US first lady backs ‘American Sniper’

First lady Michelle Obama speaks during the launch event for "Got Your 6," a multifaceted program that includes encouraging film and television to include characters who are veterans, at the National Geographic Society in Washington. AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

First lady Michelle Obama speaks during the launch event for "Got Your 6," a multifaceted program that includes encouraging film and television to include characters who are veterans, at the National Geographic Society in Washington. AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

Published Feb 1, 2015

Share

New York - US first lady Michelle Obama urged Hollywood to give a more accurate portrayal of veterans and defended the Oscar-nominated American Sniper, which has received criticism for its depiction of war.

Bradley Cooper, who is nominated for best actor for his portrayal of the late Navy Seal sniper Chris Kyle, joined Obama and media heavyweights in Washington, DC, on Friday to launch 6 Certified with representatives from Warner Bros, National Geographic Channels and the Producers Guild of America.

The initiative will allow TV shows and films to display an on-screen badge that tells viewers the show they’re watching has been certified by the group Got Your 6, which derives its name from military slang for “I’ve got your back”.

To be approved, the film or show must cast a veteran, tell a veteran story, have a story written by a veteran or use veterans as resources. “We hope our country will welcome back our veterans – not by setting them apart but by fully integrating them into the fabric of our communities,” Obama said.

Obama also came to the defence of American Sniper – about Kyle, considered the most lethal sniper in US military history. It has become a box-office sensation and has strong supporters but has also weathered a growing storm of criticism that the film glorifies murder and serves as war propaganda.

“While I know there have been critics, I felt that, more often than not, this film touches on many of the emotions and experiences that I’ve heard first-hand from military families over these past few years,” she said.

Chris Marvin, managing director of Got Your 6 and a former US army officer and Blackhawk helicopter pilot, said their campaign wasn’t hoping to show veterans in a good light but in an honest one.

“Most Americans tell us that they only see veterans portrayed as broken or as heroes who walk on water in film and television,” he said. “We’re missing something in the middle. Veterans are everyday people.”

The Got Your 6 group was launched in 2012 to enlist Hollywood in the effort to promote more accurate representation of soldiers. Sapa-AP

Related Topics: