Chapter 53: Award Invitation
As the black RV approached Mason Street, a temporary roadblock forced it to a halt. George Lucas pushed the door open and stepped out. Standing at the edge of the crowd, he looked ahead, seeing cameras suspended from towering crane arms and hearing the roar of car engines mixed with the screech of tires skidding across the pavement.
He called his assistant over to exchange a few words with the crew members maintaining order, then easily entered the set. At a staff member's reminder, he stepped onto a raised platform to avoid any cars that might veer out of control.
"Uncle Lucas..."
Hearing the faintly nasal voice, George Lucas nodded. He raised his voice to ensure his words would reach her over the constant noise of the set.
"Sofia, is the shoot going smoothly?" he asked.
"Much smoother than the dialogue scenes in the studio." Sofia Coppola leaned in close to his ear. Pointing toward Duke, who was personally operating a camera in the distance, she said, "Speeding cars, collisions, explosions—maybe those are difficult for other people, but for the crazy Director Rosenberg, they're what he loves and excels at shooting the most."
Just as Sofia spoke, an ear-piercing crash rang out ahead. The black Hummer H1 smashed down a prop utility pole. Several cars rigged on catapults were launched high into the air, violently colliding with the sedans rushing up from behind. Shattered glass and debris flew in all directions like fallen leaves caught in a gale, some fragments landing not far from where they stood.
"Are you going over to see him?"
The crew had entered a brief rest period and were shifting to a nearby intersection. Sofia asked Lucas, "There's another collision scene coming up next."