From May to November 2005, the more than 5,000 member crew of the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) was augmented by
a massive film team for their underway deployment.
This team focused not on the operations of the ship, but instead on the daily lives of the Sailors and the way they
performed their demanding jobs at sea. This remarkable footage was recorded for presentation on the Public
Broadcast System (PBS).
After finishing up the six-month deployment and shooting nearly 2,000 hours of high-definition video, the filmmakers
privately screened the first of a 10-part series to an enthusiastic crowd of more than 200 people at KQED Public
Television Station in San Francisco on April 8.
After the screening, a panel consisting of Rear Adm. (sel) Tom Cropper, three-time Emmy Award nominee
director/executive producer Maro Chermayeff and producer Jeff Dupre fielded numerous questions from the audience.
Cropper, who was Commander, Air Group Eleven (CAG) aboard USS Nimitz during the filming and very instrumental in
much of the films logistical operations, said the 10-part series represents a hard working crew determined to get their
mission accomplished.
“I’m very proud of all the young men and women who made the deployment,” said Cropper. “Not everyone is represented
during the series as far as the people who are spotlighted in the film, but it does give a very good visual representation
of all the hard work people do and I’m very proud of the Nimitz ‘record’ on the film,” said Cropper.
He imparted that generations of Navy veterans, young and old, will look at the “Carrier” series and feel a sense of a tradition
and camaraderie, much the same as the crew developed on their deployment.
“It was strong trust and confidence in young Sailors from upper senior management which helped make the decision to make
the film possible,” said Cropper. “Everyone knew positive and professional representation would be there in the film. There’s
also a confidence the United States Navy has as an institution and has had for years. This means a lot and it means a lot to the
Sailors who are a serving. Sailors in the United States Navy who are serving right now or have ever served will enjoy the
representation of the film,” said Cropper.
Carrier is a production of Icon Productions, with executive producers Mel Gibson, Bruce Davey, Nancy Cotton and Mitchell Block.
Director and co-executive producer Chermayeff said her experience filming aboard USS Nimitz for six months was a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity.  She added she has always tried to make the kind of films never made before.
“It was always our intention to make the film about the people and not about what an aircraft carrier is,” said Chermayeff.
“Yes, they are in a very high-stakes environment, yes, they are doing exceptionally cool things but it’s really just about the people’s lives
and why they are doing what they are doing. The paths they have taken in their lives have led them together as a crew. Each day of filming
“Carrier” opened up more and more possibilities to make something totally unique and original. Making “Carrier” will always be one of the
best, most rewarding films I have ever made,” said Chermayeff.
After the “Carrier” series airs in a 10-part series, it will be available on DVD though PBS Home Video and in retail stores on May 6.