The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!

Chapter 390

The 300 project was moving forward slowly, hampered by Skydance Pictures' relative inexperience. David Ellison relied heavily on Jack Beard and Helen to guide the production, and as a result, the vast majority of the crew already hired for the film came from Helen's Angel Agency.

After several years of growth, the Angel Agency's only true star client was still Matthew, but Helen played that card to its fullest potential. For the past two years, whenever she negotiated a project for Matthew, she made a point of packaging it with other clients from her agency whenever possible.

This was true for the cast of Pirates of the Caribbean as well, though none of the roles she secured were major. Among the many actors she placed, only Eva Green's part carried any significant weight.

Time passed, and by December, filming for the Pirates of the Caribbean sequels was finally drawing to a close.

Unlike the previous installments, most of the "At World's End" sequences were shot on a soundstage in front of a green screen, relying heavily on motion capture technology.

Furthermore, the film frequently required hundreds of extras, particularly for the sprawling battle scenes where Matthew, Depp, and Keira found themselves in the midst of a massive melee.

As for the armada of ships under sail, they were, of course, not real, created primarily through a combination of models and digital effects.

On a film of this scale, the production designer was just as crucial as the director. In Hollywood, the role had evolved beyond its traditional title, becoming synonymous with the Art Director—the head of all artistic departments who worked in concert with the director and cinematographer to define the film's visual identity.

"Matthew, you're the key, the absolute center of this scene."

Matthew was getting a feel for the weight of his new prop sword. He nodded and replied, "I understand."He swung the sword with one hand, executing a few straight thrusts. The prop he'd been using earlier had shattered during a take when it clashed with a stuntman's machete. It had probably been weakened from overuse, and under the force of Matthew's blow, it had simply given way.

Keira, clad in her pirate attire and also holding a prop sword, came aboard. Seeing that the director was busy giving last-minute instructions to the stuntmen playing Davy Jones's crew, she walked over to Matthew.

Moments later, director Gore Verbinski gave the signal, and filming began on the final melee sequence of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End.

Matthew and Keira stood back-to-back, swords leveled at the encircling crew of Davy Jones's sea monsters. The stunt performers playing the creatures looked slightly absurd in their custom-fitted motion-capture suits.

But in Matthew's mind, they were nothing less than grotesque monsters.

A stuntman charged, and Matthew's sword flashed out to block the axe in his hand. He followed with a hard kick to the chest, sending the man flying backward on a safety wire, right over the side of the ship.

Behind him, Keira was a whirlwind of motion, her own blade flashing.

Matthew then spun, running his sword through an attacker at Keira's side. The stuntman immediately collapsed, clutching his chest.

Following the carefully choreographed sequence, Matthew cut a path through five or six more enemies, perfectly embodying the formidable, effortless power of Will Turner.

It was a large-scale battle, with dozens of extras clashing all around them, serving as a chaotic backdrop for the principal actors.

Across the deck, Depp was filming his own action sequence. Jack Sparrow's fighting style was completely different from Will Turner's, more of a theatrical, swashbuckling flourish, but no less effective.

"Cut!" director Gore Verbinski yelled, halting the shoot.

Then he called out again, "Depp, take a break!"

The sequence was being broken down into a dozen smaller shots due to the sheer volume of action.

When filming resumed, Geoffrey Rush joined the set to officiate the marriage of Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann.

Unlike a typical wedding, the scene was filmed in fits and starts, taking the better part of the afternoon to complete.

The great battle was in full swing, the set a chaotic mess, when Geoffrey Rush leaped onto a ledge and bellowed, "As Captain, I now pronounce you man and wife! You may kiss!"

Matthew shoved an enemy aside, spun, and took Keira's hand. She turned into his arms, and they kissed.

In a moment like this, the fighting naturally had to pause. This was a movie, after all. For a couple that had endured so much together throughout the trilogy, how else could the audience find their emotional release if not in a kiss?

Gore Verbinski, despite being a fairly idiosyncratic commercial director, still had to adhere to the fundamental principles of a Disney film. The ending, without a doubt, had to be suitable for all ages.

"And cut! That's a wrap on the scene!"

As the call to cut echoed across the set, director Gore Verbinski slowly rose from behind his monitor. He picked up a megaphone that had been waiting for this moment. "I hereby declare," he announced, "that principal photography for Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End is officially complete!"

The words had barely left his mouth when a cheer erupted from Depp. Captain Jack Sparrow ripped off his pirate hat and flung it high into the air, shouting, "Oh yeah!"

Matthew and Keira threw their hands in the air. "Woo-hoo!"

The entire set erupted in a chorus of cheers and whoops of excitement.

Only the two camera operators remained composed, their cameras rolling to capture the scene on set. All of it could be valuable footage for future promotional materials and behind-the-scenes features.

"It's finally over," Keira murmured, giving Matthew a tight hug. He patted her on the back before turning to embrace one of the stuntmen.

For most of the cast and crew, who had spent six long months working together to shoot two sequels, it was a moment to remember.

After embracing Geoffrey Rush, Matthew stepped off the ship and began hugging the other actors and crew members one by one. Depp, Gore Verbinski, and Keira were right there with him, doing the same.

After today, the production of Pirates of the Caribbean would be well and truly over, and the actors, including Matthew, would be leaving the set for good.

Matthew thought to himself that the pirate trio of Jack Sparrow, Will Turner, and Elizabeth Swann would likely never be reunited again.

Judging by their career trajectories, the combined salaries of just him and Depp would probably be enough to bankrupt Disney on any future installment.