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On November 30th, 2000, DreamWorks hosted a special event at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences which featured a screening of GLADIATOR, followed by interviews with Director Ridley Scott and star Russell Crowe.
For the first time, the filmmakers revealed the secrets behind their ability to finish shooting of the movie despite the sudden death of actor Oliver Reed (Proximo) halfway through the filming. On a personal note, I had been intensely curious about how they pulled this off, hearing that CGI had been employed. But how? Where? This fascinating information was unfortunately left out of the DVD.
But here, for the first time, The BIG Picture will show you how and during what parts of the film this incredible effect was achieved.
To achieve their goals, the filmmakers decided to repeat a few select moments from Reeds performance, using CGI to insert different clothing, along with different lighting and different backgrounds. The results are astonishing, and earned Scott and company a hearty round of applause after the demonstration was screened at the theater.
The first scene to be repeated occurs at approximately 1:10:30 (that's one hour, ten minutes and thirty seconds into the film), where Proximo advises Maximus that to win his freedom, he must "win the crowd".
This portion of the actor's performance is repeated at approximately 2:10:10, with the deft insertion of new dialog as Proximo hands Maxiumus the keys to his cell so that he may escape death. Maximus asks: "Proximo, are you in danger of becoming a good man?" An extra second or two of outtake material is included here, showing Proximo scoffing at the notion before moving quickly out of the frame.
Another repeated scene occurs at 1:29:30, as Commodus meets the Gladiator after his first victory as one of the "barbarians" in the Coliseum. Proximo displays his concern from his vantage point in the stands after The Gladiator and his fellow combatants are surrounded by Caesar's Royal Guards.
Proximo displays his concern once again, this time at his home in the night, as he observes from his balcony Caesar's Royal Guards at his gate, demanding to be let in.
At approximately 1:43 into the film, before Maximus goes into the Coliseum for his second battle in which Commodus has stacked the deck with tigers ready to pounce, Proximo advises Maximus that "we are all just shadows and dust" as the fellow gladiators look on from behind Proximo.
Now, as the Royal Guard approach Proximo from behind in his living quarters at approximately 2:12:13, ready to assassinate him, Proximo once more (in an outtake from the first scene), repeats the phrase "shadows and dust".
A body double for Oliver Reed was used to depict Proximo from behind as he is being slain, and was also used moments earlier in the courtyard scene as proximo delivers the keys to Maximus.
We're all but certain that fans of Mr. Reed will take comfort in the knowledge that the imagination and resourcefulness of Ridley Scott, along with his talented production crew, have preserved Reed's final (and perhaps one of the finest) roles in his long and distinguished career.
We hope you enjoyed learning a bit more about the magic behind the filmmaking process in creating GLADIATOR.