BEHIND THE SCENES: NUKING TUCSON

This entry was posted on 1/30/2007 9:33 AM and is filed under production.

With only a short nap between filming the night before, we started early on Sunday and filmed the exteriors of the Boeing 727 at the PIMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE AVIATION TECHNOLOGY CENTER in Tucson with Actors/Stuntmen John Lushbaugh playing Captain Palli and Keith Lushbaugh and Roger Rogel playing Victor's Lieutenants and Actress/Stuntwoman Courtney Davis playing Captain Idris with Actress Teresa Shade playing Evadne, and Star Santiago Craig playing Lionel Verney.

In this sequence, we needed an operational rear ladderwell at the back of the Boeing 727 where our Stuntpeople could climb out, open the cargo door and unload a nuclear warhead but get attacked by the Diseased to prevent their departure , which involved a machete hacking and a fall off the stairs onto the concrete tarmac. We also had another stunt where Lionel kicks one of the Diseased off the stairs and takes a tumble onto the concrete too.

Welcoming us at PIMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE AVIATION TECHNOLOGY CENTER was PCC Public Relations Director David Irwin and Adjunct Professor David Raymond with Aviation Department Chairman Pete Stogsdill. Additionally, filming was covered by PCC Journalist Anthony French from the AZTEC PRESS as well as by television news Reporter Edgar Ybarra from KOLD News 13.

Once again, our Makeup Team of Makeup FX Supervisor Frank Guerra and FX Makeup Artist Danny Hernandez set up shop in the school break room and got Actress Teresa Shade and Actor Roger Rogel and Actor/Stuntman Keith Lushbaugh through makeup during their morning coffee.

My crew of Assistant Director Paul Adkins and Assistant Director Justin Mashouf, with Producer Gabriele Andres and I were fortunate enough to have filmed on a fully operational Boeing 727 airliner which was connected to an independent APU to power up all of the systems, which included the rear ladderwell so we could film it raising and lowering.

In this sequence, Captain Palli and Captain Idris land their aircraft in downtown Tucson where they offload a nuclear warhead out of the rear cargo hold of their 727 and try to leave before it detonates. But before they can get away, the Diseased overpower them and interrupt their escape.

Below are some behind the scenes photographs of our filming day in the Boeing 727:

