One Way Shooting F1 Was Way Freaking Different Than Shooting Top Gun: Maverick ‘On An Aircraft Carrier 100 Miles Off The Coast’

by

Switching from the adrenaline-pumping aerial stunts alongside Tom Cruise in “Top Gun: Maverick” to the ground-shaking excitement with Brad Pitt in the upcoming movie “F1”, might appear as a straightforward transition for director Joseph Kosinski. Yet, he emphasizes that these films could not have been more distinct. (As a movie enthusiast, I’d put it this way: Moving from the heart-pounding action up in the sky with Tom Cruise in “Top Gun: Maverick” to the pulse-racing action on the track with Brad Pitt in “F1”, might seem like an obvious switch for director Joseph Kosinski. However, he insists that these movies are as different as day and night.)

In connection to his work on “Top Gun: Maverick,” Kosinski had an opportunity with Formula One racer Lewis Hamilton potentially appearing in the movie. This interaction sparked conversations, eventually leading to Hamilton producing another film titled “F1.” However, the director clarified to Entertainment Weekly that while both films involved Kosinski, they differed significantly in one crucial aspect: unlike Top Gun, much of F1 was filmed with a live audience present. As Kosinski stated…

In Top Gun, our filming took place on an aircraft carrier, about 100 miles from the shoreline. Remarkably, we filmed in front of a live audience of approximately 400,000 people. Due to the real-time nature of the events we were capturing, I frequently had just a handful of minutes to film a scene. This was akin to a stage production, requiring meticulous preparation and the ability to perform under pressure, with only a limited number of opportunities to shoot each scene.

Instead of using a unique, yet somewhat apparent strategy, F1 chose to capture the authentic ambiance of real Formula One races by filming right amidst them. This approach eliminated the need for hiring thousands of extras or employing CGI for crowds. However, this choice also implied that the filming had to adhere strictly to a limited schedule.

During the F1 event, filming of races would take place amidst other celebrations. This implied that everyone was restricted in their actions, as the production team didn’t want any disruptions during the actual competitions. If they couldn’t capture the desired shot, they had no choice but to leave without it.

In the high-flying thrill ride that is Top Gun: Maverick, every second seemed to count. With actors actually piloting jets for some scenes, a single misstep could lead to costly setbacks. Thus, we had to nail it in a single take, as running out of time would inevitably lead to significant delays.

From the preview of the movie F1, it appears that it will be packed with heart-racing action. Moreover, it’s quite possible that there was intense tension on set as everyone understood they needed to perform flawlessly to meet the tight deadlines and achieve what was required within the given timeframe. The outcome of their efforts will become apparent when F1 is released in theaters next month.

Read More

2025-05-05 23:11