Malta 1999
Director: Ridley
Scott
PRODUCER : David Franzoni
A Dreamworks production release date summer 2000, I travelled to Malta on hearing of the start of filming on morning TV a few weeks before the start of shooting.I think it was Nicole Kidman being asked about the role as Lucilla and how work commitments forced her to pull out,but anyway.
On arrival In Malta around 2 days into my trip I arrived at the studio and basically knocked on the door so to speak , after a few more days of early rises and still more knocking I secured a background part as a Roman male for the first two weeks. Filming for me started in the main arena which was unbelievable.Then moved on to a part as a sedan chair carrier for the one scene (which took two days to film),and included carrying the leading lady, Connie Nielson (Lucilla) through the streets of Rome in the chair,asking politely not to be dropped as the chair looked and was quite heavy, Eventually,I moved on to a more interesting role as a Praetorian guard.
Apart from on-set filming, we went on location shoots to film the capture of Maximus (Russell Crowe)in the capital of Malta (Valletta). These were night shoots beneath the city ramparts which doubled as the escape route from Proximo's yard for Maximus.It was here that we were reminded how dangerous filming stunts can be as Cicero's stunt double went through the hanging scene the noose and harness slipped and he almost chocked.The quick thinking of an observant Praetorian guard supporting him by holding him up until a ladder and others came to his aid saved what could have been a tragic accident. There were also many fight scenes with the gladiators which we had to rehearse and take part.One scene the storming of Proximo's training camp was very exhausting but a great deal of fun with quite a few real injuries,having to visit the hospital myself the next morning.There were more sedate scenes which we took part in, marching scenes within the gladiatorial arena and inside the lift to the arena before the main fight scene between Maximus and Commodus. Although the armour and weapons were quite heavy and very hot in the Maltese sun, the whole experience was well worth the hard work.
The last two weeks of filming I spent with the chief armourer, Simon Atherton, assisting in the clean up and packing of all of the weapons and equipment for transportation to America and Britain. This was a chance for me to gain more experience in another department in the film industry.And meet and work beside talented and interesting people. An exciting and wonderful well spent time.
Casting Director: Billy Dowd
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