Hausmann-Stokes says the response has been “overwhelmingly positive,” and the site’s members have “been contacted by agencies, studio representatives, casting directors, and production companies for various career opportunities.” The VFT advisory board already boasts some star power, with actors Jon Huertas (Castle and HBO’s Generation Kill, Air Force), retired Marine Corps Reserve Lt. Col. Rob Riggle (The Hangover, 21 Jump Street), and West Point graduate Mark Valley (Boston Legal, Army).
“The industry is veteran-friendly right now, and many opportunities are out there. VFT has hosted representatives from top talent agencies, studios, and production companies such as CAA, Fox, NBC Universal, ABC, HBO, Lionsgate, and more,” adds Hausmann-Stokes. “Veterans have also been able to meet and learn from high-profile speakers such as executive Ron Meyer [vice chair/NBC Universal], producer Gale Anne Hurd [The Walking Dead, Terminator], casting director Robert Ulrich [Glee, CSI], and many more.”
Growing up, Marine Corps veteran Michael Broderick, also a VFT member, became interested in acting while watching some of comedy’s best: Dick Van Dyke, Gene Wilder, and Steve Martin. He did some theater in his teens, but it wasn’t until he heard about HBO’s follow-up to the World War II mini-series Band of Brothers, called The Pacific, that he headed with his family to Los Angeles.
“I’ve been fortunate to be cast in costarring roles on some of the most popular shows on television like Criminal Minds, The Mentalist, Justified, 24, etcetera, but I’m still working toward that elusive first guest-starring role,” says Broderick.
He has been cast in mostly military or law-enforcement related roles and appeared in G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra and TV shows like NCIS, Bones, Jericho, The Unit, and Touch. When he got an audition for a softball player on Criminal Minds, he said he was “thrilled to break out of the typecast.” Later he found out the role was for a “secret service softball player” and said he and his wife had a good chuckle over it.
“It’s a bit different from the kind of career that, as a younger man, I thought I’d have, but I consider myself fortunate to make a living doing what I love,” says Broderick. “Maybe someday down the road, I’ll get the opportunity to do some comedy.”
MO
— Anayat Durrani is a freelance writer based in California. Her last feature article for Military Officer was “Back to School,” October 2012.
JANUARY 2014 MILITARY OFFICER 73
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