‘The Descent II’ cast and crew shoots a full day on the backlot of Universal Studios
Mar 20 - Peyton Grider
You could feel the excitement generated from each and every student. It was visible on their faces, in their body language—the impatience getting onto the vans.
The Master’s University cast and crew of "The Descent II"—the school’s third feature-length motion picture—had been given a rare and unexpected opportunity to travel to the legendary backlot of Universal Studios to film for a full day.
There was no hesitation among students getting off the vans that carried them from the small Christian liberal art university in northern Los Angeles County to the iconic Hollywood lot. They raced to the Courthouse Square that was featured in the 1997 "Batman & Robin" or the clock tower from "Back To The Future." So much history on The New York strip—on the design on every pillar, every building, every detail of the place.
The film’s writer, director and producer, professor Matt Green, who is also the director of TMU’s Cinema & Digital Arts (CDA) program, was likewise amazed by the opportunity.
“A day and a half before we were supposed to shoot, we still didn’t have a contract for the location we were going to be at, Green said. “We weren’t getting calls returned so I asked our locations manager, ‘We needed a backlot look for a studio.’ So, he called his rep at Universal and they seemed willing. In the next three hours, we negotiated a deal and then it was the process of getting our insurance correct. It came together in about 24 hours.”
The cast and crew, composed of students, faculty and staff, and industry professionals, filmed all day. The students made especially sure to take in all the sights, sounds and smells the backlot had to offer, from the distant screams of roller coaster riders from the theme park above to waving at tourists rolling by on the tram.
“From a student experience, first day, day one of the feature, we’re shooting on the backlot—possibly one of the most famous backlots in the world—is a super unique experience,” Green said. “We’re taking up all of New York street—it’s pretty cool. To be able to give that to the students, I think, is an awesome experience. Maybe one that won’t sink in now, but later down the road they’ll be able to say ‘Oh yeah, I shot there.’ That’s pretty cool. One of my big encouragement to the students was ‘hey, when we go there let's be professional. We’re representing Christ.’ The feedback I got was that they thought everyone was awesome, no issues, and hopefully that will open the door to us being able to go back and do it again sometime.”
Again, a once in a lifetime opportunity that opened the door for many aspiring film students in the future of The Master’s University’s feature films. A day of filming that none of the cast and crew will ever forget.