Blog

Left to make their own decision, the unit released the unarmed men, knowing it was very possible that the herders would inform the Taliban forces. It was a decision Luttrell “knew could sign our death warrant.” Dietz was shot multiple times during the firefight, and although his right thumb had been blown off in the battle, he continued to shoot at the enemy to protect his unit. As Luttrell hooked his arms underneath the shoulders of his badly wounded comrade to drag him down the slope, a bullet hit Dietz in the back of his head. He died in Luttrell’s arms. The surprise presented the SEALs with several options—none of them good. Killing unarmed noncombatants would violate acceptable rules of engagement and also likely result in a court-martial. If the SEALs tied up the three and left them behind, they still faced the problem of what to do with the bleating herd without raising suspicions. Dietz, who was in charge of communications, tried to radio headquarters for instructions but could not connect. Finally, Gulab’s father traveled to a Marine outpost with a note from Luttrell. The military launched a large combat search-and-rescue operation with warplanes and ground forces that attacked the Taliban fighters and brought home their missing man. As Gulab helped the limping SEAL to a waiting helicopter, an Air Force pararescueman held out his outstretched arm to Luttrell and said, “Welcome home, brother.” Christopher Klein is the author of four books, including When the Irish Invaded Canada: The Incredible True Story of the Civil War Veterans Who Fought for Ireland’s Freedom and Strong Boy: The Life and Times of John L. Sullivan. His work has appeared in numerous publications, including The Boston Globe, The New York Times, and National Geographic Traveler. Follow Chris on Twitter @historyauthor.Laden with weapons and gear, Petty Officer Marcus Luttrell grasped the rope dangling from the rear of the Chinook transport helicopter and descended into the moonless night. Twenty feet down, his boots touched ground in the remote mountains of northeastern Afghanistan near the Pakistani border. As the roar of the helicopter faded to silence, Luttrell and three other Navy SEALs—Lieutenant Michael Murphy and Petty Officers Danny Dietz and Matt Axelson—found themselves alone in the pitch darkness of a desolate warzone.

The badly wounded Murphy knew their best chance at survival was to call in reinforcements. Without a workable radio connection, the team leader cast his personal safety aside and moved to a completely exposed position, the only location where he could get a signal on his satellite phone. As Murphy phoned for backup, a bullet ripped through his back. The lieutenant managed to complete his call and even keep up the fight, but he could not survive. Luttrell holed up with Axelson, who had sustained a terrible head wound, when a rocket-propelled grenade blasted the two apart. Luttrell never saw Axelson again.As the sun blazed down, the thirsty Luttrell licked the sweat off his arms until he found a waterfall. As he sipped its cool waters, he suddenly found himself surrounded once again by a band of local men. These men, however, proved to be more friend than foe. One of the men, Mohammad Gulab, assured Luttrell they were not Taliban, and he and three others carried the wounded warrior back to their village of Sabray. Bound by a tribal code of honor known as Pashtunwali, Gulab gave Luttrell food, water and shelter. Although the Taliban encircled the village and threatened his family and neighbors if he didn’t turn over the American, Gulab refused. For four days, Luttrell was shuttled among houses and even into a cave to prevent his capture.

We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn’t look right, click here to contact us! HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate.By the time the sun set on the disastrous day, 19 Americans were dead. Luttrell was presumed to have been a 20th victim, but in spite of bullet wounds, a broken back and rocks and shrapnel protruding from his legs, the SEAL survived. Unaware of the tragedy that befell the rescue operation, Luttrell crawled seven miles through the mountains. In spite of his wounds, he killed chasing Taliban with his rifle and grenades as he continued to evade capture.

The SEALs had been discovered. Not by enemy forces, however, but a local goat herder. Within moments, nearly 100 goats with bells around their necks came jingling over the mountainside with another herder and a teenage boy.With their mission compromised, the SEALs tried to move to a defensive position, but barely an hour later, dozens of Shah’s forces emerged over a ridgeline. An avalanche of AK-47 fire, rocket-propelled grenades and mortars cascaded down the mountain. The terrain proved just as vicious as the enemy. As the Taliban fighters advanced, the SEALs scrambled, fell and jumped hundreds of feet down the mountain. One fall shattered three of Luttrell’s vertebrae.

Lone Survivor Filming Locations: Lone Survivor film follows Marcus Luttrell and his team who are on a mission to capture Taliban leader, Ahmad Shah, in late June 2005. Marcus and his team were alone to fight for their lives.

Hi, My name is Neha. I like to watch Moves, TV Shows, and historical dramas, and also I love to travel and explore new places and cultures. Writing is my hobby. Also, it helps to share my experience… More by Neha

Chilili is a place in Bernalillo County, New Mexico. The cast and crew filmed a few scenes in this location for 2 weeks. The location was used to film several battle scenes in the film and the production also build sets to create an Afghan village occupied by Ahmad Shah and his Taliban insurgents and also a Pashtun village where Luttrell was rescued.

Lone Survivor was released in the United States on December 25, 2013, and in North America on January 10, 2014, by Universal Pictures. (External Link: IMDb)The film’s filming took place primarily in the USA. The filming of the film start on September 15, 2012, and wrapped up on November 2012. In the below article, we will see the different locations where the film was filmed.

The Sangre de Cristo Mountains of the Santa Fe National Forest are the southernmost subrange of the Rocky Mountains in southern Colorado in the United States. The cast and crew spent eight days on mountains rango. The location was used as the Hindu Kush mountain range between Afghanistan and Pakistan.The location where a movie is filmed can make a huge impact on the final product. Filmmakers often choose a location to attempt to create an authentic look and feel for the movie, which is why location scouting is such an important aspect of filmmaking. In many cases, the location can even become a character in the movie that helps drive the storyline.

