Movie productions frequently choose distant, picturesque places like Hawaii for filming, often spending months in these stunning settings. While these locations may look ideal, Morgan Freeman reveals that shooting in such spots does not guarantee a successful movie, despite the appealing backdrop.
One major factor for filming in exotic locations is the financial incentives offered by local governments, including significant tax breaks to attract studios. These incentives boost the local economy and generate publicity when famous actors are seen around town. Another reason is that stars may be more willing to join a project if it involves relaxing surroundings, such as beaches, instead of less appealing environments like cold, rainy locations.
Morgan Freeman’s Experience with Exotic Filming Spots
Morgan Freeman’s past roles demonstrate this trend vividly. For example, in the iconic ending of The Shawshank Redemption, Freeman’s character Red reunites with Andy Dufresne on a remote Caribbean beach at St. Croix. Although brief, the scene’s 90-second run time likely came at a high cost to transport the crew to such a location for filming.
The Movie Flop: A Closer Look at The Big Bounce
One of Freeman’s lesser-remembered projects, credited as a significant failure, is The Big Bounce. Despite featuring a notable cast including Owen Wilson, Charlie Sheen, Vinnie Jones, and Freeman himself, and being directed by the filmmaker behind Grosse Pointe Blank, the film fell flat. Adapted from an Elmore Leonard novel, it told the story of a small-town con artist partnering with a real estate agent’s mistress to pull off a big scam.
Filmed extensively in Hawaii, The Big Bounce had a staggering production budget of approximately $50 million. However, upon release, it earned less than $7 million, marking it a box office disaster. Freeman described the filming experience as pleasant, highlighting the enjoyable aspects of working there despite the movie’s failure.
He remarked:
It was a wonderful experience. (The late philanthropist) Steve Bing was the producer and was very generous. But the movie didn’t turn out very well. The director fell ill and we shut down production for a few weeks while he recuperated. And I think when he came back he just didn’t pick up the ball and run with it the way he should have, and the movie suffered greatly for that.
—Morgan Freeman, Actor
The Impact of Production Delays and Leadership Issues
The shoot not only took place on the sunny shores of Hawaii but also included several weeks where filming was paused due to the director falling ill. This unexpected halt extended the time the cast and crew spent enjoying the location without actively working. Director Armitage shared a similar perspective, praising producer Steve Bing’s generosity during this challenging period.
Armitage stated:
It was just an extraordinary experience, and I credit the producer, Steve Bing, with that. He put up his own money, and I think he had $250,000 in bar bills, just picking up drinks for the crew and cast for all that time. So he couldn’t have been more wonderful.
—Armitage, Director
Behind the Scenes of a Hollywood Failure
This combination of a generous backer willing to finance the production, prolonged downtime due to illness, and unclear directorial leadership created an unusual situation where an entire crew and high-profile actors spent weeks on a tropical island with little progress. This scenario, coupled with behind-the-scenes involvement from the billionaire producer, complicated the process and contributed to the film’s poor reception.
Ultimately, The Big Bounce remains remembered for its poor critical and commercial performance, as reflected by its low 16% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Morgan Freeman’s reflections reveal that even star-packed casts and exotic locales cannot guarantee cinematic success, illustrating the uncertain nature of filmmaking in Hollywood.
