This week we got Shannon the Movie Moxie, Gary Mitchel from the RevolutionSF.com and Kevin together to discuss American Warships from The Asylum. It recently aired on both Syfy and SPACE.
You can listen to the episode now by using the ‘Play’ button below or follow the break for more detailed show notes.
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For additional information about this movie:
Syfy Original Movie Page
IMDB.com page
Ratings:
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Hey guys,
I just listened to your podcast review of my film and I gotta say I really enjoyed it. I’m glad it seemed like you had fun with the movie and I feel like I would have enjoyed watching it with you! Obviously our budget was VERY limited and so some of your nitpicking was stuff I really couldn’t do anything about and I accept that, but I did want to clear up two issues that you raised:
You found it overly convenient that there was a fully equipped photo darkroom aboard the battleship. But in fact we shot that scene in the fully equipped photo darkroom aboard the battleship! Yes, they really did/do have them.
You also felt that the exploding gun turret would have caused more damage than we showed. This actually did happen aboard the USS Iowa in 1989. One internet comment on the film chastised me for including this moment in the film. The author seemed to feel that it was disrespectful and would be upsetting to friends & family of those who were lost in that accident. If that is indeed the case, I must apologize. That was certainly never my intent. I had hoped that having that moment in the film, along with other references to the Iowa’s actual history, might provoke some outside of military circles who know nothing of this great ship’s history, to learn a bit about it, and thereby spread the word of the heroes who served aboard her. But from the video I’ve seen of the actual incident, there was LESS visible damage to the ship than what we showed in the movie, not more. As you so rightly commented, these ships were built to take a beating.
By the way, I certainly agree with your comments about the title. After seeing “Battleship” I found it ironic that their film was about a fleet of American Warships, whereas our film was about a single Battleship. Hmm…
Anyway, I enjoyed your podcast and appreciate you watching my little movie. I’d love to hear what you’d think of “Mutant Vampire Zombies From The ‘Hood!”. 🙂
-Thunder Levin
Director, American Warships
Thanks very much for stopping by the site and sharing those details Thunder. We are all big fans of these movies. We like to have fun with them, not make fun of them.
Hey Mr. Levin!
I have to say that I didn’t know the turret had exploded in real life, and the fact it did less damage makes me respect even more the brave sailors who served on the Big Stick and impressed with her builders. They did build her to last.
I really did have a good time with the movie, and I am looking forward to your next one. If you’re ever filming in Vancouver and need an extra to die horribly, please let me know! 😉
Gary Mitchel
Internet Smartass
I was the sole wardrobe designer for “American Warships”. I found your review very fun, but also wanted to point out something that you guys found “unbelievable”. The guys on ship, wearing red shirts, seemed hilarious to you, but the munitions guys on US Navy ships actually wear bright red shirts. Here are links that includes a photo of two “red shirts” on the USS Harry S. Truman : http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/217/99375213gr5.jpg/ &
All uniforms were purchased, borrowed, or rented from military surplus stores, with guidance from retired military personnel. I did, however change some items, such as ribbon bars, to keep the uniforms from being too precise, since many military personnel get upset about actors “defaming” their uniforms, and mixing ribbons is the least obvious change that could be made.
Also, if it puts anything in perspective, my entire budget for costumes, on this movie, was less than the cost of just one ensemble our leading lady wore in the opening scene of the movie I worked on immediately after “Warships”.
Thanks so much for listening and for your comment Thunder! I’m impressed to hear all the details and it’s so cool that the darkroom scene was filmed in a battleship darkroom! Wow. Impressive! I think it’s great all the research done and the sensitivity to the taken towards actually real events on the film, I think that’s top notch and a first class way to go.
Thanks again for stopping by and I to am sure we would have all had a lot of fun watching the movie together!
Take care,
Shannon the Movie Moxie
Thanks for sharing that photo and those behind the scenes details Ashley. I guess Star Trek “red shirts” have blinded many of us to reality.