Seeing Tom Cruise Drive: witness to the trailer shoot Eye witness talks about action scenes in Bayonne |
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By Al Sullivan |
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Tony Malgapo, resident - Central Jersey
Mustangs and Fords, who was called in at the last minute to redesign some of
the mechanic sets in two locations in Bayonne, had the good fortune to be on
the set for some of the driving stunts Tom Cruise was involved in. "When I visited on shoot day at the
garage location, Tom was driving a 65-66 Shelby Mustang Fastback, Black with
gold stripes," Malgapo said. "The part I will remember the most was
actually watch Tom Cruise take a Shelby Mustang and drive it sideways at
the Bayonne location by the bridge." Although technically, Malgapo's job was
done before the shooting started, he had come back to look over the scene. "I had only visited there to show a
friend the garage set that I dressed, and we found ourselves in the middle of
a shoot," he said. "Then Tom came within 3 ft of us to go over
stuff with Spielberg. That day we saw Tom, Steven and Dakota all at the same
time." Malgapo said he was very happy with the
Bayonne location, partly because he had several friends in the area. "The bridge location was breathtaking
and I could see why Spielberg chose that site," Malgapo said. Many of the sets in Bayonne were designed
by Rick Carter of Paramount Studios, but many of the crafts people,
carpenters and others worked hard to take Spielberg's concepts and mold them
into something real. "In terms of blocking the action and
getting the maximum bang for the buck, it turned out very well," said
one Paramount official. "Spielberg was so happy with the look that he
added days at the time to get additional shots not on the original
schedule." Tom Cruise also complemented the sets to
several workers on the scene. Bayonne and its bridge features prominently
in the Superbowl trailer, and features some of the driving Malgapo saw while
on the set. Malgapo, of course, has hopes of his own. "I am hoping that if anything, people
will realize that Mustangs are great cars and a great part of American
Heritage," he said. "I am all about promoting our club, which is
full of great people with the same interest. I had a club T-shirt and a
membership card for Tom Cruise, but was unable to give it to him. I figured
it was the least I could do to make him an honorary member, since his
character was supposed to be a member of our club. I was told that the
Mustang was chosen because it was a working man's car. Since Cruise's
character was a blue-collar worker (longshoreman), it was a typical car for
that type of person to work on and restore. We do have a longshoreman in our
Mustang Club, Central Jersey Mustangs and Fords, so this premise was
authentic as it can get. I will look for pictures of my car, my car club, my
trophies, toolbox, and other little things that will tell my club members
that their President dressed the kitchen and garage sets. The fridge has some
of my magnets and flyers, and the toolbox has our club decals on it. The
windowsill in the kitchen was littered with trophies I had won at car show
and racing my own Mustang and I hope to see it all in the movie." Although Malgapo has a day job, like of the
people touched by the Spielberg magic, he would have liked to continue a
career in movies. "The whole experience was surreal, and
for a moment, I wanted to quit what I was doing and get into movies," he
said. "Then the reality of being married, having 3 kids and bills to pay
set in." |