The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!

Chapter 517

Just after midnight, both ends of the Brooklyn Bridge were sealed off, giving the film crew a precious window until four in the morning to capture the scene.

Scores of crew members swarmed onto the Brooklyn Bridge, scrambling to prep the location, while hundreds of extras, guided by several assistant directors, fanned out to their designated spots to prepare for the shoot.

A large makeup trailer pulled up to the Manhattan-side entrance of the bridge. The moment it stopped, Matthew, who had already been through makeup back at the hotel, hopped out. A raw November wind immediately cut across his face, making him shudder.

Bella was right behind him, instantly draping a heavy down jacket over his shoulders.

"Thanks."

Matthew gave Bella a grateful look, then walked onto the bridge and leaned against the railing. Bella followed close behind. "It's going to be a while before they start shooting," she reminded him. "Why don't you wait in the car?"

"It's fine." Matthew waved her off, pulling the jacket on properly. "I just flew in from Los Angeles. I'm just not used to the New York cold yet."

The roar of engines filled the air as several helicopters descended from the night sky, circling near the bridge. Below, a convoy of armored personnel carriers and military Humvees rumbled onto the span. The production had clearly spared no expense to create a massive and convincing scene of Manhattan's evacuation.

Matthew recalled producer Akiva Goldsman mentioning that this part of the shoot would span six nights, at an estimated cost of a staggering one million dollars per night.

To secure the Brooklyn Bridge from midnight to 4 a.m., the production team had to get permits from fourteen different government agencies and arrange for the support of two hundred National Guard soldiers.Alexandra Daddario's father had played a significant role in making it all happen.

After watching the controlled chaos for a few minutes, Matthew saw a crew member hurrying toward him, breaking into a near-jog when he spotted him.

"Mr. Horner," the crew member said, slightly out of breath. "The set is almost ready. The director wants to see you."

Matthew nodded. "Got it. Lead the way."

Matthew and Bella followed the crew member off the main span of the bridge and into an area set up to look like a quarantine checkpoint. Rows of cars clogged the approach ramp, and in the middle of it all, Guillermo del Toro was orchestrating the placement of his cameras.

The scene was a picture of organized chaos, with hundreds of extras milling about in a holding area, surrounded by military Humvees and dozens of National Guard soldiers.

The crew member led Matthew to the last vehicle in a long line of cars, where an actor in a soldier's uniform sat in the driver's seat. A few other people were waiting nearby.

"Matthew!" David Heyman spotted him and waved him over. As Matthew drew closer, Heyman beckoned to two women standing with him. "This is Jessica Chastain," he said, "she's playing Robert's wife."

"Hi," Matthew said, shaking the red-haired actress's hand.

David then gestured to the young blonde girl. "And this is Chloë Moretz."

Matthew crouched down to her level. "Is it okay if I call you Chloë?"

The little girl looked to be no older than ten, with fair hair and an exceptionally sweet face.

The girl tilted her head, studying Matthew for a moment. "Of course, Dad."

Matthew froze for a second, then asked, a little taken aback, "Dad?"

The girl nodded seriously. "Yes. Your character is my character's father. My acting coach told me that from the moment I step on set, I'm not Chloë anymore, I'm the character. So, you're my dad."

Just then, a middle-aged woman stepped forward from behind the girl, her tone apologetic. "I'm so sorry, Chloë's been taking her acting classes very seriously and she's a bit..."

She trailed off, apparently unsure how to finish the sentence.

Matthew stood up and smiled warmly. "It's perfectly fine. Chloë is playing my daughter, after all."

"Exactly. I'm right, aren't I, Dad?"

Matthew couldn't help but smile, reaching out to gently ruffle the girl's hair.

Chloë beamed and let go of her mother's hand. "You're not my mom right now," she declared.

She then took Jessica Chastain's hand. "Jessi is my mom."

The innocent, childlike declaration made everyone on the set chuckle.

"Did I say something wrong?" Chloë asked, looking a little embarrassed by the laughter.

Matthew had no idea who her acting coach was, but he gave her a reassuring look. "You're doing it exactly right."

