Chapter 162

Pouring rain fell from the air, and eight American soldiers were holding weapons and cautiously hiding behind a damaged house. One of the captain moved to the gate of the garden and looked out through the crack of the door, seeming to observe the enemy outside.

Behind them, three photographers wearing special rain ponchos, holding hand-held cameras, choosing pre-set angles, and earnestly capturing the true reaction of each soldier.

On the periphery of the rain, Duke also wore a poncho, standing on the pre-built observation platform of the commanding heights, overlooking the entire battlefield.

The artificial rain kept hitting his face, but he didn't feel the cold. Instead, there was a trace of warmth. Although Ireland in late February has passed the coldest season, the temperature is still relatively low, so the crew can't be true. Using cold water for shooting, but creating artificial rainwater at a suitable temperature.

Rain can always bring a lot of trouble. If you count the rehearsal of this scene, it will be the seventh time in three days. Fortunately, according to Duke's observations, the actors are getting better and better. It is still today. Nothing happened.

This may have something to do with the end of the filming. As long as the scene ends, the crew can leave the cold Ireland and go to France to experience the warm sunshine.

Another force rushed past the door, and the captain played by Tom Hanks shouted, "Thunder!"

The opposite immediately responded, "Lightning!"

From Duke's point of view, Tom Hanks is assigning tasks, as skilled and calm as a truly battlefield-tested officer. He and his team are covering, a team rushing forward, and soon with a team. The American squad united.

At the same time, German rang from the other side...

John Schwarzman took the camera and followed him personally. According to Duke's orders, his shots always followed Tom Hanks firmly.

Wait for Tom Hanks to shift. John Schwarzman stepped back in due course and hid in the photography position reserved next to him. His assistant Ben Watts temporarily became the main photographer. Through the camera in his hand, he caught Capa played by De Milford. Zuo, this soldier complained and picked up the rotten fruit on the ground. Pick a few that you can eat...

Gunshots, shouts, and howls suddenly sounded again. Even if he was covered in a poncho, John Schwarzman was already soaked in his body. At this time, he was hiding in a place out of warm water, but he felt cold. .

"Cut!"

Finally, from the commanding heights of the battlefield, a familiar yelling halt came, "First here!"

The U.S. soldiers, who were on alert, dispersed. One after another, they walked to the bathroom that had been prepared a long time ago. If the weather is not noticed, symptoms such as cold or fever will be found immediately.

Back in the tent where the director's monitor was located, Duke took the towel that Sophia had handed over, wiped his face casually, and sat behind the monitor, examining the footage just taken. These shots taken from all angles are scattered, but look in Duke's eyes. It is mutually confirmed with the picture in his mind, and overall he is quite satisfied.

This is the best set of shots taken in three days.

"Notify the crew," Duke turned his head and ordered an assistant director, "Go to scene 14 as soon as possible!"

The 14th scene was set up a long time ago, and the crew moved over and started the final preparations. At the same time, give some rest time to the actors who have just been hit by rain.

When the actors changed their costumes and entered the set, Duke gathered the American and German troops together to make a final statement.

"This is an encounter!" Duke stood by the wall that was pushed down, "You face the enemy in unexpected situations. I want you to show your hysterics and shout vigorously!"

Everyone nodded, and Duke specifically stopped John Spencer who played Urban.

"John, not including you!" He exhorted, "Remember, even in this case, you still don't want to take up a weapon. I will give you a close-up! Remember to use German."

"I know."

This actor looks thin and young, but he is in his thirties. He has worked hard in Hollywood for many years. He is a typical actor with good acting skills but bad luck.

Of course, there are too many actors like Hollywood.

Ten minutes later, when the departments were ready, Duke asked the assistant director to start.

A group of American soldiers walked through the ruins of the street. The officer in the group seemed to be safe when they saw the surroundings. They sat on the ruins and were about to dump the sand and stones in their shoes. Unexpectedly, they bumped a wooden pillar and hit the wooden pillar. The wall behind, the wall that had been baptized by the flames of war could no longer support it, and collapsed suddenly, attracting many people to look over there.

At the same time, the people inside also looked outside. The German and American troops encountered each other at a very close distance. Both sides raised their weapons at the same time, shouting hoarsely and yelling at each other to lower their weapons.

Ben Watts immediately walked to an angle of sixty degrees and snapped a shot of Urban holding his weapon from the side, shouting in German.

Gunshots suddenly sounded, and the German soldiers in the ruins fell to the ground one after another, blood sprinkled like rain...

