Chapter 350: Wedding in the Rain

Chapter 350: Chapter 350: Wedding in the Rain

"Irene, Disney is asking how much longer until filming wraps."

It was 10 PM, and the set was still brightly lit. Irene wore a waterproof windbreaker, her hair slightly dampened by the on-site sprinkler system, but the ginger soup she had drunk kept her body warm.

Hearing Jerry, she hesitated for a moment. "This is the final difficult shot. Barring any surprises, we should be able to finish all filming here within ten days at most," Irene said in a deep voice.

Jerry couldn’t help but nod. He had seen the pressure Irene was under during this time. Every extra day of shooting meant burning through more money. Even though they wanted to save, the investment costs were galloping ahead like a runaway horse.

The production budget, which started at 200 million dollars, had now increased to 240 million dollars. As far as he knew, by the final settlement, it was estimated to reach 260 million dollars, inevitably surpassing Titanic to become the most expensive film in the world.

Fortunately, this was a film sequel. Even though the production cost was ridiculously high, they didn’t have to bear the risk of a cold opening.

Moreover, the film was co-financed by three parties, and Irene herself had participated in the investment, which reduced the risk significantly. Otherwise, Fox would likely have been forced to walk away.

After a brief exchange with Jerry, she stood back in front of the monitors and gave instructions over the walkie-talkie in a steady voice: "Attention all departments, let’s confirm one more time. Lighting crew, the backlight angle for the rain effect must be locked to highlight the character silhouettes. Also, provide side lighting for the extras in the chaotic battle. The fight scenes must not look messy."

"Camera crew, Camera 1, stay tight on Will Turner’s close-up. Camera 2, lock onto Elizabeth’s reaction. Camera 3, capture the panoramic view of the deck battle. Camera 4, use the stabilizer to follow Barbossa as he weaves through the crowd, ensuring the officiant’s scenes aren’t drowned out by the fighting."

"Props team, check the ring box in Will Turner’s hand and use superglue to secure the ring. Also, double-check that the extras’ weapons have been dulled to avoid injuries during filming." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

"Finally, acting team, Henry, Keira, and Geoffrey, let’s run through the blocking one more time. The proposal lines need to be interspersed between the fighting. The line ’No matter how great the storm, I only want you’ must be shouted the moment Will Turner blocks the attack from Davy Jones’s crew, with the emphasis on ’you’!"

This scene was the core emotional sequence of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, where Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann suddenly propose amidst the chaos while locked in a fierce battle with Davy Jones’s crew.

To recreate the most authentic "battlefield proposal" scene, the crew utilized three large sprinkler machines, two wave machines, and laid out nearly a thousand square meters of water circulation system to simulate a torrential downpour.

Furthermore, nearly 30 professional stunt actors played the crew members on both sides, wielding dulled scimitars, chains, and other props to engage in close-quarters combat on the replica deck of the Black Pearl.

Irene’s demands for detail were nearly harsh. She had adjusted the "intensity level" of the torrential rain no less than ten times: "It shouldn’t be fine mist. It needs to crash down like hail, mixed with the standing water on the deck and flying wood chips. It should reflect the cruelty of naval warfare while contrasting with the fiery passion of the two holding onto their love in such chaotic times."

Keira Knightley and Henry Cavill, dressed in simple pirate costumes, had already been adapting to the sprinkler system for nearly a week.

They looked at Geoffrey Rush not far away and couldn’t help but feel lucky that their own costumes were relatively simple. They knew that Geoffrey’s exclusive pirate costume had been completely soaked by the "storm," weighing up to 20 pounds. Carrying that load while constantly fighting was the real hardship.

Henry held Keira’s hand, his fingertips slightly red from the cold. Irene walked over and personally adjusted his positioning: "You have mastered the character of Will Turner very well. I have nothing to worry about. You just need to shout out the most authentic feelings from the script. The key is in your eyes. You must express unwavering emotion, letting people see that the love in your eyes is as surging as this storm."

