The John Wick Movie franchise has Former CIA and Navy Seal Shawn Ryan to keep it real, and the EXTRACTION franchise and The Gray Man has Craig “CHILI” Palmer! After 25 years in the military and 17 years in the tier 1 life at “The Unit” Craig takes us through his incredible journey after retiring in 2014. From Shot Show, to working with Kyle Lamb at Viking Tactics and then onto meeting Director Sam Hargreave and working on the set of Extraction, Extraction 2 and The Gray Man- it has been yet another growth period in his life. He realized that in retiring from the Unit, he would have to move away from the location he lived and had worked in for 17 years to really help him transition identities and careers ,and you can see this has stood him in good stead. A warrior gentleman ( as so many of my guests truly are) Craig is there simply to help others, and it was an honor, and a pleasure to speak with him. An organic, light and fun conversation, I am sure you will enjoy it as much as I did. Overall, this episode provides a fascinating glimpse into the world of movies and media, as well as the importance of having mentors and role models to guide you in your career and personal life. Whether you’re a fan of action movies like Extraction or simply interested in learning more about the industry, this episode is definitely worth a listen. Chili’s military background is impressive. He served in the Tier 1 special operations unit of the United States Army. During his time in “The Unit”, Chili was involved in numerous high-risk missions, including hostage rescues and counter-terrorism operations. After retiring from the military, he transitioned to the movie industry, where he has worked on several blockbuster films, including the action-thriller “Extraction” starring Chris Hemsworth. Chili was responsible for training Hemsworth for his role in “Extraction, and Extraction 2” which required the actor to perform intense physical stunts and fight scenes. Chili’s experience in the military gave him a unique perspective on how to train actors for these types of roles. He emphasized the importance of safety and proper technique, while also pushing realism -and of course – “Bullet Count”. In addition to his work in the movie industry, Chili is also involved in several charitable organizations that support veterans and their families. He believes that giving back to the community is an important part of his life, and he encourages others to find ways to make a positive impact in their own communities. I am sure you will love the conversation as much as I did and Chili even shares his excitement for the Extraction sequel and hints at some of the new action sequences and stunts that audiences can expect to see You can find him on Insta at https://www.instagram.com/chilipalmer…
From Military to Movies: The Inspiring Story of Craig “Chili” Palmer- Extraction 2 Chris Hemsworth
ByMichael Kurcina
Oct 17, 2023By Michael Kurcina
Mike credits his early military training as the one thing that kept him disciplined through the many years. He currently provides his expertise as an adviser for an agency within the DoD. Michael Kurcina subscribes to the Spotter Up way of life. “I will either find a way or I will make one”.