The Most Famous Actor in Hollywood

The next day, as the sun rose, the crew arrived on a small island about thirty-five miles off Santo Domingo to shoot a large action scene.

Since August of the previous year, Disney Studios had rented a private island with white sandy beaches to transform it for the exterior shots of "The Gathering Coffin." The modifications were completed by the end of last year, but director Gore Verbinski required the vegetation to overgrow the constructed sets to give them an aged and rugged look.

After getting makeup done on a hundred-foot-long yacht rented by the crew, Matthew and Johnny Depp took a speedboat to the island's dock.

Once on the dock, the two, along with their respective assistants, casually walked towards the white sand beach where filming was taking place.

"Did Kara have a problem last night?" Johnny Depp curiously whispered, "I heard you on the phone in the hallway, loudly asking what was wrong with Kara."

Explaining such a situation to Johnny Depp was tricky, and after thinking it over, Matthew replied, "There was a bit of an accident."

Johnny Depp, no naive youngster, guessed it was another escapade between Matthew and Kara Knightley and didn't press further.

Standing on the outskirts of the set, Matthew watched as Kara Knightley performed a solo scene.

At director Gore Verbinski's command, Kara tossed aside her hat, pretended to be dizzy from the sun, and collapsed onto the sand.

Kara Knightley, only twenty years old, was considered one of Hollywood's luckiest actresses. However, Matthew could tell that despite her habitual lip-biting, her acting had noticeably improved since the start of the shoot.

The shot was completed in one take, and the crew quickly adjusted the set. An assistant director came over to inform Matthew and Johnny Depp to get ready.

Kara Knightley approached them at this time.

Matthew leaned in and whispered in her ear, "Everything alright?"

"All good," Kara replied, lowering her voice unnaturally and adjusting her pirate hat, "Don't give me any more weird stuff next time."

"I didn't give it to you; you asked for it," Matthew retorted innocently. As a comeback, he added, "Kara, you could dilute it before using it."

Kara turned her head and glared at him fiercely.

After waiting a few minutes, director Gore Verbinski called the actors to the filming area, and Matthew, Kara Knightley, and Johnny Depp all joined on the white sand beach.

Also involved in the shoot was Jack Davenport, who played James Norrington.

Verbinski took Kara aside first and instructed, "You'll watch from here and start shouting anxiously when needed."

Kara nodded; she wasn't foolish and knew her role had become a supporting one.

Fortunately, her goal was to use the series to boost her visibility and earn money; she wasn't too concerned about her amount of screen time, as her primary focus was on art house films.

After briefing Kara, Verbinski approached the trio of male actors at the center of the shoot, arranging Matthew, Johnny Depp, and Jack Davenport in a triangle around the heart of Davy Jones.

He first addressed Matthew, "Will Turner's goal is clear: to pierce Davy Jones's heart and save your father. No one can stop you!"

"Understood," Matthew responded.

Then Verbinski told Jack Davenport, "Your goal is to seize the heart. Whoever holds the key is your enemy."

Jack Davenport nodded firmly without speaking.

Finally, Verbinski faced Johnny Depp and emphasized, "Depp, your attitude will decide the outcome of this fight."

Johnny Depp raised his eyebrow and exaggeratedly opened his mouth, "Wow…"

Understanding his quirks, Verbinski ignored this and continued, "You know Will Turner well and that he is the strongest in combat. So, to get Davy Jones's heart, you must ally with Norrington against Will Turner, while also guarding against Norrington stealing the heart. You must adapt on the fly."

"No worries," Johnny Depp said nonchalantly, "Piece of cake for me."

Verbinski left the filming area and took control of a camera himself to participate in the shooting.

The intense sunlight fell on Matthew, Johnny Depp, and Jack Davenport.

"Our issues can wait," Jack Davenport, with a sword in hand, pointed at Johnny Depp, "I need to kill this despicable pirate who ruined my life first!"

Johnny Depp suddenly said, "Wait! Shouldn't we verify that claim first?" He smiled at Matthew and told Jack Davenport, "Who was it that, when you confidently imprisoned me, the notorious pirate, took the opportunity to release the pirates and claimed your beloved for himself?"

