How This Marriage for Benefits Romance Got Permission to Film on Camp Pendleton

 How This Marriage for Benefits Romance Got Permission to Film on Camp Pendleton “Purple Hearts,” set to stream on Netflix on July 29, 2022, tells the story of a Marine Corps marriage for benefits. Can two kids who get hitched for mutual financial benefit break through their hangups and find true love? Sofia Carson (“Descendants”) plays Cassie, a bartender and aspiring musician who faces financial ruin because she can’t afford the drugs she needs to manage her Type 1 diabetes. Nicholas Galitzine (“Cinderella,” the 2021 one opposite Camila Cabello) plays Luke, a military kid who joins the Marines to escape his past mistakes. Things start to go wrong when Luke is injured in combat and returns from Iraq just as Cassie gets a shot at a big record deal. Will the Corps discover their secret, or will love save the day? If you watch romance movies and care about what happens, there’s not much more to say before we start revealing plot points. What is notable is that the Marine Corps got behind a movie about such a controversial topic and allowed the production to film on Camp Pendleton in California. Director Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum worked with military adviser and Marine veteran James Dever to convince the Corps to let their movie film on base. Sofia Carson as Cassie and Nicholas Galitzine as Luke in "Purple Hearts." (Courtesy of Netflix) Rosenbaum directed the recent Disney movie “Sneakerella” and has a long television resumé, directing shows like “Dead to Me,” “Why Women Kill,” “BH90210,” “Empire,” “Hawaii Five-0,” “MacGyver,” “90210” and “The Vampire Diaries.” Dever served 25 years in the Marine Corps including in Operation Desert Storm. After his retirement in 1998, he has become one of Hollywood’s go-to technical advisers. His credits include HBO’s “Westworld,” the Apple TV+ series “For All Mankind,” “American Sniper,” “The Last Full Measure,” “The 15:17 to Paris,” “Captain America: Civil War,” “Letters from Iwo Jima,” “Flags of Our Fathers,” “Jarhead,” “We Were Soldiers” and “Heartbreak Ridge.” Nicholas Galitzine stars as Luke and Sofia Carson stars as Cassie in "Purple Hearts." (Mark Fellman/Netflix) “We had a very tight prep, and so I was really focused on bringing in someone to be a military advisor who had a lot of film experience and would be able to jump in quickly,” Rosenbaum said in an interview with Military.com. “I was really excited when Jim Dever was going to do it. When you look up his credits, you see that he's done all his Clint [Eastwood]’s movies, and he’s done a lot of big military movies. “He was also someone who was fun to talk with and work through things with. So he really was my go-to. Anytime we were hiring someone, or revising a line of dialogue, or the art department was doing signage, everything went through him. All of it was passed through his eyes. “At a certain point, because we were pretty scrappy, but we wanted to keep the bar high visually, I kept pulling all these pictures of Pendleton to show the crew, because we're in Southern California and we’ve got to make sure to really maximize these locations that are so visual and great,” Rosenbaum says. “I would love the audience to have the experience that Cassie has. If someone lives in California, they’ve driven by that stretch of land near Pendleton all the time, but most people have no understanding of what's behind the gates. I really felt like it would be exciting for the audience to follow our lead character through those gates, and to really see inside.” Actor Nicholas Galitzine poses with Marines on Camp Pendleton during the filming of "Purple Hearts." (courtesy Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum's Instagram) “We got rejected by Pendleton on our first pass,” Rosenbaum says. “When James came on board, he gave it another try. He sent them the script. I think we may have sent a letter; I can't remember exactly. He just knew the right people to ask. “We did have to adjust a little bit of dialogue to show a more balanced depiction of the Marine Corps, because we had a couple of Marines [who are still in the movie] that weren't particularly educated and were making slurs. So we balanced it out with a couple of the other characters. Nicholas Galitzine as Luke in "Purple Hearts." (Courtesy of Netflix) “Any time you see Camp Pendleton in a shot, those are actual Marines who were stationed there when we filmed,” Rosenbaum says. “When we were at our deployment where we were cheating Iraq, those Marines were predominantly people that James Dever hired. He has a stable of former Marines who like to do that sort of work. It's such a great shorthand, because, if the scene has them patrolling in Iraq, they