Producer Disappointed as U.S. Military Base Cancels “Sound of Freedom” Screenings
The producer of the hit film “Sound of Freedom,” Eduardo Verástegui, expressed disappointment after planned screenings of the blockbuster at a U.S. military installation were mysteriously canceled.
Verástegui and his team had been working tirelessly to reschedule two screenings of the movie for the troops stationed at U.S. Southern Command. The thriller had already grossed over $200 million at the box office, and they wanted to show their appreciation to the brave soldiers battling transnational criminal organizations involved in drug and sex trafficking.
Originally scheduled for August 28 and October 19, the screenings were abruptly canceled just before the first event. Military Times reported that the reason given for the cancellation was to “prevent the appearance of copyright infringement.”
However, Verástegui and his team vehemently disagreed with this explanation. They had made it crystal clear that there were no copyright concerns when SOUTHCOM hosted the movie while it was still in theaters.
Email exchanges between the filmmakers and a SOUTHCOM spokesperson revealed their commitment to supporting the military, with assurances that they would never make copyright claims against the command. They even offered to send a representative of the film to meet with troops for the screening.
To their surprise, installation leadership declined the offer, stating that the film was already accessible in local theaters, leaving the filmmakers puzzled.
The situation caught the attention of Senator Marco Rubio, who urged SOUTHCOM to reschedule the screenings promptly. He emphasized the film’s alignment with SOUTHCOM’s mission to combat trafficking and transnational criminal organizations.
Rubio also highlighted the Department of Defense’s regular collaboration with movie studios for screenings on military installations, emphasizing the importance of providing this opportunity to service members and their families.
Verástegui’s sole goal is to ensure that the troops at SOUTHCOM have the chance to see the film, hoping it will re-energize their efforts to combat child sex trafficking in the Americas. Despite the setbacks and shifting reasons for cancellation, he remains hopeful that the matter will be resolved soon.
Conclusion
The producer of “Sound of Freedom” and his team are determined to bring their film to the troops at U.S. Southern Command, despite facing multiple obstacles. Senator Marco Rubio has joined the effort to reschedule the screenings, emphasizing the film’s relevance to SOUTHCOM’s mission. Eduardo Verástegui’s commitment to raising awareness about child sex trafficking remains unwavering, and he hopes that the troops will soon have the chance to be touched by the film’s powerful message. Representatives for SOUTHCOM have not provided a comment on the situation.