§238.6. Procedures.
32 C.F.R. § 238.6
General.
The producer will be required to sign a written Production Assistance Agreement (see appendices A and B of this part for sample documents), explaining the terms under which DoD's production assistance is provided, with the designee of the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, and may be required to post advance payment or a letter of credit issued by a recognized financial institution to cover the estimated costs before receiving DoD assistance.
Official activities of Service members in assisting the production must be within the scope of normal military activities. On-duty service members and DoD civilians are prohibited from serving as actors, such as by speaking filmmaker-invented, or scripted dialogue, unless approved in writing by the ATSD(PA) or the ATSD(PA)'s designee. With the exception of assigned project officer(s) and technical advisor(s), Service members and DoD civilians will not be assigned to perform functions outside the scope of their normal duties.
Official personnel services and DoD material will not be employed in such a manner as to compete directly with commercial and private enterprises. DoD assets may be provided when similar civilian assets are not reasonably available.
The production company may hire Service members in an off-duty, non-official status to perform as extras or actors in minor roles, etc., provided there is no conflict with any existing Service regulation. In such cases, contractual arrangements are solely between those individuals and the production company; however, payment should be consistent with current industry standards. The producer is responsible for resolving any disputes with unions governing the hiring of non-union actors and extras. Service members accepting such employment will comply with the standards of conduct in DoD Directive 5500.07, “Standards of Conduct” (available at https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodd/550007p.pdf). The Heads of the Components may assist the production company in publicizing the opportunity for employment and in identifying appropriate personnel.
The production company will restore all Government property and facilities used in the production to the same or better condition as when they were made available for the company's use. This includes cleaning the site and removing trash.
The DoD project officer, described in paragraph (b)(3) of this section, may make DoD motion and still media archival materials available when a production qualifies for assistance in accordance with the general principles in § 238.4(a).
Specific procedures—
Script development and review.
Before a producer officially submits a project to the Office of the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs (OATSD(PA)), the Military Departments and the National Guard Bureau are authorized to assist entertainment-oriented media producers, scriptwriters, etc., in their efforts to develop a script that might ultimately qualify for DoD assistance. Such activities could include guidance, suggestions, answers to research queries for technical research, and interviews with technical experts. However, the Military Departments providing such assistance are required to coordinate with and update OATSD(PA) of the status of such projects. Military Departments and the National Guard Bureau will refrain from making commitments and rendering official DoD opinions until first coordinating through appropriate channels to obtain OATSD(PA) concurrence in such actions.
Production company officials requesting DoD assistance will submit a completed script (or a treatment or narrative description for documentaries), along with a list of desired support to be included on a completed DD Form 3205, “Request for DoD Production Assistance” (available at https://www.esd.whs.mil/Directives/forms/). If a definitive list is not available when the script is initially submitted, requirements should be stated in general terms at the outset. However, no DoD commitment will be made until the detailed list of support requested has been reviewed and deemed to be feasible.
To be considered for approval, an authorized representative of the production company must certify that the project has not complied and is not likely to comply with a demand from the Government of the PRC, the CCP, or an entity under the direction of the PRC or the CCP to censor the content of the project in a material manner to advance the national interest of the PRC in accordance with section 1257 of Public Law 117-263.
When OATSD(PA) receives verifiable information from another source that the project has complied with or is likely to comply with such a demand for censorship as described in paragraph (b)(1)(iii) of this section, OATSD(PA) will, to the extent feasible, inquire with the production company about the information to help inform the DoD decision on whether to approve support for the project.
OATSD(PA) will coordinate the review of scripts, treatment, or narrative description submitted for production assistance consideration. The coordinated review will include each Military Service depicted in the script. Although no commitment for assisting in the production is implied, OATSD(PA) may provide, or authorize the Military Services to provide, further guidance and suggestions for changes that might resolve problems that would prevent DoD assistance.
