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Research and the Screenwriter, II

© John Lovett

The first article in this series dealt with general research resources and writing. This article deals specifically with military sources and how they can be used in the writing of screenplays.

One idea that I try to instill in writers is that accuracy and story must meld together. A good story without authenticity is science fiction. An authentic presentation without story is a documentary. To that end, I present to you, the writer, a medley of military sources to begin your research.

The very basic military sources for U.S. military information are the four sites for each of the services:

U.S. Army - http://www2.army.mil/

U.S. Navy - http://www.navy.mil/

U.S Air Force - http://www.af.mil/

U.S. Marine Corps - http://www.usmc.mil/ .

If you are writing a military based screenplay, these sites are a good place to start. Additionally, if you have onesy-twosy type questions about the military, the local Recruiter is a good place to ask questions. He or she would be glad to answer questions about the military. Lastly, if you have extensive questions about the U.S. military and just cannot find any answers try the Public Affairs Offices for each Service in Los Angeles at this link http://www.defenselink.mil/faq/pis/PC12F... .

Foreign military sources are a little more tricky. The British Army runs an excellent site at http://www.army.mod.uk/army/index2.htm. Information about other worldwide military forces can be found at this site http://www.kimsoft.com/kim-spy.htm. Answers to questons related directly to Great Britain and related nations' armed forces can be found at this site, http://www.du.edu/~tomills/military/.

Technical questions about U.S. Army equipment can be answered at this site http://www.ntis.gov/databases/armypub.htm. The National Technical Information Service (NTIS) runs a general information site at http://www.ntis.gov/.

For those questions concerning special forces and their activities use the following sites

For U.S. Special Forces - http://www.specialforces.net/. This site covers all special units within the U.S. Armed Forces.

For U.S. Navy SEALs - two sites; one official http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/fact... and another unofficial http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Lob....

For Royal Marines - http://www.andrewjd.demon.co.uk/rn/rm.ht....

For other armies' special units use http://www.kimsoft.com/kim-spy.htm.

Keep writing.

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