Dunn's about to direct a movie where over 95% of the shots need post-production magic. Except for one scene they'll shoot in the Nevada desert, most of it's happening right in the studio.
With a fixed location and easy green-screen setups, they're betting the whole shoot won't take more than 80 days. Pretty sweet, right? Dunn might even wrap it up before *My Big Fat Greek Wedding* hits North America.
That said, post-production's a beast—estimated at 10 months! Good thing they started cranking out some effects before filming kicks off in May. They'll stitch it together later, aiming to finish by next March and premiere worldwide mid-May.
Dunn stepping in as director has seriously boosted the crew's confidence. Forget *Titanic*'s massive win for a sec—*My Big Fat Greek Wedding* alone is a legend. A comedy with a $15 million budget pulling in over $100 million overseas? That shook Hollywood as much as last year's big ship!
So, don't let Dunn's age fool you—his clout and cred on set rival George Lucas's, no question.
Take Ben Affleck, who's playing Obi-Wan. He's thanking Dunn left and right. Word is, he landed the role because Dunn went toe-to-toe with Lucas in a heated showdown—and won! At 6'4", 80 kilos, ripped, with a chiseled face, Affleck's a total tough-guy actor. Starring in *Star Wars*? That's a rocket boost for his career.
Now, *Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace* is gearing up to shoot its first batch of scenes. These take place in the Republic's super-secret Senate chamber, split into four parts:
1. The elders task two Jedi with heading to Naboo to rescue Queen Padmé Amidala from a crisis.
2. The Jedi return from Naboo, spilling the tea on the mess there.
3. Jedi Qui-Gon reveals he found a nine-year-old slave kid, Anakin Skywalker, on the desert planet Tatooine and wants to train him—but the elders say no way.
4. Qui-Gon dies fighting Darth Maul, and Obi-Wan, honoring his master's wish, asks to take Anakin as his apprentice. This time, the elders agree.
These four scenes are the movie's backbone, all shot in one spot, so they're knocking them out together.
The studio's got the set ready—four elder chairs, two occupied, the empty ones slated for animated characters in post. Liam Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn and Ben Affleck as Obi-Wan Kenobi step out from a hallway door into the solemn Senate chamber.
"Alright, guys!" Dunn peers through the viewfinder, then strolls over to the actors with a grin. "You're Jedi—show me that grit and guts! Walk sharp, faces cool and steely!"
He doesn't call out Liam Neeson directly—guy's a vet, after all—but, uh, the acting? Not exactly top-tier. After a quick pep talk, Dunn checks in with the assistant directors, scopes their gear, and loops back to his chair. Staring at this slick *Star Wars* set, it's like a jolt of energy hits him.
Another film's about to carry the "Dunn Walker" stamp! His pride, his luck.
"Ready… action!"
Dunn's shout flips the switch—the crew's a well-oiled machine, buzzing to life. The camera team's locked in, eyes half-shut, faces tense and focused.
Master Yoda's CG, so with his chair empty, the actors "listen" intently to the elders' orders. Easy stuff—Dunn reviews the playback and chuckles, "Solid take! Next shot, let's go!"
Channeling Spielberg here, Dunn's all about speed and efficiency—why waste a superpower like that?
This batch of scenes isn't too tricky, until the last one: Obi-Wan reports back, says Qui-Gon's dead, and pushes to train Anakin. It's NG city—multiple retakes.
It's a chat between Yoda and Obi-Wan, but with Yoda virtual, Affleck's stuck acting solo against thin air. "If the elders say yes, I'll train Anakin. If they say no, I'll still train him!" Affleck's face flashes with resolve.
Dunn cuts in, frowning as he walks over. "Ben, your positioning's off again—blocked camera 5. That's minor, though. Bigger issue: you're not showing the pain of losing your master. Resolve's good, but it's gotta come from hurt—*that's* what hits hard."
Affleck's got chops from Michael Bay's *Armageddon*, but he was a sidekick there. High-tech shoots like this? New territory. Acting to nothing's throwing him off, and the slip-ups are piling up. He looks sheepish. "Sorry, Dunn—I'm still getting the hang of it."
Dunn nods. "No rush, take your time. Ben, big-budget flicks from now on? Effects are king, especially in action films. You get me?"
Affleck nods back. His build locks him into a narrow lane—action's his future. Nailing scenes with CG characters is a hurdle he'll face now and down the road.
"Thanks for the heads-up, Dunn. I'll work on it."
Dunn gives a small nod. "Take ten, cool off."
Back at his chair, his assistant, Christopher Nolan, sidles up and whispers, "If Ben can't nail it, we could have an actor stand in for him to play off—just tweak the angles and edit it out later."
Dunn sighs. "Last resort. The shoot's long, and if he powers through this, it'll boost his career."
Nolan grins. "Dunn, not many directors care this much about their actors."
"Oh? Sounds like a compliment," Dunn teases. Using his budget to hone an actor's skills? Directors might, but producers would flip.
Nolan lowers his voice. "Ben Affleck's got something special. Hollywood's running low on tough-guy types like him."
Nolan's Dunn's right-hand man—even a producer at Dunn Films—so he's clued into Dunn's big plans.
Dunn nods. "Exactly. That's why we've gotta sharpen his skills now—so he's ready for us later!"
"But what if he—"
Nolan doesn't finish, but Dunn gets it, smirking coldly. "Don't worry—he won't dare cross me."
Jon Landau's a cautionary tale in Hollywood. Outsiders might not know the full story, but insiders? They know it's what happens when you tick off Dunn.
"By the way, after this wraps, what's your next move? Got a project lined up?" Dunn shifts gears, smiling.
Nolan hesitates. "My brother wrote something I want to adapt into a film."
"Oh?" Dunn's eyes light up. "What's it about?"
"*Memento*. A killer with no memory piecing together revenge bit by bit."
Dunn sucks in a breath. "Dunn Films will fund it. What's your brother's name?"
"Jonathan Nolan. Junior at Georgetown, studying, uh, loves writing scripts and stuff."
"Scripts?" Dunn glances at Nolan. "He aiming for Hollywood?"
Nolan looks a bit shy. "Yeah."
Dunn waves a hand. "Tell him to join Dunn Films after graduation. The writing team needs bodies."
"Dunn, I… I don't even know how to thank you," Nolan stammers, floored.
Hollywood writers? Less than 1% make a living—most scrape by on odd jobs. Jonathan's not even graduated, and Dunn's promising him a steady gig. That's a huge favor to the Nolan brothers.
Dunn just chuckles.
Thank me? I should thank *you*!
Jonathan Nolan's a goldmine—*Memento*, *The Dark Knight* trilogy, *The Prestige*, *Interstellar*, *Person of Interest*, *Westworld*… films, TV, all bangers. Plus, his dark, edgy style? Rare in Hollywood, and exactly what Dunn Films needs to fill a gap.
Hollywood's drowning in sunny, safe, PC scripts anyway.
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