If you’re wondering where was Lone Survivor filmed, you’ll be interested to know that the movie, directed by Peter Berg, was shot in multiple locations across the United States. Berg wanted to ensure that the filming locations were as realistic as possible, so he and his team scouted areas that could mimic the rugged terrain of Afghanistan. Here’s a closer look at the different filming locations that were used for Lone Survivor:

Where was Lone Survivor filmed, and how did the filmmakers ensure that the locations they chose were realistic and appropriate? The New Mexico desert provided the perfect setting for the rocky, mountainous terrain of Afghanistan. The filmmakers also used sound design and visual effects to enhance the environment and place the audience right in the middle of the action. The attention to detail in creating the right environment and atmosphere adds to the authenticity of the film and enhances the viewer’s experience.One of the most significant challenges of filming in remote locations is gaining access to the areas where the film crew needs to work. These areas may be remote and difficult to reach. For example, in the movie “Lone Survivor,” much of the filming took place in remote locations in New Mexico and New Mexico backcountry.For those who are wondering where was Lone Survivor filmed, the answer is New Mexico. The location was selected after careful consideration and research to ensure that it would match the authenticity of the story that the filmmakers were trying to tell. The film’s realism and believability were greatly enhanced by the decision to use a real location, and it is a testament to the importance of choosing the right filming location.

Chilmark, Massachusetts is where much of the story is set, so it makes sense that the filmmakers would choose this location as one of their filming sites. Chilmark is a quiet, picturesque town located on Martha’s Vineyard. Although the filmmakers were able to capture the town’s beauty, they also emphasized the hostile and isolated atmosphere that the Navy SEALs experienced. The town’s hills and rough terrain provided an ideal backdrop for the intense military scenes that were filmed here. Overall, the choice of filming location has a massive impact on the final product of a movie. Filmmakers often go to great lengths to create an authentic and realistic setting that can help to bring the story to life. “Lone Survivor” is just one example of a film in which the filming location played a crucial role in creating a believable and engaging story. If you are wondering “where was Lone Survivor filmed”, the answer is mainly New Mexico and in some parts of California. Northern New Mexico was chosen as a filming location because of its ability to mimic the harsh, desert-like terrain of Afghanistan. This is where the majority of the intense battle scenes in the movie were filmed. The rocky hills, barren landscape, and dusty roads all create the perfect illusion of a war-torn landscape, and the area was perfect for recreating the conditions that the SEALs had to face against the Taliban.

Filming locations are essential to the success of any movie. They allow filmmakers to transport audiences to different times and places and immerse them in the story. The right location can make all the difference, adding a layer of realism and depth that cannot be achieved through CGI or green screens. Filmmakers must choose locations that not only fit their vision but also work practically for the production.Where was Lone Survivor filmed? The majority of the movie was filmed in New Mexico, but the filmmakers also used other locations around the world to capture the authenticity of the story. The desert terrain and rocky cliffs of New Mexico were a perfect backdrop for the Afghanistan setting of the film, and the filmmakers went to great lengths to recreate the environment accurately. The visual effects and sound design also add to the immersion of the film, making the audience feel like they are right in the middle of the action.In addition to the logistical challenges of accessing remote locations and contending with unpredictable weather, filmmakers must also deal with safety and security concerns. For example, “Lone Survivor” was filmed in terrain that posed significant safety and security risks to the cast and crew. In order to address these concerns, the production team took extra precautions to ensure everyone’s safety during filming.When a movie is filmed, it’s crucial that the location feels authentic. This means that the audience needs to believe that the setting is real and that the story is actually taking place there. That’s why filmmakers often go to great lengths to find locations that match the script’s description. The main reason why authenticity is so crucial to the success of the film is that it helps to build a bond between the audience and the characters.

Bandera, Texas is known as the ‘Cowboy Capital of the World,’ and it served as the location for Lone Survivor’s training sequences. The movie follows four SEALs as they undergo intense physical and mental training in preparation for their mission in Afghanistan. Texas was chosen as a training ground location thanks to its rugged terrain and climate. The actors had to undergo rigorous training themselves to accurately portray what it takes to become a Navy SEAL.Filming in remote locations can bring a sense of adventure to movie-making but it also presents its own set of challenges. In order to successfully capture the essence of the location, filmmakers need to be able to access these remote areas and contend with unpredictable weather and climate, as well as safety and security concerns.

In conclusion, Lone Survivor was an intense and realistic movie thanks in part to its realistic filming locations. By using a combination of locations, the filmmakers were able to make this movie truly come alive. Now that you know where Lone Survivor was filmed, you can appreciate the incredible work that went into creating the movie’s gripping atmosphere. So, if someone ever asks you “Where was Lone Survivor filmed?” you can now impress them with your newfound knowledge about the various locations used to make this powerful movie.One great example of a film that used authentic location to create a realistic atmosphere is “Lone Survivor.” The movie is set in Afghanistan and follows a team of Navy SEALs on a dangerous mission. Director Peter Berg chose New Mexico as the filming location because of its similarities to Afghanistan’s mountainous terrain. This helped create a believable setting and added to the overall realism of the movie.

Besides just creating authenticity, a filming location can also help to visualize the storyline. By using a real location, filmmakers have the opportunity to show the audience the sights and sounds of a place that they may not be familiar with. This can be especially effective when the location is integral to the plot, like in “Lone Survivor.”The movie “Lone Survivor” was filmed in remote locations in New Mexico and New Mexico backcountry. In order to access the filming locations, the production team had to transport equipment and crew members to these locations. The remote settings posed significant logistical challenges for the crew, including transportation and the ability to obtain necessary supplies and equipment. Last but not least, the filmmakers also filmed some scenes on location in Afghanistan. While some of the movie’s scenes were recreated in the United States, Berg wanted to ensure that some scenes were filmed on location to achieve a heightened sense of realism. The Afghanistan scenes were filmed in the deserts of New Mexico and California’s Mojave Desert, with post-production done to provide the necessary details. In conclusion, filming in remote locations requires special planning and preparation to overcome the challenges that come with it. Access to these locations, weather and climate conditions, and safety and security issues can all pose significant risks to the cast and crew. However, with proper planning and precautions, filmmakers can successfully capture the essence of these locations and bring their stories to life on the big screen.

