Bradley Cooper, nominated for an Oscar for his astounding portrayal of Chris Kyle in Clint Eastwood’s masterpiece, “American Sniper,” is among the the speakers at The National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C. on Friday for Got Your 6’s panel to help expand public understanding of vets through popular culture.
The label Got Your 6 comes from the military term that means “I’ve got your back.”
The organization Got Your 6, a group devoted to accurate portrayals of veterans in entertainment, are announcing the launch of “6 Certified,” in which content creators are encouraged to avoid “negative, stereotypical or extreme depictions of veterans as either ‘charity cases’ or ‘heroes.’”
Studios and producers can earn a “6 Certified” badge to display during film or TV series credits.
“As Hollywood continues to tell powerful stories about veterans and the military, we want to acknowledge those who work hard to get it right,” Chris Marvin, exec director of Got Your 6, said in a statement.
Along with Cooper and Marvin, others expected at the event include First Lady Michelle Obama, Greg Silverman, president of creative development and worldwide production at Warner Bros.; Charlie Ebersol, president and CEO of The Company; Courteney Monroe, CEO of National Geographic Channels; producer Bruce Cohen; Lori McCreary, co-president of the Producers Guild of America; and Sarah Schechter, president of Berlanti Prods.
Also on the list of attendees are Air Force Major Gen. Sharon Dunbar and Clinton Global Initiative associate director Sarah Barton.
“As content creators, we have an incredible opportunity to shape perceptions surrounding veterans and military families, who are important assets to our communities,” said Silverman.
The “6 Certified” designation, which was created by Ebersol, calls for a production to have a “representative and balanced” depiction of veterans, as well as making a pledge to take at least one of six tasks. They include consulting with real veterans or family members in creating projects; casting a veteran in a substantial role; hiring a veteran as a writer; developing a multi-dimensional veteran character; telling a story about a veteran; and having a veteran consult during the production process.
A review committee will meet on a quarterly basis to award certifications. The committee will be launched with members Dunbar, Ebersol, Marvin, Silverman and Rajiv Chandrasekaran.
Cooper is a longtime supporter of Got Your 6 and it’s expected that “American Sniper” will be one of the first movies to get certified.
The Got Your 6 campaign was launched in 2012 after the First Lady called on the entertainment industry to boost the depiction of veterans, as part of her Joining Forces initiative.