On location for World War Z movie starring Brad Pitt   4 Jul 2013

Ally Fabish

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Before I became Editor for NZNewsUK, I had the fantastic opportunity as the Location Coordinator for the Hollywood Blockbuster movie, World War Z starring Brad Pitt,  which was released this month. 

Scotland is now becoming a much sought after destination for filming Hollywood blockbusters.  For me, after a heart wrenching redundancy, and a chance encounter with a man in a suit and me pushing my CV under his nose, I landed the job.  It was completely worth the fifteen hour days, seven days a week.

Speaking "Brad and Angelina talk" was an everyday part of work.  Ordering a marquee for (ahem) Brad, food for 1000 extras, toilets for 1000 extras,  mirrors for the makeup artists and playing in the wardrobe of the costume department were all part of daily life.  Glasgow city was transformed into downtown Philadelphia overnight.  Swat vans, Yellow cabs, U.S traffic signals and road markings, buildings re-named, fake trees and fake dead people were all part of the Zombie scenes.  They shipped in american cars, trucks, buses and ambulances. The 1000 extra's spent all day every day screaming at the top of their lungs, running across a tourist square.  They certainly worked for their money.  Car crashes, helipcotpers hovering and a machine that made large explosion nosies kept the adrenalin up.

They have a fantastic rule that they have to employ Location and Production Companies from within the country they are working in, to create revenue for them.

We prepared for a month and to film one small ten minute scene took two weeks, replaying the same senario over and over, all day every day.

Watching Brad in action every day was of course the most pleasurable part fo the job.

By Ally Fabish See more here AllyFabish.com

Quoted from NZ Herald

Pitt says World War Z 'is badass' at surprise screening

Brad Pitt surprised fans at a screening of World War Z on Friday night, giving them a brief introductory speech about the "badass" film.

The 49-year-old actor, who has been on a worldwide promotional tour for the film, delighted fans by showing up unannounced at a screening of his new movie in Los Angeles.

The actor addressed the audience before the movie began, according to EOnline.com, and said: "I've been on the road ... it's been amazing, but damn it's good to be home.

"Thanks for coming out. (World War Z) is big, it's bold, it's badass. You've never seen anything like it. It's the most intense thing you'll see all summer. If not, we'll give you your money back. Let's get this party started."

The actor has made similar surprise appearances at cinemas in Chicago, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Georgia, and also showed up at a theatre in Austin, Texas, on Thursday.

Earlier this week he tipped a lucky waitress more than $700.

The actor splashed the cash as he ordered $1000 worth of sushi and other Japanese dishes and gave the very generous tip to the stunned server at a family dinner to celebrate fiancée Angelina Jolie's 38th birthday at Japanese eatery Kuchi in Berlin, Germany, on Tuesday.

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