Meanwhile, a ton of concept art is on the big screen at the head of the table to give the actors a sense of how the locations will be realised in the final game. The cast read through a bunch of scenes and tweak the dialogue slightly, with Druckmann and Gross explaining the motivations and the moods of any given moment. But then Druckmann texts me: “come in.” I sidle in silently and try to assume the form of the sofa I’m sat on as to not interrupt. It’s a chance for them to air any grievances about their character’s lines, and just hash out any overall direction with Druckmann and Gross before they go on stage. It’s a private and intimate part of the process that some actors, I’m told, like being alone for. It's where they rehearse before actual rehearsal on the main stage.Īt first I’m not sure whether I should go in. But before that, a small group – Druckmann, Gross and the cast – files into a side room to do a table read. Once action is called, you can’t go in or out, lest you want the team’s wrath for interrupting any great takes.
The real magic happens behind two heavy sound-proofed doors a big light identifies when the cameras are rolling. It’s been, by far, the team’s biggest and longest ever shoot. You know the one where Ellie’s playing guitar and promises Joel that she’s going to find and kill "every last one of them". Even since before Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End came out in 2016, the team used the stage to create the game’s 2016 announcement. It’s been a long road to get here the Naughty Dog team has been using this facility to create The Last of Us Part 2 on and off for the past few years. It’s April 2019, more than a year before the game will finally come out, but this is still a momentous week in the making of any game – let alone one of Part 2’s cinematic ambitions. The number of people on set is limited compared to the 350 developers back at the studio because time spent here is expensive. Then the rest arrive: Ashley Johnson (Ellie) Shannon Woodward (who plays Ellie’s girlfriend Dina), Jeffrey Pierce (Tommy) and the game’s co-writer, Halley Gross. The actor is friendly, and talks effusively about what The Last of Us means to him. A few cameramen, some animators, voice coaches and one Troy Baker (Joel) eventually show up to get their badges and grab a drink before the day starts proper.
I briefly consider sneaking in to try and get a glimpse.Ī security guy signs me in, gives me a badge, and I’m in. Across the way from the set, Sony Santa Monica is busy working on whatever will follow God of War. The business lot itself is enormous and unassuming. A few hours later, I grab an Uber across town early to dodge the traffic – I fail, because LA.
0 kommentar(er)
