WhenFargofirst went into production, not everyone involved expected it to become as influential as it did.
ROGER DEAKINS:It was quite a low-budget film,Fargo.
Like everything Joel and Ethan Coen put into their frame, the chipper needed to be perfect.
HEINRICHS:Joel and Ethan wanted the machine to feel both utilitarian and familiar.
We researched various wood chippers based on what size would frame up well for Peter Stormare.
DEAKINS:The wood chipper was worked out well in advance.
Once the chipper started, [the blood] would be everywhere.
You couldnt do take 2.
Despite testing perfectly the day before, there were technical difficulties on the day of the shoot.
It was supposed to be, like, spaghetti and meat sauce and some red coloring.
DEAKINS:[The wood chipper] was misbehaving.
Theres something about mechanics and film sets.
They always break down.
STORMARE:They tried again and again.
Instead of starting to scream, the brothers said, You better have it working tomorrow.
We can shoot something else today, but tomorrow, it better be working.
We came back the next day, and it worked.
DEAKINS:We were playing with the foot sticking out of the wood chipper and the way it bobbled….
It was kind of gross shooting it, frankly.
STORMARE:Buscemi was not in the wood chipper, as many people think.
It was a prop leg, a prosthetic.
They asked me to push the leg down with my hand.
I remember this vividly because Im a country boy.
I said, I cant push it down with my hand, unless Im a moron.
So I took a piece of firewood.
Then I said, I can use this as a weapon when she draws her gun.
Maybe I can knock her out with it.
They said, How do you mean?
Okay, lets try it.
I pushed it down with my fire log, and when she comes, I throw it at her.
I missed her, and she ducked a little, which was kind of cooler.
It was a single take, and the machine worked perfectly.
We all debated:Is this really good?
DEAKINS:I remember laughing.
