Chris Pratt has recognized military veterans as some of the hardest workers within the Hollywood industry. Speaking recently, Pratt praised the former Navy SEALs involved in the production of The Terminal List for their exceptional work ethic and dependability.
Veterans Bringing Military Precision to Film and Television
Pratt, 46, shared insights on how his surroundings on The Terminal List are dominated by veterans, many of whom serve in roles both in front of and behind the camera. This increased presence creates a unique dynamic where the transition from military service to entertainment becomes a strong and productive pipeline.
Our room is populated with a bunch of veterans,
he explained during an interview on Literally! With Rob Lowe.
We’ve got people in front of the camera, behind the camera who are all veterans. They work, man. And that, the pipeline of like going from military to the film and television industry is — it’s such a great outlet for these guys.
– Chris Pratt
Pratt emphasized how veterans possess a no-nonsense approach to tasks, often completing them efficiently and without the need for excessive oversight.
Cause they are just like, they just get s— done. You know? If you ask, ‘Hey handle this.’ They’re like, ‘Got it.’ You don’t have to follow up the next day. And they’re not like, ‘Oh, actually, it’s kind of like, I think stuff’s going on. Like, first of all, you have to understand what happened.’ It’s like, ‘No, they just get s— done.’ It’s amazing.
– Chris Pratt
Chris Pratt’s Role in Highlighting Veteran Talent on Set
In The Terminal List, Pratt stars as James Reece, a U.S. Navy SEAL lieutenant commander, bringing a personal understanding to the role, given the military focus. Beyond acting, Pratt serves as an executive producer for the series, giving him a crucial role in shaping the show’s environment and highlighting veteran involvement.
He expressed admiration for the seamless integration of specialized military skills into filmmaking, noting that what veterans bring goes beyond combat training; it also contributes to precise and professional execution on set.
“What they’re capable of doing, it’s very specific and kind of narrow in terms of application, unless you’re gonna go do private security for somebody where you need to be on your toes and be willing and capable of delivering lethal force to protect something,”
Pratt explained. He added,
To see them using their training — but in service of art — it’s been amazing to see this sort … this catharsis, because these are guys who have millions of dollars worth of training pumped into each one of them. And then to put that training into making actors know how to handle weapons systems [and] move properly.
– Chris Pratt
Chris Pratt’s Journey and Hollywood Career
Before his success in Hollywood, Chris Pratt led a more typical life, including working as a waiter at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. restaurant. During this time, a damaged name tag led coworkers to nickname him “Christo,” a moniker he briefly contemplated using professionally as his acting career began to flourish.
I had a name tag that said Christopher at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.,
Pratt recounted on the Happy, Sad, Confused podcast.
But the ‘PHER’ got rubbed off, so it said ‘Christo,’ and everyone called me Christo for a long time while I was working at Bubba Gump.
He continued,
High turnover rate, the new employees thought my name was Christo,
he added.
And as I navigated being discovered and brought to Los Angeles to follow my dreams, part of me thought in earnest maybe I go as just Christo.
– Chris Pratt
Pratt first became widely known for his role in the comedy series Parks and Recreation alongside Amy Poehler, Adam Scott, Rashida Jones, and Nick Offerman. Later, he rose to blockbuster fame starring in films including Guardians of the Galaxy, Jurassic World, Passengers, Moneyball, Zero Dark Thirty, and The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
Impact of Veterans’ Skills on Film Productions and Beyond
Chris Pratt’s remarks underline the growing recognition of how veterans enhance film productions, not only through their discipline and work ethic but by applying their military training creatively. Accepting veterans into the entertainment industry offers these professionals an outlet for their unique capabilities while enriching Hollywood’s operational dynamics.
This trend could encourage more productions to incorporate veterans, potentially expanding opportunities within Hollywood and supporting transitions out of military service.