She then turned to Keira, her tone softening: "Elizabeth’s reaction needs to retain the stubbornness in her bones. Your feelings should include joy, and the courage to charge forward towards love regardless of anything else. At the same time, you need to dodge attacks from behind while embracing. You’ve already adapted to the blocking for this section. We are now doing the first take. Remember, forget everything around you, immerse yourself, you can do it."

While the actors were blocking, the technical team was making final adjustments.

The Director of Photography lay on the wet tracks, adjusting the camera’s focal length:

"Irene, the backlight angle is confirmed. The reflection from the rain won’t be overexposed, the facial exposure for the characters is normal, and the depth of field for the chaotic battle scene is set, with the subjects standing out."

The head of the sound department ran over to report: "The ambient sound is recorded. The ratios for the waves, rain, creaking of the deck, and weapon clashes are adjusted. The dialogue pickup used wireless microphones with wind protection, which can filter out most background noise."

The stunt coordinator also stepped forward to confirm: "The extras’ fight choreography has been rehearsed. There won’t be any accidental injuries to the actors, and the attack moves at key moments will leave enough reaction time."

Irene nodded and glanced at her watch: "Ten more minutes for everyone to adjust. At eleven o’clock sharp, we start shooting. Everyone to your positions. The difficulty of this scene lies in ’order within chaos.’ The fighting must be real, the proposal must be deep, and the officiant must be solemn.

The three cannot conflict. Strive to pass within three takes, but be prepared for repeated shooting. What I want is a sense of destiny, two people struggling amidst a flurry of blades, giving each other the most firm commitment."

With Irene’s shout of "Action," the sprinklers started instantly. A torrential downpour poured down, hitting the ship’s deck with a pitter-patter sound. The water splashed by the wave machines hit the hull, creating a sense of rocking in the midst of a violent storm.

30 stunt actors immediately rushed into the frame, wielding scimitars and chains to engage in a chaotic battle, with shouts and the clashing of weapons rising one after another.

Henry, playing Will Turner, took a deep breath. While blocking incoming attacks, he moved towards Keira. Rainwater dripped down from his hair tips, but his gaze was unusually firm.

"Elizabeth!" he suddenly shouted. Taking advantage of the gap when a crew member was knocked away by Keira, he rushed to her side and knelt on one knee, pulling a simple wooden box from his chest.

"I know we are in danger and might face death the next second!" As he spoke, he violently dodged a chain swung from behind, protecting the wooden box tightly with his left hand while blocking with his sword in his right. "But I don’t want to wait anymore. I’m afraid I won’t have the chance to tell you."

Keira stood in the rain, the downpour soaking her entire body, clinging to her and outlining her slender silhouette.

While using her sword to block attacks from both sides, she looked down at Will Turner kneeling on one knee, a flash of surprise appearing in her eyes.

"I don’t care who you are, I don’t care how many enemies we have to face, and I don’t care if we can achieve eternal life!"

Will Turner stood up abruptly, pulling Keira’s hand to dodge a side attack while opening the wooden box. The silver ring inside shone with a faint light in the backlight. "No matter how great the storm, in this moment, I only want you! Elizabeth Swann, will you marry me?"

Keira was stunned for three seconds. The initial surprise in her eyes slowly gave way to complex emotions: there was being moved, hesitation, and also worry for the future.

She suddenly exerted force, knocked away the enemy behind Will Turner with her sword, turned around, and grasped his hand tightly.

Her voice was choked with emotion but unusually firm: "I do! Will Turner, from now on, your battlefield is my battlefield, and your destiny is my destiny! Even if we are to sink to the bottom of the sea the next second, I will be with you!"

Just then, Barbossa, played by Geoffrey Rush, stood near the cabin, knocked away an enemy with his scimitar, and shouted solemnly yet enthusiastically:

"Perhaps you need a witness! I, Hector Barbossa, witness your vow!" As he said this, he swung his sword to block a scimitar aimed at the two. "Now, kiss her! Otherwise, you won’t have a chance later!"

Will Turner pulled Keira into his arms. Amidst the torrential rain and the flurry of blades, surrounded by the watching and shouting crew of Davy Jones, he lowered his head and kissed her.