Chapter 85

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It was cold in the UK in December, the sky was always overcast, and occasionally a few raindrops fell on the face, smashing to the bone, Matthew wrapped his coat, and the other actors who were training together, under the leadership of the assistant producer , came to the huge hangar where many security departments such as makeup, costumes and props were assembled. With the assistance of professionals, they began to complete their respective styles and prepare for the shooting.

Today's shoot didn't feature Ronald Spears, but Matthew wasn't a bystander, having changed into standard 101st Airborne paratrooper gear.

Compared to the veterans of E Company played by Michael Fassbender and Michael Kulitz, Ronald Spears is not in E Company at the beginning, but a lieutenant of D Company.

So, Matthew's character was added to the shooting later.

However, he will not be idle, and like other trained actors who have no role for a while, he needs to act as the head in some huge scenes.

The agreement he signed also contained provisions in this regard.

Compared to those pure extras, these character actors who have completed their training are more like soldiers.

They were greeted by Gary Goldzman even before filming began, and in some long-range scenes, they were used as German soldiers fighting against E Company.

The crew has a complete guarantee, and Matthew and the others have also been advised by the brokerage company, and naturally they will not refuse.

This is also the practice of Hollywood crews. In some scenes with a large number of people, not only actors, but even idle personnel from other departments of the crew will be drawn into the shooting.

Matthew finished his make-up, as he did during the audition, put on his paratrooper uniform, put on all his combat gear, held a Chicago typewriter, walked out of the hangar with the other actors, and was led by the staff through a long and narrow road , came to the set carefully arranged by the crew.

The studio was set up as a ready-to-go airport. Models of airplanes were parked in front of the runway. There were also anti-aircraft gun positions every other section. Extras wearing British military equipment stood behind the anti-aircraft guns, looking like they would fire at any time.

It looked like a battlefield that was about to be fought.

In the small studio, hundreds of actors and behind-the-scenes staff gathered.

Matthew was in the queue, following behind the staff, near a model airplane, where they were going to serve as a background painting.

Since their faces are painted with thicker tactical camouflage than the actors who appear, they don't have to worry about their faces being captured by the camera lens.

"Look!"

Next to James McAvoy suddenly gestured to Matthew with his eyes, "Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg are here."

Needless to say, Matthew saw the two Hollywood superstars talking to director Phil Alden Robinson and lead actor Damian Lewis.

"The filming is over..."

Probably seeing a superstar like Tom Hanks, James McAvoy was a little excited, "Will we become a big star?"

Matthew patted him on the shoulder, "You think too much, we are small actors in a big production."

James McAvoy gradually calmed down, shrugged his shoulders, and said nothing. In fact, he also understood that the most important thing in participating in this series is to add a lot to his resume and become a new role in the future. Capital.

The staff arranged a group of seven of them here, and explained that they should not walk around. After the assistant director came over, they left. There was still some time before filming started. Matthew chatted with James McAvoy and spanked. Check it out, looking at the entire set with curiosity.

There were a lot of people and things on the set, but it was orderly, without the slightest clutter.

Among the many people who came and went, he vaguely saw many familiar faces,

Maybe I have seen it when I watched pirated movies. The most familiar one I remember is an important supporting role in Tom Cruise's "Mission Impossible". He doesn't know the name of the other party.

An assistant director came over and told the filming for a while. Matthew and the others were just background paintings, and the requirements were not strict.

"Don't look directly at the camera!" He pointed to the location where the camera was set up and said, "Do what a soldier should do before the battle."

The assistant director left soon, and the seven people had their own different understandings. One put down his equipment bag and lay on the ground to read the letter, the other sorted out the pistol, James McAvoy took out a cross and said something, Matthew simply took off the Chicago The typewriter was taken apart for inspection.

It's not just a prop, it's a real Thompson submachine gun, just without bullets.

"Clear the field!" A loudspeaker rang, "Attention to all departments! Clear the field now!"

In just a few minutes, everyone except the actors was evacuated from the airport.

Matthew didn't care what order was issued over there. Just like a real soldier, he disassembled every part of the Thompson submachine gun and carefully checked it.

