Schwarzenegger fans, be prepared! Action is on the way!

Deep in the secured and heavily guarded Warner Bros' Studio lot, directly in STAGE 15, The ARNOLD FANS was fortunate enough to join a handful of journalists a little while back and witness the filming of what may be one of the most intriguing Arnold Schwarzenegger projects in a long time: Collateral Damage!

Warner Bros was generous enough to offer us this all-access pass, and we are pleased to present the action to you! So without further delay...

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After entering Stage 15's "magic door" (that landed us into the world of "Collateral Damage"), we approached a set that had been constructed into a giant elevator shaft.

This realistic elevator section spanned roughly 50 feet in height and was the primary setting for all the action to be filmed that day. Although the day's originally planned shoot called for some large explosions (which was ultimately cancelled,) what we had witnessed was just as explosive.

Arnold and a co-star were strapped in harnesses securely fastened to their backs.

The actors proceeded to jump around from floor to floor, level to level as Schwarzenegger tried to catch his adversary. Loud bangs echoed throughout the constructed elevator shaft as they landed on one iron beam to the other.

Schwarzenegger's usual stuntdouble Billy Lucas, who was wearing prosthetic "Arnold features," handled the more dangerous action. While the wire harnesses they were suspended from would be digitally erased in post-production, these shots already looked terrific on the monitors. It was truly fantastic.


In closing, the only other set visible in this soundstage was more of a large prop. It was the body of a helicopter used for filming interior shots of the copter.

It was explained that helicopters appear in a large attack scene of a Mexican village.
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The ARNOLD FANS's final WB set visit report!

On Wednesday, February 21st, The ARNOLD FANS was invited on the Warner Brothers studio lot.
Our mission: to report on the shooting schedule of events for Arnold's "Collateral Damage".
Our reward: more action and celebrity interviews than we could hope for. Not only were we able to encounter the afternoon's explosive filming of the pivotal elevator shaft scene in STAGE 15, but we also were able to interview the cast and crew.

Although we have already posted a couple of interviewee's questions and answers, we thought you might like to know more than the basics, like what Arnold was doing, how he was dressed and the total experience of the interviewing sessions. If you were not satisfied with just and typed Q and A and you need more...then read on!

With press kit production notes and a backlot all-access pass, handed out to us by our charming guide, our adventure would begin. First we came to witnesses the elevator shaft action!

Interview time! Half a dozen green movie-star chairs with the film's logo "Collateral Damage" was displayed on the back. This was the first time we got to see the title's official logo treatment. It was here, where we were able to interview Andrew Davis standing next his director chair. Mr. Davis appeared to be a very happy man pleased to give his first interview for "Collateral Damage". The director answered questions on what it¹s like to work with Arnold and if he is bringing out Arnold's dramatic side of his acting ability.

As reported earlier, Andrew Davis gave The ARNOLD FANS some information on the possible film rating. Click Here.

Other interviewees stepped up to the plate including the film's stunt coordinator and film producer, Howard Koch. The stunt coordinator, William Burton Jr. had a few interesting things to say considering he had worked with Arnold on a few other film projects including "T2", "Last Action Hero" and "True Lies". Burton Jr. admitted Arnold does just about all of his own stunts and has fun with them. Burton Jr. then described a Collateral Damage stunt he was a bit proud of that Billy Lucas, Arnold's longtime stunt double, had performed. "He takes a real good car hit. When a cab driver is looking at the bombing he does not see Arnold (Lucas) in the road and SMACKS him."

Francesca Neri, Arnold's beautiful co-star, was next to face us. Although Neri is an acclaimed foreign actress and was currently basking in the success of her blockbuster film "Hannibal", it appeared The ARNOLD FANS and the other four journalists with me terrified her. Her thick native accent, which was slightly trembling, made it obvious she was uncomfortable and had not yet, thought of herself as a star. Neri, who was the most gorgeous woman I had seen in years on the big screen of "Hannibal", looked nowhere near as sophisticated and glamorous. She now appeared naughty (in a good way of course) and looked much younger. Because of her uncomfortable fidgeting and struggling attempt at the English language, we did not ask her many questions. But man was she hot and naughty! Neri told us how exciting she finds Arnold and that she is a fan of his.

Soon a WB rep informed us Arnold is ready. I looked up and The Oak was now walking towards us ready for his first official "Collateral Damage" interview. Arnold Schwarzenegger walked up to us and gave our group a welcome "Hello." Arnold was then officially informed who we were and I was ready for his griping handshake and introductions.

Standing just a couple of feet away from us, Schwarzenegger prepared himself for an interview in front of a "bad light source" according to the cameraman. To me, Arnold never looked better. "Ah, It's like bad Terminator 3 lighting," Arnold cracked in reference to the horrible Skynet-looking intense light. The Helicopter backdrop to Schwarzenegger even looked like the aftermath of a James Cameron nuclear war.

While Arnold's microphone was being attached to his shirt, he stood there wearing his massive brown boots, tattered shirt, scruffy 5 o'clock shadow, and his movie wounds. The blood on his wrist and forehead made you concerned for a second but Schwarzenegger's charismatic personality made me believe he was in top shape-mentally and physically.

Just when we had our questions prepared and were ready to fire away; Andrew Davis was heard shouting into his megaphone for cameras to roll. Schwarzenegger told us we better wait for that scene to finish. It was an awkward moment standing right next to Arnold and not getting to say anything. It was like we were just hanging out with him without words being spoken. "Okay, I think we are ready," said Arnold turning back to us. The second the cameraman said "Okay" we all bombarded Arnold with questions.

The ARNOLD FANS reported earlier on all the Schwarzenegger questions and answers.

Sadly after a little more than five minutes, Arnold was called back on the set to "work." Before we got the boot off the set, I had to watch Arnold in action in that elevator shaft as long as I could. As we all scattered and said our good-byes outside of STAGE 15, I loitered for a few more minutes. The "magic door" opened and Arnold Schwarzenegger, finished with the days' shoot, had emerged. He walked out with his buddies Billy Lucas and Stan Winston, master of special effects. Arnold left the magic movie world and was ready to step back into his daily routine:
Bodybuilder, family man, charity giver and mentor to all.

Debuting in theaters this October in the United States, Collateral Damage promises to be one hell of a ride!