Filming locations are crucial in making a movie feel authentic and realistic. In the case of Lone Survivor, using the right locations was essential in recreating the environment and atmosphere of Afghanistan. The filmmakers had to consider a lot of factors, such as weather conditions, accessibility, and safety when choosing filming locations. They had to create a set that accurately represented the story while still being practical for filming.

In conclusion, Lone Survivor is an intense and emotional movie that accurately portrays the sacrifices made by soldiers on the battlefield. The filmmakers’ choice of locations and attention to detail in creating an authentic environment and atmosphere is commendable. Where was Lone Survivor filmed? In New Mexico and other locations worldwide, the movie makes use of these environments to create a realistic and immersive experience for the viewer. Overall, Lone Survivor is a must-watch for anyone interested in war drama or simply looking for an engaging film that will keep them on the edge of their seat. In conclusion, filming locations play a significant role in making a movie feel authentic and immersive. A well-chosen location can add depth and realism to a film that simply cannot be achieved through special effects or soundstages. The choice of location can affect everything from the mood of a scene to the believability of the characters. In the movie, the location is crucial, as it sets the stage for the mission and creates a foreboding atmosphere. The harsh terrain and extreme conditions create a sense of unease that adds to the tension of the story. By using real locations, filmmakers create a sense of place that can help the audience engage more deeply with the storyline.

The film shows Luttrell (Wahlberg) being able to walk after the Taliban’s ambush on the four-man SEAL team. In reality, Luttrell explained that his legs were numb immediately after the ambush, and when feeling did return to them, the pain from the shrapnel in his legs made it too painful to walk; he had to crawl seven miles looking for water and sanctuary. Luttrell also said that he did not witness the MH-47 Chinook helicopter being shot down, as seen in the film. At the end of the film, the Pashtun villagers fight off a Taliban attack in a firefight that never actually happened. In reality, the Taliban fighters were outnumbered by the villagers and had no intentions of attacking the village. They did, however, enter the room where Luttrell was being kept and physically beat him, before being pressured to leave by the village elder. Luttrell also did not go into cardiac arrest after he was rescued, nor was he near death, as seen in the film.The number of casualties sustained by the Taliban fighters has also been disputed. Naval Special Warfare Command has estimated that Luttrell and his teammates killed around thirty-five insurgents during the battle. Andrew MacMannis, a former Marine Colonel who was involved in planning Operation Red Wings and assisted in recovering bodies after the mission, has stated that there were no known enemy casualties. Mohammad Gulab, the Afghan villager who rescued Luttrell, agrees with MacMannis, as does another Marine who was involved with the mission, Patrick Kinser, who has said, “I’ve been at the location where [Luttrell] was ambushed multiple times. I’ve had Marines wounded there. I’ve been in enough firefights to know that when shit hits the fan, it’s hard to know how many people are shooting at you. [But] there weren’t 35 enemy fighters in all of the Korengal Valley [that day].” Furthermore, Gulab has claimed that he found Luttrell with eleven magazines of ammunition – the full amount that Luttrell had brought on the mission.

When I read the book, I knew instantly that this would be a perfect movie for [Berg]. His strengths as a director are in taking an audience into a closed world … He loves to take an audience into a world and show them the details but then hit them with this emotional wallop. The book has this incredibly emotional story of brotherhood and sacrifice, and then ultimately, in the story with Gulab, this grace and humanity even in the midst of war.Multiple branches of the United States Armed Forces supplied the production with military vehicles. The United States Air Force provided two Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawks from Kirtland Air Force Base, both of which were flown by military personnel and used to depict a combat search and rescue. The United States Army provided the production with two CH-47F Chinooks and two Boeing AH-64 Apaches from Fort Hood, Texas. The United States Marine Corps provided thirty Marine Corps reservists for scenes set in Bagram Airfield and Jalalabad. According to The Economist, Beretta paid the production company $250,000 to use their guns in the film in place of the Sig Sauer p226 and Kimber 1911s weapons actually used by SEAL teams. Production moved to Chilili, New Mexico for two weeks of filming. The location’s wooded areas were used to film several battle scenes, and the art department built sets to create an Afghan village occupied by Ahmad Shah (Yousuf Azami) and his Taliban insurgents, as well as a Pashtun village where Luttrell (Mark Wahlberg) is rescued. Filming then moved to Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico, which doubled for scenes set in Bagram Airfield, a U.S. military base in Afghanistan. The production then moved to soundstages at I-25 Studios in Albuquerque. The filmmakers occupied two 26,000-square-foot (2,400 m) stages in the facility for interior scenes and bluescreen work. The art department built the character Gulab’s house, as well as interiors for Bagram Airfield’s patrol base Camp Ouellette. The bluescreen work involved scenes depicting a CH-47 Chinook in a gimbal, and a 4-foot scale model of a Hindu Kush mountain cliff built by the art department team in Los Angeles. Principal photography concluded in November 2012, after 42 days of filming. The first cut of the film was two-and-a-half hours long. Parker then cut the film down to two hours when he realized there was a way to further trim the film. “There were a number of scenes that paced well when we intercut them rather than letting them play as written in a linear fashion. For instance, we wanted to let the mission briefing scene play normally—this is where the SEAL team is briefed on their target. That scene was followed by a scene of the target beheading a local. We realized that an actual briefing is very technical and rote, so intercutting these scenes helped keep the audience engaged.”