Production assistance notification. Upon reviewing the recommendations of the Military Departments and the National Guard Bureau concerned, the ATSD(PA) will determine whether a given production meets the DoD criteria for support and if the support requested is feasible. If both requirements are satisfied, the ATSD(PA) will notify in writing the production company concerned, advising it that DoD has approved DoD production assistance and identifying the DoD project officer tasked with representing the DoD throughout the production process. On a case-by-case basis, the ATSD(PA) may choose to delegate the responsibility of signing the Production Assistance Agreement on behalf of the DoD to the designated DoD project officer or other DoD official responsible for coordinating production assistance. If so, this decision would be included in the notification letter. If production assistance is approved for only a portion of the proposed project, the written notification will clearly describe the portion(s) approved. If assistance is not approved, the ATSD(PA) or the ATSD(PA)'s designee will send a letter to the production company stating reasons for disapproval.
Role of the DoD project officer.
When production assistance has been approved, the Military Departments and the National Guard Bureau will assign a project officer (commissioned, non-commissioned, or civilian) who will be designated by OATSD(PA) as the principal DoD liaison to the production company. The DoD project officer will, at a minimum:
Act as the liaison between the production company and the Secretaries of the Military Departments and maintain contact with OATSD(PA) through appropriate channels. In this regard, the project officer will serve as the central coordinator for billing the producer and monitoring payments to the Government. (See paragraph (d) of this section for billing procedures.)
Advise the production company on technical aspects and arrange for information necessary to ensure reasonably accurate and authentic portrayals of the Department of Defense.
Maintain liaison with units and commands assisting the production company to ensure timely arrangements consistent with the approved support.
Coordinate with installations or commands that intend to provide support to the production to ensure that no material assistance is provided before a Production Assistance Agreement is signed by both the DoD and the production company.
When DoD assistance to the production requires the production company to reimburse the Government for additional expenses, develop an estimate of expenses based on the assistance requested, and ensure that these are reflected in the Production Assistance Agreement.
Coordinate with each installation or command providing assets to the production to ensure the production company receives accurate and prompt statements of charges assessed by the Government and that the Government receives sufficient payment for any additional expenses incurred to support the production.
For project officers assigned to a documentary or a non-documentary television series, maintain close liaison with the producer(s) and writers in developing story outlines. All story ideas considered for further development by the production company should be submitted to OATSD(PA) to provide the earliest opportunity for appraisal.
When considered to be in the best interest of the DoD, the assigned project officer may provide “on-scene” assistance to the production company. Military or civilian technical advisor(s) may also be required. In such cases:
Assignment will be at no additional cost to the Government. The production company will assume payment of such items as travel (air, rental car, reimbursement for fuel, etc.) and per diem (lodging, food, and incidentals).
Assignment should be for the length of time required to meet preproduction requirements through completion of photography. When feasible, assignment may be extended to cover post-production stages and site clean-up.
Additional project officer responsibilities, when considered to be in the best interest of the DoD, will include:
Supervising the use of DoD equipment, facilities, and personnel.
Attending pertinent preproduction and production conferences, being available during rehearsals to provide technical advice, and being present during filming of all scenes pertinent to the DoD.
Ensuring proper selection of locations, appropriate uniforms, awards and decorations, height and weight standards, grooming standards, insignia, and set dressing applicable to the military aspects of the production. This applies to both active-duty members and paid civilian actors.
Arranging for appropriate technical advisers to be present when highly specialized military technical expertise is required.
Ensuring that the production adheres to the agreed-upon script and list of support to be provided.
Authorizing minor deviations from the approved script or list of support to be provided, so long as such deviations are feasible, consistent with the safety standards, and in keeping with the approved story line. All other deviations must be referred for approval to OATSD(PA) through appropriate channels.
In accordance with the Production Assistance Agreement, providing notice of non-compliance, and when necessary, suspending assistance when action by the production company is contrary to stipulations governing the project and suspension is in the best interest of the Department of Defense until the matter is resolved locally or by referral to OATSD(PA).
