Zazie Beetz Endured "Freezing Cold" 12-Hour Water Shoots for New Horror Film

Zazie Beetz has detailed the physically demanding shoot for her new horror-action film 'They Will Kill You'. The actress revealed that filming prolonged scenes in artificially created freezing rain was the most difficult part, requiring 12-hour overnight shoots. She described the challenge of staying present and committed while being stripped raw by the cold conditions. Beetz also reflected on the empowerment of taking her first lead role, viewing it as a practice in leadership and personal growth.

Key Points: Zazie Beetz on Filming in Freezing Water for New Movie

  • Shot in freezing faux rain for days
  • Scenes filmed overnight in Cape Town
  • Cold water used to avoid camera steam
  • Her first time as lead actor
  • Found the experience empowering
3 min read

Zazie Beetz talks about filming in 'freezing cold water' for 12-hour days for her new movie

Actress Zazie Beetz reveals the brutal challenge of filming 'They Will Kill You' in freezing cold water for 12-hour night shoots in Cape Town.

"You're outside from like 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. in freezing cold water. You're just cold. - Zazie Beetz"

Los Angeles, March 27

Hollywood actress Zazie Beetz has shed light on her challenging shoot for 'They Will Kill You'. The actress revealed that she shot in "freezing cold water" for 12-hour days for the project.

The 34-year-old actress found the blood splattering action and wielding weapons easier to deal with than filming in faux rain for scenes in the high-octane horror-action movie, in which she plays lead Asia Reaves, reports 'Female First UK'.

Zazie, who made the movie during the winter in Cape Town, South Africa, told 'People' magazine, "I would actually say the most difficult stuff was the rain scenes, which I wasn't expecting. Those are bits and bobs throughout the movie, but when you're doing it, it feels like it's the entire shoot. They have to use cold water because there's rain machines and because warm water steams in the camera".

Speaking about how long it took to get the water scenes right, she said, "Days on end because those scenes, the sequences, take like a week or whatever, and you're outside from like 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. in freezing cold water. You're cold. There's nothing. It doesn't matter how many heat, it doesn't matter how many millions of dollars a movie is, whatever. You're just cold. There is something so primarily just like, 'I'm f****** cold'".

As per 'Female First UK', the intense scenes in the fake rain meant Zazie had to push herself to fully commit and be present for 'They Will Kill You'.

She said, "I had to really, deeply tap into those moments and be like, 'I want to be here'. In some ways, when you're stripped raw, you can just be like, 'All right, I'm just in my primal self'".

Meanwhile, Zazie said it was "very empowering" to take the lead role of Asia in the Kirill Sokolov-directed movie, which sees her alter ego "survive the night at the Virgil, a demonic cult's mysterious and twisted death-trap of a lair, before becoming their next offering in a uniquely brazen, big screen battle of epic kills and wickedly dark humour".

She told People, "I think leading something is an incredibly empowering experience. This was my first time being No. 1 in a movie. (I) really went into it (and wanted the cast and crew) to feel like I wanted to be there and I wanted to show up and show that I am grateful for this moment and opportunity".

Being a strong leader helped Beetz feel empowered. She said, "I felt very empowered with the idea of, like, 'I need to set my nerves or my feelings or my stuff aside in order to show up fully every day and just do the work'. And it's easy to be like, 'Meh! I'm having my feelings'. But I'm like, 'No, like, be a leader'. And so, it was a practice in that and a practice into coming more fully into my womanhood, to be honest. So I'm really grateful for that opportunity. I really feel like it grew my heart in that way".

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
This is why actors get paid the big bucks! But seriously, it's interesting to hear about the technical side - using cold water because warm water steams. You learn something new every day.
A
Anjali F
As someone who works in media, I have to say this level of dedication is commendable. Many Indian actors also go through similar hardships for scenes, but it's rarely highlighted this way. Good on her for speaking about it.
D
David E
While I admire the hard work, part of me wonders if these extreme conditions are always necessary. With VFX being so advanced, couldn't some of this be simulated? Just a thought. Safety and well-being should come first.
K
Karthik V
"Practice in coming more fully into my womanhood" - what a powerful line. It's refreshing to see an actress talk about a challenging shoot not just as hardship, but as a journey of personal growth. All the best to her!
S
Sneha F
Cape Town in winter is no joke! The dedication is real. Makes you appreciate the final product so much more. Looking forward to seeing the movie now.

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