How the film "Armageddon" was filmed: footage from filming and interesting facts (19 photos)

In 1998, Michael Bay's cult fantasy film "Armageddon" was released, which featured such famous actors as Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck, Billy Bob Thornton, Liv Tyler, Steve Buscemi, Owen Wilson, Michael Clarke Duncan and others.





1. The filmmakers worked closely and consulted with the most significant US departments, such as NASA, the Department of Defense and the Air Force.



2. Initially, Liv Tyler refused the role of Grace, but after the third time she accepted the offer.



3. After filming the film, Bruce Willis said that he did not like working with Michael Bay, so he would never collaborate with him again.



4. The film "Armageddon" began filming from a stage on an asteroid. The South Dakota wastelands were used as the surface of the asteroid. But the asteroid itself and the scenery were created in the Disney studio pavilion in California.



As a result, it took 4 months to create the complete location and all the asteroid decorations, and about 150 people worked on this work of art.



5. Most of the actors later said that Armageddon was the worst or bad film of their careers. And director Michael Bay even agreed with this.



6. As many as 13 different companies worked on creating the effects, each of which was responsible for its own specific effects.



7. Initially, the script did not include a love line between AJ and Grace, but after the enormous success of the film “Titanic” (1997), it was decided to add a romantic line.



8. Michael Bay thought Ben Affleck's teeth (warning!) were too childish, so he sent him to the dentist. To give Affleck's teeth a more mature look, the studio had to shell out $20,000.



9. Famous rock bands were invited to create the film's soundtrack, including the group "Aerosmith", whose lead singer is Steven Tyler. He is also the father of actress Liv Tyler, who played the role of Grace in the film.



10. With a budget of $140 million, the film "Armageddon" earned $553 million, which of course paid for the film and made it financially successful.



11. The oil rig and space shuttle takeoff were real. The filmmakers went through a lot of trouble to capture this footage.



12. During the filming of the film, Ben Affleck asked the director why, instead of sending drillers into space, not teach NASA astronauts how to drill.



But Michael Bay, instead of answering this question, simply suggested that Affleck mind his own business and just act.



13. Initially, Steve Buscemi said that he signed on for this role because he finally had the opportunity to play an adequate and heroic person, and not just another psycho. But when his character underwent a number of changes, Steve did not give up the role. When asked why, he replied that he wanted a bigger house. Well, you understand...Money.



14. When Bay was asked why he created explosions in space, which simply cannot exist there, because there is a vacuum, he replied that it was just beautiful and they were creating a feature film, not a documentary.



15. The director didn’t like the way actor Michael Clarke Duncan played, so he took him aside and said that if he didn’t become the bright and cheerful actor he personally selected during the audition, he would replace him. After this conversation, Duncan's productivity increased noticeably.



16. Michael Bay also played a small role in the film.