The next day, as the sun was just rising, the crew arrived at a small island thirty-five nautical miles from Santo Domingo, ready to shoot a large-scale action scene.
Since August of last year, Disney Pictures had leased a private island with white sandy beaches here for exterior renovations to suit the outdoor filming of "Dead Man's Chest." The renovations were completed by the end of last year, but director Gore Verbinski also requested that the vegetation here cover the sets built by the crew to better match the dilapidated and rugged texture.
Matthew finished his makeup on a yacht over a hundred feet long leased by the crew, and then took a speedboat with Johnny Depp to the island's dock.
Once on the dock, the two, accompanied by their respective assistants, leisurely walked towards the white sandy beach where filming was underway.
"Did Keira have a problem last night?" Johnny Depp asked curiously in a low voice, "How come I heard you on the phone in the hallway, asking loudly what was wrong with Keira."
How could Matthew explain such a thing to Johnny Depp? He couldn't say it directly, so after a moment of thought, he said, "There was a slight accident."
Johnny Depp was not a pure young man; he probably guessed that Matthew and Keira Knightley were involved again, so he didn't ask any more questions.
Standing on the outskirts of the set, Matthew looked ahead, where Keira Knightley was performing a monologue.
At director Gore Verbinski's command, Keira Knightley threw off her hat, feigned being dizzy from the sun, swayed with her hand on her forehead, and then collapsed onto the sand.
Keira Knightley is only twenty years old now, and can be considered one of the luckiest actresses in Hollywood. However, since the start of this filming, Matthew has also felt that, apart from habitual actions like biting her lip, Keira Knightley's acting has significantly improved.
This shot was completed in one take, and the crew quickly adjusted the set. An assistant director also came over to inform Matthew and Johnny Depp to get ready.
Keira Knightley walked over at this moment.
Matthew leaned into her ear and whispered, "Are you alright now?"
"I'm fine," Keira Knightley said, self-consciously pulling down her pirate hat, "Next time, don't give me such messy things again."
Matthew was quite innocent, "I didn't give it to you, you asked for it yourself." As a retort to her previous remark, he added, "Keira, you could have diluted it before using it."
Keira Knightley turned her head and glared at him fiercely.
After a few minutes, director Gore Verbinski called the actors to the set, and Matthew, Keira Knightley, and Johnny Depp all came to the white sandy beach.
Also participating in the filming was Jack Davenport, who plays James Norrington.
Gore Verbinski first took Keira Knightley aside and said, "You'll be observing from here, and remember to shout out in distress."
Keira Knightley nodded. She wasn't stupid; she knew her role had essentially become a supporting one.
Fortunately, her goal was merely to gain recognition and earn money from this series, and she didn't care much about the role's screentime, as her current main focus was on arthouse films.
After instructing Keira Knightley, Gore Verbinski went to the three male actors who were at the center of the shoot, asking Matthew, Johnny Depp, and Jack Davenport to stand in a triangle around Davy Jones' heart.
He first said to Matthew, "Will Turner's goal is clear: to pierce Davy Jones' heart and save your father. No one can stop you!"
"Understood," Matthew said.
Next, Gore Verbinski said to Jack Davenport, "Your goal is to get the heart. Whoever has the key is your enemy."
Jack Davenport said nothing, just nodded vigorously.
Finally, Gore Verbinski stood opposite Johnny Depp and emphasized, "Depp, your attitude will determine the outcome of this battle."
Johnny Depp made a flamboyant gesture with his hand and exaggeratedly opened his mouth, "Wow..."
Gore Verbinski, understanding him well, ignored him and continued, "You are familiar with Will Turner and know that in terms of pure combat strength, Will Turner is the strongest. So, if you want to get Davy Jones' heart, you must ally with Norrington against Will Turner, while also guarding against Norrington taking the heart. You need to be adaptable."
"Don't worry," Johnny Depp said coyly, "It's a piece of cake for me."
Gore Verbinski exited the filming area and personally operated a camera, participating in this shoot.
The scorching sun poured down from the sky, shining on Matthew, Johnny Depp, and Jack Davenport.
"We'll settle our business later," Jack Davenport said, pointing his sword at Johnny Depp, "First, I'm going to kill this despicable pirate who ruined my life!"
