Same settings, different arrangements—everything looked completely different from what initially appeared uniform and in place. The stand-ins playing Fight Club members were being tended to. Even a young Jared Leto, who in a few years would become an acclaimed actor, was just an older-looking youth with striking blue eyes that hinted at ambition. The fact that he asked to be punched on purpose, or that he wanted to act through method instead of meaning, said a lot.
Edward stared blankly, wearing only a tank top and underwear, while looking at a photo of David Foster Wallace, oblivious to the motion and activity on set.
Helena was in deep conversation with someone who appeared to be her producer. It wasn't exactly the best way to say she was busy, but they had a heavy workload for the coming days. She looked as if the weight of the world was crashing down on her—an overwhelming job.
You could hear them closely.
–We have everything set to finish the dove's wings before May. –murmured the production agent, determined to give her a proper response quickly, as only her scenes remained for the ending.
–In three days, I'll be there. –said Helena from her spot, keeping a close eye on the two young actors—rising stars, each absorbed in their unique methods. One exaggerated and rich with nuance, the other classical and precise, with all the rules of theater and a natural ease that aligned perfectly with his character.
Sprinklers were used on the ceiling, creating the illusion of rain cascading downward. Just simple raindrops.
–Scene 91. Take 3.–
HEAVY RAIN.
Jack grows furious, silently. The car moves down a highway, intermittently lit by approaching headlights. In reality, they're in a wheel-less car anchored by hooks, with wires running under their clothes to simulate motion. It was just an illusion.
Yesterday, they shot the real-life version with the help of two stunt doubles who handled the remaining technical challenges.
TYLER: Got anything on your mind?
JACK: No.
Tyler shrugs, turns on the radio, ignoring Jack. That makes Edward breathe. Helena watches everything through the screen, never missing a chance to offer her critique of each detail in the crisp, clear footage.
JACK: Why didn't anyone tell me about "Project Mayhem"?
TYLER: What was I supposed to say?
JACK: Why wasn't I in from the beginning? You and I started Fight Club together.
TYLER: Fight Club was the beginning. It's out of the basements now—it has a name: Project Mayhem.
RICKY AND MECHANIC: (together) The first rule of Project Mayhem is you don't ask questions.
JACK: This is as much mine as it is yours.
TYLER: Is this a sewing circle? Is this about you and me?
JACK: You know what I mean.
TYLER: What do you want, a mission statement?
JACK: Look…
TYLER: Should I write you an email? Add it to your to-do list?
JACK: I want to know…
TYLER: What do you want to know about Project Mayhem?
RICKY AND MECHANIC: (together) The first rule of Project Mayhem…
JACK: (to Ricky and Mechanic) Shut up! (to Tyler) I want to know what's going on.
Tyler swerves the car into the opposite lane, accelerating… Oncoming headlights close in fast…
TYLER: This doesn't belong to us. We're not the leaders. We're not special.
JACK: What the hell are you doing?!
TYLER: We are the all-singing, all-dancing crap of the world. We're all part of the same compost heap…
Billy's delivery feels a bit over-the-top and immature. But the way he acts connects with the audience. With a subtle focus shift, David Fincher cuts between Billy and Edward Norton's takes, highlighting each portrayal.
JACK: Tyler…
Tyler switches back to the correct lane. The other CAR speeds by, HORN BLARING…
JACK: What the hell…?!
TYLER: You choose your level of involvement.
I won't make your decisions for you.
JACK: I'm not asking you to.
TYLER: You're asking questions with no answers. You know as much about Project Mayhem as anyone else.
JACK: I don't think that's true.
Tyler veers back into the opposite lane, speeding up. Through the windshield: oncoming headlights—a TRUCK.
JACK: Tyler… what is this?!
Jack tries to steer, but Tyler holds the wheel with both hands.
TYLER: What do you wish you'd done before you died?
RICKY: Paint a self-portrait.
MECHANIC: Build a house.
TYLER
(to Jack)
What about you?
JACK: I don't know! Nothing!
TYLER: If you died right now, how would you feel about your life?
JACK: I wouldn't feel anything about my life! Is that what you want to hear?
The oncoming truck BLARES its HORN and FLASHES its LIGHTS. It swerves to the other side of the road. Tyler follows.
TYLER: I want to hear the truth.
JACK: To hell with my life. To hell with Fight Club. To hell with you and Marla. I'm sick of this. How's that?
TYLER: Why do you think I blew up your apartment?
JACK: What?
TYLER: Hitting bottom isn't a weekend retreat. It's not a goddamn seminar. You have to forget everything you know, everything you think you know… about life, about friendship, about you and me.
Just before impact with the oncoming truck, Tyler lets go of the wheel. Jack keeps his hands gripped, yanks the wheel… the car swerves… The truck thunders past, splashing water, horn screaming. Tyler stares at Jack, hands in the air. Jack returns the look, expression blank.
JACK: Okay, okay… fine…
Jack lifts his hands off the wheel. Tyler watches Jack's face, impressed. He makes no move to take the wheel. Through the windshield: a parked car at the roadside, surrounded by flares. Jack and Tyler's eyes stay locked as their car veers toward it… The flares cast eerie light on their faces. Tyler grins. They slam into the parked car… AIRBAGS EXPLODE! The rear of their car spins violently and tumbles downhill…
JACK (LIVE VOICE)
I'd never been in a car crash.
That must be what all those statistics felt like before they were filed away in my reports.
The car finally bottoms out, nose-down. All four passengers stumble out as makeup artists rush in. Billy is handed apple juice mixed with gelatin—he rinses his mouth, and in under 20 minutes, he looks convincingly battered and wrecked.
Everyone is awkwardly sprawled, trying to exit through windows or pry open doors. Each reacts differently, and the dazed confusion is shared among all.
EXT. OVERTURNED CAR
Tyler crawls out from the passenger seat. He circles… opens the driver's side door and drags Jack into the mud. Ricky and the Mechanic squeeze out the shattered back window. Tyler slumps next to Jack, dazed and bruised.
TYLER: We just had a near-death experience.
–Cut.–
It's a bit unnerving, how they can recreate a crash so convincingly, not carelessly but with purpose—raw and visceral—for something that took under half an hour to execute. It's a remarkable testament to the special effects team at the production center, even if the images will eventually be overlaid into a single seamless shot.
....