Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1109293
BOOM! A loud noise is followed by smoke pouring into the cabin of the helicopter… When the overbearing weight of the money causes a gear box to blow at eleven thousand feet, moments before the film's heroes can cross the ridge of the Andes, the helicopter drops into a spin that ultimately sends them torpedoing down the mountain range to a green valley below. In a dramatic moment to attempt a safe landing, they are forced to cut the long line holding their bags of money which subsequently drops into the same coca field where they finally crash land. The indigenous local coca farmers quickly gather around the downed cash, and once the helicopter comes out of its harrowing spin to a final resting point, the group is left to face off with the locals who mistake them for DEA. A tense standoff ensues which ends in the unexpected death of several villagers as they contest the ownership of the money. In addition to the complex helicopter work, Art Director Dave Scott took on this unruly location with construction foreman George Stokes. Together, with a small crew over many weeks of preproduction, they endured incredibly difficult rainfall and mud, all while building the village within a steep valley in Kualoa Ranch. One of the bigger sets the crew was challenged to create, the goal was to bring authenticity and a certain minimalism to the life of these coca farmers who live deep in the fertile, South American mountains. Special care was taken to shop, hand select or craft a "found materials" look that would make up the village structures and dressing. As a rule, the majority of this world was either found locally or brought in by mule, such as rusted tin for roofing or basic supplies that could get repurposed for other uses. Since this village was run by narcos, it was speculated that every so often, a helicopter might bring in larger cocaine-processing supplies on pallets in 50-gallon drums. Set decorator Jay Hart worked closely with his crew to create handmade furniture and bring local fabrics and wares shopped in Colombia and shipped into Hawaii. The village itself was laid out in a hierarchy of status that topped out with what was referred to as the elder's hut. This setting held importance to the storytelling as it sets up the gauntlet to the top of the hill on a trail dubbed "the walk of shame." After killing some of the local farmers, the guys DEATH IN THE COCA FIELDS A. INTERIOR ELDER'S HUT. SET PHOTO BY MELINDA SUE GORDON. B. COCA FIELDS WIDE ESTABLISHING SHOT MOMENTS BEFORE THE HELICOPTER CRASH LANDS. ILLUSTRATION BY ROBERT SIMONS. C. HELICOPTER CRASH SITE AFTERMATH. SET PHOTO BY MELINDA SUE GORDON. D. COCA VILLAGE "WALK OF SHAME." ILLUSTRATION BY ROBERT SIMONS. A