He raised an eyebrow, "Was it me? So, who's really to blame? Who turned you into a drunken lowly sailor at the mercy of pirates?"

Johnny Depp then brandished his pirate's cutlass at Matthew, "It was him!" he shouted at Jack Davenport, "Don't you want revenge? You can't beat him alone; together, we have a chance."

Matthew drew his sword, pointing it at Johnny Depp.

"I should thank you, Jack," he said, his face dark and furious, "Even if you tricked me onto Davy Jones's ship to pay your debt!"

Johnny Depp casually responded, "You're welcome."

At that moment, Jack Davenport spoke up, "Unfortunately, Mr. Turner, he's right about everything he just said."

Johnny Depp laughed, "I knew you'd be on my side. Only together can we take down Will, this formidable beast!"

"Wow!"

Jack Davenport roared and attacked first, slashing his pirate cutlass towards Matthew, who dodged swiftly. Johnny Depp's attack followed, but his blade targeted the hand holding the key.

Matthew parried with his sword, and the clash of metal was crisp. Johnny Depp's cutlass nearly flew from his grip.

Jack Davenport's blade came at him again, but Matthew dodged and grabbed his wrist. Following the choreography, he kicked Jack Davenport in the buttocks, sending him stumbling forward on the sand.

Seizing the moment, Johnny Depp bent to snatch the key from Matthew, and Matthew engaged him with his sword.

Then Jack Davenport joined again, and Matthew, facing two opponents, managed with ease even without choreographed moves.

However, such an action sequence could not last long; while Matthew appeared at ease, Johnny Depp and Jack Davenport's movements began to scatter after a few exchanges.

"Cut!" Verbinski, maintaining control of the set, quickly called a stop to the shooting, "This take is good!"

He then instructed the stunt coordinator, "Let's shoot the action in short takes!"

Long takes in action scenes exponentially increase the difficulty, especially with someone like Johnny Depp, who lacked both strength and agility.

Shooting in short takes and using sharp post-production editing was undoubtedly the best way to film.

As the shoot paused, Matthew sheathed his sword, and Johnny Depp came over to complain, "You almost made me drop my sword again."

Matthew waved off Bella Anderson, who approached with a cup of water, indicating he didn't need a drink, and then said to Johnny Depp, "I've been holding back already." He walked over and put an arm around Johnny Depp's shoulder, "Depp, you need to get in shape. How about you join me for a morning run starting tomorrow?"

"Ah…" Johnny Depp looked up at the sky, "Matthew, don't you think today's sun is quite nice?"

"When has the sun been bad lately?" Matthew shook his head and dropped the subject.

It was Johnny Depp's personal matter; if he didn't want to do it, no one could force him.

Just like financial matters, Matthew had advised Johnny Depp more than once, but still, Johnny Depp chose to collaborate with an investment firm that Matthew didn't find reliable, all under his manager's influence.

Such matters were beyond intervention, even among friends or brothers.

Honestly, in professional matters, Johnny Depp trusted his agents and managers more.

Even if it were Matthew, it would be the same.

Some things were beyond his control, and after all, he was just a Hollywood star.

Isn't even God just an observer of this world?

The stunt coordinator entered the set, calling Matthew and Johnny Depp over to demonstrate and explain the upcoming action sequence in detail. Before resuming shooting, he had them rehearse the moves again.

The shooting slowed down, with most takes lasting only two to three seconds, and rarely any longer than five seconds, but there were few NGs (no-goods). Matthew easily handled attacks from both Jack Davenport and Johnny Depp.

However, in the action scenes without face shots, stunt doubles took over, including for Matthew.

This action scene, both in terms of the number of shots and the scale of filming, was massive. Human energy and physical stamina have their limits; Matthew couldn't afford to exhaust himself in a single day of shooting.

Moreover, part of the action scene was set on a gigantic wooden wheel manipulated by a crane.

The shoot on this island lasted nearly ten days before the crew moved to another island to film scenes involving cannibals.

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