Ensuring the project has not complied and is not likely to comply with a demand from the Government of the PRC, the CCP, or an entity under the direction of the PRC or the CCP, to censor the content of the project in a material manner to advance the national interest of the PRC, in accordance with section 1257 of Public Law 117-263. The project officer will assess the likelihood of a project's compliance with such a demand and of influence or potential influence from the PRC on a project based on the following:
(1) The production company's representations, in accordance with paragraph (b)(1)(iii) of this section.
(2) The production company's representations in the Production Assistance Agreement, including the ongoing obligation to notify the project officer in writing of such a censorship demand, including the terms of such demand, and whether the project has complied or is likely to comply with a demand for such censorship. See paragraph 20 of appendix A to this part and paragraph 18 of appendix B to this part for example language.
(3) Verifiable information from other sources. In the event of such verifiable information, the project officer will coordinate with appropriate OATSD(PA) personnel for the purpose of ensuring that, to the extent feasible, the information is addressed with the production company's authorized representative.
Based on the considerations listed in paragraphs (b)(3)(iii)(H)(1) through (3) of this section, the project officer will coordinate with appropriate OATSD(PA) personnel to make an informed decision on whether DoD support may be provided or may continue to be provided. As appropriate, OATSD(PA) personnel or the project officer will notify the production company of such decision in accordance with this part and, if applicable, the Production Assistance Agreement. In accordance with the decision, the project officer shall then undertake action to initiate, continue, or terminate DoD support.
Attending the approval screening of the production, unless the Military Department concerned, OATSD(PA), and the production company mutually agree otherwise.
Determining whether the production company will need to obtain the written consent of DoD personnel who may be recorded, photographed, or filmed by the production company, including when the production company uses the personally identifying information of DoD personnel. The likeness of DoD personnel in any imagery is included in the meaning of personally identifying information. If the recording or imagery captures medical treatment being performed on DoD personnel, the project officer will require the production company to gain written consent from such DoD personnel. In the case of DoD personnel who are deceased or incapacitated, the project officer will require the production company to gain written consent from the next of kin of the deceased or incapacitated DoD personnel.
Production company procedures—
Review of productions. When DoD assistance has been provided to a non-documentary production, the production company must arrange for an official DoD screening in Washington, DC, or at another location agreeable to OATSD (PA), before the production is publicly exhibited. This review should be early, but at a stage in editing when changes can be accommodated, to allow the Department of Defense to confirm military sequences conform to the agreed upon script. For documentary productions, the production company will provide to the DoD project officer and the DoD designee(s) responsible for coordinating production assistance a digital videodisc (DVD) of military-themed photography and the roughly edited version of the production at a stage in editing when changes can be accommodated. In addition to confirming that the military sequences conform to the agreed upon script, treatment, or narrative, this review will also serve to preclude release or disclosure of sensitive, security-related, or classified information; and to ensure that the privacy of DoD personnel is not violated. Should DoD determine that material in the production compromises any of the preceding concerns, DoD will alert the production company of the material, and the production company will remove the material from the production.
Credit titles. The production company will use its best efforts to place a credit in the end titles immediately above the “Special Thanks” section (if any) that states “Special Thanks to the United States Department of Defense,” with no less than one clear line above and one clear line below such credit acknowledging the DoD assistance provided. Such acknowledgment(s) will be in keeping with industry customs and practices, and will be of the same size and font used for other similar credits in the end titles.
Requests for promotional assistance. Pursuant to DoD Directive 5122.05, “Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs” (available at https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodd/512205_dodd_2017.pdf), the ATSD(PA) is the final authority for military participation in public events, including participation in promotional events for entertainment media productions. The production company will forward requests for promotional assistance to OATSD(PA) in sufficient detail to permit a complete evaluation.
Publicity photos and promotional material. The production company will provide DoD with copies of all promotional and marketing materials (e.g., electronic press kits, one-sheets, and television advertisements) for internal information and historical purposes in documenting DoD assistance to the production.
Copies of completed production. The production company will provide, in a format to be specified in the Production Assistance Agreement, copies of the completed production to DoD for briefings and for historical purposes.
