NewsCastle
Los Angeles District
Vol . 43 No . 6 A monthly publication of the Los Angeles District of the U . S . Army Corps of Engineers June 2013
Steve McCombs , an occupational safety and health specialist with the Corps of Engineers ’ Los Angeles District , looks on as a crew films a scene for the National Guard ’ s new recruiting commercial . The scene was shot at Whittier Narrows Park , a flood control area managed by the district , March 8 . The district handles numerous permit requests to film at other locations the district manages , including the Los Angeles River . ( Photo by David A . Salazar )
National Guard works with district to
film new recruiting commercial
David Salazar
LOS ANGELES — The skies darkened as an Army National Guard Black Hawk helicopter hovered over a home submerged in murky , churning waters .
A little girl clad in a light blue hoodie and pink pajama pants cowered atop the shingled roof as a soldier rappelled heroically from the helicopter . Upon landing , the girl ran to meet the soldier ’ s embrace , and the two ascended to safety from the flooded vestiges .
The harrowing rescue was a scene in the Army National Guard ’ s newest recruitment commercial filmed at the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area , part of the Whittier Narrows Flood Control Basin , which is managed by the district .
The shoot took place in early March , but the Army National Guard launched the new commercial May 10 , as part of a campaign called “ Soldiers of Steel .” The commercial calls attention to similarities between National Guard soldiers and Superman , the subject of the film “ Man of Steel ,” which is scheduled to be released in theaters June 14 , which also coincides with the Army ’ s birthday . “ Man of Steel ” director Zack Snyder also directed the new commercials .
Due to the complexity of the filming conducted at Whittier Narrows Recreation Area , Steve McCombs , a district occupational and safety specialist , was on hand to observe the production .
— see NATIONAL GUARD , Page 2 —