Shooting the film
Like its predecessor, CRANK HIGH VOLTAGE makes use of many of the seedier, unexplored locales of Los Angeles as a backdrop for Chev's frantic adventures. "When we were location scouting with Neveldine and Taylor, it was just a matter of what were the funkiest, most interesting, evocative parts of Los Angeles," recalls Rubin.  "I think that was sort of the challenge, to go and open up a side of LA that most people don't see."
With principal photography stretching from April 28 through June 9, 2008, the film was shot entirely in Los Angeles, where it utilized the grittier aspects of the districts in the Port of Los Angeles, including industrial areas of Wilmington, San Pedro and Long Beach.  Other areas for filming included Inglewood, East Los Angeles and downtown Los Angeles, as well as a private hilltop estate in Malibu. Los Alamitos Race Course was used as the site for a sex scene between Chev and Eve which the filmmakers have made exciting enough to top their memorable Chinatown tryst from the first film.
Taylor explains, "You've seen sex scenes in movies before.  You've seen action scenes in movies before.  But for us the sex scenes with Jason and Amy were better suited to shoot as action scenes."
And like the biggest action sequences in CRANK HIGH VOLTAGE, these scenes utilized the filmmakers' groundbreaking visual style. One of the most notable aspects of CRANK was Neveldine and Taylor's combination of hyper-kinetic visuals and over-the-top action sequences. The first film was shot utilizing Sony 950 video cameras, relatively common tools for film production. To achieve what Neveldine and Taylor had in mind for their sequel--to raise the bar higher visually--would require even lighter and more mobile cameras.  The filmmakers opted for an array of consumer-grade and pro-consumer high-definition video cameras.
Three camera operators--Neveldine, Taylor and director of photography Brandon Trost--used high-definition camcorders to capture the film's hyper-kinetic visuals.  Over twenty separate HD video cameras were used, primarily five Canon XH-A1 Professional HDV Camcorders, which were utilized as the filmmakers' main "A," "B" and "C" cameras.  Approximately fifteen consumer-grade Canon VIXIA HF10 High Definition camcorders were also employed for rapid action, stunt scenes (crash cameras) and as the cameras mounted on a custom-designed semicircular piece of speed rail to create MATRIX-esque "bullet time" effect.
"We shot this movie in a very unusual way," says Taylor.  "We basically shot it with cameras you could buy at Best Buy, so-called prosumer rigs."
"We decided to really upgrade and use something much smaller, much more consumer friendly; these tiny little handheld cameras," adds Neveldine.  "We have a look that we use with these cameras.  We're not just trying to make it look like a home video.  That's not what we set out to do.  Brian and I, over the last five or six years, have developed a really cool method to shoot digital that gives it a filmic look, but it's obviously different than a movie on YouTube."
Neveldine, an accomplished Rollerblader, would often strap on his blades to shoot many of the intense, fast-moving action scenes, furiously dodging moving vehicles and sometimes grabbing hold of them too.
Such techniques often made shooting with standard cameras difficult on the first film. According to Taylor, "The cameras on the first movie were expensive, and it put a bit of a chilling factor on our style of shooting because we break them.  On this movie all of our cameras were dirt cheap.  If we broke one, we could just go down to Best Buy and buy another one.  So we ended up using around thirty cameras.  The whole process of making the movie was just putting the cameras in as much physical peril as possible…with us holding them."
Neveldine and Taylor utilized the little Canon VIXIA HF-10 prosumer cameras in a variety of camera rigs, some of which they designed specifically for the film.  "One is basically just a camera hanging off of a speed rail," explains Neveldine.  "It's something that we could just get into weird little places.  Another was an arc that we attached eight of the little Canon cameras onto, this 180 degree piece of speed rail, and what we were attempting to do was sort of give the MATRIX look an upgrade.  We were able to capture this 'bullet time' look in CRANK HIGH VOLTAGE that keeps the action moving and freezes it at the same time."
Jason Statham observes that working with the small video cameras was a very unique experience.  "They were able to put cameras between your legs, on poles - there's not a place that these cameras can't go.  And the quality of these high definition cameras is excellent."
Another camera system used extensively was the Manfrotto FigRig, a steering-wheel-shaped handheld camera stabilization unit that provided the camera operators with smooth movement capabilities with their HD cams.
With no video assist system to monitor playback during or after the takes, the filmmakers would just plug their cameras directly into a monitor after each scene to review what was shot.
"Using the small prosumer cameras allowed us to shoot very fast," Taylor boasts.  "In 31 days of filming on CRANK HIGH VOLTAGE, we shot more footage than James Cameron shot on TITANIC."
The producers note that, considering the budget and the modest shooting schedule, the film could never have been shot on film.  "The thing about traditional movie technology is that the most you would shoot on film in a day would be about two hours -- that would be a lot," explains Rubin.  "With this film we had on average about five or six hours of footage a day.  That means on a typical eleven-hour day the cameras are rolling half the time.  That's pretty astonishing for a Hollywood movie production."
Statham believes that Neveldine and Taylor are pioneers of a new way of shooting a film.  "They're providing inspiration for young filmmakers, in that they can try different techniques, and utilize new ideas.  But their artistry lies in knowing where and how to use these things and still have a frame of mind of what will look good.  And with that they're a pair of fucking geniuses! (laughs)."
Rubin agrees. "Neveldine and Taylor are so ahead of the curve when it comes to technology and really translating technology into motion picture production. It's about how to execute these really edgy ideas," says the producer.  "That's the pleasure for us. How do we pull off that edginess and bring it into the mainstream?"
But doing things unlike most other movies is the way it seems to work with the CRANK series. The filmmakers are assuring that Chev Chelios might be having another bad day, but audiences are sure to have a louder, bigger, faster and funnier time watching him.
"Fans of the first CRANK are going to be so happy about this movie because everything they loved about the first movie we've taken to an absurd degree," says Taylor.  "We take things way past what we did on the first movie. When you go into CRANK HIGH VOLTAGE, you can expect to be rocked hard, maybe harder than you've ever been rocked before.  I promise it's a movie that you've never seen before."
"This is not a film to be analyzed and stripped apart," observes Jason Statham. "This is a hardcore action movie that's made to entertain.  As Americans would say, it's a fucking kick-ass action movie that just doesn't stop, from start to finish.  It's everything that people want to see.  If you like action, comedy, snappy dialogue and interesting, fucked-up characters, then just strap yourself in and get ready for the ride."