Editing and post-production work took roughly seven months to complete. Colby Parker Jr. served as editor, having previously worked with Berg on editing Battleship. Parker spent six months editing the film at the Lantana Entertainment Media Campus in Santa Monica, California. The editorial department used four Avid Media Composer systems to edit the film. Parker edited the film during principal photography, but was not on location. “I like to blast through the footage to keep up with the camera. This way I can let [Berg] know if any extra coverage is needed”, he explained. “Often I’ll get word to the 1st [assistant director] and he’ll sneak in extra shots if the schedule permits. Although I will have a first assembly when the production wraps, Peter will never sit though a complete viewing of that. He works in a very linear manner, so as we start to view a scene, if there’s something that bothers him, we’ll stop and address it.”

Inserted overnight via helicopter, the four-man team make their way toward Shah’s last known location. Due to the mountainous terrain the team are operating in, communications with J-Bad become difficult. Though the team identify Shah, they are discovered by local villagers; one of whom is carrying a walkie-talkie. Believing that the villagers are Taliban sympathisers, the SEALs debate setting them free or killing them. Murphy orders them to be set free.Digital cinema post-production facility DeLuxe supplied the production with a 40-foot trailer, known as the EC3 (a joint venture between Company 3 and EFILM). The equipment enabled Schleissler to oversee every shot of the film in the EC3 trailer. He also collaborated with colorist Adrian Delude in changing the exposure for all cameras used which, according to Schliessler, “would have been more difficult when shooting on film.” Company 3 carried out the digital intermediate.

To produce the many injuries received by the four-man SEAL team, the filmmakers recruited KNB Effects team Gregory Nicotero and Howard Berger. To aid Nicotero and Berger in recreating the injuries of the fallen servicemen, Berg provided autopsy reports of the deceased. Special effects supervisor Bruno van Zeebroeck created RPG explosions and bullet hits for the battle sequences that occur in the roads around Gulab’s home.When Mark Wahlberg read the script and expressed an interest in portraying Luttrell, he and his manager Stephen Levinson pitched the concept to producer Randall Emmett, the co-founder of Emmett/Furla Films, during the 2012 filming of 2 Guns. After reading the script, Emmett traveled to Los Angeles, where he met with Berg and Aubrey to discuss the film’s production. After Universal secured the rights to distribute Lone Survivor in the United States, United Kingdom and Italy, executive producer Mark Damon’s independent film company Foresight Unlimited took Berg and Emmett to the 2012 Cannes Film Festival to secure worldwide pre-sales. The film attracted $30 million in worldwide pre-sales to distributors in 40 international markets.The film rights to the book had become the subject of a bidding war among a host of established studios, including Warner Bros., Sony Pictures Entertainment, Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks, and Universal Pictures. Universal secured the rights in August 2007, for more than $2 million. The studio had also acquired the United States distribution rights as part of a negative pickup deal with the film’s producers. Berg then chose to direct Battleship (2012) for Universal before resuming production on Lone Survivor.

Lone Survivor’s limited release in the United States saw it take $153,839—an average of $45,436 per theater—in its first five days. The film grossed an additional $326,685 on the following weekend. Pre-release tracking estimated that Lone Survivor would gross between $17 and $28 million during its opening weekend of wide release. Released to a total of 2,875 theaters in the United States and Canada, The film grossed $14,403,750 on its opening day, and by the end of its opening weekend it had grossed $38,231,471, securing the number-one position at the North American box office. Lone Survivor’s opening-weekend gross made it the second-largest debut for any film released widely in January, after Cloverfield (2008), which opened with $40.1 million. It had also become the highest-grossing film among recent “post-9/11 war films”, surpassing Brothers (2009), which ended its North American theatrical run with over $28.5 million.Wandering alone, Luttrell happens across a small stream when he is discovered by Mohammed Gulab, a local Pashtun. Taking the wounded and exhausted Luttrell into his care, Gulab hides him from the Taliban in his home, and also sends another villager to the nearest American base to report on Luttrell’s location. Shah arrives at the village to execute Luttrell, however the villagers resist. Shah leaves, but returns later with several Taliban gunmen and engage the villagers. Rangers arrive mid battle and evacuate Luttrell, who also thanks Mohammed for his assistance.

Lone Survivor had an estimated budget of $40 million. Three production companies – Emmett/Furla Films, Herrick Entertainment, and Envision Entertainment – collaborated to finance the film. In addition, as part of the negative pickup deal with Universal, the film’s producers—Berg, Aubrey, Spikings, Goldsman, Emmett, Wahlberg, Levinson, Norton Herrick, and Vitaly Grigoriants—contributed at least $1 million each to finance production costs. To avoid further costs, Berg chose to work for a minimum salary allowed under Directors Guild of America rules, $17,000 a week. He also convinced several cast and crew members to lower their asking prices.

For the film’s visual style, Schliessler was influenced by British-American photojournalist Tim Hetherington’s war photography book Infidel, which details a single U.S. platoon assigned to an outpost in the Korengal Valley during the war in Afghanistan. Prior to filming, Schleissler and Berg shot test footage with the digital cameras and brought it to digital colorist Stefan Sonnenfeld at post-production facility Company 3 for color grading.Lone Survivor opened in limited release in the United States on December 25, 2013, before opening across North America on January 10, 2014. It received generally positive reviews; critics praised Berg’s direction and realism, as well as the acting, story, visuals and battle sequences, though some criticism was directed at the film’s focus on action rather than characterization. It grossed over $154 million, of which $125 million was from North America. It was chosen by National Board of Review as one of the top ten films of 2013 and received two Oscar nominations for Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing.

