Director of "The Perfect Storm" Wolfgang Petersen strove for accuracy in his retelling of the storm that brought untold grief to the fishing community in Gloucester, Massachusetts nine years ago. His enthusiasm and attention to detail was not lost on the A-list cast who also felt a responsibility to the real-life characters they portray.
Before filming began George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg frequented the Crow's Nest, a local bar in Gloucester, to immerse themselves in the world their real life characters inhabited. George Clooney who plays Billy Tyne, captain of the fishing vessel the 'Andrea Gail', said they weren't trying to impersonate their true-life characters but give an essence of how they lived. He recalls, " I hung out with friends of Billy Tyne, we went to the Crow's Nest, and drank a lot and did all the things those guys did just so we could feel it and be part of it."
Mark Wahlberg who plays Bobby Shatford, first mate on the 'Andrea Gail', lived in his character's tiny room above the Crow's Nest and stayed with Bobby's brother Rick. He made a point of securing the blessing of Billy's mother and sisters. Wahlberg was sensitive in researching the part. He says, "I wanted to ask as many questions but I didn't want to bring up bad memories." Looking back he recalls, "They wanted to help as much as they could so I could be as accurate as possible."
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio wanted to bring authenticity to her role of Linda Greenlaw, the captain of a rival fishing vessel the 'Hannah Boden'. She met her real life character and studied Linda's book "The Hungry Ocean: A Sword Captain's Journey." At the time of the storm she was the only female captain of a sword fishing vessel. Mastrantonio was impressed by her strength of character and intelligence. She says, "I got the impression she was very tenacious, a very, very smart woman."
Read about the special effects in the movie.
Read about the people who were in the real storm the movie is based on.
