The majority of filming for “Freejack” took place in Atlanta, Georgia. However, there were some scenes that utilized New York City’s iconic structures to better serve the plot. This pivotal and explosive chase was one such scene — after all, the Williamsburg Bridge isn’t exactly something you can easily replicate with miniatures or sets. The same thing can be said for the East River and the instantly-recognizable NYC skyline.
The chronicle of getting this scene on camera was written up in The Los Angeles Times, which did a piece on its production. Journalist John Culhane revealed in the profile that three separate cameras were deployed to shoot the Estevez dummy falling into the water. However, no cameras were pointed at the massive backup the film crew caused to make this scene a reality.
“Traffic was stopped for five minutes,” wrote Culhane. “It quickly backed up along Delancey Street for half a block and [startled] New Yorkers honking with practiced impatience.”
Admittedly, I’ve only been to New York City once in my life, so I can’t talk about its traffic as if I’m a local. However, I will say that they are pretty damn impatient with their constantly-busy traffic, so a simple five-minute delay likely felt like hours. Couple that with the distant fireball mechanic blasting from the side of a bridge extension, and that’s a commute I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. Yes, that includes anyone in the future who would want to steal my body for the rich.