Jessica, clearly charmed by the girl, added, "Yes, you are absolutely right."

Beaming again, Chloë took Jessica's hand in one of hers and Matthew's in the other. "Now we're a family."

As professional actors, neither Matthew nor Jessica was fazed by the declaration.

Just then, director Guillermo del Toro, having finished his preparations, came over. He greeted Matthew, then gathered the principal actors for the scene. He gave them a quick rundown, walked them through their blocking one last time, and then got ready to roll.

"Alright people, we're on a tight schedule!" Guillermo del Toro's voice boomed through a megaphone. "Let's try to nail this in one take! Nobody wants to be out here freezing all night, right?"

"Yes!"

A single, enthusiastic voice piped up from the makeshift set. It was Chloë.

Matthew couldn't help but smile. He shrugged off his down jacket, handed it to Bella, and then reached for Chloë. "Come on, let's get in the car."

At the Mercedes SUV, Matthew easily lifted her into the back seat. Jessica climbed in after her, settling in next to her on-screen daughter.

Once they were settled, Matthew shut the rear door and slipped into the front passenger seat.

An assistant director stood in front of the camera, slate in hand. On the cry of "Action!" the actor at the wheel hit the gas, and the SUV lurched forward. It picked up speed, closing the distance to the car ahead until Matthew could clearly see the three-pointed star on its trunk. Then, their vehicle slowed smoothly to a halt right behind it.

A camera operator immediately moved in, framing Matthew through the open passenger window.

Matthew rolled down his window and leaned out, gazing toward the chaos on the Brooklyn Bridge ahead. From the back seat, Jessica's voice cut through the noise. "Why have we stopped?"

A soldier approached the window, noticed the insignia on Matthew's uniform, and snapped a crisp salute. "Sir, we have orders to seal the bridge. You need to move, now."

Matthew got out of the SUV, glanced at his watch, and then opened the back door. "Come on, sweetheart," he said to Chloë. "We have to hurry. We've only got ten minutes."

Chloë moved toward the open door, whispering uncertainly, "Daddy..."

"Come on." Matthew lifted her into his arms, murmuring reassuringly,

"It's going to be okay."

Led by two soldiers, the small group moved forward. Jessica clutched a bag—containing a prop German Shepherd puppy—while Matthew followed close behind her, holding Chloë tight as they headed for the barricade at the foot of the bridge.

Chloë wrapped her arms around his neck, resting her head uncertainly on his shoulder.

The group wove through the throng of extras as a warning blared from a military loudspeaker up ahead.

"You will not be processed until you have been cleared by security! Please wait patiently!"

"Make way! Let them through!"

The two soldiers cleared a path through the crowd, allowing Matthew and Jessica to hurry onto the approach ramp of the Brooklyn Bridge.

On a platform built into the back of a truck, director Guillermo del Toro commanded the camera operator, "Camera up."

The camera rolled for another five seconds before Guillermo del Toro raised his megaphone and yelled, "Cut!"

The noisy, chaotic set immediately fell quiet. Crew members and assistant directors moved in, already starting to reset for the next shot.

Matthew set Chloë down and they started walking back the way they came. She took his hand and looked up at him curiously. "Matthew, do you have a daughter?"

Matthew gave her a quizzical look. "Why aren't you calling me Dad anymore?"

Chloë blinked. "I only have one scene tonight. It's finished, so I'm not Mary anymore. I'm Chloë again."

Matthew feigned a look of sudden understanding. "Ah, so that's how it works."

"You didn't answer my question," she pointed out.

"No." Matthew shook his head. "I'm not married, so I don't have a daughter."

Chloë nodded thoughtfully. "I think you'd be a good dad."

Matthew laughed. "Really? I'll take that as a high compliment."

As they passed the long lines of cars, heading back to where their SUV had started, Chloë spotted her mother. She stopped and turned to him. "I have to go now. Bye, Matthew."

Matthew waved. "Bye, Chloë. You're a great actress."

"Thanks!" She gave him a final smile and then skipped over to her mother.

Bella was there instantly to wrap the down jacket around his shoulders again. Matthew gave her a nod of thanks. The cold night shoot had only just begun.