Movie premiere hits close to home

Senior military officials and government dignitaries gathered to watch the premiere of "Taking Chance," an HBO made-for-TV movie, at the Motion Picture Association of America in Washington, D.C. Feb. 9.

"Taking Chance" depicts the experiences of Marine Corps Lt. Col. Michael R. Strobl while escorting the body of a fallen Marine from Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Del., to Dubois, Wyo., in April 2004.

Lance Cpl. Chance Phelps was killed in action April 9, 2004, in Ramadi, Iraq, while assigned to Battery L, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment.

"When we started filming the movie, I thought the American people should be the main character," said Strobl, who retired in 2007 and co-wrote the screenplay. "That's why I wrote it - the reaction of the American people who witnessed the journey along the way."

Actor Kevin Bacon portrays Strobl in the movie, and also made an appearance at the premiere.

"I was amazed and surprised I didn't know anything about it and had no idea about the (escorting) process," Bacon said. "I liked that it was a simple telling of Mike's journey with Chance. It doesn't really hit you over the head. It kind of sneaks up on you, and the accumulative effect of watching the process and the way people reacted along the trip is what I responded to as an actor."

To prepare for the role - his third time portraying a Marine - Bacon said, he met with Strobl on several occasions.

"I try my best when playing Marines to pay attention to detail and try to humanize them as much as possible," Bacon said. "People who aren't in the military sometimes find it tough to look past the uniform."

After the movie, spectators, who included Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr., Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Corps Gen. James E. Cartwright, were given the opportunity to shake hands with and express their thanks to director Ross Katz, who co-wrote the screenplay with Strobl.

"I wanted to portray honesty in this movie," Katz said. "When you witness the remains of a young man who gave his life for civilians like me, we aren't red states or blue states, we're purple states. We're all Americans."

"Taking Chance" is scheduled to premiere on HBO Saturday.