Having worked twice before with Ridley Scott, Matthew was well aware of the veteran director's habits. Ridley preferred multi-camera synchronized shooting, a technique that was not only challenging from a cinematographic perspective but also incredibly engaging.
Both Matthew and Ridley Scott hoped the final film would exude authenticity, which meant prioritizing practical, on-location shooting whenever possible.
The scenes involving Matthew were divided into two parts: some were filmed in the studios at Queensland's Dobell, while others were shot in the desert a little over ten miles from the production site.
Since shooting on Mars itself was out of the question, creating a convincing Martian environment became paramount. Ridley Scott, an experienced hand at capturing space on film, brought in a host of long-time collaborators to construct over 20 sets across the studio and desert locations.
The desert, though not expansive, offered diverse terrain beyond simple sand and barren land. This variety was the main reason the crew chose it as their primary outdoor shooting location.
During pre-production, the most pressing issue was determining the "correct" color of Mars. Matthew and Ridley had debated this at length. The color balance of NASA's images leaned neutral, almost Earth-like. Coupled with different photos taken by various cameras and lenses, it was difficult to pin down what Mars truly looked like.
Eventually, Ridley, with assistance from NASA experts, analyzed these images and adjusted the desert set accordingly. Camera settings were meticulously calibrated to align the color balance and tones with the scouting images of the desert landscape.
Features such as Martian rocks, craters, volcanoes, and the distant dust storms were all designed based on real phenomena observed on Mars, as documented by NASA.
"Mars is not just beautiful, but dangerous," Ridley remarked to Matthew on the studio set. "Every step in the process is a challenge for the protagonist, and anything can go wrong."
Ridley emphasized, "So all your movements need to look meticulous and cautious!"
Matthew nodded slightly. "Understood."
From his perspective, the film's protagonist wasn't just his character but Mars itself, portrayed as realistically as possible.
As the crew finalized preparations for filming, Matthew donned a helmet handed to him by the stylist and approached a Martian rover, carefully checking his gear one last time.
The studio floor was covered in sand and gravel identical to the outdoor location. Since this set represented the Mars exploration team's base, the terrain was relatively flat, with occasional slightly reddish protruding rocks. The distant backdrop and sky would be rendered entirely in post-production.
The filming space was enveloped in green screens, akin to a massive tent-like structure.
Ridley shouted over to Matthew, asking if he was ready. Matthew gave him a thumbs-up, and Ridley immediately announced the start of filming.
Matthew dragged the rover cart through a cluster of solar panels, heading toward a patch of finer soil nearby. His movements were slow and cautious, as if every step were a struggle.
In the script, the protagonist had sustained injuries by this point. Burdened by a heavy spacesuit and respirator, coupled with the ordeal he had just survived, every step on Mars was indeed a challenge, as Ridley had described.
At a pace even slower than a leisurely stroll, Matthew reached his destination, removed a shovel from the cart, and carefully cleared the gravel on the ground. He then scooped up some soil and loaded it into the cart.
He repeated this process until the cart was partially filled with soil.
"Hsss..." Matthew let out a sharp intake of breath, one hand gripping the shovel while the other pressed against his abdomen as if in pain.
After resting for a while, he resumed his work, albeit at an even slower pace, resembling an elderly man in his seventies or eighties.
Once the cart was loaded with soil, Matthew stowed the shovel and began dragging the cart back, moving noticeably slower than before.
"This much soil isn't enough. I need a light source," Matthew muttered as he walked. "While Mars' soil composition is somewhat similar to Earth's, it lacks microorganisms. Where am I supposed to find them?"
He stopped, gasping for breath as he surveyed his surroundings. Although the green screen provided no visual cues, his gaze conveyed the impression of scrutinizing Mars' desolate wilderness.
Surviving alone on Mars required a stronger will to live than Robinson Crusoe's.
A sudden realization hit him. "Got it!" He picked up the cart and trudged back toward the base. "I'll grow potatoes on Mars and make it a scientific breakthrough!"
Unlike conventional sci-fi films, this movie had no true action sequences for Matthew. To make the solo survival scenes captivating, the film needed more than just the stark reality of struggling on Mars; it required a richly layered protagonist.
