ON LOCATION: First Look at Channing Tatum Filming ‘Dear John’ at the Charleston Air Force Base

I’m told that the ‘Dear John‘ crew was seen shooting at the Lafarge cement and sand plants in Harleyville, South Carolina on Monday morning and used “all types of military trucks” for the scene. Channing Tatum will wrap up filming this week for his 2009 Nicholas Sparks-inspired drama ‘Dear John‘ and will be heading home soon to hopefully take a break for the holidays after working on this film for the past two months.

In a previous article, I posted photos of the production team filming at South Carolina’s Charleston Air Force Base, but sadly, Channing was nowhere to be found in the pics.

Today, I have more photos from the Charleston Air Force Base set, but this time, we have the very first pictures of Channing Tatum actually filming ’Dear John‘!!!

Fans can learn more about the filming and check out all of the photos in a recent article posted on the Charleston Air Force Base website. Although you may have to look really hard to see Chan, he can be found in the photos above.

The pics show the ’Dear John‘ production crew filming a scene inside a C-17 using a telescopic camera crane and a scene where Chan and extras who are real soldiers pretend to be airborne in a helicopter in front of a blue screen in a hangar on the base on December 4th. The production company received permission from the Defense Department to use base aircraft, facilities and Airmen to highlight the global airlift mission portrayed in the movie and all of the photos were taken by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Timothy Taylor. Enjoy!!

Team Charleston Hosts Filming for Hollywood Movie

by Airman 1st Class Melissa White
437th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

12/8/2008 - CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. — After weeks of coordination with various organizations across Charleston AFB, filming of the movie “Dear John” was completed here Dec. 3 and 4 with rousing success.

“This is my first time working with the Air Force for a movie and there was a warm reception from everyone we worked with,” said Billy Badalatto, unit production manager for the $50 million movie.

“Dear John” is a romantic drama about an Army soldier who falls in love with a conservative college girl while he’s home on leave. The screenplay is based off the novel written by Nicholas Sparks who also authored “The Notebook” and “A Walk to Remember.”

The production crew for the movie filmed scenes inside a hangar on the base and in and around a C-17 on the flightline during the two days. They also filmed a Charleston aircrew performing an airdrop training mission over Charleston AFB’s North Auxiliary Field Nov. 20.

“Charleston AFB offered a variety of ways we could use an aircraft that the script called for,” said Mr. Badalatto. “We wanted to show the public how much the Air Force contributes to the global effort of supporting our troops. We’re a big fan of the military and what they do.”

Several Airmen from the base served as subject matter experts during the filming because trained professionals were needed to perform certain tasks that not just anybody could do. Members from the 437th Aerial Port Squadron and the 14th and 16th Airlift Squadrons here volunteered to complete their Air Force Specialty Codes required and were not paid as extras.

“It feels good to help out with the making of the movie and to help provide a positive image for the Air Force as well as for our sister services,” said Airman 1st Class Marvin Richardson, 437 APS air transportation journeyman. “We supplied empty pallets, forklift support, prepared the aircraft, provided cargo inside the hangar and selected pallets and loaded them in the aircraft.”

In addition to being in the movie as subject matter experts, some Charleston Airmen helped fill roles as extras.

“This is an awesome experience and it’s great getting to work with [actor] Channing Tatum,” said Airman Brandon Jones who served as an extra and is assigned to the 437th Security Forces Squadron. “It’s pretty cool that they’re putting a movie out like this instead of just another action film. It seems pretty realistic, so it will probably hit home for a lot of people.”

The Airmen were Airmen Soldier extras used in scenes as background actors to make scenes look more natural when they were boarding or exiting a C-17.

“Many movies these days are becoming more joint oriented, so it only seems natural to include the Air Force in the making of this movie to show the capability of a C-17 as a transporter and as a significant contribution to our troops,” said Army Lt. Col. Gregory Bishop, Public Affairs West Region Army Entertainment Liaison.

The movie, which has a storyline spanning from spring 2001 until 2007, is being filmed completely in Charleston, S.C. and surrounding areas. The premier date in 2009 has yet to be determined.

‘Dear John‘ will most likely be released in theaters some time late next year.

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Related Posts:

• December 6, 2008 -- ON LOCATION: New Filming Locations, Casting Calls, and Fan Encounters for Channing Tatum’s ‘Dear John’
• January 21, 2009 -- FAN ENCOUNTER: Channing Tatum and Extra Chris Head on the Set of ‘Dear John’
• November 13, 2008 -- ON LOCATION: Channing Tatum’s ‘Dear John’ Films at Charleston’s Gaillard Municipal Auditorium
• April 16, 2010 -- IN THE PRESS: Channing Tatum Wins Cosmo’s Sexiest Actor Title, Covers April 2010 GQ Korea, & More…
• April 2, 2010 -- Channing Tatum Heads Back to the States to Begin Filming ‘Son of No One’