story.

The Coast Guard’s Motion Picture & Television Office (MOPIC) is a small but dedicated staff of public affairs professionals located in Los Angeles, Cali. The three-person team receives ideas and requests from some of the hottest producers wanting to portray the Coast Guard in an upcoming entertainment production.

“It is a true privilege to serve in this role and help tell our service’s story to the American public,” said CDR Sean Carroll. “Through productive and collaborative relationships with the entertainment industry, the U.S. Coast Guard is on television once every 10 days to an average audience of three million viewers. We are also represented or featured in a major motion picture every 13 months.”

Gordon Ramsay

MIAMI (March 11, 2010) – Station Fort Lauderdale personnel pose with Gordon Ramsay. The station was featured patrolling the waterway near a local restaurant on “Kitchen Nightmares.” Coast Guard photo by PA3 Nicholas Ameen.

Although bound by the law (14 USC 659), the Coast Guard may provide assistance as long as it does not “interfere with Coast Guard missions.”  The MOPIC team offers technical advice and storyline development on Coast Guard related projects, stock footage of Coast Guard operations and resources, and arrangements for filming on Coast Guard facilities, boats and aircraft. MOPIC also reviews scripts, treatments, and rough-cuts to ensure accuracy, authenticity, and conformity.

In these productions, the Coast Guard can be a central character in the storyline or provide more of a support or consultation role. Whatever the role is, the MOPIC team strives to enhance public awareness and understanding of the U.S. Coast Guard, its people, and its missions through a cooperative effort with the entertainment industry.

Click here to see what movies and programs are upcoming or click here to see a list of movies featuring the Coast Guard, dating back to 1914.

Deadliest Catch

Kodiak, AK (Apr. 9, 2010) – Coast Guard District Seventeen units and personnel coordinated filming with MOPIC for the highly successful sixth season of “Deadliest Catch.” U.S. Coast Guard photo by PA3 Charly Hengen.

CSI Miami

Los Angeles, Cali. (Apr. 6, 2010) - Station Los Angeles-Long Beach assisted MOPIC with filming an episode of CSI: Miami. U.S. Coast Guard photo by PA2 Matt Schofield.

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  • D Douglass

    Boy PIO has changed since my time as a PH2 in NYC

  • http://uscg.mil/reservist Isaac

    Great feature! It’s always nice to read about the hard-charging PAs out there too.

  • YN2 Lewis

    I feel that Bering Sea show should have been filmed in the Bering Sea with a Coast Guard Unit that sails the Bering Sea. Not a unit in Shreveport that has no experience or accounts of ever even seeing the Bering Sea. I am a Bering Sea sailor stationed in Alaska and let me tell you there is no Hollywood stunts to 40 ft seas. If you want some real footage come get underway with us next month.

  • Dan Morisset AETC (RET)

    I’m just proud to say that “it was this type of recuitment tool/exposure of the Coast Guard that first interested me in the service.” 22yrs later I’m still glad to see the effort to reach out to our countries youth via internet, television and movies. You PA’s have a great job just as 99% of the CG.

    BZ

  • Kevin Keast

    I really enjoyed the episode of NCIS when the CGIS was introduced this past season. It would be great to see more exposure of the vast array of CG missions using the thread that was built between NCIS and CGIS. Getting some video of CG assets at work would be a GREAT PR effort.

  • BM2 Michael Fitzgerald

    It would be nice to show the American public that we have Specialized groups throughout the Coast Guard as well. PSU’s going to and from the Middle East, as well as the Raid teams in Iraq and Afghanistan. Let’s show America we aren’t just guarding “OUR” coast.

  • http://www.nitromuscle-mass.com/nitro-muscle-mass-complete-review/ Kent Greenwell

    Keep working ,great job!

  • John Stevenson

    I’m sure Team Coast Guard is already on it…but…NCIS LA…it’s pure coastal water stuff…there should be a liason officer working on the team …they’ve got an LA Police liason officer…could make for some fun personal dynamics…as well as reveal the complexities of interagency action in support of keeping us safe.

  • Marisol Golabek

    It’s always nice when you can not only be informed, but also entertained! I’m sure you had fun writing this article.Excellent entry! I’m been looking for topics as interesting as this. Looking forward to your next post.

  • Darby Cary

    Thanks for creating this. I really feel as though I know so much more about the topic than I did before. You should continue this, Im sure most people would agree youve got a gift.