HOW "THE CROW" CARRIED ON

by Ann Oldenburg

Sofia Shinas watched The Crow this week for the first time with one hand over her eyes, peeking through three fingers. "It was very difficult for me," says the actress who plays Brandon Lee's fiancee in the comic book-based film, opening nationwide today.

Shinas was on the set that March day in 1993 when Lee was killed by a stunt gun accidentally loaded with a live bullet. "It was the most traumatic event in my life," she says, her voice dropping to a whisper. "To try and forget that day would be impossible."

First she was angry, "angry about everything - for such a lovely young man to have his lifeline shucked out of him." Then, she became apathetic and wasn't even sure she wanted to finish the film. Nine days of shooting remained on the gothic thriller, three with Lee's character, says producer Ed Pressman. "The cast and crew really wanted to finish the movie."

Adding about $8 million to the $15 million budget, they cut some scenes and added others.

Jeff Most, who optioned the rights from the comic creator James O'Barr five years ago, says "as I originally imagined the film, in essence, that's what's on the screen."

He envisioned the movie being very faithful to the comic. "I very much wanted to see the contrast between the darkness and the light, as well as feel the strength of the love as the essential ingredient of the motivation of the character."

When he gave the script to Lee with a copy of the comic, Most says, "Brandon was very turned on by the comic."

Lee was delighted to be able to break away from the "one-dimensional martial arts sorts of roles" he'd been getting. To be able to be sensitive, humorous, "as well as a character of superhuman strength with a purpose and a mission really excited Brandon."

Beefing up the movie's emotional aspects became important when the cast and crew reunited two months after his death to finish the film, Pressman says. "It was consistent with our emotional attitude."

They dropped a netherworld character, played up a sweet relationship between a daughter and her drug-using mother, and cut footage of Lee "with bullet holes in his body."

The footage that was taken when Lee was actually shot - cameras were rolling - was sent to Pressman's lawyer, then destroyed, he says.

A lawsuit brought by Lee's mother, Linda Lee Cadwell, against Pressman's company and a dozen other defendants was settled out of court. Pressman says Cadwell has asked for a print of The Crow, along with some movie posters.

Shinas says she has chosen to look at the film as a celebration of Lee's life. "Not death, she says adamantly. "That's the only way to look at it."

A sequel is still a possibility

The Crow will always be known for being the movie in which Brandon Lee, Bruce Lee's son, died.

But despite the stunt tragedy, producer Jeff Most says he "intends to do a sequel if the film is a success."

James O'Barr, creator of the cult comic from which The Crow was taken, plans a "second arc" of the story, Most says. No matter that Lee will not be able to reprise his role; it is the crow that brings the characters to life. The crow will simply find another character who will come back to avenge wrong and make good triumph over evil.

USA Today; 05-13-1994