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20 PROP CULTURE I FALL 2026 The Diplomat: Sourcing Marine One One of the most challenging assignments I recently faced occurred while working on the latest season of Netflix's The Diplomat. The script required the appearance of Marine One, the helicopter used by the President of the United States. For most productions, simply calling the U.S. government and requesting the use of Marine One is not an option. Productions must instead identify civilian alternatives that can convincingly portray the aircraft on screen. The challenge was that Marine One is based on the Sikorsky Sea King platform, and there are very few civilian operators that still possess these aircraft. In fact, there are only a handful of vendors in the United States capable of providing a Sea King helicopter suitable for film and television production. After extensive research and industry outreach, I located a Sea King helicopter in Michigan. Finding the helicopter was only the beginning. The aircraft had to be may appear on screen for only a few moments. Behind the scenes, however, that brief appearance represented months of planning, negotiations, transportation logistics, and coordination between multiple parties. That is the reality of modern property mastering. YOUR Friends & Neighbors: Securing a Super Yacht in Mexico Another memorable challenge occurred while working on Season 2 of Your Friends & Neighbors. The production inspected, coordinated with ownership, insured, approved for production use, transported, and ultimately transformed into a convincing representation of Marine One. The helicopter was wrapped with custom graphics and markings designed specifically for the production. Every visual detail had to align with what audiences expect when they see the presidential aircraft on screen. Once the transformation was complete, the helicopter was flown to New York for filming. To viewers, the sequence THE DIPLOMAT YOUR FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS