Is it true that these photos were taken on the set of The Matrix?

For several years now, a couple of photographs have been circulating on the Internet, allegedly taken on the set of the cult film with Keanu Reeves. We have verified the authenticity of these images.

Since 2018, you can find on the Internet publications with a collage of two photographs that were allegedly taken during the filming of The Matrix. Some posts also indicate the estimated year the pictures were taken: either 1998, or 2002. These images show four people against a green background, two of whom are wearing all-green suits. These people are holding planks on which two others are leaning, dressed in black outfits with dark glasses. Supposed, that this is filming a scene when the heroes of the picture dodge bullets. Some users thinkthat the photo shows the actors' understudies.

Such posts appeared in Telegram channels over the years, including “Camera"(161,000 views according to the TGStat service), "What, history" (four times: 158,000, 58,000, 45,000, 20,000), "Youth" (three times: 112,000, 55,000, 22,000), "Diary of a Historian" (three times: 67,000, 27,000, 19,000), "Film"(54,000) and History Porn (52,000). There are similar publications in public pages on VKontakte: “Film mania"(613,000 views), Marvel/DC: Geek Movies (153,000), "Forgotten history" (32,000), History Facts (twice: 13,000 And 9000) And "Remember» (11,000), as well as on Facebook* (examples here, here, here And here), LiveJournal, on "Pikabu" (here, here And here) and other entertainment websites.

Science fiction film "Matrix"was released in 1999 and launched a franchise that included released three more feature-length sequels: The Matrix Reloaded (2003), The Matrix Revolutions (2003) and The Matrix Resurrection (2021). The main character of these films, played by Keanu Reeves Thomas Anderson, also known as the hacker Neo, learns that the world he is used to is actually virtual reality, and the people on the planet have long been enslaved by Machines. Neo's lover, hacker Trinity, played Carrie-Anne Moss.

According to the posts found by Verified, a couple of viral photos were taken either in 1998, when filmed the original "Matrix", or in 2002 - it was on at that time Job immediately above both continuations. Moreover, some publications indicate that filming took place in the USA, while in fact all three films were almost entirely filmed in Australia. In some entries TBCthat the photos were taken during the filming of the famous bullet dodging scene, and for comparison even is given frame from the first "Matrix".

In the process of creating original, so sequel with threequel, visual effects specialists used truly cutting-edge technologies and filming techniques that would later influence the entire industry. However, there were also absurd embarrassments. Yes, in the first part there is scene, which shows a close-up of Neo opening the door. However, in the reflection on the door handle, a camera lens is visible, which the authors tried to disguise by covering it with a cloak and part of a tie, like the character standing next to him named Morpheus.

So one might assume that in the iconic bullet-dodging scene, the filmmakers could also use improvised materials in the form of green-painted boards. But there are problems with this hypothesis. For example, in the film, only Neo dodged the shots, after which Trinity asked in surprise how he managed to do it. In addition, then the heroine was already without her black cloak.

In fact, the viral photos were taken during the filming of the video for the song 1999 by British singer Charli XCX and Australian artist Troye Sivan. Video clip came out on YouTube on October 11, 2018 and, as the title of the composition suggests, plays on images associated with the late 1990s. For example, in the video they used graphics from the game The Sims, a Nokia 3310 phone and an iMac G3 computer, and the musicians themselves appeared in the roles of Steve Jobs, Britney Spears, Eminem, Justin Timberlake, the heroes of the films Titanic, American Beauty and The Blair Witch Project: Coursework from the Other World.

On timestamps 02:20 And 02:55 the performers reincarnated as Neo and, apparently, Trinity. In this scene they actually dodge flying bullets together. In the same images, musicians presented on the cover of their single.

The filming of this scene was captured in a video released in November 2018. The desired fragment with people in green suits with boards on a green background begins at the timestamp 02:53.

As for the filming of the real “Matrix”, there are quite a few on the Internet video and even a whole documentary about the production of the 1999 action film. Partial bullet dodging scene filmed on the roof of a real building, but the main action passed in the studio on a green background. A special circular installation was created there, in which it was used near 120 photo cameras and two video cameras. Keanu Reeves was in the center and was suspended on several cables.

Thus, the viral pair of photos was taken not on the set of the film “The Matrix”, but on the set of the music video for the song 1999, where this sci-fi film, among others, was parodied.

*Russian authorities think Meta Platforms Inc., which owns the social network Facebook, is an extremist organization; its activities and symbols are prohibited in Russia.

Cover photo: social networks

Not true

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