Makeup FX Supervisor Frank Guerra and FX Makup Artist Danny Hernandez apply prosthetics to Actress Teresa Shade.
FX Makup Artist Danny Hernandez gets started on Actor/Stuntman Roger Rogel.
Public Relations Director David Irwin and James Arnett first thing in the morning.
Assistant Director Justin Mashouf arriving on set in the cold morning air.
Adjunct Professor David Raymond on set.
Adjunct Professor David Raymond explains the systems used in todays filming to James Arnett.
Adjunct Professor David Raymond explains the systems used in todays filming to James Arnett.
Adjunct Professor David Raymond explains the systems used in todays filming to James Arnett.
Actors/Stuntmen John Lushbaugh and Keith Lushbaugh arriving on set.
Actor/Stuntman Keith Lushbaugh arriving on set.
FX Makup Artist Danny Hernandez applying prosthetics to Actor/Stuntman Roger Rogel.
FX Makup Artist Danny Hernandez applying prosthetics to Actor/Stuntman Roger Rogel.
Assistant Director Justin Mashouf prepping the camera in the staging area.
Actor/Stuntman John Lushbaugh in the staging area.
James Arnett going over the gas operated FX gun with Actor/Stuntman John Lushbaugh.
James Arnett, Actors/Stuntmen John Lushbaugh and Keith Lushbaugh and Public Relations Director David Irwin at the Boeing 727.
James Arnett going over the cargo door latching mechanisms with Actor/Stuntman John Lushbaugh.
Public Relations Director David Irwin with Journalist Anthony French inside the Boeing 727.
Actor/Stuntman John Lushbaugh getting in costume.
Assistant Directors Paul Adkins and Justin Mashouf inside the Boeing 727
James Arnett goes over the action with Assistant Directors Paul Adkins, Justin Mashouf and Actress/Stuntwoman Courtney Davis and Actor/Stuntman John Lushbaugh.
James Arnett goes over the action with Assistant Directors Paul Adkins, Justin Mashouf and Actress/Stuntwoman Courtney Davis and Actor/Stuntman John Lushbaugh.
Actor/Stuntman John Lushbaugh determining the best technique to stage his tumble off the steps.
Assistant Directors Paul Adkins and Justin Mashouf prepare to film the scene with James Arnett.
Star Santiago Craig with Actress Teresa Shade and Actor/Stuntman Roger Rogel waiting off stage.
Filming the hydraulic lowering of the ladderwell with Actors/Stuntpeople Courtney Davis and John Lushbaugh climbing out of the 727
James Arnett goes over the operation of the cargo door with Actors/Stuntpeople Courtney Davis and John Lushbaugh.
James Arnett goes over the operation of the cargo door with Actors/Stuntpeople Courtney Davis and John Lushbaugh.
James Arnett goes over the operation of the cargo door with Actors/Stuntpeople Courtney Davis and John Lushbaugh.
James Arnett goes over the scene with Actors/Stuntpeople Courtney Davis and John Lushbaugh.
James Arnett goes over the scene with Actors/Stuntpeople Courtney Davis and John Lushbaugh.
James Arnett goes over the scene with Actors/Stuntpeople Courtney Davis and John Lushbaugh arming the Mark VII nuclear warhead.
The Tomahawk Mark VII nuclear warhead prop.
Adjunct Professor David Raymond making sure we get all of the details right.
Filming the scene with Actors/Stuntpeople Courtney Davis and John Lushbaugh.
Filming the scene with Actors/Stuntpeople Courtney Davis and John Lushbaugh.
Television News Reporter Edgar Ybarra of KOLD NEWS 13 on set filming for the Sunday night news.
Television News Reporter Edgar Ybarra of KOLD NEWS 13 on set filming for the Sunday night news.
James Arnett in the cockpit of the Boeing 727.
Reporter Edgar Ybarra of KOLD 13 interviewing James Arnett inside the Boeing 727.
Reporter Edgar Ybarra of KOLD 13 interviewing James Arnett inside the Boeing 727.
Reporter Edgar Ybarra of KOLD 13 interviewing James Arnett inside the Boeing 727.
Actors/Stuntmen John Lushbaugh and Roger Rogel inside the Boeing 727.
Setting up to film inside the cockpit of the Boeing 727.
Setting up to film inside the cockpit of the Boeing 727.
Journalist Anthony French taking news photos inside the staging area.
Actor/Stuntman Keith Lushbaugh walking through the aircraft hangar.
Actor/Stuntman Keith Lushbaugh in costume and FX makeup.
FX Makup Artist Danny Hernandez putting the finishing touches on Actor/Stuntman Roger Rogel.
Adjunct Professor David Raymond with James Arnett and Assistant Directors Justin Mashouf and Paul Adkins.
Actors/Stuntmen Keith Lushbaugh and John Lushbaugh and Roger Rogel going over their stunts.
Actors/Stuntmen Keith Lushbaugh and John Lushbaugh and Roger Rogel going over their stunts.
Actors/Stuntmen Keith Lushbaugh and John Lushbaugh and Roger Rogel go over their stunts with James Arnett.
Actors/Stuntmen Keith Lushbaugh and John Lushbaugh and Roger Rogel go over their stunts with James Arnett.
Actors/Stuntmen Keith Lushbaugh and John Lushbaugh and Roger Rogel go over their stunts with James Arnett.
Actors/Stuntmen Keith Lushbaugh and John Lushbaugh and Roger Rogel go over their stunts with James Arnett.
Actors/Stuntmen Keith Lushbaugh and John Lushbaugh go over the machete hacking and fall from the aircraft steps.
Actors/Stuntmen Keith Lushbaugh and John Lushbaugh and Roger Rogel go over their stunts with James Arnett.
James Arnett goes over the action with Actor/Stuntman Roger Rogel.
Assistant Director Paul Adkins gets the scene ready to roll from the first position.
Filming Actors/Stuntpeople Courtney Davis and John Lushbaugh.
Makeup FX Supervisor Frank Guerra and FX Makup Artist Danny Hernandez standing-by on set.
Filming Actors/Stuntpeople Courtney Davis and John Lushbaugh.
Filming Actors/Stuntpeople Courtney Davis, John Lushbaugh and Roger Rogel.
Filming Actors/Stuntpeople Keith Lushbaugh and Courtney Davis.
FX Makup Artist Danny Hernandez wife Carrisa and son, Danny jr. enjoying the action on set.
Actress/Stuntwoman Courtney Davis keeping cool with Star Santiago Craig in-between takes.
Actress/Stuntwoman Courtney Davis keeping cool with Actress Teresa Shade in-between takes.
James Arnett with Actress Teresa Shade as the scene is blocked out.
The establishing shot was filmed from above, using a manlift poised above the 727.
The establishing shot was filmed from above, using a manlift poised above the 727.
Adjunct Professor David Raymond operating the manlift with James Arnett.
Adjunct Professor David Raymond operating the manlift with Public Relations Director David Irwin and Actor/Stuntman John Lushbaugh.
Actor/Stuntman John Lushbaugh under the Boeing 727 fuselage.
Actor/Stuntman John Lushbaugh in his last position under the aircraft.
James Arnett directing Actors/Stuntpeople Keith Lushbaugh and Courtney Davis with Actress Teresa Shade. for their close-ups on the ground.
A.D. Justin Mashouf and James Arnett filming close-ups of Actors/Stuntpeople Keith Lushbaugh and Courtney Davis.
A.D. Justin Mashouf and James Arnett filming close-ups of Actors/Stuntpeople Keith Lushbaugh and Courtney Davis.
Actor/Stuntman Roger Rogel in his last position under the aircraft.
A.D. Justin Mashouf and James Arnett filming Actress Teresa Shade and Actors/Stuntpeople Courtney Davis and Keith Lushbaugh.
Filming Actress Teresa Shade and Actors/Stuntpeople Courtney Davis and Keith Lushbaugh with Star Santiago Craig.
A.D. Justin Mashouf and James Arnett filming Actress Teresa Shade and Actors/Stuntpeople Courtney Davis and Keith Lushbaugh with Star Santiago Craig.
A.D. Justin Mashouf and James Arnett filming close-ups of Actress Teresa Shade.
Actor/Stuntman Keith Lushbaugh taking off his protective equipment after filming.
James Arnett filming a wide POV shot from a skateboard of the plane passing overhead.
James Arnett filming a wide POV shot from a skateboard of the plane passing overhead.
A.D. Justin Mashouf filming a wide POV shot from a skateboard of the plane passing overhead.
A.D. Justin Mashouf filming a wide POV shot from a skateboard of the plane passing overhead.
Inside the Boeing 727 with A.D. Justin Mashouf, James Arnett and Aviation Technology Center Department Chairman Pete Stogsdill.
James Arnett filming plate shots over the wings for compositing, later during post production.
 

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