Available on Blu-ray and DVD beginning June 5th is the new American war film Act of Valor directed by Mike McCoy and Scott Waugh. The movie is unique in comparison to other Hollywood action films in that it stars actual active duty U.S. Navy SEALs and U.S. Navy Special Warfare Combatant Crewmen, rather than real actors. in addition to the U.S. active duty servicemen featured in the film, the movie also stars actors Roselyn Sanchez (Basic), Nestor Serrano (The Negotiator) and Emilio Rivera (Spider-Man 3). 

IAR's managing editor Jami Philbrick recently had a chance to sit down with Scott Waugh, one of the films directors, at SEALFIT Training Center near San Diego, California to talk about Act of Valor and the upcoming Blu-ray and DVD release, as well as his next film Need for Speed, which is an adaption of the popular video game.

The director discussed Act of Valor, its success in theatrical release, audience's reaction to the film, what he learned from working with the SEALs, the current comic book culture, the movie's Blu-ray and DVD extras, the SEAL casting process, the film's authentic dialogue, Chief Dave's remarkable performance, getting the real SEALs to agree to act in the film, how they now feel about being movie stars, Waugh's unique filmmaking process, conformation that Need for Speed will be his next project, making a big car chase film, his favorite all-time car chase movies, and beginning pre-production on the highly anticipated new project. 

In addition to speaking with Waugh, Philbrick also had an opportunity to train with real Navy SEALs at the SEALFIT Training Center near San Diego, California and found out first hand what it takes to be a real Navy SEAL!

Opening in theaters on February 24th is the new American war film Act of Valor directed by Mike McCoy and Scott Waugh. The movie is unique in comparison to other Hollywood action films in that it stars actual active duty U.S. Navy SEALs and U.S. Navy Special Warfare Combatant Crewmen, rather than real actors. in addition to the U.S. active duty servicemen featured in the film, the movie also stars actors Roselyn Sanchez (Basic), Nestor Serrano (The Negotiator) and Emilio Rivera (Spider-Man 3). 

IAR's managing editor Jami Philbrick recently had a chance to sit down with the films directors Mike McCoy and Scott Waugh to talk about Act of Valor. The two directors discussed their new film, the benefits and the challenges of using actual active duty soldiers, mixing them with real actors, and the movie's authentic high-octane action sequences. 

Synopsis: An unprecedented blend of real-life heroism and original filmmaking, Act of Valor stars a group of active-duty U.S. Navy SEALs in a film like no other in Hollywood’s history.  A fictionalized account of real life Navy SEAL operations, Act of Valor features a gripping story that takes audiences on an adrenaline-fueled, edge-of-their-seat journey.  

The Navy SEALs are some of the most badass individuals to ever walk the Earth, responsible for carrying out the most intricate, precise, and dangerous black ops missions all over the globe.  Rather than rely on actors to provide a portrayal that could never live up to the real thing, the new one-of-a-kind epic film Act of Valor instead stars a group of active-duty SEALs, placing these real-life commandos in a fictionalized story.  The real SEALs provide a never before-seen punch to an original story of globe-spanning adventure, which features some of the most spectacular action set pieces ever committed to film.  Relativity Media released the first trailer today, and it highlights the truly unprecedented access that the United States Navy granted co-directors Mike McCoy and Steve Waugh to create an accurate picture of SEALs get the job done, with weapons and tactics taken directly from reality.

No matter how long or difficult the training endured by actors starring in countless military-themed movies, no performer can possibly do full justice to a real-life special operator, the impeccably trained and impossibly tough personnel responsible for carrying out highly secretive precision covert missions all over the planet.  The new action epic Act of Valor finds a way around that issue of verisimilitude, as it stars for-real active duty Navy SEALs, the most badass commandos the United States Military has to offer.  With a script by 300 screenwriter Kurt Johnstad, co-directors Mike McCoy and Steve Waugh were afforded unprecedented access by the Navy, and the result is a one-of-a-kind action film that takes its heroes across the globe in a race to stop an almost unimaginable threat.

Today, Relativity Media unveiled the very first one-sheet poster for Act of Valor, and its design is evocative and striking in its simplicity and starkness.  Not only that, but the distributor also announced details for a wholly unique event that teams Act of Valor up with the forthcoming videogame Battlefield 3, allowing fans the opportunity to see the movie early and play the game on the big screen.

Since the assassination of Osama bin Laden by Navy SEAL Team 6 in May, there has naturally been a resurgence of interest in the badass exploits of America's special operators.  Luckily, the new action film Act of Valor was made with unprecedented access to the fighting force itself, and even stars a group of active duty SEALs as a team on a global mission to recover a kidnapped CIA agent.  Directed by Mike McCoy and Scott Waugh from a script by 300 screenwriter Kurt Johnstad, the already completed production has just been acquired by Relativity Media, and Act of Valor will provide all the realistic, SEAL-based action that the public demands in 2012.