“It was just frustrating, painful and isolating:” Sandra Bullock Went Through Hell While Filming $723 Million Movie With George Clooney

bySiddhika PrajapatiAugust 3, 2023, 9:51 am

There are several reasons why actors select a certain role. Either the character is compelling, the money is good, or the role can lead to a big break. However, there are times when a single role can actually have a very negative effect on an actor’s life. One such movie for Sandra Bullock was Gravity, a science fiction thriller, directed by Alfonso Cuarón in 2013.

Bullock has been a major force in Hollywood since the 1990s, and even though she reduced her output in the 2020s, it is easy to forget about her impact on the entertainment business.

After turning down offers to star in films like Candyman, Batman Forever, and Jurassic Park, Bullock went on to play well-known roles in films like A Time to Kill and Miss Congeniality. And let us not forget that these roles truly gave her a lot of opportunities to succeed.

Years later, she continued to enjoy critical acclaim and even was nominated for an Oscar for her performance in the 2013 film, Gravity.

She did, however, encounter a lot of challenging situations while filming this science fiction thriller film.

Read more: Keanu Reeves Had a Crush on Sandra Bullock But His Intense Scene With Another ‘Speed’ Co-star Became the Highlight of His Life

Sandra Bullock, who amazed audiences with her compelling portrayal of Dr. Ryan Stone, once shared a glimpse of the intense emotional pain she went through during the filming process.

Gravity, also starring George Clooney, was a remarkable technical achievement. It was about two astronauts who are stranded in space after an accident. Thus, it skillfully narrated a story of their survival entirely in space.

Bullock, in particular, had to deliver a very moving performance to convey the powerful journey of self-discovery and rebirth.

Recalling her time spent on the movie, the 59-year-old actress told Rolling Stone in 2013.

“It was just frustrating, painful and isolating… I wanted to kill [producer David Heyman] and Alfonso regularly. So all of your hate, and your anger and your rage, you just give forth in your work and hope it translates on screen”.

Read more: “I wish I had gotten these types of roles…”: Jennifer Lopez Regrets One Major Acting Decision After ‘Mother’ Blasted Netflix’s Top 10 Chart to Join Sandra Bullock’s Horror Flick

The Light Box. or Sandra Bullock’s Box, was skillfully built on the Gravity set by the crew. Inside the Light Box, a 360-degree rig of Jumbotron screens added to the illusion that the Hangmen actress was actually traveling through space.

The box also had the added benefit of projecting images that were added in post-production computer graphics, giving the actors a point of reference.

Bullock had to spend a lot of time by herself in the box, and going outside and back again eventually grew tiresome due to the 25-minute opening and closing time.

She made the daring choice to spend a lot more time inside it by herself, which made filming substantially simpler. Nonetheless, being able to remain in a small area for an extended period of time was not a simple task. Alfonso Cuarón, the director, stated to Rolling Stone:

“Poor Sandra, she was alone there in that box. I was literally 15 minutes away, with banks of computers and stuff, communicating with her through radio, like I was Houston and she was an astronaut.”

Cuarón occasionally even showed Bullock’s kids’ pictures on the LED screens in addition to playing soothing music through her headphones to help reduce the tension. Filming scenes in the Light Box would have been extremely taxing.

Fortunately for the actress, the movie went on to become a huge commercial and critical success, grossing $723 million on a budget of approximately $80–130 million. As if this were not enough, the movie went on to win seven Oscars at the Academy Awards, including Best Director, Best Cinematography, and Best Visual Effects.

Gravity is available to rent on Apple TV and Amazon Video.

Read more: “She’s a horrible human being for that”: Sandra Bullock Reveals Her Hatred For Ellen DeGeneres After Talk Show Host Traumatized Her With Actress’ Worst Fear

Source: Rolling Stone

Alfonso CuaróGeorge ClooneySandra Bullock

Flights of occasional fantasies, strong opinions, encouraging hyperbole, and good grammar are what describe her. Literature Honors Graduate and Post-Graduated in Journalism, she is the Senior Entertainment Writer at Fandom Wire. She is madly in love with the lights, camera, and action sector. You would find her buried under printed fiction who is heavily influenced by dark humor. Insta: @Moodydivaa

She has also written freelance pieces for other sites, including Indian Express, India Today and Outlook Group.