know exactly what to do.” “Purple Hearts” comes from Alloy Entertainment, the company behind “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” “Gossip Girl,” “Pretty Little Liars” and “The Vampire Diaries.” The company usually takes a story, starts with a book (or series of books) and then develops a movie or television series based on the story’s print success. “The story came about over 10 years ago when one of the executives at Alloy Entertainment was listening to a podcast about these military marriages for convenience where people were married specifically for the benefits and the additional housing budget they would get per month as married spouses,” Rosenbaum says. “So they thought it was a really interesting idea, because it's like a new twist on ‘Green Card’ or one of those classic movies where two people are stuck together and have to learn to work together.” Sofia Carson and Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum at the premiere of "Purple Hearts." (courtesy Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum's Instagram) Carson worked with Rosenbaum on the Freeform series “Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists” in 2019, and the actor and director hit it off. “About four years ago, I was working with Sofia Carson, who was just beginning her career. I just thought she was marvelous,” Rosebaum continues. “We were trying to think of something else to do together, and I mentioned that to our producers on the ‘Pretty Little Liars’ TV series I was doing with her.” “In Hollywood, when you say, ‘Oh, do you have anything for us to do together; we think it'd be really fun,’ people always say, ‘Yes!’ and then nothing happens. But in this case, they came back to me two weeks later with ‘Purple Hearts.’ “I think Alloy understood that she was really special, and on the cusp of something big,” Rosenbaum says. “They brought me a draft of the script. That was four years ago, and the draft was slightly different, definitely featuring Luke a lot more than Cassie. But we saw the potential, so Sofia and I got really excited. We came on board and started developing it with Alloy. And then we once we had a draft of the script we were excited about, then we went out and sold it.” “Purple Hearts” has a remarkable look for a streaming movie. First of all, it was shot in California rather than Georgia, Vancouver or some other cheaper-to-film place that’s subbing for the actual locations. Not only did the production shoot on Pendleton, there are scenes at the legendary Sunset Strip nightclub, the Whisky a Go Go, and the Hollywood Bowl. Rosenbaum says the movie got a lot of help. “‘Purple Hearts’ was one of the more tight budgets I've ever shot,” she said. “We were just very lucky, because we had so many people receptive to letting us use locations. Pendleton was free. A lot of our locations had a lot of bang for their buck. We filmed the concerts when people were going to real concerts, and then we'd have our lead come out in character. So a lot of it was clever producing. The Whisky were very eager to have us because they've been shut down a lot for COVID. Normally, I think it would have been hard to get in there, but they were really receptive.” One other notable thing about “Purple Hearts” is the ambition behind its music. Carson co-wrote most of her character’s songs alongside a team led by hitmaking producer Justin Tranter, a well-known artist who’s written or produced songs for Selena Gomez, Gwen Stefani, Justin Bieber, Britney Spears, Julia Michaels, Imagine Dragons, Ariana Grande and Dua Lipa. The first single, “Come Back Home,” is now available on all streaming services, and there will be a soundtrack album released at the same time as the movie, so “Purple Hearts” could be the first military movie since “Top Gun” to generate a few hit singles. Whether you're looking for news and entertainment, thinking of joining the military or keeping up with military life and benefits, Military.com has you covered. Subscribe to the Military.com newsletter to have military news, updates and resources delivered straight to your inbox. Show Full Article © Copyright 2022 Military.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Sims 4 Sexual Orientation Update Has Been A Long Time Coming I’ve been playing The Sims franchise since The Sims 2 era -- just long enough to attribute it to my own coming out -- and I've witnessed firsthand how it has evolved its representation of LGBTQIA+ relationships and identities through the years. The games have always included same-sex romance, with each iteration building on the foundation of the last.  