Sportsman Channel Releases Q&A with Scott MacTavish from MURPH: the Protector
OutdoorHub 09.02.14
Sportsman Channel airs the cable network premiere of the documentary – MURPH: The Protector presented by Bravo Company on Thursday, September 4 and Friday, September 5 at 7 p.m. ET. MURPH: The Protector is an intimate and in-depth feature-length documentary based on Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Lt. Michael Murphy’s life of honor, courage and commitment, as told by his friends, family and teammates.
Below is a Q&A with filmmaker and producer Scott MacTavish
Q: What inspired you to want to tell this story?
A: “I have a relationship with the Murphy family and knew a little about Michael’s story. I was working on another project but the more we looked at Michael’s story, the more we realized that it really deserved all of our attention.”
Q: How long did the documentary take to film?
A: “The entire process was about four to five months and it premiered in Manhattan at the Danny Kaye Theatre on the evening of the commissioning of the U.S.S. Michael Murphy.”
Q: What was the most difficult part about filming the documentary?
A: “It’s particularly difficult to raise money for documentaries. I have my life savings in the project.“
Q: Discuss the emotional aspect of making the film?
A: “When you do a project like this you are asking people to relive one of the worst times in their lives. It was very long days. Each person sat with us for 8-10 hours in a very small room, under hot lights and my job was to make them relive those moments. It was a very emotional and taxing experience sitting there asking Michael’s family to relive those days.”
Q: What did you learn about Lt. Murphy that you didn’t already know?
A: “I knew a lot about Michael going in but what I did find is that he was incredibly driven from a very young age. He was a tough kid. He wasn’t very big but was incredibly fit. He was an extraordinary young man and you realize that he got those traits from his parents. His dad was a career prosecutor who put a lot of bad guys in prison and his mother was a teacher. He grew up in an environment where service to others was emphasized.”
Q: Why should people care about Lt. Michael Murphy?
A: “Mike is an archetype of every single man and woman that we lose [while fighting for our country]. When brave souls are taken from us, it’s like a pebble in a pond – there is a ripple effect and it effects people for the rest of their lives. Mike was one of the best examples of those men and women that I can use to tell the story [of these fallen heroes]. We shouldn’t forget the sacrifice. And when you watch the film you realize how profound the loss is. We have thousands of families across the U.S. who are experiencing that today.”
For more information on Lt. Michael Murphy visit: www.Murphfoundation.org
Contact:
Tom Caraccioli, Sportsman Channel, P: 212.852.6646; tcaraccioli@thesportsmanchannel.com
Ryan Nolan, Sportsman Channel, P: 262.432.9100 ex 117; rnolan@thesportsmanchannel.com
Shannon Kolpin, Sportsman Channel, P: 262.432.9100 x102; skolpin@thesportsmanchannel.com