This is very consistent with the image of a non-commissioned officer with a Thompson submachine gun before the battle, after all, this firearm is famous for being stuck.

Matthew didn't know when the filming started. He was fully invested in the role of a non-commissioned officer who was about to go to the battlefield. It can also be said that he has regarded himself as Ronald Spears, and no matter what other people do, he takes care of himself. Do your own thing.

He disassembled the Thompson submachine gun and checked it again, reassembled it, and took out each cartridge to check. During the period, James McAvoy crouched down and handed a tobacco-free prop cigarette. He also took out a lighter and lit it, and started smoking.

Pistols, water bottles, bullet clips, grenade packs, gas masks, and even raincoats, he took them out and checked them out.

Finally, when he picked up the dagger and found a small towel to wipe, James McAvoy pulled him, "Okay, it's changing venues!"

Matthew packed all his gear, followed James McAvoy, and walked across the airport, asking, "Is this all done?"

"Five shots..." James McAvoy replied. "All done!"

They followed an assistant director to the left side of the airport, where they lined up with other actors in 101st Airborne costumes to serve as backdrops for Damian Lewis' filming.

Since Matthew's character, Ronald Spears, won't be featured in the first episode, the first phase of filming began with Matthew, like James McAvoy, who played a late-stage recruit to the E Company, just in the background. painting.

These people have undergone professional training for more than a month, and some long-range shots that need to show the quality of soldiers are more like soldiers than extras.

In the next few days, Matthew's shooting was basically spent in this situation, and he also saw the biggest official actor of the crew - David Schwimmer.

That's Ross from Friends.

Matthew hasn't seen the series, he's all heard from James McAvoy.

However, Matthew has a deep impression on Captain Sauber played by David Schwimmer. Many veterans in the original book talked about him and believed that he had a great influence on the later E Company.

He remembers one of his memoirs saying: Captain Herbert Sauber created Company E not only because he saved many lives by emphasizing physical and tactical skills training, but also because everyone hated him. Unity.

Matthew is even linked to Tom West by this role. It is precisely because of Tom West's existence that the British and Americans, who have always been difficult to deal with, are united as a whole, in a German and an Englishman. Under the planning, the devil instructor was killed.

As for Matthew himself, he has not disclosed to anyone what he has done, and he will not admit that it is related to himself.

Back in London, just as Helen Herman told him, Matthew was as low-key and dedicated as possible, putting all his energy into the role and filming, and he was just an unremarkable character actor, as long as he did not meet The weirdness of Kate Jeffrey doesn't attract attention in itself.

After Kate Jeffrey left, the crew became much more stable. Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg both came to sit on the set. The majesty of Hollywood's super bosses is enough to deter most people.

According to James McAvoy, Kate Jeffrey's father once came to the set to meet Tom Hanks, but Tom Hanks declined.

During the shooting, in addition to completing his own work, Matthew opened his eyes and ears, carefully observing the live performances of the main actors, as well as the director's shooting requirements, etc.

These are rare experiences for him.

The first episode was filmed for 20 days, and then the crew worked non-stop into the second episode.

This time, Matthew didn't have to be a background actor, and his character Ronald Spears officially appeared in the filming.

In the dressing room, with all the gear on and the makeup artist applying tactical paint to his face, Matthew picked up the Chicago typewriter and headed to the set.

This was originally an abandoned airport camp. The crew temporarily built a small French village full of ruins and ruins, and also reserved many hidden camera positions in the temporary building, which can shoot scenes indoors and on the street from different angles.

When Matthew arrived, the set was crowded with soldiers serving as background paintings, in which Matthew saw James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender.

"Hey, Matthew!"

On the set, an assistant director greeted him, "Come here, come this way!"

Matthew walked over quickly, stood by a collapsed brick wall, and waited for a while before Damian Lewis and the other main actor came.

His first scene was a dialogue scene with the male protagonist.

The assistant director assisted the three of them to stand. The director observed through the camera. Matthew knew his own weight, did not say anything, and acted exactly as instructed.