Service Members Help ‘Pitch Perfect 3’ Hit the Right Notes Published Dec. 22, 2017 By Yolanda Arrington DoD News, Defense Media Activity DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. -- The Barden Bellas are back for another round of a capella antics in the third and what’s expected to be final installment of the ‘Pitch Perfect’ films. This time around, the Bellas have graduated and are struggling in the real world of low-paying jobs and ever-present bills, when they decide to reunite for a USO tour. The tour takes them to several military bases in Europe where they interact with U.S. service members. ‘Pitch Perfect 3’ was shot at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Georgia, which was made to look like Rota, Spain. In an effort to keep the military theme as accurate as possible, filmmakers enlisted the help of the National Guard and Air Force Reserve Command. Thomas Lesnieski, a retired Army lieutenant colonel and the former director of public affairs for the Georgia National Guard, says there were many 18-hour days on set, helping to scout locations and providing script reviews to make sure the military was shown in a positive light. Since ‘Pitch Perfect 3’ was filmed at Dobbins, Lesnieski even checked that uniforms were worn correctly. Air Force Capt. Meredith Kirchoff, a public affairs officer at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, says having service members on set really helps humanize the military for the public. Kirchoff, who provided actors with lessons in marching in formation, says her office fields monthly requests from filmmakers who want to include the military or military-related content in their projects. ‘Pitch Perfect 3,’ starring Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson, hits theaters Dec. 22, 2017.
