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Story by: Lt. Col. Paul Fanning - 27th BCT PAO
Dated: Wed, Dec 12, 2007
Eight New York Army National Guard Soldiers joined the star-studded cast of “I Am Legend” for the film’s premier in New York City’s Madison Square Garden on Tuesday Dec. 11.
The Soldiers were representing the 150 New York Army National Guard Soldiers who appeared in the new Will Smith movie when it was filmed in January 2007. The Soldiers featured in scenes where Smith’s character, the sole normal survivor of a plague, is flashing back to the evacuation of New York City.
About 150 members of the 1st Battalion 69th Infantry, the 1st Battalion 258th Field Artillery and 3rd Battalion 142nd Aviation performed in the movie. The Soldiers earned $150 a day and Sergeant First Class Pedro Mojica of Headquarters Company 1st Battalion 69th Infantry appeared in a speaking role.
A National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter and six humvees were used during the shoot. The scene, which was shot under the Brooklyn Bridge, cost about $5 million to shoot.
In the Warner Brothers movie, Smith plays scientist Robert Neville who has worked to prevent a plague that is killing people and now he appears to be the last normal man left on earth. The movie is based on the 1954 novel “I Am Legend” by Richard Matheson, in which the last man on earth battles people who have become vampires due to a virus.
The Soldiers did a wonderful job during the filming, said Lt. Col. Paul Sinor, who runs the Army Public Affairs Office’s Hollywood Branch Office.
“They were super professional, extremely cooperative, always on time, and ready to go,” Sinor said.
On hand for the premier were Col. Michael Bobeck, Joint Forces Headquarters Aviation Officer; Cadet Stephen Trotter, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Danny Edling, B Company 3-142nd Aviation Chief Warrant Officer 4 Thomas McGurn, Headquarters Company 3-142nd Aviation; Sergeant Jorge Jara, A Co. 1-69th Infantry; Staff Sergeant Bolivar Hernandez, Headquarters Company 1-69th Infantry; Sergeant Richard Alicia, 427th Support Battalion; Specialist Paul Lukasik, B Company, 3-142nd Aviation, and Lt. Col. Paul Fanning, Joint Forces Headquarters, New York.
