Colonel (retired) Kevin Farrell calls the experience “his brush with Hollywood.” He was in England recently as a senior technical advisor for a film that will feature Brad Pitt.
The colonel, who lives in New Windsor, had the right credentials for the job. He graduated from West Point in 1986, commanded at several levels in combat, and retired as the Chief of Military History at West Point.
In a recent telephone interview, he said that the opportunity to work with the film industry was not unusual. The Army has a liaison in Hollywood. So do the other branches of the military. They have two goals — to promote the image of their service and to serve as a resource for movie-makers.
Col. Farrell became a resource for “Fury,” which was shot in England and is due to be released in the fall. While overseas, he worked with David Ayer, whom he described as a director with a passion for realism.
The two men had a positive connection. Mr. Ayer grew up with his grandfather’s stories of World War II, and later joined the Navy and served on a submarine. The colonel also developed an interest in the military at an early age. He listened to his father’s recollection of the European Theater of Operations, and was motivated to apply to West Point. During his career, he served in Germany, Afghanistan, the Balkans and Iraq.
His role on the film set was to insure authenticity and to help the actors relate to their roles. The film “Fury” is set in Germany in 1945, and focuses on a “battle-hardened sergeant” (Brad Pitt), who commands a five-man tank crew on a deadly mission behind enemy lines.”
Before the filming started, Col. Farrell met with the actors to explain the psychology of the tank crew. He told them how the members would interact with one another, and he described what it’s like to be in combat and lose the person serving next to you.
The crew would maintain the interior of the tank. It would become their home. With the commander’s permission, they would put up pictures and other mementos from their civilian life.
The New Windsor resident’s interaction with the cast went beyond the set. He visited Brad Pitt at his home, and stayed for two hours. On another occasion, the colonel and his wife went to Brad Pitt’s trailer. Mrs. Farrell called it “a dream come true.” And the colonel said that the movie star was very respectful and appreciative of his insights.
It was not a totally new experience for the military historian. He’s worked on documentaries for the History Channel, and he’s helped National Geographic with a film about monuments.
He retired from the Army last March and is now the Chief Operating Officer for Battlefield Leadership, LLC — a firm that helps large corporations develop leaders by reviewing the strategies that worked in combat.
At Gettysburg, Normandy or Little Big Horn, Col. Farrell says, there was one side that didn’t win — “and it wasn’t because they weren’t trying.”
