Just past midnight, both ends of the Brooklyn Bridge were completely sealed off. From now until 4 AM, the crew had four hours to shoot. A large number of crew members swarmed onto the bridge, busily setting up the scene. Hundreds of extras, led by several assistant directors, were divided into different groups, positioning themselves at various spots on the bridge in preparation for the upcoming shoot.
A large makeup trailer drove up to the Manhattan side of the bridge. As the driver parked, Matthew, who had finished his makeup at the hotel, stepped out of the trailer. The November night wind hit him, causing him to shiver involuntarily.
Behind him, Bella Anderson immediately draped a down jacket over his shoulders.
"Thank you."
Matthew looked back at Bella Anderson, then walked onto the bridge and stood by the railing. Bella Anderson followed him, reminding him, "It will be a while before we start shooting. Why don't you wait in the car?"
"No, it's fine." Matthew waved his hand and, after putting on the down jacket, said, "I just got here from Los Angeles and am not used to New York's cold."
The roar of engines echoed as several helicopters approached the Brooklyn Bridge from a distance. Soon, armored vehicles and some Humvees also drove onto the bridge. To create the large-scale evacuation scene from Manhattan, the crew had invested a significant amount of money and resources.
Matthew had heard from producer Akiva Goldsman that the Brooklyn Bridge shoot would last six nights, with an estimated cost of $1 million per night.
Commercial blockbusters are made with burning money.
To secure the Brooklyn Bridge for filming from midnight to 4 AM, the crew had obtained filming permits from fourteen government departments and the support of a 200-man National Guard unit.
Alexandra Daddario's father played a significant role in this.
After watching for a while, a crew member hurriedly approached Matthew. Seeing Matthew, the crew member quickened his pace.
"Mr. Horner," the crew member reminded him, "the set is almost ready. The director wants you to come over."
Matthew nodded slightly, "I understand. Lead the way."
The crew member led the way, and Matthew and Bella Anderson followed. They left the Brooklyn Bridge and entered the area at the bridge's entrance. An isolation zone had been set up here, with rows of cars crowding the road leading onto the bridge. Guillermo del Toro was busy directing the adjustment of camera positions.
The temporary set was chaotic, filled with hundreds of extras, Humvees, and dozens of National Guard soldiers.
The crew member brought Matthew to the last car in the queue. This car was parked a bit further from the car in front. An actor dressed as a soldier stood in the driver's seat, with a few others waiting by the car.
"Matthew," David Heyman called out, waving him over. When Matthew approached, he called over a woman and a young girl, introducing them, "This is Jessica Chastain, playing Robert's wife."
"Hello," Matthew shook hands with the red-haired actress.
David Heyman then introduced the blonde girl, "And this is Chloe Moretz."
Matthew squatted down in front of the girl and said, "Hello, may I call you Chloe?"
The girl, who looked no older than ten, had blonde hair and was exceptionally cute, capable of melting many hearts.
"Why don't you call me Mary?" the girl sized up Matthew and said, "Isn't that better, Dad?"
Matthew was momentarily stunned and instinctively asked, "Dad?"
The girl nodded, "Yes, your character is my character's dad. My acting teacher said that once we're on set, we should become our characters. So, you are my dad."
A middle-aged woman came over from behind, apologetically saying, "Sorry, Chloe has been learning acting and..."
She seemed at a loss for words.
Matthew stood up and smiled, "It's fine. Chloe's character is indeed my character's daughter."
"Exactly," Chloe Moretz chimed in, "I wasn't wrong, right, Dad?"
Matthew couldn't help but reach out to pat her head, but remembering the upcoming shoot and that Chloe Moretz's hair had likely been specially styled, he stopped.
Chloe Moretz shook her head at her mother, "You're not my mom right now." She then grabbed Jessica Chastain's hand, "Jessica is my mom."
This innocent and sincere talk made everyone on set laugh.
"Did I say something wrong?" Chloe Moretz asked in confusion, "Aren't we supposed to get into character quickly once we're on set?"
Matthew didn't know who taught Chloe Moretz her acting theory, but he still said, "Yes, you're right."
Jessica Chastain seemed to like the child as well, "Ch... Mary, you're absolutely right."
