Gundam Wing:
Behind the Scenes
In every movie and television show, it is a rule of thumb that there will be blunders and mistakes that will require a scene to be shot multiple times for the actors to get it right, no exceptions. Sometimes, the audience is treated to a sampling of these "outtakes" and see how their favorite actors react under less than perfect conditions.
Well, good news GW fans! I have a copy of a few of these outtakes from one of the GW series episodes. When the completed version of this scene was integrated into Episode 25, it made for a very dramatic moment for GW veiwers! But behind the scenes, it was quite a different situation...
Episode 25: Quatre vs. Heero
Scene: Lady Une gets shot
Take: One
Director: And… action!
[Lady Une has made it to the lunar base and is now poised to press the button that will save the lives of the scientists and Duo and Wufei.] Une: ...This kind of wrongdoing under the OZ is nothing. [She presses the button to release oxygen into the cells. However, the craftsmanship is bad, and the console falls apart at her touch.]
Director: CUT!
[Une stares blankly at the camera as crew members rush towards her, brushing the sawdust off her space suit.]
Une: Wha--? I-- I barely touched it...
[Tsuberov falls to the floor laughing.]
Une: [Suddenly very angry] Idiots! How can I work with such idiots! [Stalks away]
Take: Two
[The console is fixed.]
Director: Okay, people, places! And… action!
[Une approaches the console, a little wary this time, then presses the button.] --*~~*ZZZZTT!!*~~*--
Une: Aaahh!
[Duo and Quatre jump out from behind the console with an electric buzzer, laughing hysterically. Tsuberov, again, falls to the floor laughing. Une is very angry, and storms toward the camera.]
Director: CUT! Duo, you're supposed to be on set 5 with Wufei! Quatre! WHY aren't you filming with Heero and Trowa?!
Cameraman: Uh-oh.
Une: Do you see this? Do you see what I have to put up with? I demand that order be restored to this set! [Lady Une knocks over the camera in her anger, which is still filming, now on its side, looking up at Une at an odd angle from the floor.] The Lady Une will not tolerate this incompetence!
[Wufei casually walks by and pulls off Une's glasses. Une looks confused for a moment, then smiles sweetly.]
Une: Oh, are we on a break already? Can I interest anyone in some coffee or tea? [More giggling from Duo and Quatre.]
Director: Wu-FEI!!!
Take: Three
Tsubarov: Lady Une, you're too naïve.
Une: True, I'm a naïve person, but… oh, wait…. LINE!
Director: CUT!!
Take: Four
Tsubarov: Lady Une, you're too naïve.
Une: True, I'm a naïve soldier, but as a human being, I live seriously.
[Tsubarov is poised to fire his gun, but before he can do so, Wufei jumps out of the shadows wielding his katana.]
Wufei: Hii-yah! [slashing near Une's head]
Director: CUT!!! Wufei! WHAT are you doing?!?
Wufei: I thought this scene could use a little more flair, and what better way than with a swordfight?
Director: [shaking his head] Wufei, please go back to stage 5 and stay there! You're supposed to be meditating!
Wufei: What? It was a good idea! Look at it on film! GW fans want to see more katana! [Wufei does some stylish poses with his sword.]
Une: You stupid idiot! You almost killed me with that thing!!
Wufei: Uh-oh! [runs away with Une close behind him] AAAHH!!
Astro: Well, that's all for now. I hope you enjoyed it.
Wufei: Stop narrating, woman! Save me from this schizoid!
Une: I heard that, you ponytailed baka! [Wufei runs away, screaming, again.]
Astro: [ignoring Wufei as he runs back and forth across the set, trying to avoid Une who now holds his katana] I'm sure there'll be more in the future.
[To the left, Wufei squeals as he is captured by Lady Une.]
Une: Ha! Now I've gotcha! [she grabs Wufei's ponytail, somehow yanking it tighter than it already is]
Wufei: No! Let go!
Astro: After all...
[Une has a very eager expression on her face as she holds up the katana.]
Astro: The cast of Gundam Wing is *full* of surprises...
**SWISH**
Wufei: MY HAIR!!!!!!!