SCREEN MARINES
Commandos star in thriller shot by military veterans
FORMER Scottish- based commandos are teaming up to make an action series based on the grim realities of war.
The five-part drama – called Sunray – stars three current and one former Royal Marine and has been shot entirely by military personnel.
Two of the lead actors, Tip Cullen and Sean Lerwill, have close links to 45 Commando, based at Arbroath.
Tip, who plays Andy, fought alongside the unit’s specialist recon team in Afghanistan, while Sean, (Harper) commanded a troop of 30 men there. The actors are working under the production team of former marines Sam Seeley, Dan Shepherd and James Clark.
The trio – now Navy photographers – are using their experiences to shape the show and their talent behind the lens to film it. They’ve already recorded the trailer for the series, using £6000 of their own money, and have now launched a crowdfunding effort to raise £60,000 more to fund the filming of five episodes.
The former green berets hope the series will bring veterans together and help them come to terms with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Afghanistan veteran Sam, 30, said: “It was a way of me sharing some of the things I experienced by putting them in a fictional story. I wanted to create a platform for mental health and veteransns but in a fun way.
“People can be reallyll scaredd about b t approaching mental health and worried about showing people potentially trying to commit suicide.
“We wanted to show it in a way that’s dramatic and hard-hitting but focuses on issues, which for us are PTSD and survivors’ guilt.”
Sunray – the nickname given to a leader in the marinesi – followsfll fourf retired ti d commandos as they try to bring down a brutal crime syndicate.
In one scene, Tip is shown breaking down with a pistol in his mouth as he contemplates taking his own life.
To support Sunray’s kick-starter appeal, see kickstarter.com/projects/ sammyseeley/sunray.