The action scene between the male and female leads was planned to be spectacular and dramatic. In addition to the regular crew, a special effects team from Industrial Light & Magic was involved, incorporating a series of special effects models into the actual shooting.
Over the course of a week, Matthew and Charlize Theron filmed first at Warner Bros. Studio's outdoor lot, then moved to the streets of Los Angeles, and finally returned to the studio.
The shooting of this action scene was nearing completion.
Inside the studio, on a faux concrete resin floor, old newspapers fluttered in the air as a large fan began to blow fiercely.
An assistant director, holding a clapperboard, stepped in front of the camera and shouted, "Hancock, Scene 121, Take 12, Action!"
As soon as the call was made, Matthew and Charlize Theron started grappling in front of the camera.
Matthew pushed Charlize Theron down onto the concrete floor, newspapers blown by the wind swirling above them.
The next moment, Charlize Theron turned the tables, pinning Matthew down. She swung her long arms, her fists filled with anger "hitting" Matthew's face, to which Matthew responded by acting as if he was being beaten.
Then he flipped her over, regaining the upper hand.
Without special effects, aside from the set and green screens, the two superhuman characters' fight resembled a brawl between street fighters.
Matthew and Charlize Theron rolled around on the ground, fighting intensely.
"Cut!" Director Peter Berg finally called out, stopping the scene. "That take's good."
The camera angle was adjusted, and Matthew and Charlize Theron stayed on the ground. Thirty seconds later, filming resumed.
After another tussle, Matthew grabbed Charlize Theron's wrists, pinning her arms above her head. Charlize Theron couldn't turn over but tilted her head back, shouting, "Let me go! Let me go!"
She gritted her teeth, tears in her eyes, seemingly using all her strength. "I hate you! I hate you!"
"Sorry." Sensing Charlize Theron had stopped struggling, Matthew released her hands, saying, "Whatever I've done, whoever I am..."
He saw Charlize Theron turn her head away and continued, "Look at me... I'm sorry. I don't remember. I'm sorry for what I've done. You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."
Charlize Theron just shook her head, then suddenly looked toward the green screen. Matthew followed her gaze.
"Damn!"
"Oh no!"
They both exclaimed simultaneously.
Matthew slowly stood up, while Charlize Theron, hands on the ground, seemed too weak to rise.
Suddenly, countless artificial foam snowflakes sprayed from a cylinder suspended by a crane, blown by the wind over Matthew and Charlize Theron, accumulating until their figures became blurred.
When the director's monitor showed the two lead actors were almost invisible, Director Peter Berg declared the scene done, concluding the filming of the epic fight scene.
Covered in foam resembling snowflakes, Matthew first helped Charlize Theron up, then wiped the foam from his face. A few makeup artists from the crew quickly arrived to clean the white flakes off both actors.
After cleaning up, they each returned to their dressing rooms. Matthew, after removing his makeup and taking a shower, waited for a while before Charlize Theron emerged with her bag.
"Let's go." Charlize Theron walked with him out of the studio.
Having known each other for a long time and even been intimate, they didn't exchange many words.
Outside the studio, they took a golf cart to the Warner Bros. Studio entrance. Matthew picked up his Mercedes SUV and drove Charlize Theron to her home to get her luggage, then headed to Los Angeles International Airport.
"Why the rush?"
Stuck in traffic near the airport, Matthew asked Charlize Theron in the passenger seat, "Even if you're in a hurry to get to Portland, why leave tonight? Is the crew for 'The Burning Plain' in a rush?"
Charlize shrugged, "I've finished my scenes. I can't keep the crew waiting for me."
Matthew turned to her, "Are you avoiding me?"
"Do I need to avoid you?" Charlize Theron maintained her icy queen demeanor before slumping in her seat and sighing, "I'm afraid I can't control myself."
This moment of vulnerability was unusual for her. She quickly returned to her previous stance, "From now on, we're just friends."
Matthew smiled, "Of course, we're friends." Not wanting to dwell on the topic, he asked, "Why did you take on that film?"
He had read the script with Charlize Theron, which was complex and not a commercial film. The multi-layered narrative and frequent scene changes were overwhelming.
Perhaps it had to do with his lack of cultural sophistication, but the script seemed like pure formalism to him. Stripping away its parallel narrative, the story would become insipid. Such structural play and pretentiousness were mere formal expansions, and multi-threaded parallel storytelling rarely appealed to the general audience.
"We have different understandings and concepts of film," Charlize Theron said.
Matthew thought about it and agreed. Charlize Theron acted in both art and commercial films, leaning more towards the former, especially after the commercial success of "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," which gave her more say in small, artistic productions.
Charlize Theron continued, "I'm the second producer on this film and have significant authority. The production will follow my vision." She suddenly turned to Matthew, looking at him, "At some point in life, you have to confront your demons and reality. I don't want to face reality, but I have to learn to face everything bravely."
Her words were perplexing, leaving Matthew wondering if he had become Charlize Theron's demon.
As the traffic jam cleared, he resumed driving and soon dropped Charlize Theron off at the airport entrance.
"I'll visit the set in Portland if I have time," Matthew said.
Charlize Theron nodded and walked into the terminal with her luggage.
Matthew didn't dwell on it, got back in his car, and returned to Beverly Hills.
If he were ten years older, his perspective might differ. He might want to settle down with someone for the rest of his life.
But Matthew couldn't predict the future.
For now, he and Charlize Theron would just remain friends.
People like him weren't likely to change their views based on a few words from Charlize Theron. The seemingly cryptic things she said on the drive would be selectively forgotten by Matthew by the next day. Life would go on as usual.
Charlize Theron's scenes were all wrapped up, but filming for "Hancock" continued. Matthew still reported daily to Warner Bros. Studios to shoot the remaining dialogue scenes. The entire film's production was nearing completion, well ahead of schedule. Before October, the crew would transition to post-production.
This left ample time to fine-tune the special effects scenes, which are crucial for a commercial film.
Supporting actor's PR work, basketball scenes in prison, teasing a little girl on the street... these scenes were efficiently shot in under five days due to the crew's coordination and Matthew's excellent state.
The final scene was shot in an old bar near the side entrance of Warner Bros. Studios.
This was another dialogue scene where Nina Dobrev's character, a young woman, approached Hancock and invited him to party with her.
In the dimly lit bar, Matthew sat at a table covered with empty bottles, swaying as if drunk.
Nina Dobrev and another girl entered, spotting Matthew immediately and walking over.
"Hi..." she greeted Matthew, "Don't think I'm crazy, I know who you are. My cousin and I have been looking for you."
Matthew ignored her, grabbed a bottle, and stood up to leave. Nina Dobrev followed, talking incessantly, "We've looked everywhere we could. I finally found you."
She stepped forward, grabbing his arm, "I've got you now."
Then, holding his arm, she led Matthew out of the bar and into the same car.
"Cut! That's a wrap!" Director Peter Berg announced as he emerged from the bar, "All scenes for 'Hancock' are officially wrapped!"
The crew erupted in applause. Nina Dobrev approached Matthew, asking, "Want to see a gymnastics show tonight? The kind without a top."
The previous week, she had attended the film's press conference, giving interviews to several media outlets. With the crew's promotion and her agent's efforts, her name had been frequently mentioned in the media, especially online, attracting considerable attention due to her good looks and sexy image.
Matthew said nothing.
Seeing his silence, Nina Dobrev leaned in closer, whispering a few more words.
Half an hour later, Matthew drove Nina Dobrev to her hotel, the Peninsula.
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