Page 7 - March ARB Beacon 3-11-16

$)16DLORUPDNHVVSODVKRQWKHUHGFDUSHWwwTwfha.caeeebrBootoeekca.hcncoemow/nsT.ecaommM/maarrcchharb
March 11, 2016 7

George A. Smith
$)1%URDGFDVW&HQWHU3XEOLF$IIDLUV

The red carpet at the Oscars was a 3KRWRFRXUWHV\$)1
wall of paparazzi angling for access to
the stars, along with one U.S. Sailor: 0DVV&RPPXQLFDWLRQV6SHFLDOLVW6HFRQG&ODVV%UHQW3\IURPRIWKH$PHULFDQ)RUFHV1HWZRUN$)1%URDGFDVW&HQWHULQ
MC2 (SW) Brent Pyfrom. 5LYHUVLGH&DLQWHUYLHZVDFWUHVV:KRRSL*ROGEHUJRQWKHUHGFDUSHWSULRUWRWKHWK$FDGHP\$ZDUGVFHUHPRQ\LQ/RV
$QJHOHVRQ)HEUXDU\
Pyfrom, a Mass Communication
Specialist with the American Forces by locking eyeballs with Pyfrom, his mili- 3KRWRFRXUWHV\$)1
Network (AFN) Broadcast Center, in tary look-alike, raising his eyebrows and
Riverside, Ca., was part of a team get- nodding in a moment of non-verbal bond- 'U-LOO%LGHQZLIHRIWKH9LFH3UHVLGHQWRIWKH8QLWHG6WDWHVH[SUHVVHVKHUDS-
ting messages of support from the stars ing. There was no kissing. SUHFLDWLRQIRUPHPEHUVRIWKH86PLOLWDU\GXULQJKHUUHGFDUSHWLQWHUYLHZZLWK
for the U.S. military. 0&%UHQW3\IURPSULRUWRWKHWK$FDGHP\$ZDUGVFHUHPRQ\LQ/RV$QJHOHV
Even though Pyfrom interviewed RQ)HEUXDU\
“It was organized chaos. We five sar- Hart, Biden and Goldberg, what moved
dines really got to know each other’s el- him the most were his interviews with
bows as we called out to celebrities from some Soldiers who were watching ce-
our cramped space,” said Pyfrom. lebrities walk the red carpet.

It worked! The AFN team got about “I’m used to seeing Soldiers training,
60 celebrity messages for the U.S. mili- but I saw a different side of them at the
tary, from Aaron Rodgers, Olivia Munn, Oscars. They were in their dress blues
Julianne Moore, Reese Witherspoon, and full of pride representing the Army,”
Liev Schreiber and a special moment said Pyfrom.
with one of the most tweeted about
women at the Oscars. Some of that pride bubbled up cour-
tesy of hundreds of spectators in bleach-
“Whoopi Goldberg is one of my favor- ers alongside the red carpet. When the
ite celebrities. When I saw her and called Soldiers were introduced, they broke
out to her, she insisted I stand next to her into a chorus of “U.S.A. … U.S.A.”
for the interview. Then she surprised me
when she said she was going to give me Capturing those moments and feelings
a kiss, and before it registered, she kissed is why the AFN team of MC2 (SW) Brent
me on the cheek. Wow. Whoopi Gold- Pyfrom, Eric Gabriel, Fabian Mont-
berg kissed me,” smiled Pyfrom. gomery, Rock Grant and Robert Sekula
worked the red carpet event at the Os-
Pyfrom, in his dress uniform, was in cars. They provided an opportunity for
the midst of battling other journalists as stars to take a pause from promoting their
celebrities passed by, when a woman he movie to say thanks to the military.
didn’t recognize angled her way through
the crowd to him.

“She told me she loved the U.S. mili-
tary and she spoke from her heart, rec-
ognizing and appreciating our sacrifices
and service. Right after the interview,
my colleague, Eric Gabriel, told me I
was really relaxed and did a great job
with the Vice President’s wife, Dr. Jill
Biden,” said Pyfrom. “I didn’t know
who she was!” It must have been some-
thing about a man in his uniform, be-
cause Dr. Biden did what Goldberg did,
saying goodbye with a friendly kiss on
the cheek.

Pyfrom did recognize a star some
people said kind of looks like him …
Kevin Hart.

“I’m better looking, but if he’d put
me in a movie, I’d say he was,” laughed
Pyfrom. “He’s one of my favorites. I
really wanted to get a picture with my
doppelgänger. He was in a rush, but he
still took the time to shout out to the ser-
vice members and said he thought the
opportunity was really dope.”

Hart’s message to the military was brim-
ming with wide-eyed energy. “I love you, I
support you and what you do for this coun-
try and I’ll be forever grateful.” He ended