Camera crew at Hill wins international awards

  • Published
  • By Dana Rimington
  • Hilltop Times correspondent
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah --  Somewhat obscured on base lies a film and documentary production studio, wielding the talents of those who have worked in the private sector, including Hollywood, then joined the Department of Defense to produce videos for the Air Force.

The Operating Location - H, formerly known as the 2nd Combat Camera Squadron, serves the Air Force Public Affairs Agency, and sports a roomful of awards in its front entryway. Director of Operations Jim Sorensen said it is most likely the largest facility doing such work in the Department of Defense.

Though their videos are on par with Hollywood standards, Sorensen says what sets them apart is their message. "We have to be sensitive to the special Air Force messaging with our Air Force senior leadership," said Sorensen, who worked for many years at Osmond Studios.

The team consists of just over 30 employees, including producer and director Adam White, who spent many years working in Hollywood producing film. When White joined the video team at Hill Air Force Base several years ago, he was shocked.
"I had no idea what they were doing here and the caliber of the work they do. It's almost like we are a hidden fact," said White.

The group has been making videos for over 40 years. Its most recent recognition was at the International Defense Film Festival where they received a social category award for a program they produced, "The Preservation of the Force and Family Resiliency."

Their video was the only one from the United States that competed in the event, going up against films from 15 other countries. Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James accepted their award on Dec. 16 via live video satellite feed so team members could watch. Last year the Operating Location - H group produced a video that won the best of the best, so Sorensen said their group is no stranger to making high-quality films.

The face behind this year's winning video, Tech Sgt. Michael McCool, put together the video at the request of the Air Force Special Operations Command, which wanted a music video to help its frontline people who are deployed on a regular basis.

"There has been a drastic upswing of divorce rates, abuse, and suicide, and AFSOC is trying to combat some of those things by showing that they aren't the only one facing these issues and realizing it is something they can overcome," McCool said.

Producing the video meant filming in multiple locations, including Hurlburt Field Air Force Base in Florida, and building sets in their studio at Hill to simulate living in Iraq. Several of the shoots were emotional and intense, McCool said, with actors hollering and crying.

"It was hard to edit because I knew these are based on real stories," said McCool, who spent many interviews with airmen talking about the difficult issues they face.

"We've all been in situations where we have been separated from our families, and those that struggle, our heart goes out to them. We wanted to represent their situation, not to offend, but for them to see we recognize their trials we all face."

Operating Location - H has two satellite trucks they take on location, including the Air Force Academy graduation they film every year. Sorensen said they are the go-to production house for U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff General Mark Welsh and provide informational and training programs for the Air Force.