Old Mike held a pyramid-shaped object in his hand, carefully drilling holes into it. This triangular cube, made of iron and about 4 centimeters tall, had been coated with a layer of black paint, giving it a sleek, discreet appearance.
Once he finished drilling, Old Mike threaded a durable, transparent fishing line—capable of withstanding over 100 kilograms—through the center, tying it securely. He picked up the object and stepped outside into the darkness.
As they approached a streetlight, Old Mike leaned against its pole. The fishing line ran through his trousers, one end held tightly in his hand while the black triangular cube rested at his feet. With a subtle kick, he sent the triangle rolling away. He glanced around cautiously, then pulled the line back, retrieving the object with ease. He continued practicing this motion—kicking and reeling it in—his movements becoming more fluid with each repetition.
The next day, Sean turned to John with a sense of urgency. "We can only use the bank vault for two days; we need to make our shots count."
"I understand. I'll focus on getting it right tomorrow," John replied, determination in his voice.
Saturday arrived, a bank holiday, perfect for filming. The crew was up early, applying makeup as dawn broke. By the time they began shooting, members of X Security Company were on-site to maintain order, and Sean was present to oversee everything.
John stood behind the monitor, adjusting the lights and cameras for Scene 128 of The Bank Robbery. Five gangsters, including Nicolas Cage and Diane Lane, rushed toward the vault's stairs.
"Crack!" The sound echoed as the scene wrapped, but John frowned, rubbing his hands together in frustration. Something felt off; he couldn't pinpoint what it was despite having shot the scene twice.
Just then, Sean patted John on the shoulder and summoned a few of the "thugs" over. "I think I have an idea to capture the intensity we're missing during the bank robbery scene."
John nodded eagerly. "What do you have in mind?"
Sean turned and called out, "Jeff! Jeff, come here!"
The burly, bald-headed Jeff approached, looking ready for action. "What's up?"
"The filming isn't going well. Can you show them how the bank robbery should feel?" Sean gestured towards Cage and the others.
"Got it!" Jeff responded confidently. He gathered Cage and the crew and led them toward the vault door. "Let me break it down for you. This is how it plays out during a robbery!"
John listened intently as Jeff began explaining. "The vault is designed with anti-robbery features. This passage is L-shaped, allowing bank staff to move cars and cash quickly. If a robber rushes in from above, the bank personnel can grab the cart and money and hit the close button. The vault door seals shut in 10 seconds."
Jeff's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Once it's closed, there's almost no chance for robbers to get in from the outside. That means you have just 10 seconds to rush in and stop the bank manager from closing the door. It's crucial to act fast!"
He emphasized, "If you miss your shot, you'll lose everything. So, we need to move quickly!" He spread his hands wide, urging urgency.
"I'll call someone to demonstrate," Jeff continued, striding toward the bank lobby. "Boss, you head to the vault door and get ready to close it!"
John watched Jeff walk away, puzzled. There was something strange yet captivating about him. Despite everyone knowing the plan, Jeff's enthusiasm and vivid descriptions made the scenario feel real, as if they were all living the experience together.
Sean didn't notice the arrival of John and the others. He held the modified and temporary password for the vault in his hand. He instructed John and the crew to wait in the small hall in front of the vault while he went inside to prepare.
"Ready, go!"
As soon as the cue was given, Sean began entering the password. At the same time, Jeff burst into the bank as he did that day, raising his gun and firing before sprinting towards the passageway.
A camera positioned above captured Jeff's ferocious expression as he charged down the passage. Without slowing, he kicked off the wall to maintain his speed, using it to propel himself into the small hall. As the vault door began to close, he let out a roar, slid across the floor, and jammed an iron board directly in front of the vault's door.
The PA system crackled with "Ka Ka Ka Ka" as the door got stuck. Just as Jeff sighed in relief, Sean took out his pistol and fired several shots, 'bang' 'bang' 'bang,' aiming outside.
The gunshots echoed, causing John and the others to flinch in terror, their faces pale with fear. Jeff quickly rolled to the side.
When the gunfire ceased, John, Cage, Bruce, and Diane were slumped on the ground, gradually realizing the shots were blanks used by the crew.
Sean opened the vault door and was startled by the sweat-drenched, anxious faces of John and the others. "What's wrong with you?" he asked with concern.
"No, it's nothing," John replied with a wry smile, shaking his head. Although they knew it was a performance, the realism of the scene had made them forget.
The entire process took only 10 seconds, leaving no time for anyone to react. Jeff's performance had blurred the lines between real and fake.
Suddenly, John remembered that no one had mentioned demonstrating the vault security guards firing during the scene. Bewildered, he looked at Jeff.
"Do you understand now?" Jeff asked the lead actors, getting up from the ground.
"Yeah, I get it," Cage said, swallowing hard.
As Jeff left, the crew and the main cast exchanged relieved looks. "I don't know why, but it felt like he was the actual robber," Cage said, frowning.
"It was so real, a completely authentic performance!" Bruce Willis added.
"Exactly, like experiencing it firsthand," Cage agreed, shaking his head in disbelief. "This state…"
Sean stood there, puzzled. He had intended to recreate the scene realistically for the main creative team but had forgotten about the intensity.
Nevertheless, the result was impressive. John, standing behind the monitor, shouted excitedly, "This part is great! Cage, if you can nail this scene, you'll be an instant hit!"
The crew gathered behind the monitor, watching the footage captured by the three cameras. They all admired Jeff's raw and true-to-life performance.
John waved his hand in excitement. "Chang, we're going to shoot this part with a long take and set up guide rails on the roof of the corridor. This will become a classic shot in crime movies!"
Filming delays and cost overruns often stem from bursts of inspiration from the director, just like John's current enthusiasm.
Sean opened his mouth but finally nodded in agreement.
Shooting was paused while the staff designed the guide rail system and calibrated the camera speed. Meanwhile, Cage and the others practiced their roles, repeatedly rushing in from outside the bank and blocking the vault door.
After seven or eight attempts, they were exhausted. Diane, in particular, struggled to stand.
Ba Ye was busy designing a series of stylish yet safe moves for them, including wall kicks, landings, forward jumps, rolls, and dodges.
The investment in this shot was substantial, making it one of the film's highlights.
It was dark, and the junkyard was deserted. Old Mike climbed in with a telescopic ladder.
With nothing valuable to steal, there was no security. Old Mike carefully approached the target vehicle. He took out a portable air pump and inflated the tires of each garbage truck to the limit.