Bonhomme Richard welcomes 'Avatar' cast
2/2/2010
by MCSA Katherine K. Barkley
USS BONHOMME RICHARD, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors and Marines aboard USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) welcomed 'Avatar' cast members Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez and producer Jon Landau Jan. 30 to the amphibious assault ship.

The cast members and producer interacted with Bonhomme Richard Sailors and Marines, posing for photos and signing hundreds of autographs in the ship's hangar bay. Personnel lined up and waited for hours to meet the stars.

"I waited over three hours to get all the autographs from the group," said Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Alejandro Patlan. "It was very exciting to have them here."

"John Landau was very friendly and asked me where I was from," said Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Ricardo Carreon. "It was thrilling to meet such famous people."

After the autograph session, personnel brought their lawn chairs and beach towels to the hangar bay to watch 'Avatar.' Before the film began, however, producer Landau explained to the hundreds of Sailors and Marines in attendance why he and the film's stars made the trip to Bonhomme Richard.

"We are here for one reason, and that's to say thank you, thank you, thank you for what you do every day," said Landau, who won an Academy Award for producing the motion picture 'Titanic.' He also produced hit films 'Honey, I Shrunk the Kids' and 'Dick Tracy.'

Landau introduced cast members Weaver, Lang and Rodriguez, all of whom expressed their gratitude for the crew's service.

"I am so thrilled to be here on this magnificent ship," said Weaver, who has appeared in several blockbuster films such as the 'Aliens' series, 'Working Girl' and 'Ghostbusters.' "I'm a wife and mother, and I've met so many of you here today who are away from your families. I just want you to know how much we appreciate your service."

Bonhomme Richard Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Coordinator Anne Bolton said the visit provided a unique opportunity for both Sailors and the visiting celebrities.

"It was wonderful to see the crew enjoying themselves and to see the excitement on their faces when meeting the cast members and producer," she said. "The 'Avatar' group seemed to be having just as much fun as the crew."

Following the movie, the cast fielded a variety of questions. Cast members also took part in a promotion ceremony and presented Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist (EAWS) pins to two Sailors who recently earned the qualification.

"We are very appreciative and thankful to the 'Avatar' cast and crew for taking time to join us at sea and share their talents with us," said Capt. John Funk, Bonhomme Richard's commanding officer. "This was a huge morale boost that the crew will remember for a long time."

Accompanying the group was John David Cameron, who once served in the Marine Corps, and is the brother of 'Avatar' director James Cameron. John Cameron was the film's military technical consultant.

The visit to Bonhomme Richard was sponsored by Navy Entertainment Program, which brought the Avatar Military Tour to three ships operating at sea during January.

The same program also provides comics, celebrity bands, athletes and other events to help increase the morale of Sailors and Marines deployed worldwide.

Bonhomme Richard is the command platform for the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), currently conducting Maritime Security Operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.