Johnny Depp suddenly said, "Wait! Shouldn't we first verify that statement?" He smiled towards Matthew and then said to Jack Davenport, "Who exactly, when you confidently locked me, this notorious pirate, in prison, took the opportunity to release the pirate and claim your beloved as his own?"
He raised an eyebrow, "Was it me? So, whose fault is it? Who made you a drunken low-ranking sailor, forced to obey a pirate?"
Johnny Depp suddenly drew his pirate cutlass and pointed it at Matthew, "It's him!" He yelled at Jack Davenport, "Don't you want revenge? You can't beat him alone; with me, we have a chance."
Matthew drew his saber and pointed it at Johnny Depp.
"I should thank you, Jack," he said, his face grim and looking very angry, "even though you tricked me onto Davy Jones' ship to pay your debt!"
Johnny Depp said nonchalantly, "You're welcome."
Jack Davenport then said, "Unfortunately, Mr. Turner, everything he just said is true."
Johnny Depp laughed, "I knew you'd be on my side. Only then can we deal with this powerful monster, Will!"
"Whoa!"
Jack Davenport roared and made the first move, his pirate cutlass slashing directly. Matthew dodged, and Johnny Depp's attack arrived from the other side, but his blade was aimed at Matthew's hand holding the key.
Matthew swung his sword to block, and with a crisp clang, Johnny Depp's pirate cutlass nearly flew out of his hand.
But then Jack Davenport's sword came slashing again. Matthew dodged, grabbed his wrist, and, following the pre-set choreography, kicked Jack Davenport in the backside. Jack Davenport stumbled forward several steps, almost falling onto the sand.
Taking advantage of this moment, Johnny Depp bent down to snatch the key from Matthew's hand. Matthew swung his saber, engaging him in battle.
Then, Jack Davenport rejoined, and Matthew, fighting two opponents, found it easy to handle, even without choreographed moves.
However, such action shots couldn't last long. While he himself remained fluid and effortless, Johnny Depp and Jack Davenport's movements began to become disorganized after a few exchanges.
"Cut!" Gore Verbinski, while the fight on set was still under control, quickly called a halt to filming and said, "That's a take!"
He then said to the action director, "Next, we'll shoot short action shots!"
Filming long action takes would exponentially increase the difficulty, especially with someone like Johnny Depp, who lacked both strength and physical flexibility.
Shooting in short takes and then piecing them together with sharp editing in post-production was undoubtedly the best approach.
Filming paused, Matthew sheathed his sword, and Johnny Depp came over to complain, "You almost made me drop my sword again."
Matthew first waved off Bella Anderson, who was approaching with a cup, indicating he didn't need water, then said to Johnny Depp, "I was already holding back." He walked over and put an arm around Johnny Depp's shoulder, "Depp, you need to exercise. Starting tomorrow morning, come for a run with me."
"Ah..." Johnny Depp looked up at the sky, "Matthew, don't you think the sun is beautiful today?"
"When hasn't the sun been beautiful lately?" Matthew shook his head and said no more.
This was Johnny Depp's private matter; if he didn't want to do it, no one could force him.
It was similar to investment matters; Matthew had warned Johnny Depp, and not just once, but Johnny Depp still partnered with an investment firm that Matthew considered unreliable, set up by his manager.
In such matters, let alone friends, even brothers cannot interfere.
Frankly, in professional matters, Johnny Depp would undoubtedly trust his agent and manager more.
The same would be true if it were Matthew.
Some things, he could only say he tried his best to help, but whether they achieved the desired effect was completely beyond his control, as he was, after all, just a Hollywood star.
Isn't even God merely observing this world?
The action director then entered the set, called Matthew and Johnny Depp over, and began to explain and demonstrate the upcoming action breakdown in detail, and before filming, had the three of them rehearse appropriately again.
Filming slowed down; most shots were two or three seconds long, with very few exceeding five seconds. However, there weren't many NGs, and Matthew, fighting off both Jack Davenport and Johnny Depp, found it quite easy.
Nevertheless, in action scenes without frontal shots, stunt doubles performed all the filming, and Matthew was no exception.
This action scene, both in terms of the number of shots and the scale of filming, was enormous. People have limited energy and stamina, and Matthew couldn't exhaust himself in a single day of filming.
Moreover, there was an action sequence that unfolded on a giant wooden wheel maneuvered by a crane.
Filming on this island lasted for nearly ten days, and then the crew moved to another island to shoot the cannibal scenes.