Los Angeles in November was still basking in the scorching sun, but Iceland was already blanketed in snow. The howling wind, mixed with fine snowflakes, swept across Vatnajökull Glacier, turning the white world even whiter. Having lived in Los Angeles for many years, Duke was unaccustomed to such an environment, but just like every difficulty he encountered, the temperature would not become an excuse for him to stop moving forward.
Along a temporarily constructed road, he led the crew to a small ice lake on Vatnajökull Glacier, preparing to shoot the first scene.
The road had been built jointly by the crew and the Icelandic government, which provided considerable support to the production. According to their agreement, Duke also recruited temporary staff locally during the filming in Iceland.
Giving to receive is one of the most fundamental rules of the world, and Duke adhered to these rules most of the time.
Getting out of the SUV, Duke and Anna Prinz went separate ways to coordinate the crew, preparing for the upcoming shoot. Though the sky was overcast with snowflakes drifting down, the setting was perfect for filming. This gloomy sky and color tone were a natural backdrop for Batman, even saving the need for additional lighting adjustments.
"John, extend Crane 1 and Crane 2 directly above the ice lake," Duke shouted towards the team adjusting the equipment while standing on a thick patch of ice. "Camera 1 will shoot at a 45-degree downward angle, and Camera 2 at a 60-degree diagonal angle!"
He beckoned towards the art director, Hannah Selina, who quickly approached. "Hannah, set up the nighttime scene location; we should finish this shot during the day."
Compared to the Himalayas, Iceland's conditions were better but still unsuitable for prolonged shooting. Duke had crafted a tight schedule, aiming to leave Iceland as soon as possible. It was already mid-November, and any delay might push them into Iceland's deep winter, causing issues with the equipment.
The crew worked efficiently, and once the equipment and site adjustments were complete, the makeup-done Liam Neeson and Christian Bale arrived at the shooting location.
Duke stood behind the director's camera, saying nothing. This was an action scene, and the actors' choreography was being handled by professional stunt coordinator Jimmy Carter.
However, as Christian Bale and Liam Neeson stepped onto the ice lake, Duke immediately called them back.
Walking to the edge of the lake, Duke stomped hard on the ice. A faint cracking sound continuously echoed, prompting him to ask, "Is this the sound of ice breaking?"
"It seems so," Jimmy Carter repeated Duke's action, producing the same sharp cracking sound. "It shouldn't break, right?"
"What's going on?" Duke directed his question at the local Icelandic crew member.
The staff member calmly explained, "This is a characteristic of Vatnajökull Glacier. Many ice layers creak when stepped on, but they won't actually break. I can guarantee it!"
The liaison officer assigned by the Icelandic government also arrived to provide assurance. "This ice lake often hosts tourists. It's early winter now, so there's absolutely no problem."
Despite the Icelandic staff's reassurances, Duke took extra precautions. He had safety ropes attached to Liam Neeson, Christian Bale, and their stunt doubles. These could easily be edited out in post-production, but avoiding actor injuries would save the crew from bigger troubles.
Each action scene was divided into countless small segments for filming, and the fight training sequences for Liam Neeson and Christian Bale were no exception. Given the wind and complex environment, Duke decided against on-site audio recording, which also reduced the difficulty of their performances.
Having undergone months of rigorous training, both Neeson and Bale were in their best physical states. Although the filming was interrupted by constant changes between live-action and stunt doubles, the progress of this first scene went relatively smoothly overall.
Unexpectedly, right after lunch, the wind on the glacier suddenly intensified. Despite this, Duke insisted on completing the scene. By the time the crew started packing up equipment to leave, the wind speed had reached 75 miles per hour, with some crew members being blown over and unable to stand without assistance.
The harsh conditions made it impossible for the crew to leave temporarily. The convoy, led by guides, found a sheltered spot to avoid the gale, waiting for calmer weather before heading to the next location.
"Care for a cup of hot coffee?"
Inside a spacious trailer, Tina Fey handed a hot drink to Duke, who took it, cupping it in both hands. His wind-chilled palms gradually warmed up. "Thanks."
