Soldiers from the North Carolina and Virginia Army National Guard began assisting the producers of the hit movie, "Transformers," in the filming of a sequel on June 2 in Bethlehem, Pa.
In 2007, DreamWorks released "Transformers," a movie based on the 1980’s cartoon and toys that could "transform" from one object to another. The U.S. military was involved in the first film and will have a roll in the second. A release date for the sequel has not been determined.
Both states are providing equipment and personnel through a joint agreement between the Department of Defense and DreamWorks Pictures.
The Department of Defense frequently provides equipment and military personnel for motion pictures as long as the U.S. government does not incur additional costs from their involvement. Many of the star actors of the film portray U.S. Soldiers, and representatives from the U.S. Army were on hand to assist the director in ensuring actors portray U.S. servicemembers accurately.
The mission provided an opportunity for Soldiers of the North Carolina and Virginia National Guard to work collaboratively in the planning of this mission. Additionally, Soldiers from both states were able to receive valuable training on essential equipment.