Okay, you've either
read the book or live in Gloucester and you are thinking,
"Exactly how true is the movie to the book, or more
importantly, to the people of Gloucester and the crew of the Andrea
Gail?" How did Junger Sebastian feel after reviewing the
finalized script? What did Mark Wahlberg think of the local food?
Can George Clooney fish? All those questions and more can be
answered in this excellent article from The
Gloucester Daily Times.
"Perfect
Storm" crew takes over Harbor Loop"
By BARBARA TAORMINA, September 8th, 1999
The cast and crew
of the movie "The Perfect Storm" last night announced
their arrival in Gloucester at a press conference for about 150
television and newspaper reporters.
The movie, which is
based on the best-selling book, traces the last trip of the local
swordfishing boat the Andrea Gail, which was lost at sea during the
infamous no-name storm of October 1991.
Producers,
publicists, director Wolfgang Petersen and actors George Clooney,
Mark Wahlberg and Mary Elizabeth Mastran-tonio sat at a table at the
end of the Gloucester Marine Railways' dock and answered questions
about the film, their respective roles, and what it all means for
Gloucester.
On one side of the
dock was the Andrea Gail's sister ship, the F/V Hannah Boden. On the
other side was the F/V Lady Grace, which has been repainted as the
Andrea Gail for the film.
In front of the
table was the crowd of reporters who wanted to know if Wahlberg, who
will play Bobby Shatford, had ever caught any fish.
They also asked if
Clooney, who has been cast as Capt. Billy Tyne, had been researching
the local culture in Gloucester's downtown bars, and if
Mastran-tonio, who will play Linda Greenlaw, captain of the Hannah
Boden, was concerned about getting wet while shooting.
"Mark didn't
catch any fish but I learned how to drink," laughed Clooney.
"Does that count?"
All three actors
appeared completely at home on the waterfront.
"Gloucester is
just a beautiful city," said Clooney, who has been enjoying the
local hospitality. "The people have been just great."
And while Wahlberg
also seems to have enjoyed the welcome, he reserved special praise
for the local food.
"We're
supposed to have all these great restaurants in Los Angeles and it
just doesn't even some close to here," he said, smiling.
Although the cast
took center stage last night, studio officials also wanted residents
to know that crews, actors and huge trucks filled with every
conceivable piece of staging and equipment will be in town for the
next three weeks.
Camera crews will
be filming in and around Gloucester and at St. Ann Church during the
days ahead, but most of their work will be done on Harbor Loop.
But even more
important than schedules and stars were Warner Brothers repeated
assurances that they are making a movie that will be true to
Gloucester.
"I was a
little wary of Hollywood," author Sebastian Junger told the
crowd. "But then I saw the screenplay and I was struck by how
they tried to stay as close to the book as possible."
Junger went on to
say he was relieved by what he found in the script.
"I really love
this town," he said. "I had nightmares of someone making a
bad movie and not being able to come back."
Still, both Junger
and Petersen cautioned there will be some differences between the
book and the movie.
"We do
whatever we can do exactly the same," said Petersen, who
stressed that the feeling in the book and the movie will be close.
"We go with these people one more time."
However, while
Junger writes about what may have happened during the Andrea Gail's
final voyage, the movie will tell a story without questions and
doubts.
"Our movie
is based on Sebastian's book but it does go some steps beyond and
tells what might have happened," Petersen said. "We go
with our imagination."
Mayor Bruce Tobey,
who joined Gov. Paul Cellucci in speaking about the benefits
"The Perfect Storm" will bring to the local economy, also
expressed his belief that the film will follow Junger's book and
treat this episode of Gloucester fishing history with "real
sensitivity and enormous dignity."
"This was a
powerful event in the history of this community and through the book
we relived that experience," Tobey said. "Now, we will
relive it here in Gloucester a second time."
And as proof of
their commitment and respect for the fishing community's experience,
Warner Brothers presented The Perfect Storm Foundation a check for
$25,000.
Junger established
the foundation to offer educational and cultural opportunities to
the children of fishing families.
But being true to
the spirit of the story and the memory of the crew of the Andrea
Gail was not just the business of directors, writers and public
officials.
Mastrantonio said
she feels a real sense of responsibility to the people in the story.
Wahlberg mentioned that he had gained a lot of insight from time
spent with the Shatford family.
And Clooney seemed
equally determined to be part of a movie that will stand as a
tribute to the crew of the Andrea Gail.
"To get a
chance to play these guys is an honor," he said. "I hope
we don't screw it up."
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