Filmmaker Drew On Navy Experience
by ANN Correspondent Aleta Vinas
If Speed and Angels had been released to the general
public, it may very well have given Top Gun a run for its
money as favorite aviation film.
Producer Paco Chierici conceived the idea for Speed and
Angels prior to his retirement after 20 years in the US Navy.
Starting out in A-6 Intruders moving on to F-14s then F-5s with the
Reserves. About four years prior to retirement Chierici started
thinking "I knew that the end was near and I felt very passionate
about telling the real story." He wanted to share the people, what
they do, how they fly, how passionate they are about each other,
about their community, flying the incredible aircraft and how
passionate they are about their country and families. Chierici
believes "It's a no brainer people will fall in love with this
group."
He terms Speed and Angels an "action documentary,"
Chierici explained. "It feels very much like a feature film,
it’s very rich not only in terms of character and character
development but also in terms of action."
From inception to funding and to get it "in the can" took about
three years. Chierici met Mike Homer in the course of his search
for funding. Homer fell in love with the concept and the characters
became Executive Producer and helped Chierici raise about 75% of
the funds. "We struck gold with Mike," boasts Chierici.
About a dozen pilots were followed prior to narrowing the field.
No one was initially in the limelight, "we snuck up on them" says
Chierici. The film follows two pilots Jay and Meagan from raw
enthusiasm to seasoned aviator. The film follows the two through
training, carrier qualification and deployment. It also follows the
pilots behind the scenes to, sometimes tearful, get togethers at
home. "It's difficult to be part of something this intimate." Notes
Chierici "It requires an honesty that most people are not used to
giving away freely. They believed in us and trusted us and believed
in the film."
Director Peyton Wilson was a one woman camera crew on the
carriers. Unprecedented access was granted for the filming which
takes place on aircraft carriers and in the air. The dogfight
scenes were choreographed and recreated for the movie but the
actual voice tapes were used from the original training.
"The film is about chasing your dream, chasing your passion and
over coming all the obstacles in your life that try to prevent you
from chasing your dream," says Chierici. We are allowed to look
over the shoulders of two people and follow their journey. "It is a
film with a universal theme and not falling victim to the
inevitable obstacles." Chierici adds.
The film will play twice a day in the SkyScape Theater at the
EAA Museum during AirVenture. Now is the time to see it since a
distribution deal was recently signed with Salient Media out of Los
Angeles (CA). Chierici hopes the film will be "released later this
year or maybe early next year hopefully in theaters. If not
theaters then on cable TV and then after that on DVD."