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Chapter 154: Frightened Horses
🕑 Added 2024-11-11 09:21:16 +0000 UTC"Looks like they've pulled back over there?"
Standing on a slightly elevated mound, Sean Connery gazed at the filming set of *Saving Private Ryan* and said to Mel Gibson, "It seems they have to change their plans."
The old man stroked his bushy beard, and for the first time in years, a bright smile appeared on his usually gloomy face, shining brighter than the midday sun. What could be more satisfying than seeing his arch-rival in trouble?
"This is just a minor tactic," Mel Gibson seemed unconcerned. "They'll adjust quickly."
While he appreciated the inconvenience caused to the young director he disliked, Mel Gibson understood this wasn't a significant issue; the opposing crew would soon regroup, and *Braveheart* couldn't keep the horses tethered in one spot indefinitely. According to the original plan, after a week of shooting here, *Braveheart* would wrap up all its filming. If things went as smoothly as today, it might even finish in about four days.
He remembered the name Duke Rosenberg very well. In recent years, even those who were not well-versed in Hollywood had heard of him. His rise was too swift, achieving commercial success that 99% of directors would never attain in their lifetimes.
If Tom Cruise represented the "young and naive" among actors, Duke Rosenberg was undoubtedly the "young and naive" director.
Mel Gibson never hid his disdain for him, stemming not only from Duke's rapid ascent but also from the natural aversion felt by those who had struggled for years to achieve success. There were also conflicts with the management company behind Duke, and disputes at parties hosted by the Cruise faction.
To survive in Hollywood, conflicts were ever-present. While Mel Gibson was glad to cause Duke Rosenberg some trouble, deep down, he yearned to overshadow him with films. Ultimately, both were directors, and they had to let their work speak for them. If *Braveheart* could outshine *Saving Private Ryan* in box office and critical acclaim, he would feel even more satisfied.
Unfortunately, *Saving Private Ryan* had yet to announce a specific release date, making a direct competition unlikely.
For the headstrong and arrogant Mel Gibson, this was certainly a regret.
Not staying for long, Mel Gibson hurried back to the director's monitor while Sean Connery followed his assistant to the trailer for makeup, as he had scenes coming up.
Although his gentlemanly image was crafted entirely by CAA, Sean Connery maintained a good level of professionalism. He had little to lose at this point, and to reestablish his position in Hollywood, hard work was essential. After decades in the industry, Connery understood this very well, so he personally prepared for an upcoming horse-riding scene.
While the action of galloping required stunt doubles, leisurely riding was still within his capability.
After receiving the black horse brought by the trainer, Sean Connery affectionately patted its face. The black horse snorted, seemingly responding to his gesture, and the man and horse appeared harmonious.
"Sean…"
The voice of an assistant director rang out on set. Sean Connery mounted the horse, invigorated, and rode toward the camera, joining several other actors in preparation for the shoot.
Soon, the filming began.
Amidst a group of attendants, Sean Connery rode toward a Scottish village. Though his expression was serious, with a hint of urgency, the horse team moved at a slow pace.
The camera glided along the track, closely following the horse team. Mel Gibson watched the scene on the monitor, nodding lightly.
Sean Connery's acting was mediocre, and his public image had collapsed over the years, but the gentlemanly demeanor he had developed over the past decade remained intact, making it easy for him to portray a Scottish nobleman. This scene should pass in one take.
Just as Mel Gibson thought this, loud gunfire suddenly erupted in the distance, sounding as if an intense battle from World War II was raging nearby…
"Cut…"
"Boom…"
As Mel Gibson called for a stop, a thunderous explosion reached his ears, louder than any thunderclap, shaking the ground beneath him. The crew immediately fell into disarray!
The sound of the explosion had not yet faded when frantic horse whinnies broke out, the well-trained horses neighing in panic. Even someone like Mel Gibson, who knew little about horses, could recognize the chaos and fear in their sounds.
These horses were indeed well-trained but not battle horses; they couldn't withstand such fright. Some whinnied before spinning in circles, while others were clearly terrified.