Billing procedures. Pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2264 and 31 U.S.C. 9701, production companies will reimburse the Government for additional expenses incurred as a result of DoD assistance. When such additional expenses are anticipated, the Production Assistance Agreement ordinarily should require the production company to provide an advance payment or a letter of credit in the amount estimated to comprise the total additional DoD expenses or deposit such funds in escrow.
Each installation or Military Department or the National Guard Bureau will provide the production company with individual statements of charges assessed for providing assets to assist in the production. Unless agreed otherwise, statements should be presented to the production company within 45 days from the last day of the month in which filming and/or photography is completed to ensure prompt and complete accounting of charges for DoD assistance.
The production company will be billed for only those expenses that are considered to be additional expenses to the Government. In accordance with paragraph (b)(3)(i)(A) of this section, the assigned project officer will serve as the central coordinator for submitting statements to the producer and monitoring receipt of payment to the Government. Items for which the costs may be reimbursed to the Government include:
Petroleum, oil, and lubricants for equipment used.
Depot maintenance for equipment used.
Cost incurred in diverting or moving equipment.
Lost or damaged equipment.
Expendable supplies.
Travel and per diem (unless reimbursed under 31 U.S.C. 1353).
Civilian overtime.
Commercial power or other utilities for facilities kept open beyond normal duty hours or when the production company's consumption of utilities is significant, based on average usage rates.
Should the production company not comply with requested clean-up required by production, the project officer will require production company to hire a cleaning company. Should the production company not provide for the necessary clean-up, it will reimburse the Government for any additional expenses incurred by the Government in performing such clean-up.
The production company will be required to reimburse the Government for all flying hours related to production assistance, including takeoffs, landings, and ferrying aircraft from military locations to filming sites, except when such missions coincide with and can be considered legitimate operational and training missions. The production company will be required to reimburse the Government for all steaming days related to production assistance, including all costs (tugs, harbor pilots and port costs) required to move ships from military locations to filming sites, except when such missions coincide with and can be considered legitimate operational and training missions. These reimbursements will be calculated at the current DoD User Rates.
In cases where provision of support provides a significant benefit to DoD, the production company will not be required to reimburse the Government for military or civilian manpower (except for civilian overtime) when such personnel are officially assigned to assist in the production. However, this limitation does not apply to Reserve Component personnel assigned in an official capacity, because such members are called to active duty at additional cost to the Government to perform the assigned mission. Reimbursement for Reserve Component personnel in an official capacity will be at composite standard pay and reimbursement rates for military personnel published annually by the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)/DoD Chief Financial Officer, Department of Defense.
Normal training and operational missions that would occur regardless of DoD assistance to a particular production are not considered to be chargeable to the production company.
Beyond actual operational expenses, imputed rental charges ordinarily will not be levied for use of structures or equipment.
The production company will provide proof of adequate industry standard liability insurance, naming DoD as an additional insured entity prior to the commencement of production involving DoD. The production company will maintain, at its sole expense, insurance in such amounts and under such terms and conditions as may be required by DoD to protect its interests in the property involved.
Freedom of Information Act release. Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552, DoD may receive requests for records concerning DoD engagements with motion picture, television, or other entertainment media companies. Because these documents may contain confidential or privileged commercial information submitted by the motion picture, television, and other entertainment media company, or other non-releasable information, DoD Components processing requests for these records will consider the application of the exemptions in 5 U.S.C. 552 to such records, including the exemption in 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(4).
Notes, amendments, and revision history
Amendments
[80 FR 47836, Aug. 10, 2015, as amended at 91 FR 34776, June 9, 2026]
Authority
Authority: 10 U.S.C. 2264; 31 U.S.C. 9701; sec. 1257, Pub. L. 117-263, 136 Stat. 2395.
Source
Source: 80 FR 47836, Aug. 10, 2015, unless otherwise noted.
Amendments
[80 FR 47836, Aug. 10, 2015, as amended at 91 FR 34776, June 9, 2026]