"I asked the guide," Tina said, pouring herself a cup and sitting across from him. "This is just a gust. It won't last long."
Listening to the howling wind outside, Duke's brows remained furrowed. "If it comes every day, it'll still be a headache."
As the guide had predicted, the strong wind subsided within an hour. Although it was still breezy outside, it no longer hindered the crew's movements.
Switching to the SUVs, Duke led the team toward a rocky area on the glacier.
The two locations weren't far apart, and they reached their destination in less than half an hour. But upon arrival, Duke saw Hannah Selina looking disheartened. The sets she had arranged were all blown over, with lighter pieces scattered who-knows-where.
After surveying the rocky terrain along the glacier's edge, Duke told her, "Hannah, forget about the sets for now. Let the crew rest. We'll film after dark."
In Hollywood productions, many night scenes were actually shot during the day and then converted to nighttime settings in post-production. Shooting at night often required more complex lighting and environmental adjustments.
As the sky darkened, the temperature continued to drop. Apart from setting up cameras and adjusting lights, Duke avoided additional preparations for this temporary filming site. To conserve energy, he sent everyone to the large trailers for warmth, waiting until nightfall to resume shooting.
"Working with Duke often means embarking on an incredible journey," Liam Neeson remarked inside one of the spacious trailers, where key crew members were gathered, sipping hot coffee. "Christian, can you imagine this? At over fifty, I'm taking a huge leap forward in my career."
"That's because you're working hard enough," Duke interjected.
Christian Bale smiled at the group but said nothing.
From Duke's observations, Bale was often a relatively silent actor who didn't enjoy much communication with others. His dedication was unquestionable, but the number of discussions he had with Duke about the film and his role since joining the crew had been minimal.
After half an hour of rest, the outside sky had fully darkened. Duke stood up, clapped his hands, and announced, "Alright, folks, back to work!"
This location featured only one scene: a dialogue between Henri Ducard and Bruce Wayne about anger, determination, and vengeance.
A campfire was lit, its flames crackling in the wind and casting flickering light on Liam Neeson's and Christian Bale's faces.
Duke stood behind the main camera, observing every movement and expression of the actors. Unlike his previous commercial films, this trilogy demanded more from the performances.
This was also why Duke had waited until the last day to let Bale decide. Compared to another actor he had considered, Ben Affleck, Christian Bale's acting skills were noticeably superior.
"Rub your chest hard. Your hands can help warm you up," Liam Neeson said, adding dry wood to the fire while addressing the curled-up Christian Bale. "You're stronger than your father."
Bale looked up at him. "You didn't know my father."
"But I know the anger in your heart."
This anger, stemming from Bruce Wayne's pain after losing his parents, was pivotal. "Your anger temporarily masks the pain until you can no longer bear the longing for your loved ones. One day, you might wish they never existed, just to rid yourself of the pain."
Bale's face showed a hint of doubt. Neeson calmly continued, "I haven't always lived in the mountains. I once had a wife, the love of my life. She was brutally murdered. Like you, I learned not to tolerate evil, to show no mercy to wrongdoers. Anger gave you great strength, but if you don't learn to control it, it will destroy you. Anger almost destroyed my life."
"How did you calm your anger?" Bale asked.
"Revenge!"
"That won't work for me."
"Why not? Why don't you avenge your parents, Bruce?"
These lines underscored the philosophical differences between Bruce Wayne and Henri Ducard (or the League of Shadows). Ultimately, their paths would diverge.
"Cut!"
Duke called out, then waved the two actors over. He addressed Neeson first. "Liam, your expression was a bit too much. You're not a villain; you're someone upholding the philosophy of the League of Shadows. In Ducard's mind, this is the correct worldview, and he firmly believes in it."
He then turned to Bale. "Christian, what happened to your acting? Where did it go? In the footage, all I saw was a wooden-faced Bruce Wayne. I couldn't sense the anger and fear buried deep inside you!"
"Sorry," Bale said sincerely. "I didn't adjust my state properly."
"You have ten minutes," Duke instructed. "Remember, Christian, you're not playing an emotionless god but a man descending from the altar!"