"Boom…"
Another explosion rang out, seemingly the last straw for the already agitated horses, causing them to go completely out of control.
The more timid horses soiled themselves, and the stench quickly spread over a thirty-foot radius. However, compared to the horses that were whirling in fright, this was a mere inconvenience!
What happens when a horse gets overly scared? It becomes a frightened horse!
Unfortunately, the horse under Sean Connery had become one of them.
While a frightened horse wasn't as exaggerated as depicted in films, the black horse clearly entered a state of unconscious panic. In just two seconds, it threw Sean Connery off its back and crashed into a camera, galloping toward the perimeter of the set.
The sudden chaos sent many into a state of panic. Though Sean Connery screamed in agony on the ground, no one responded immediately. The trainer seemed powerless, only able to chase after it futilely.
However, it wasn't over yet; distant gunfire and explosions continued, sounding even louder than summer thunder.
Mel Gibson stood there, screaming hoarsely, trying to regain control of the situation. But why would the frightened horses heed his commands?
The chaos of neighing horses, screams, footsteps, and the distant gunfire formed a strange symphony on set…
Lying on the cold ground, Sean Connery was drenched in sweat, feeling a sharp pain in his right leg. Seeing several frightened horses galloping nearby, he tried to get up and move to safety, only to realize he couldn't put any weight on his right leg; it felt as if it were broken.
"Help! Help…" he shouted with all his might.
Yet, the set was in such turmoil from the panicked horses that hardly anyone noticed him.
The chaos lasted nearly ten minutes before Mel Gibson and a few producers managed to regain control. Several people who had fallen off their horses lay on the ground, but doctors hurried to examine them.
"Boom…"
A fourth explosion erupted in the distance. Mel Gibson strained his eyes to look, and even from a considerable distance, he could see thick smoke and dust shooting up into the sky, as if a battle was truly underway.
His eyes widened, fists clenched tightly. His brief career as a director had brought him some understanding: he knew he had to maintain control, even if the burning anger within him could have scorched the entire set.
"Damn it!" he cursed softly.
Mel Gibson wasn't cursing anyone but himself. He scolded himself for being foolish, allowing Sean Connery's provocations to make him overlook one fact—his rival director was a known pyromaniac!
"How serious are the injuries?"
As the executive producer, Bruce Davis, approached him, Mel Gibson asked with concern, "Will this delay the filming?"
"It's complicated."
Bruce Davis frowned. "Two stunt performers have only minor injuries and will recover quickly, but Sean Connery's condition isn't looking good."
Hearing this, Mel Gibson turned his gaze to where several doctors were gathered around Sean Connery, performing examinations.
"It looks like he has a broken right leg," Bruce Davis relayed the doctors' words. "It could be a comminuted fracture. Given Connery's age, recovery will be very difficult, and if anything goes wrong…"
He shook his head, "Connery still has some scenes left to shoot."
No film crew wanted to see an actor injured; after all, it could lead to significant trouble. But when someone was hurt, the plan had to change quickly to minimize the crew's impact.
Mel Gibson understood this well. "He doesn't have many scenes left. I'll find a way to manage it."
Time was of the essence for any production, more so than financial loss. Bruce Davis nodded, "I'll inform Paramount and CAA."
As the injured were taken away, the frightened horses were managed, and the mess was cleaned up, the *Braveheart* set gradually returned to normal. However, Mel Gibson couldn't proceed with filming. Even scenes without horses were severely impacted; the sounds of gunfire and explosions could be removed in post-production, but these noises were discordant with the medieval atmosphere and constantly broke the actors' immersion.
After several attempts, it became clear that work was impossible. With *Braveheart* nearing the end of its filming schedule, Mel Gibson had no choice but to call Bruce Davis over.
"We're about to wrap filming," he told the producer. "We can't keep waiting. You need to negotiate with the *Saving Private Ryan* crew. Also, can we file a complaint with the relevant unions?"
"Very difficult!" Bruce Davis shook his head. "Even if we complain, it won't lead to anything."
Mel Gibson's expression darkened, and after waving his hand dismissively, Bruce Davis headed towards the *Saving Private Ryan* set.