A brief look at history of the franchise’s LGBT inclusion shows us that the incredible new The Sims 4 sexual orientation update has been a long time coming and is a major step forward for LGBT representation in The Sims. History Of The Sims Sexual Orientation Settings Getting screenshots in The Sims 2 isn't easy, but for the gays it must be done. Sims in the original The Sims could have same-sex relationships and complete a "move in" option together that functioned the same way as the "marriage" interaction, however two Sims of the same sex could not get married. The original game first released in 2000, so it's unsurprising that it was a reflection of the world during the time when real same-sex couples couldn't marry either. However, the early iterations of The Sims were firmly rooted in whimsy, so it does make you wonder why they couldn't include marriage in this fantastical life simulator. That said, when The Sims 2 released in 2004 there had been a few key changes that improved how same-sex couples were regarded in-game. Same-sex relationships were still possible, just as they were in the original, but now couples could take the next step equivalent to marriage and create a "joined union." The Sims 2 also has a predetermined gender preference for Sims that -- when cheats are activated -- lets players know which gender the Sim is more or less attracted to. Despite being an interesting mechanic, we never see the same chemistry system again throughout the rest of the franchise. The Sims 3 was by far the most "normalized" rendition of same-sex relationships, meaning they didn't have a lot of special characteristics or actions because they were seemingly regarded equally to heterosexual Sim relationships. It even allowed for same-sex couples to be married, not just a joined union, referring to spouses as "husbands" and "wives" instead of just "partners." This means The Sims 3 acknowledged marriage equality in 2009, but we still had to wait until 2015 for it to become universally recognized in the United States. Talk about being ahead of the times! Leading up to The Sims 4, same-sex relationships were largely defined in very binary terms, and same-sex relationships functioned the same way as heterosexual ones. Thanks to continuous updates, The Sims 4 has the most robust gender options in Create-A-Sim out of any other The Sims game. Players can customize many different aspects of their Sim's gender presentation, including whether a Sim can get pregnant or impregnate other Sims.  It's important to note that gender presentation, identification, and pronouns don't automatically equal sexual orientation, which is applicable to both Sims and real people. However, The Sims 4's base game updates have made it easier to tell more gender-diverse stories in-game, which in turn can lead to how their players can depict all aspects of their Sims' lives playing out. The Sims 4 Sexual Orientation Update Details This is the default Sexual Orientation setting for all Sims, but can be checked or unchecked as players choose. From the start of The Sims 4, Sims could have their romantic preferences "molded" to that of the same or opposite gender based on player actions. Thanks to The Sims 4 sexual orientation update, players will be able to select their Sims' sexual orientation in Create-A-Sim and customize who their Sim is interested in romantically, who their Sim is interested in WooHooing (messing around with for teen Sims), and even select if the Sim is uninterested in WooHoo altogether. The Sexual Orientation selection is located in the same box as the Gender selections. Attraction simply means that your Sim is attracted to whatever the selection is, with players being able to check both "men" and "women" or leaving both boxes unchecked for no attraction whatsoever. Romantic exploration has a "yes" or "no" selection, with the option for players to have more mutable sexual orientation journeys. The options for Sims interested in WooHoo are the same as the Attraction selection, with "men" or "women" available as checkboxes. Players who want to tell an Asexual storyline could leave all options unchecked and never pursue romance or have all romantic actions performed on them fail. Aromantic Sims are now possible as well, as players can leave the Attraction selections unchecked but then check a box (or boxes) for WooHoo interest.  Thanks to The Sims 4 sexual orientation update, Sims will now be able to ask close friends to be WooHoo Partners. This is a way to better represent Aromantic Sims, but can also be a great "friends with benefits" mechanic for more storytelling opportunities. If players are uninterested in setting individual Sexual Orientation preferences in The Sims 4, Sims will continue to keep their previous romance behavior from before the update. Had to sneak in a photo of me and my girlfriend's Simselves getting married. For now, the attraction, romance, and WooHoo selections follow the gender binary of men/women, but Senior Designer and Lead Designer SimGuruJessica explained that this is because, mechanically speaking, nonbinary Sims don't yet exist in The Sims 4. Players can still have nonbinary Sims in-game because of the pronouns update, but there still seems to be some work to be done when it comes to actually implementing nonbinary as a gender identity like man or woman.  