After the American soldiers entered the ruins and inspected the ruins, Duke directly shouted to stop. He could clearly hear the relaxed exhalation from the left and right. Although the crew had to go to France to go to the Allied cemetery for live shooting, he could finally leave the cold Ireland. Up.

And France only has a few shots. After the end, you can return to California to enjoy the bright sunshine and warm air again.

"Sophia,"

As the crew cleaned up the venue, Duke called Sophia Coppola and asked, "Are Hudson Young and the other extras here?"

Hudson Young is the actor hired by the crew to play the old James Ryan.

"They arrived in Caen, France the day before yesterday." Sophia looked through the work log, "We have someone to receive them over there."

"What about the cemetery?" Duke asked again.

"Already contacted!"

The two said few words, and Tom Hanks, who had finished changing his clothes, walked over, "It's time to say goodbye, Duke."

Before Duke could react, he came over to hug Duke and said with a smile, "This is a pleasant cooperation. I hope we still have the opportunity to continue cooperation."

"Yeah, I hope so."

What Duke said is not polite. Actors with excellent acting skills often make the director a lot easier, especially for actors like Tom Hanks. He shook hands with Hanks again, and then raised his thumb. He said, "Tom, come on! Won the Oscar for Best Actor!"

"Lend your good words!"

After Tom Hanks left, actors came over to bid farewell to Duke. These people knew that there was no harm in having a good relationship with directors like Duke.

"Are you interested in going back to Los Angeles to join the party I called?"

Leonardo DiCaprio, who came over last, greeted a few words, then suddenly lowered his voice and said to Duke, "Blond! Long legs! Model!"

"Leo..." Duke smiled at him and patted his shoulder heavily, "It seems we can find a common language in this respect."

In Sophia's raised eyes, the two laughed at the same time, and their aesthetics in this respect still have something in common.

In the afternoon, most of the actors were evacuated from the set, and most of them returned to their cities by plane. On the second day, Duke left an executive producer and several other assistants to deal with the aftermath of the crew, and he led The brigade rushed directly to the city of Caen in the Greater Normandy region of France.

The destination of the crew is the Normandy American Cemetery on the heights of Omaha Beach. The cemetery covers an area of ​​about 70 hectares and overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. The other side of the ocean is the homeland of the "dead soldiers".

Here is a well-kept green lawn, surrounded by pine, shrubs and roses. The white marble crosses are arranged on the lawn. They are holy and majestic. They can't see the end at a glance. Near ten thousand souls rest in peace. On the ground, the overall architectural design of the cemetery is divided into two columns on the left and right, and the areas are separated by letters. There are two female statues on the west side of the cemetery. On the hilt of their swords stand bald eagles and Gallic roosters that symbolize the United States and France.

In 1956, this cemetery was officially opened to the outside world. The French government gave it to the United States as a permanent territory in 1979, and the Normandy American Cemetery became a magical "national China".

Each cross monument in the cemetery is engraved with the soldier's name, rank, unit number, hometown and date of death. According to the information collected by Duke, it is said that the prototype of the soldier who rescued the 101st Airborne Division was buried here, but the cemetery management Fang did not deliberately mark the location of their tombstones, because all the victims received the same treatment.

Because of the relationship that had been coordinated with the management a long time ago, after Duke led the crew, the cemetery temporarily closed an area as a filming location. Although it only had half a day, it was enough for Duke.

There is almost no difficulty in shooting here. I took a few trial shots as a run-in, and most of the shots passed a few times. The shooting soon came to the end.

The elderly James Ryan stood in front of Captain John Miller's grave, looking at his wife.

"Tell me I haven't worked in vain in my life!"

"What?" The wife wondered.

"Tell me to be a good person!"

The wife realized something, looked at the white cross, and said very seriously, "You are, James!"

She turned and walked backwards, James Ryan raised his head, stood upright, and then gave a standard American military salute to the white cross!

The camera circled by one hundred and eighty degrees, and Duke removed the headset used to listen to the live video and directly shouted, "Passed!"

Everyone let out a sigh of relief, but there was no excitement shouting or celebrating applause. Everyone kept silent tacitly. This is the most basic etiquette in the cemetery.

Without too many stops, the crew packed up the equipment as quickly as possible and evacuated the US military cemetery. Duke and the others flew to Los Angeles by plane that night, and sealed the duplicate films in different bank vaults. Temporarily entered the state of vacation. (To be continued...)