Costume designer Amy Stofsky ensured that the military wardrobe seen in the film reflected the 2005 time period. According to Stofsky, what the fallen servicemen wore back then is no longer current issue, as the United States Armed Forces stopped manufacturing the uniforms in 2006. While researching the time period, Stofsky met with the fallen servicemen’s families, as well as Navy SEAL teammates. Stofsky and the wardrobe department collaborated with the Hollywood-based costume facility Western Costume to find the right fabric for the military uniforms. She and her team manufactured uniforms for the film’s lead actors, extras, stunt and photo doubles, and military personnel who were also acting as extras. Stofksy noted that a total of “36 cookie cutter uniforms” were produced for Wahlberg.In his book, Victory Point: Operations Red Wings and Whalers – the Marine Corps’ Battle for Freedom in Afghanistan, military journalist Ed Darack cites a military intelligence report stating the strength of the Taliban force to be 8–10. The military intelligence estimate cited by Darack is based on research sourced from intelligence reports, including aerial and eyewitness studies of the battlefield after the fact, including the men sent in to rescue Luttrell, as well as reports from Afghan intelligence.

The Santa Fe National Forest’s rocky terrain and steep inclines proved difficult for conventional camera equipment—such as cranes and dollies—which resulted in much of the film’s scenes being shot by the camera operators, who were rigged to aerial ski lifts above the action. “The location we picked was on top of the ski area above 12,000 feet in Santa Fe, and the high altitude made it extremely physically demanding”, Schleissler explained. “All our equipment had to be hand-carried into some of our remote locations, which meant we had to limit ourselves to the bare minimum … No one ever hiked to the set empty-handed, including our producers. It was one big team effort that made us a close film family.”Lone Survivor received various awards and nominations, in categories ranging from recognition of the film itself to its screenplay, direction, stunts, and sound editing, to the performance of its lead actor, Mark Wahlberg. Lone Survivor received two Academy Award nominations for Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing, although the film failed to win either; at the 86th Academy Awards, the film lost in both categories to Gravity. In addition to the following list of awards and nominations, the film was named one of the ten best films of 2013 by the Las Vegas Film Critics Society, who also ranked it as the Best Action Film of 2013. This story is about working together for something bigger than our ego, bigger than our individuality. It’s about coming together as a group—protecting each other, loving each other, looking out for each other—and finding a greater strength as a team than you could ever find as an individual. Marcus [Luttrell] wrote a book that, as much as it’s about 19 people being killed on a tragic day in Afghanistan, is about brotherhood, sacrifice and team commitment. Berg had discussed the project with Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Emile Hirsch, and Ben Foster years earlier. Universal held an open casting call in Los Angeles, aiding in the filmmakers’ search for supporting actors, extras, photo doubles, and stand-ins. In August 2012, it was announced that Alexander Ludwig and Eric Bana had joined the cast.Upon first learning of the book in 2007, Berg arranged several meetings with Luttrell to discuss adapting the book to film. Universal Pictures acquired the film rights in August 2007, after bidding against other major studios. In re-enacting events, Berg drew much of his screenplay from Luttrell’s eyewitness accounts in the book, as well as autopsy and incident reports related to the mission. After directing Battleship (2012) for Universal, Berg resumed working on Lone Survivor. Principal photography began in October 2012 and concluded in November, after 42 days. Filming took place on location in New Mexico, using digital cinematography. Luttrell and several other Navy SEAL veterans acted as technical advisors, while multiple branches of the United States Armed Forces aided the production. Two companies, Industrial Light & Magic and Image Engine, created the visual effects.

The number of Taliban fighters involved in the ambush has been widely disputed. In Marcus Luttrell’s original after-action report, he stated that he and his teammates were attacked by 20–35 insurgents, while his book places the number at over 200. The screenplay describes “A solid line of at least fifty Taliban in firing positions on top of the hill above them.” The summary of action for Lt. Murphy’s posthumous Medal of Honor describes the enemy force as numbering “more than 50,” while the official citation puts the number at “between 30 and 40 enemy fighters.” In the film, the four-man SEAL reconnaissance team is discovered by three goat herders—an elderly man and two teenage boys. In fact, Luttrell wrote in his book that only one of the goat herders was a teenage boy, not two. Luttrell’s book and the film both suggest that the SEALs decision to release the goat herders led to their subsequent ambush – yet according to Gulab, people throughout the area heard the SEALs being dropped off by helicopter, and the Taliban proceeded to track the SEALs’ footprints. Other villagers recounted to Gulab that the Taliban found the SEALs while the debate over the goat herders was taking place and that the Taliban then waited for a more opportune time to attack. Berg said, “[Jablonsky] did the last reel; the band Explosions in the Sky did pretty much did everything else. They have an emotional, tender quality to their music, even when it gets aggressive. I didn’t want the score to be overly aggressive, I wanted it to be haunting and emotional. Steve Jablonsky came in at the end to do something more traditional, but when Steve does “traditional”, it’s not the usual strings. He created a wonderful sound at the very end.” The motion picture soundtrack album was released on December 17, 2013 by record label Metropolis Movie Music.

Ali Suliman, who previously collaborated with Berg on the 2007 film The Kingdom, plays Mohammad Gulab, an Afghan villager. Alexander Ludwig plays Navy SEAL Machinist’s Mate Shane Patton. Marcus Luttrell appears in an uncredited role. The cast is rounded out by Yousuf Azami as Ahmad Shah, a Taliban leader; Sammy Sheik as Taraq, a field commander of the Taliban group; Rich Ting as SO2 James Suh; Dan Bilzerian as Senior Chief Special Operator (SOCS) Daniel Healy; Jerry Ferrara as United States Marine Corps Sgt Hasslert; Scott Elrod as Peter Musselman; Rohan Chand as Gulab’s son; and Corey Large as US Navy SEAL Captain Kenney. Zarin Mohammad Rahimi, who acted as a technical advisor during production, appears as an elderly shepherd who discovers the four-man SEAL team during the mission; Nicholas Patel and Daniel Arroyo play the goat herders who assist the shepherd.

