Filed under: Interviews, Photos, Horror & Sci-Fi, Trailers, A Closer Look
BlackVoices.com was one of the few media outlets invited to the Baton Rouge, Louisiana set of Columbia Pictures' upcoming sci-fi thriller 'Battle: Los Angeles,' directed by Jonathan Liebesman - who helmed 2006's ambitious prequel 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning' - and co-produced by Neil Moritz of 'I Am Legend' and 'The Fast & The Furious' fame.The much-anticipated film -- starring Aaron Eckhart, Ramon Rodriguez, Cory Hardrict, Michael Pena, Michelle Rodriguez, Ne-Yo, Bridget Moynihan, Adetokumboh M'Cormack, and Neil Brown, Jr., among others -- centers around a local marine platoon facing off against an alien invasion of the City of Angels.
Hardrict, who plays Corporal Jason Lockett, told us that it was "the hardest job," he's ever been a part of, but yet his "most gratifying." The Chicago native, who has starred in a barrage of notable TV series including 'Heroes, 'Lincoln Heights' and 'The Game,' and also appeared in Clint Eastwood's critically acclaimed 'Gran Torino,' revealed that the intense boot camp and weapon training made him feel like he was, literally, going to war.
"We all got really close during boot camp, I mean from setting up our tents, doing PT (physical training) together, sharing stories we did it all because that's all we had out there in them woods sleeping outside for three weeks," he revealed. "So it brought all 13 of us closer as marines and as brothers."
The battalion was made of a new platoon of unseasoned soldiers who are America's last line of defense against extra terrestrial aliens never seen before. Details about the actual creatures were under lock and key during the set visit. During most of the intense five-month shooting schedule, the cast shot at moving targets. Computer graphics and special effects technology were added during post production.
Like method acting techniques mastered by many Hollywood greats before them, Hardrict shared that the guys slept in mosquito tents, had no access to cell phones and lights were out by 9 p.m. "They wanted us in that mode of survival," he noted. "I said, 'We are doing a 'real' movie!"
Shooting for the better part of a year in Louisiana's state capital and nearby Shreveport was a far departure from La La Land. "I mean location-wise, it was all real from the freeway scenes, to the homes that were built to make it look like L.A.,' but it was much slower being in the south but I made it work for me, and we really locked in on the task at hand," he added.
"My most intense scenes where with Aaron," he reflected. "I mean we laid all on the line, everyday we would look at each other after some takes with blood, sweat and tears saying we got through that one"Could audiences be looking at the next Will Smith when they see the expecting young father-to-be go up against unbeatable odds in this apocalyptic epic? Perhaps. Not too many black men are handpicked to do battle in what is rumored to be a $100 million flick.
Hardrict told us the film was the best working experience he's had to date. And he learned some great lessons in the process. "Jonathan Liebesman taught me how to be great," he added. "He brings out the best in you -- just gotta trust his vision."
'Battle: Los Angeles' is set to arrive in theaters March 11.