Speaking of Will Smith in end of the world movies , what about “Independence Day?” In this film , it is an odd spaceship that threatens humankind. In this article, you will learn a few trivia tidbits regarding the making and background of this popular flick.
“Independence Day”
The Plot
It is the start of July and a strange aircraft (spaceship) is making its way to the planet Earth. A strange signal is received and soon, word spreads about the impending predicament that humans may find themselves in. Aliens are making contact and it doesn’t take long before smaller spaceships are starting to make a guest appearance throughout all of the major cities scattered across the world. There is no longer a curiosity about these crafts , but terror that starts to settle in amongst the public.
The humans execute a counterattack, where they find that the alien ships are immune to the weapons of earthlings. This forces the President of the United States to make a trip to Area 51 in an effort to devise a plan that will destroy the aliens. In the end , a handful of brave pilots and ordinary people will play an important role in saving the world.
In the film, Will Smith plays Captain Steven Hiller; Bill Pullman is President Thomas J Whitmore (who actually takes to flight at one point as a pilot); and Jeff Goldblum is a scientist full of theories. Other role players include Judd Hirsch, Robert Loggia (as a General), and Randy Quaid as an unlikely hero.
Facts About “Independence Day”
1) When Bill Pullman speaks o the aliens, he was required to create an expression that was full of terror. He used a memory of when he had a tooth pulled out of his mouth as a way to conjure up a look that highlighted fear.
2) To display a visual effect of the alien ray gun exploding , many people are surprised to learn that it is actually the same footage of the Empire State Building exploding , only turned upside down.
3) The scene that takes place on the submarine U.S.S. Georgia shares the same set as the 1995 movie, “Crimson Tide.”
4) Fox originally wanted the film to release on Memorial Day and bear the title of “Doomsday” in an attempt to shy away from the competition that the 4th of July would bring.
5) Advertising for the movie racked up a bill that totaled $24 million. During the Super Bowl , airtime was bought that showed the trailer. The price tag for this honor was $1.3 million.
6) Did you know that Matthew Perry (of ‘Friends’ fame) was offered the role of Captain Jimmy “Raven” Wilder, but decided not to pursue at the last minute. Ironically, his father , John Bennett Perry plays a secret serviceman in the film.
7) For the film, more than 70 fake television news broadcasts were generated.
8) “Independence Day” broke the record for the most miniature model work to make an appearance in one movie. Researchers do not think this particular record will ever become broken.
9) The alien spacecraft miniature measures 65 feet wide.
10) In the making of the movie , special effects included 22,014 light balls, 3,978 F-18 Hornets, and 3,931 alien attackers.