The USO and Universal Pictures welcomed more than 200 service members to the world premiere of “Pitch Perfect 3” on Dec. 13 at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood. Five service members walked the red carpet alongside the cast of the film, including USO tour veteran and “Pitch Perfect 3” star and producer Elizabeth Banks.
Banks, who credits her USO tour experience in 2015 as the inspiration behind the new film’s story line, said it was an honor to go on a USO tour and her experience was so inspiring that she wanted it to be part of “Pitch Perfect 3.” In the movie, the Bellas go on a USO tour through Europe after graduating from college.
“The tour gave me a chance to express gratitude to the most deserving men and women on the planet – our nation’s service members and their families.”
During her USO tour, Banks – along with Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford, USO CEO and President J.D. Crouch II and many others – traveled to Italy, Djibouti, Bahrain, Afghanistan and Germany.
Prior to the premiere, service members, USO staff and supporters pitched in to stuff 600 care packages at the American Legion Hollywood that will be delivered to some of the 1,350-plus California National Guard members activated to fight the Southern California wildfires. Crouch and Bob Hope USO President Bob Kurkjian dedicated the USO premiere reception to California National Guard members, encouraging attendees to help assemble the care packages and to write personal messages of support on them.
The Marine Corps, Army, Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard were represented on the red carpet at the “Pitch Perfect 3” premiere in Los Angeles on Dec. 13.
Prior to the “Pitch Perfect 3” premiere, service members, USO staff and supporters pitched in to stuff 600 care packages that will be delivered to some of the 1,350-plus California National Guard members activated to fight the Southern California wildfires.
!["Pitch Perfect 3" director Trish Sie said, “It was really great for me to learn a lot about the military and the USO in the process of [making] this movie. To … be able to portray that in a way that felt true and to have the Bellas in our story do something good and noble was great.”](https://www.uso.org/rails/active_storage/representations/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBb0F1IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--f9ad10e362009b957c835c7bc3125d0cc1c8600f/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCem9MWm05eWJXRjBTU0lJYW5CbkJqb0dSVlE2QzNKbGMybDZaVWtpRERnd01IZzBOVEFHT3daVSIsImV4cCI6bnVsbCwicHVyIjoidmFyaWF0aW9uIn19--d99b271e22eec06a02c903c4fa41d96b629487ac/SIE.jpg)
“Pitch Perfect 3” director Trish Sie said, “It was really great for me to learn a lot about the military and the USO in the process of [making] this movie. To … be able to portray that in a way that felt true and to have the Bellas in our story do something good and noble was great.”
“We are proud to support the California National Guard as we participate in the premiere to see the USO featured as part of ‘Pitch Perfect 3,’” Crouch said. “We are grateful for all those who pitched in as a Force Behind the ForcesSM to produce these care packages. We are also thrilled that our good friend Elizabeth Banks incorporated her USO tour experience into the ‘Pitch Perfect’ series, and that Universal Pictures and director Trish Sie brought our entertainment mission to life so well.”
“It was really great for me to learn a lot about the military and the USO in the process of [making] this movie,” Sie said on the red carpet at the premiere. “To … be able to portray that in a way that felt true and to have the Bellas in our story do something good and noble … was great.”
Crouch said the movie, which opens in theaters on Dec. 22, gives the USO a chance to showcase its mission to a global audience in a new and exciting way.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to introduce [the USO] to people all around the United States – and all around the world, frankly – about what we do to support our men and women in uniform to keep them strong by keeping them connected to family, home and country.”
You can send a message of support and thanks directly to service members via the USO’s Campaign to Connect. Your messages will appear on screens at USO locations around the world.
Every day, America’s service members selflessly put their lives on the line to keep us safe and free. Please take a moment to let our troops know how much we appreciate their service and sacrifice.