Chloe Moretz immediately grabbed Jessica Chastain's hand with one hand and held Matthew's hand with the other, saying, "Now we're a family."
Both Matthew and Jessica Chastain, being actors, weren't embarrassed by this.
Director Guillermo del Toro, having finished his work, came over and greeted Matthew, gathering the main actors for this scene. He gave a brief explanation and rehearsed the positions before preparing to shoot.
"Everyone, we have limited time!" Guillermo del Toro shouted through a large megaphone, "Let's get this in one take so we don't have to freeze out here, okay?"
"Okay!"
Only Chloe Moretz's voice rang out from the temporary set.
Matthew couldn't help but smile, taking off his down jacket and handing it to Bella Anderson. He then pulled Chloe Moretz, saying, "Let's get in the car."
At the car, Chloe Moretz looked at the height of the Mercedes SUV and said to Matthew, "Dad, you should carry me into the car."
Matthew picked up Chloe Moretz and placed her in the back seat. Jessica Chastain then got in, sitting beside Chloe Moretz.
Once they were seated, Matthew closed the rear door and got into the front passenger seat.
An assistant director stood in front of the camera. After shouting "action," the soldier-actor in the driver's seat stepped on the gas, and the car accelerated forward. As Matthew saw the rear end of the Mercedes in front, the car slowly decelerated and then stopped behind it.
A cameraman with a Steadicam approached, filming Matthew through the window. Matthew lowered the window and looked towards the Brooklyn Bridge. Behind him, Jessica Chastain's voice asked, "Why did we stop?"
A soldier walked briskly over, tapped the car's hood, and upon seeing Matthew's shoulder insignia, saluted before saying, "Sir, we've been ordered to seal off the Brooklyn Bridge. You need to hurry."
Matthew got out of the car, checked his watch, and opened the rear door, saying to Chloe Moretz, "Sweetie, hurry up, we only have ten minutes."
Chloe Moretz moved to the door, naturally calling out, "Dad..."
"Let's go, sweetie," Matthew said, picking her up. "It's okay, everything will be fine..."
Two soldiers led the way, Jessica Chastain carrying a bag with a model head of a German Shepherd puppy sticking out. Matthew, holding Chloe Moretz with one arm, followed Jessica Chastain towards the roadblock at the Brooklyn Bridge.
Despite her young age, Chloe Moretz acted like a little drama queen, clinging to his neck and lying on his shoulder with a scared, insecure expression.
They walked through the crowd of extras, with military loudspeakers blaring warnings in the background.
"...unless you've passed a security check, you cannot proceed. Please return home and wait patiently."
"Make way! Make way!"
The two soldiers cleared a path, and Matthew and Jessica Chastain's group quickly approached the Brooklyn Bridge.
On a camera platform mounted on a truck, director Guillermo del Toro instructed the cameraman, "Raise the camera, shoot the wide shot..."
After filming for another five or six seconds, Guillermo del Toro raised the megaphone and shouted, "Cut! The first take is good!"
The previously noisy set quickly quieted down as several production and direction team members entered, busy adjusting for the next scene.
Matthew put down Chloe Moretz and walked back with her. Chloe Moretz held his hand and curiously asked, "Matthew, do you have a daughter?"
"Hmm?" Matthew looked at her curiously, then asked, "Why don't you call me Dad anymore?"
Chloe Moretz blinked and said, "I only have one scene tonight. After it's over, I'm no longer Mary. I've turned back into Chloe Moretz."
Matthew pretended to have an epiphany, "Oh, I see."
"You haven't answered my question," Chloe Moretz reminded him.
"No," Matthew shook his head, "I haven't married yet, so no daughter."
"Okay," Chloe Moretz nodded, "I thought you might be a father. You give a sense of security."
Matthew laughed, "Really? Hearing that makes me proud."
They walked through several rows of cars back to where the Mercedes SUV had started. Chloe Moretz spotted her mother and stopped, turning to Matthew, "I'm leaving now. Goodbye, Matthew."
Matthew waved at her, "Goodbye, Chloe. You're a great little actress."
"Thank you," Chloe Moretz smiled at him and walked quickly towards her mother.
Bella Anderson came over and draped the down jacket over Matthew again. He nodded at her; the cold night's shooting had just begun.
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