Upcoming actor Tyler Nelson was apparently so excited about landing a role in the new INDIANA JONES movie that he leaked some plot details to his local paper, the Edmond Sun. According to IMDB’s Movie/TV news section, director Steven Spielberg is so furious that he is considered cutting all of Nelson’s scenes from the film.
A Spielberg spokesman said of Nelson, “Who knows if he’s ever going to work in this town again,” but the whole thing sounds like a tempest in a teapot to me. Sure, Hollywood likes secrecy, the revealed details are pretty basic stuff that do not ruin any major surprises; if anything they whet your appetite to see the movie. Carrying out a vendetta like in response to this interview seems petty; in fact, it almost seems like a deliberate attempt to generate controversy and get attention. As the saying goes, all publicity is good publicity.
Curiously, the page where the article used to reside atthe Sunnow takes you to some kind of registration log-in, and if you don’t have a subscriber password, you get a message telling you, “The page you are trying to access may have moved.” Fortunately, thanks to Quick Entertainment, you can still read the article, below the fold.
New Indiana Jones film has Edmond actor
James Coburn
The Edmond Sun
EDMOND — Tyler Nelson’s dancing talent has landed him a part in “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.”
The fourth film in the Indiana Jonessaga will once again star Harrison Ford and is produced and directed by Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. Release of the film is expected during the week of Memorial Day, according to Lucasfilm.
The 23-year-old actor and dancer is the son of Theresa and Dr. David Nelson of Edmond. He now lives in Los Angeles and also appears in an upcoming movie with Brad Pitt.
“He has demonstrated that he is tenacious once setting a goal. He loves the process of mastering a new talent,” Theresa Nelson said.
What Tyler understands about the Indiana Jones movie is based on his own scenes that were filmed during the first week of September. Tyler plays a Russian soldier. Only the lead actors were ever given scripts, so Tyler still doesn’t know the entire plot.
“Apparently, the Soviet Army was searching for a crucifix skull in the jungles of South America and Indiana Jones was searching, as well,” Tyler said.
The Russian Army tries blackmailing Indiana Jones to help them find the crystal skull by “threatening to kill Karen, his old flame from the Lost Ark.”
Actress Karen Allen of “Raiders of the Lost Ark” fame returns to play Jones’ love interest Marion Ravenwood. Cate Blanchett was cast as the Russian interrogator.
“We took Indiana Jones hostage and managed to find the skull,” Tyler said.
Afterward, Tyler and the other Russian soldiers rejoice in the jungle by wildly dancing and singing to Russian balalaika folk music beside a roaring campfire.
His ability to perform classical Russian dances landed him in the movie. Professional opportunities opened for Nelson after graduating from Russia’s Kirov Academy and studying with the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow a few years ago.
“They were filming us outside of a tent dancing and then turned the camera inside the tent,” Tyler explained his scene. “I saw Harrison Ford strapped in a chair being interrogated. I started to gather they were holding this big crystal-looking thing in the tent and heard someone mention a crucifix skull.”
In the movie, Indiana actor Shia LaBeouf plays Indiana Jones’ son. Jones learns of this and falls in love with Ravenwood again, Tyler said.
“After we did the first take, Steven Spielberg came up to us and shook our hands and said that we were great,” Tyler said.
Spielberg’s smile and easygoing personality puts actors at ease.
“He’s subtly suggesting things so actors can do it on their own and not just follow blindly,” Tyler said.
Spielberg’s direction style is in contrast to the more aggressive director, David Fincher, with whom Tyler worked with on the production set of “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.”
The movie starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett is set to be released next spring or summer. Pitt’s character ages backward in the film.
Tyler shares a small scene with Pitt in the film by playing a theater usher.
“If I was rushing, he would hold me back,” Nelson said. “I waited for signals from him.”
Blanchett was a perfectionist while Pitt spent his time reading between filming, Tyler said. A skilled film actor, Pitt is keenly aware of camera lighting and timing.
“I learned a lot being next to him and seeing how observant he was about his movements,” Tyler said.
Theresa said she’s confident her son will accomplish whatever goal he sets for himself.
“Tyler is living his dream, enjoying every day what comes his way because of his planned and well-executed preparation,” she said.