As Matthew put it, his character Mark Watney might seem like a tragic figure stranded on an uninhabitable alien world. Yet, he was, at heart, an optimistic individual with unyielding determination, loyal comradeship, and a shining protagonist's aura.
One line encapsulated Matthew's approach to portraying Mark Watney.
The original novel did not excel in character depth or profound themes, and neither Matthew nor Ridley aimed to explore those elements. Hence, the character required no inner turmoil or existential dread.
Matthew's portrayal needed only to alternate between calm problem-solving and earnest emotional outbursts—laughing in joy or delivering restrained outbursts when frustrated. These were well within the wheelhouse of an experienced actor like him.
Ridley Scott's goal was to tell a hard sci-fi story with technical precision, while Matthew added charm to the character through moments of endearing humor.
The set included moments where Watney, in his bulky spacesuit, awkwardly drew circles on the ground, frowned while mixing manure, got blown off his feet by a hydrogen explosion, and complained humorously about Commander Lewis's poor taste in music. His "nerdy declarations" like "I'm the Martian colonist!" "I'm a space pirate!" and "I'm Iron Man!" added levity to the survival narrative.
Ultimately, this melancholic tale of interplanetary isolation was gradually brightened by Matthew's portrayal of resilience and humor.
Matthew and Ridley had discussed extensively how to balance the technical aspects of this hard sci-fi story with authenticity and novelty, creating a narrative tension that bridged the vast distances of space.
At its core, the film was a blend of hard science fiction, Matthew's playful yet earnest performance, and Ridley Scott's seasoned direction.
NASA also played a crucial role in the film's production. From the start, they showed great enthusiasm for working with Matthew, seeing it as an opportunity to boost their public image.
Mars had long been a focal point for space exploration, not only for its scientific value but also as a testing ground for potential colonization. This allowed the production to stay within the bounds of credible science while slightly expanding its scope for dramatic effect.
From the design of spacecraft and spacesuits to the living quarters and rovers used on Mars, the production struck a balance between futuristic design and functional realism, closely aligning with current capabilities.
Many details in the film were directly inspired by NASA's day-to-day practices, such as astronauts floating weightlessly between cabins or demonstrating how to drink water in zero gravity. These relatable moments added a grounded charm to the story.
In essence, the film resembled a Martian version of a survival reality show. The biggest draw was watching the protagonist use limited resources to solve seemingly insurmountable problems, while NASA's genius team orchestrated a high-stakes rescue across millions of miles.
These challenges and ingenious solutions formed the crux of the story—how to achieve specific goals within strict initial and boundary conditions.
In hard sci-fi, it's not just about having grand ideas; it's about making those ideas compelling and scientifically plausible.
The Martian was a story set in the future but firmly rooted in science. With advisors from NASA, JPL, and the European Space Agency, 80% of the concepts depicted were scientifically accurate.
From the start, Matthew had identified the essence of his character: never bowing to fate and facing adversity with unwavering optimism.
The biggest challenge in playing this role was "being alone."
Solo performances were notoriously difficult to pull off effectively, and doing so in an engaging manner was even harder.
Since Matthew's scenes were confined to Australia, he didn't need to visit NASA or other locations. From his perspective, the rescue mission on Mars wasn't so much about NASA's efforts to save him. Instead, it was an opportunity for him to present a live talent show for Earth—a middle-aged science enthusiast showcasing his ingenuity: producing water and oxygen, growing potatoes with his waste, digging up a nuclear generator by hand, retrieving the abandoned Pathfinder rover to communicate with Earth, and finally, blasting off in a "convertible spaceship."
To prepare, Matthew even watched a few live-streaming shows for inspiration.
Unfortunately, live streaming wasn't as popular now as it had been in the past.
As filming commenced in Australia, the promotional campaign for the film began rolling out. For any movie to leave a lasting impression, marketing and publicity were essential.
_________________________
[Check out my Patreon for +200 additional chapters in all my fanfics! $5 for all!!]
[w w w . p a t r e o n .com / INNIT]
[+50 PowerStones = +1 Chapter] [+5 Reviews = +1 Chapter]