Review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes sampled 227 reviews and gave the film an approval rating of 75%, with an average score of 6.60/10. The website’s critical consensus reads, “A true account of military courage and survival, Lone Survivor wields enough visceral power to mitigate its heavy-handed jingoism.” Another review aggregator, Metacritic, assigned the film a weighted average score of 60 out of 100, based on 44 reviews from mainstream critics, indicating to be “mixed or average reviews”. CinemaScore polls conducted during Lone Survivor’s opening weekend of wide release reported that male and female audiences gave the film a rare “A+” (on an A+ to F scale), with exit polls showing that 57% of the audience was male, while 57% was at least 30 years of age or older. The Los Angeles Times reported the critics’ consensus was that “the film succeeds in bringing the mission to life, although it avoids probing the deeper issues at hand.”The QRF scrambles to the SEALs’ aid, though the two Chinook helicopters fly in without Apache support. Briefly encouraged by the arrival of reinforcements, Luttrell and Axelson watch helplessly as one Chinook is shot down by an RPG. The second aborts, leaving Luttrell and Axelson to fend for themselves. Already grievously wounded from battle, the disoriented Axelson is soon cornered by Taliban gunmen and killed. Luttrell is also discovered, though he survives an RPG attack and is able to hide from his pursuers overnight and escapes.

Although Wahlberg, Kitsch, Hirsch and Foster had physically trained for their roles prior to filming, Luttrell organized a three-week training regimen at a bootcamp in New Mexico, where the actors were trained by elite military personnel in weapons, military communications, and tactics. Military advisor Mark Semos trained the four actors in live-firing exercises so they could feel the physical impact of firing military rifles. They also practiced “shoot move cover” drills to enable them to react convincingly as Navy SEALs during filming.

Justin Chang, writing for Variety magazine, gave the film a positive review and called it “the most grueling and sustained American combat picture since Black Hawk Down, as well as a prime example of how impressive physical filmmaking can overcome even fundamental deficiencies in script and characterization.” Alonso Duralde, writing for The Wrap, stated, “The film never makes a grand statement about whether or not the war in Afghanistan is, per se, a mistake, but it does portray war itself as a disgusting folly. Berg sets up the cathartic moments we’re used to in movies like this, but then he pulls out the rug, reminding us that the cavalry doesn’t always miraculously show up in time to save the day.” Todd McCarthy, writing for The Hollywood Reporter, described the film as being “rugged, skilled, relentless, determined, narrow-minded and focused, everything that a soldier must be when his life is on the line,” while Scott Bowles of USA Today called Lone Survivor “brutal, unrelenting and ultimately moving.” Leonard Maltin described the film as “visceral”, while praising Berg, the main actors, and the stunt performers for successfully reenacting the events of Operation Red Wings. Maltin concluded that the film “is a tough movie but a rewarding one. It’s humbling to watch this dramatization of the sacrifices these men make, without hesitation. Peter Berg was determined to do justice to them, and he has succeeded.” Betsy Sharkey, writing for The Los Angeles Times, praised the overall look of the film: “The production and costume designers have paid a great deal of attention to the details, from the uniforms and tribal robes, to the bullet wounds and blood. It certainly adds to the film’s verisimilitude.”

[Berg] wanted the audience to be as close to our characters and as close to the action as possible to experience the extreme circumstances our war heroes had to go through emotionally and physically. Ahmad Shah, a local Taliban warlord in the Korangal Valley is identified as the person responsible for the deaths of several Marines, plus many villagers who are believed to have aided the American forces in Afghanistan. A Navy SEAL team, consisting of Michael Murphy, Matthew Axelson, Danny Dietz and Marcus Luttrell, is ordered to capture Shah. Images of the real Luttrell, Gulab and the fallen service members killed during the mission are shown during a four-minute montage, and an epilogue explains that the Pashtun villagers agreed to help Luttrell as part of a traditional code of honor known as the Pashtunwali.

Berg first screened Lone Survivor to a number of professional American football teams to generate a strong word of mouth for the film. He expressed that the screenings were not a marketing ploy, explaining that it was “just a cool thing to do.” Lone Survivor was screened to the Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Carolina Panthers, and Cleveland Browns as well as the University of Alabama Crimson Tide football te
am. The film received a generally positive response from several football players who took to social media to praise the film. A gala premiere screening of Lone Survivor was held during the AFI Film Festival at the TCL Chinese Theatre on November 12, 2013. Lone Survivor held its red carpet premiere on December 3, 2013, at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City, where the film received a standing ovation. The premiere also doubled as a tribute to the fallen servicemen of Operation Red Wings; in addition to several cast and crew members, Marcus Luttrell and family members of the deceased were in attendance. Mohammad Gulab, the Afghan villager who helped rescue Luttrell, also attended the premiere, marking his first time in New York City and in a movie theatre.In what the film industry calls a “platform release”, Lone Survivor was released in a small number of theaters before opening wide in other countries; it opened in New York and Los Angeles on December 25, 2013, before being released across North America on January 10, 2014. Entertainment One Films distributed the film in Canadian markets. Buena Vista International released it in the Philippines on January 8, 2014. The defining trait of Lone Survivor—with respect to both its characters and Mr. Berg’s approach to them—is professionalism. It is a modest, competent, effective movie, concerned above all with doing the job of explaining how the job was done. Lone Survivor is a 2013 American biographical war film based on the 2007 nonfiction book of the same name by Marcus Luttrell with Patrick Robinson. Set during the war in Afghanistan, it dramatizes the unsuccessful United States Navy SEALs counter-insurgent mission Operation Red Wings, during which a four-man SEAL reconnaissance and surveillance team was given the task of tracking down the Taliban leader Ahmad Shah. The film was written and directed by Peter Berg and stars Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Emile Hirsch, Ben Foster, and Eric Bana.The film saw a significant drop in attendance during its second weekend of wide release; it had earned $6,665,470, which was a 135.4% increase from its opening Friday. However, by the end of its second weekend, the film earned $25,929,570, a 41.7% overall decrease from the previous weekend. As a result, Lone Survivor went from first to second place behind the action-comedy film Ride Along. The film remained in second place during its third weekend, grossing an additional $12,900,960, which was a 41.5% decrease from its second weekend. It grossed an additional $7,096,330 during its fourth weekend, moving to fifth place in the top 10 rankings. Lone Survivor remained in fifth place during its fifth weekend, grossing an additional $5,565,860, which was a 21.6% decrease from the previous weekend. By its sixth weekend, the film went from fifth place to ninth, earning $4,086,435. By its seventh weekend, Lone Survivor had dropped out of the top ten, earning an additional $1,978,380. Lone Survivor completed its theatrical run in North America on April 10, 2014, after 107 days (15.3 weeks) of release.Lone Survivor was director of photography Tobias Schliessler’s fifth collaboration with Berg, as well as Berg’s first film to be shot digitally. Schliessler intended to shoot the film with Arri Alexa cameras, but instead used Red Epic digital cameras with Fujinon and Angénieux lenses. He chose the Red Epic camera “due to its compact size and lightweight body.”

