MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- The United States Marine Corps develops a new commercial for promotional and recruiting purposes every three or four years. The latest installment, filmed during the first week of May, has been in the making for more than a year now and is scheduled to begin airing on all major television networks in the fall of 2005.
The five-day filming of this latest episode in the popular Marine Corps commercials involved two Marines from Camp Lejeune, according to Capt. Dan Weidensaul, deputy assistant chief of staff for the Advertising Division, Marine Corps Recruiting Command, Quantico, Va.
Corporals Kristy Moratalla, a military justice clerk with Legal Services Support Section, Headquarters and Support Battalion, 2d Force Service Support Group, and Alex Marquez, a mortar man with Weapons Company, 1st Bn., 8th Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division, made a trip to Los Angeles to join approximately 12 other Marines participating in the five-day shoot at Universal Studios Hollywood.
“I got there on a Wednesday evening,” said Moratalla, a native of Bay City, Mich. “On Thursday, we prepared all of our gear for the shoots. The following week was all filming and photo shoots. It was a very interesting experience; I learned all about how film and production works and had a really great time.”
The Marine Corps goal is to generate an interest from individuals who may be considering a possible career in the service of our country’s military, according to Weidensaul.
“We hope people will respond to the new commercial by desiring more information about the Marine Corps and we hope it will encourage them to go speak with a recruiter,” said Weidensaul.
Another goal of the new advertisement is to improve troop morale and increase camaraderie among Marines, according to Weidensaul.
“Marines will be very happy about the final product,” said Weidensaul. “It doesn’t tell any untruths; it shows the real transformation that Marines undergo. They should feel very proud when they see it.”
The commercial, which was produced by Tight Productions and directed by Brothers Strause, is being described as one of the more realistic of the Marine Corps ads to date by Moratalla.
“There aren’t any dragons or lava monsters, and no one hanging on to a ledge by their fingertips,” said Moratalla. “It shows a more authentic view of the Marine Corps, and I think Marines will appreciate that.”