Nonbinary identities are precisely outside of the gender binary (hence the name). Though it's technically a gender identity, the whole point is that nonbinary people don't identify with either gender, so putting it next to options like "man" or "woman" is a bit of an oxymoron. It might, however, be necessary for more diverse LGBTQIA+ representation given the limitations of The Sims 4. Where Does The Sims 4 Sexual Orientation Update Go From Here? Couldn't talk about the sexual orientation update without at least one picture of "bedroom eyes." SimGuruJessica has already stated this update is essentially a version 1.0 and that the team wants to hear from players as The Sims 4 continues to add more diverse, equitable, and inclusive options. What's most important about The Sims 4 sexual orientation update is the answer to the question, "Can I turn this feature off?" from the deep dive into the new feature: "No. While we try to give players the option to toggle certain gameplay features, LGBTQIA+ identities are a fact of life and not a toggle to be switched on and off." The Sims has always seemed to care for LGBT identities in-game, but The Sims 4 has continually shown its dedication to not only showcasing LGBTQIA+ stories, but doing so in a way that's meaningful and respectful. As someone whose experiences with The Sims 2 helped in exploring and accepting my own sexuality and identity, this is an incredible stance for The Sims team to take and warms my little Queer heart. There's still a ways to go until all LGBTQIA+ identities are properly showcased in The Sims 4, but the sexual orientation update is a win, and I can't wait to see how The Sims evolves to be more diverse and inclusive. Libra Horoscope Today:Daily prediction for July 29,'22 states, aura of energy LIBRA (Sep 24-Oct 23) You feel satisfied to help people around you. You consider yourself blessed to have the capability to support others. You are likely to feel an aura of energy when others thank you for your backing. As you are a balanced person, things never go out of control for you. Sometimes, you try to run away from situations, however there is always a solution for all your problems. You believe in being confident and know that you can handle whatever comes your way. To have beautiful things around you is your passion, also, you enjoy luxuries to the fullest. You are charming and it is a matter of pride for anyone to have you in life. Now, let’s look at what your day will look like in terms of health, romance, finance and family. Libra Finance Today You will feel little anxious with regards to financial matters but actually there is no reason for you to worry. You will think about potential problems but those problems might not even take place in near future. So, stay cool. Libra Family Today There will be joy among all family members. You will have quality time to spend with your family. Love and support will mark the day. A get-together or celebration will also take place. Libra Career Today For you, it is a good day to impress your boss or senior. Without making much effort, you will get all the appreciation from your associates. Things will be in your favor just by sheer luck. Just relax and enjoy this lucky day. Libra Health Today Health will be in good shape. You will look fit and energetic. Eating fresh and balanced food will work for you. You might join aerobics or yoga, which will provide you with lots of health benefits. Libra Love Life Today You will need to be in harmony with your partner. Take the advice of family members if you feel so. Try to be a good listener. To pamper and feel pampered is your way of romance, so follow your heart. Lucky Number: 5 Lucky Colour: Forest Green By: Manisha Koushik, Dr Prem Kumar Sharma (Astrologer, Palmist, Numerologist & Vastu Consultant) Email: support@askmanisha.com, psharma@premastrologer.com Url: www.askmanisha.com, www.premastrologer.com Contact: Panchkula: +91-172-2562832, 2572874 Delhi: +91-11-47033152, 40532026 ABOUT THE AUTHOR Manisha Koushik has more than 12+ years of experience. She gives astrological advice related to career, health, finance, business, relationship and more. She is known to combine the principles of Vedic and Western astrology, Tarot, Numerology, Vastu and Fengshui. She has authored many books and is a popular face for astrology TV shows. ...view detail