The two visual effects companies for the film were Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) and Image Engine, with overall supervision by Grady Cofer and Jesper Kjölsrud, respectively. In total, the film has over 400 visual effects shots. ILM was responsible only for creating a helicopter crash sequence in the film. Berg requested that the sequence be done by ILM, who had also worked on his previous film Battleship. Image Engine’s effects work consisted mainly of set extensions and location enhancements; scenes were supplemented with computer-generated mountains, buildings and backgrounds, as well as muzzle flashes for firearms.Lone Survivor was released on Blu-ray and DVD on June 3, 2014, by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment in the United States. On August 9, 2016, it had a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release in the United States and in the UK on September 26, 2016. In the United Kingdom, the film was released on both home video formats on June 9, 2014.

To provide authenticity, Luttrell moved into Berg’s home for one month while Berg was writing the script. He acted as a consultant, detailing to Berg his eyewitness account of the events that unfolded during Operation Red Wings. Berg later embedded with a Navy SEAL team—becoming the first civilian to do so—and lived with them for a month in Iraq while he continued writing the screenplay. In re-enacting the injuries and deaths of the fallen Navy SEAL servicemen, Berg relied on Luttrell’s eyewitness accounts from the book, as well as autopsy reports of the deceased and after-action reports. The United States Navy provided incident reports related to the mission, as well as archival military training footage, which is shown during the film’s opening credits sequence. Still photographs shown during the opening credits sequence were taken from Richard D. Schoenberg’s war photography book The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday: Making Navy SEALs. During filming, there were some dialogue changes in comparison to Berg’s script, as the filmmaker occasionally encouraged the actors to improvise their lines.

Sound editing and mixing work took place at Todd Soundelux. Supervising sound editor Wylie Stateman recorded on-location sound during filming, placing microphones on the actors’ backpacks and clothing “so [the viewers] would hear explosions and bullets going by as though [they] were with these guys as they were being attacked.” In creating sound effects for the environment of each scene, Stateman relied on foley design, rather than traditional sound effects.Several reviewers criticized Lone Survivor for focusing more on its action scenes than on characterization. In his review for The Star-Ledger, Stephen Whitty wrote, “This is the sort of bare-bones story that well served plenty of World War II movies once, and it would work here, if Berg had the sense to develop these men as characters, first. But we don’t really get to know any of them, or what they might bring personally to this life-or-death emergency.” Rafer Guzman of Newsday wrote, “The movie seems more concerned with military-style action than with telling us who these fallen heroes really were.”

The rugged terrain of Afghanistan is on full display in Lone Survivor. Towering mountains, lush valleys, and the vast expanse of desert roll into each other as far as the eye can see, offering a stark reminder of the harsh conditions they will face during their mission. As Luttrell and his team press onward, they must also contend with oppressive heat and unforgiving winds, all while keeping a sharp eye out for any sign of danger that might lurk in the shadows. Despite these trying conditions, their courage never wavers and their strength remains unbroken.The team start ascending the mountainside to extract as planned, yet the villagers alert the Taliban who pursue them. The SEALs initially keep their advantage, but they are eventually overwhelmed by the large number of Taliban forces. As they’re forced towards a ravine, Dietz is killed and the remaining SEALs try fervently to call for help. Murphy scales the cliff to get a better connection for communication and eventually call for assistance, but is killed shortly after.

Camp Pendleton in California and Fort Campbell in Kentucky were the prime locations for shooting base scenes, faithfully replicating a real-life Navy SEAL team base camp situated in Afghanistan. These two military bases also served to stage scenes of preparation and homecoming from their mission.If you’re looking to explore the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, there are multiple ways to get there. From Northern New Mexico, you can take I-25 North and then turn east on US 285 to head towards the mountains. From Colorado, you can travel south on I-25 until Antonito and then head east on US 285.

This movie recounts the gripping story of a failed mission by US SEALS to capture a Taliban leader in Afghanistan back in 2005. When action arrives in this film, it comes with a formidable impact. It can be overwhelming and intense, and witnessing the courage of soldiers as they struggle amid their desperate conditions is heartbreaking yet inspiring.The scene of the Taliban ambush in Lone Survivor is truly intense. With the team surrounded on all sides, the deafening sound of gunfire rings out as they fight a desperate battle for survival. Bullets whiz past and explosions rock the ground beneath them as they bravely stand their ground and fight for their survival. In a moment of sheer courage, Luttrell makes his heroic last stand—a testament to the strength and bravery of America’s fighting men and women.

