Warfare Cast and Crew Dive Deep Into Bringing the Real-Life Horrors to the Big Screen

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For several decades, movie enthusiasts have been captivated by films portraying war narratives, with filmmakers employing diverse techniques to depict the brutal realities of war. Ranging from action-packed presentations like “The Great Escape” to introspective works such as “Platoon,” “Saving Private Ryan,” and “Full Metal Jacket,” which delve into the psychological toll of conflicts, these films have offered diverse perspectives on combat. More recently, movies like “Dunkirk” and “1917” have used innovative cinematic techniques to narrate tales of courage and resilience. However, Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza’s “Warfare” breaks new ground by immersing viewers directly into the heart of a conflict, offering what might be the most authentic war story ever filmed.

The movie “Warfare,” written and directed by Mendoza and Garland (known for “Civil War” and “28 Days Later”), places viewers right in the heat of action with a group of American Navy SEALs as their surveillance operation takes an unexpected turn in hostile insurgent territory. This is a raw, firsthand account of contemporary warfare and camaraderie, presented in a unique way: unfolding in real-time and inspired by the experiences of those who were there.

Trust is crucial for me, and I wouldn’t embark on such a project without it. In our line of work, there are numerous entities and groups that could potentially misuse or ruin what we create. That’s why I chose to collaborate with Garland, as A24 demonstrated their trust by giving us the freedom to execute our vision. This was a significant factor in my decision-making process. Additionally, I felt ready to take on this challenge, so I reached out to everyone. I prefer working in teams and surrounding myself with friends, and if I’m going to go through this journey, I want it to be with those who remain my friends.

Regarding the emotional impact of the project, Mendoza shared, “There’s certainly emotions buried deep within me that I’ve managed to suppress. I’ve touched upon them, but delving this deeply and recreating the experience required careful consideration for my own wellbeing. Elliott [Miller] was present, and we discussed it. A moment that stood out as particularly emotional was when D’Pharaoh [Woon-A-Tai] helped Cosmo [Jarvis] up the driveway. This was a significant moment in my life, and yes, there were intense feelings involved. It was also therapeutic for me.

Although the filmmakers possessed a rich trove of direct experience regarding the actual incident, there were minor discrepancies in their memory of the events. Garland elaborated on how they addressed these inconsistencies.

As an ardent enthusiast, I’d say, “I found the straightforward response to be engaging conversations with Ray. We amassed a wealth of information jointly and arranged it in script format, only to find gaps. These vacuums emerged due to various factors such as memory decay over time, memories formed under intense stress, and head injuries. Yet, we were fortunate enough to converse with numerous others, whose insights filled these gaps and provided a more comprehensive narrative.

It’s essential to clarify that the scenes weren’t invented out of thin air. For instance, a group of soldiers watching a ‘Call on Me’ video before an operation was based on a ritual they followed. However, it’s important to acknowledge that memories can sometimes clash, leading to intricate debates about which memory we believed was most authentic, given the differing accounts at our disposal.

Speaking further, I shared, “Sometimes, there are instances where creativity flourishes, often in a written form. For instance, an actor might be seen scratching their head or dusting off a piece of furniture. These actions aren’t explicitly described, such as, ‘At this moment, someone wiped dust here.’ Instead, they stem from the broader context that shapes the actor’s choices. This context could range from patiently waiting to a dramatic event like a grenade being pushed through a hole made for a sniper. In essence, it was intricate work, requiring a forensic approach at times, but at its core, our aim was always to be as authentic and truthful as possible.

In addition to the filmmakers, the actors themselves encountered unforeseen difficulties. Not only did they have to recreate actual events, but at times they also had to portray real-life individuals, some of whom were actually present during filming.

Woon-A-Tai expressed his heartfelt appreciation for Ray’s decision to cast him and guide him through recreating one of Mendoza’s most harrowing life events. He acknowledged that veterans could have performed the role, but Ray invested three weeks of his time in training them daily, and was always present during the process.

Woon-A-Tai admitted that the pressure was immense given the sensitive nature of the scene, as Mendoza himself was closely observing from behind the camera and had written the script. The weight of representing a real person whose story had never been told before added to the tension. He emphasized that many of these individuals had never had their stories shared publicly, so it was a significant responsibility for everyone involved.

Jarvis remarked, “It felt surprisingly mutual since those creating it were deeply committed to its authenticity, and everyone involved shared that desire. Having the person whose character you’re embodying present while you’re doing so is an extraordinary experience. I feel a strong connection to him, and he seems to want the portrayal to be accurate. We all aimed to deliver an honest representation of these individuals and their experiences during this event. Everyone was playing real people, so we all felt responsible for honoring them correctly.

In order to make the movie feel as realistic as possible, the actors didn’t just show up on set and begin shooting. Instead, they spent several weeks preparing by bonding with each other and undergoing intense physical training to achieve the right mindset.

Throughout our work, it was crucial to remember that we are actors, meaning our goal was to convincingly portray an elite and highly skilled team under tight time constraints. The basic training for Underwater Demolition SEALs is notoriously grueling with a minuscule success rate, so replicating this in a short span of time was a significant challenge. Despite the difficulties, I’m extremely proud of how well our team managed to embody that expertise and the individuals we were fortunate enough to represent.

He mentioned that one of the toughest aspects was keeping up the energy during filming and avoiding the tendency as actors to over-emote or characterize too much. Instead, they reminded each other to stick to protocol and focus on the primary goal of their project, which was creating something honest, straightforward, and less focused on entertainment but rather on depicting reality before anything else.

Regarding how this project surpassed my anticipations, Kit Connor admitted, “I went into it without knowing what to expect about its production. I trusted Alex, given my admiration for his work, and Ray, to gather a team of dedicated actors capable of giving their all. However, I never imagined the level of success they would achieve. They assembled such a talented group, not only skilled but also hardworking. It was a privilege and a source of pride to be part of it. The cast and crew were professional, committed, and simply wonderful people. I had the opportunity to work with many great individuals… There’s hardly anyone who doesn’t contribute positively, and they all set such a high standard for themselves and us, which was truly inspiring.

In just 95 minutes, the movie plays out almost simultaneously with real life. Before even setting foot on the filming location, actor Charles Melton recognized that the project was special, purely from his initial reading of the script.

Melton noted that the account seemed more like a verbatim transcript rather than a narrative with arcs, as it was based on real events and memories of that particular day. The details were presented sequentially, moment by moment, creating a documentary-like feel to it. This straightforward retelling felt authentic and lacked traditional character development or inner thoughts.

Instead of crafting individual character arcs for each member, the script focuses on creating moments that allow audiences to empathize with the group members collectively. Joseph Quinn, who was part of another famous ensemble in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, mused about merging with his co-stars rather than trying to outshine the team.

Quinn shared that he deeply appreciated his ‘Fantastic’ family, but each member had their role. The experience was remarkable, resembling a game of passing a ball among teammates. However, unlike a smaller group, this ensemble was a SEAL team, leaving little room for flashy acting. Instead, everyone focused on telling the real story of these men. It was freeing in a sense. They prioritized investing in the team and the unit because if they didn’t care about it, or believe the characters cared about each other, there wouldn’t be a film. Quinn believed that Alex and Ray worked diligently to foster a shared culture among the cast, which is evident in the final product.

Warfare lands in theaters on April 11th.

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2025-04-10 20:41