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‘Pearl Harbor’ filming
By Tim Ryan
starts with visit
to USS Arizona
Star-BulletinFilming on what is expected to be the biggest movie ever on Oahu in terms of budget, amount spent and number of filming days may begin as early as tomorrow.
The $135 million epic "Pearl Harbor" is expected to continue for some 30 production days with local spending, according to some estimates, of between $10 million and $20 million.
The production has brought in a large special-effects team, period airplanes, military vehicles and costumes.
"This picture is a grand slam home run economically, historically and promotionally," said Walea Constantinau, Honolulu city and county film liaison. "It's so important historically so that the younger generation can understand this event; a big budget film brings so much to this economy; and it gives us a chance to promote Hawaii."
A wreath-laying ceremony at the USS Arizona Memorial tomorrow will mark the beginning of filming here for the movie. Several of the actors, studio executives, Admiral Thomas Boulton Fargo, commander in chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, and Gov. Ben Cayetano are expected to attend.
The World War II epic stars Cuba Gooding Jr., Ben Affleck, Tom Sizemore, Kate Beckinsale, Josh Hartnett, Guy Torry, James King, Ewan Bremner, William Lee Scott and Matt Davis.
It is being directed by Michael Bay and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, who are known for the blockbusters "Armageddon" and "The Rock."
Randall Wallace's "Pearl Harbor" tells the story of two Navy pilots and best friends (Affleck and Hartnett) who fall in love with the same Army nurse (Beckinsale). Gooding plays a 3rd Class mess attendant who served on the USS West Virginia when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Scott and Davis play the fighter pilots who work alongside Affleck and Hartnett.
Most of the "Pearl Harbor" filming in Hawaii will be done on military bases, especially at Ford Island. Some filming is expected on the deck of the USS Missouri.
About 15 World War II vintage aircraft -- collected from museums and private collectors -- are being stored on Ford Island after being shipped to Hawaii from San Diego.
According to sources, there are "piles and piles" of U.S. Army WWII gear on Ford Island, including tents, and along the shoreline are sand bags, large searchlights and machine guns.
Set construction will be simple, a source said. Instead of building full sets, the crew will at times build only what's needed for a shot.
The studio will take an equally conservative approach to battle re-creations. One scene might require 20 ships, 12-15 camera positions and nine Air Force planes; then Disney plans to digitally add in numerous more ships and planes.
Al Burnes, business agent of IATSE, Local 665, which provides the technicians for film, television and stage productions in Hawaii, said 54 technicians are working on the film, with another 10 to begin after filming starts. The production brought in about 200 crew and department heads from Los Angeles, he said.
"I don't like that, but I understand it," Burnes said. "This is the production's first location and they have at least another three, so they need these deparment heads at every place for continuity."
About 20 IATSE members, including carpenters, painters, and electricians, started working for the production in February.
Some members said they signed confidentiality agreements as part of their contract to work on the film.
"Pearl Harbor" will film six days a week, with Fridays off. Filming is expected through the first week in May, when the project moves to Texas and Los Angeles.
The film is expected to reach theaters in summer 2001.