Kirtland Air Force Base is a major military installation and the home of the United States Air Force’s Nuclear Weapons Center. It houses a variety of units and organizations dedicated to science and technology research, nuclear weapons storage, training, air refueling operations, security forces, and more. The base also serves as home to the famous U-2 spy plane program and was integral to developing America’s first atomic bombs. The producers of the movie were also enticed by Chilil’s stunning natural scenery and used it to film many of its forest battle scenes. With lush greenery and a picturesque backdrop, Chilili proved to be an ideal filming location. Fort Campbell is a United States Army Post located between the two cities of Hopkinsville and Clarksville in Kentucky. This post is home to military personnel, their families, and civilians. It is one of the most visited fort sites for family outings and vacations. Visitors can explore Fort Campbell’s impressive war history dating back to the Civil War through its museums, monuments, and memorials.To capture the battle scenes, the producers ventured to Chilili, New Mexico. There they discovered picturesque wooded areas which served as a perfect backdrop for their footage. Chilili is a small, rural community located in the Central Rio Grande Valley. It is home to a variety of family-friendly activities and attractions, and various nature trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. The Chilili Schoolhouse also has a fascinating history as one of the oldest school buildings in the state. Other educational landmarks around town include sites like an old trading post and an exhibit focusing on early Spanish explorers.

To get to the Rocky Mountains of Canada, you will need to first fly into an airport in one of the Canadian provinces that make up this mountain range: Alberta or British Columbia. From there, you can rent a car and drive to your destination.Lone Survivor was released in limited areas across the United States on December 25, 2013, before screening in more locations on January 10, 2014. The movie generated mostly positive reviews with the direction, realism, acting, action sequences, and visuals being highly praised. Despite this, some critiques were made over the focus of action rather than character development. It earned $154 million globally and was selected as one of the top ten films of 2013 by the National Board of Review. Additionally, it was nominated for two Oscars in 2014 for Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing.

To bring the sandy Afghan terrain to life, filmmakers chose Morocco’s deserts as a perfect backdrop. Erg Chigaga, located in the southern Moroccan desert, is truly a breathtaking sight. The vast and rolling sand dunes stretch for miles in all directions, creating an almost surreal landscape of gold and red that is beloved by travelers from all around the world. With its rich cultural heritage, remote location, and idyllic climate, it is no wonder that Erg Chigaga has become such a popular tourist destination.

After uncovering that producers used New Mexico to film, we went the extra mile and identified a select group of points throughout this vast state for movie-making. To bring to life the beauty of the Hindu Kush mountain range, filmmakers opted for the majestic Sangre de Cristo Mountains located in Santa Fe National Forest. The effort paid off and they were able to capture stunning scenery.To get to Fort Campbell in Kentucky, you can either fly into the nearby Nashville International Airport about 70 miles away. If you’re heading south from Hopkinsville, you’re looking at a drive of about 20 miles.Peter Berg first heard of the book in 2007 and immediately initiated conversations to get the rights to make a film based on it. Universal Pictures secured these rights in August 2007 after outbidding other studios. To bring this true story to life, Berg drew much of his screenplay from Luttrell’s book and files associated with the mission. The movie was shot over 42 days in New Mexico, with technical guidance from Navy SEAL veterans and assistance from multiple branches of the armed forces. Visual effects were completed by Industrial Light & Magic and Image Engine.

The scene at the Navy SEAL team’s base camp in Lone Survivor reveals a desolate yet majestic landscape of rolling hills and vast sand dunes. Despite the harsh environment, there is a palpable sense of camaraderie among the team members. As Marcus Luttrell, his four comrades, and their Afghani counterparts settle into camp for the night, it is clear that they are ready to face whatever lies ahead with courage and determination. Meanwhile, in the distance, stars dot the sky above them and an almost eerie silence envelops everything around them—a reminder of how fragile life truly is.Lone Survivor was set in Afghanistan, where the real-life events occurred. But did you ever wonder what stunning locations were chosen to film these incredible combat and shootout scenes so it looks like a war is happening in Afghanistan? And while the cast turn in a range of inspiring performances, it’s the stunning natural scenery that truly inspires. From New Mexico to Morocco, the producers drew on a variety of unique locations to help recreate Afghanistan’s unique topography. The results, especially on the big screen, are truly spectacular. Kirtland Air Force Base is situated in the southeast of Albuquerque, New Mexico. The cast and crew utilized 26,000-square-foot facilities for their indoor filming shots and blue screen work.The film begins with the rescue operation of Marcus Luttrell (Mark Wahlberg), as he is brought via helicopter to an Air Force base. After this we see what happened three days earlier. A Navy SEAL team consisting of Michael Murphy (Taylor Kitsch), Matthew Axelson (Ben Foster), Danny Dietz (Emile Hirsch) and Luttrell wake up at their base and do their morning routine. But today is no ordinary day, as they’re tasked with capturing Ahmad Shah (Yousuf Azami), a Taliban leader in the Korangal Valley.

Getting to Kirtland Air Force Base is easy. The base is located just minutes from downtown Albuquerque off of Highway 85 and I-40. If you are flying into the area, the nearest airport is Albuquerque International Sunport, which is about five miles away.The four-man team is then airlifted to Afghanistan overnight and heads for Shah’s last known position. Moving through the mountainous environment makes it hard to keep communication lines open. When they tracked down the target, the SEALs are spotted by locals, including one with a walkie-talkie. Believing that these villagers have ties with the Taliban, the SEALs discuss killing them or letting them go. After discussion, Murphy decides to set them free.