ABOUT THE CAST

Born in Sydenham, England, JASON STATHAM (Chev Chelios) was one of the best divers on the British team.  He placed third in the Olympic trials on three different occasions, eventually placing 12th in the world.  While training at the famed Crystal Palace National Sport Center in London, film crews and photographers pursued him as new talent for commercials and print campaigns.  One of those jobs was a French Connection print ad where he met the owner of the company, who was also Executive Producer of a film in preparation, "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels."  Jason had a meeting with the director, Guy Ritchie, who gave him a role.  He went on to work with Ritchie again in his next film "Snatch," starring opposite Brad Pitt and Benicio Del Toro.  Next came "Turn It Up," with US music star Ja Rule, followed by a role in the sci-fi film "Ghosts of Mars" and Jet Li's "The One."  In 2002, he was cast by Luc Besson in the title role of Frank Martin in "The Transporter."  He starred as Handsome Rob in the summer 2003 blockbuster remake of "The Italian Job" and as the adrenaline-compromised action hero of "Crank."  Statham returned as Frank Martin in "The Transporter 2," and re-teamed with Jet Li in "War."  Jason also starred in Roger Donaldson's "The Bank Job," the true story of the 1971 Baker Street bank robbery, a story of intrigue, scandal and danger.  Jason recently reprised his role as Frank Martin in "The Transporter 3" and is currently filming the thriller "13," with Mickey Rourke.

AMY SMART (Eve) has emerged as one of Hollywood's brightest talents on both the silver screen and on television. 
Amy will also soon be seen in the drama "Life in Flight," opposite Patrick Wilson. The film focuses on a happily married couple and how an unexpected meeting with a talented urban designer reveals the weak foundation upon which their lives are built and forces them to reassess. 
Amy was last seen in the horror film "Mirrors," opposite Kiefer Sutherland. The film, directed by Alexandre Aja, is about a mall security guard who becomes wrapped up in a mystery involving a particular department store's mirrors that seem to bring out the worst in people.
In the thriller "Crank," Smart played opposite Jason Statham, a hit man who goes on a 24-hour rampage with his girlfriend after he discovers that he has been poisoned.  Prior to that, Smart co-starred opposite Nick Nolte in the independent film "Peaceful Warrior," directed by Victor Salva.  The film is an on-screen adaptation of Dan Millman's best selling autobiography.
Smart's additional film credits include New Line Cinema's romantic comedy, "Just Friends," "The Butterfly Effect," "Blind Horizon," "Starsky & Hutch," "Project Greenlight's Battle of Shaker Heights," "Rat Race," "Roadtrip," "Scotland, PA," "Outside Providence," "Varsity Blues," "Starf*cker," "Starship Troopers" and "The Last Time I Committed Suicide."
On television, Smart starred in the John Wells' series "Smith" on CBS, opposite Ray Liotta, Simon Baker and Virginia Madsen. Smart's additional television roles include Noel's love interest on the WB's 'Felicity" and the NBC miniseries "The 70's."
Amy also participates in various non-profit organizations such as Heal the Bay and the Environmental Media Association.
She currently resides in Los Angeles.

Few entertainers have attained the iconic status of DWIGHT YOAKAM (Doc Miles).   The long-time Los Angeleno has sold more than 25 million albums worldwide, placing him in an elite cadre of global superstars. He has 12 gold albums and 9 platinum or multi-platinum albums, including the triple platinum "This Time." He's won two Grammys and earned a staggering 21 nominations.
Over the last 15 years, Yoakam has carved out a niche as one of the top character actors on film. Starting with a role as a truck driver in John Dahl's spicy film noir "Red Rock West" in 1992, Yoakam was an instantly mesmerizing presence on the big screen. However, nothing prepared viewers for his riveting appearance as the malevolent Doyle Hargraves in the Academy Award winning film "Sling Blade," for which he and his co-stars were also nominated for the Screen Actors Guild's award for outstanding performance by a cast. In David Fincher's box office hit "Panic Room," as the brilliantly underplayed antagonist Raoul, Yoakam once again seamlessly shapeshifted in front of our eyes. His performance in Tommy Lee Jones' Cannes Film Festival award-winning "The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada" was effusively praised for its penetrating honesty.
This past holiday season Yoakam once again displayed his vast range playing the hilarious Pastor Phil alongside Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn in the broad comedy romp, "Four Christmases."

Since his breakthrough performance as Pedro in "Napoleon Dynamite," EFREN RAMIREZ (Venus) has established himself within the film and television industry, working nonstop in numerous projects.
Ramirez has been acting for over thirteen years, playing diverse roles in many television shows including "ER," Judging Amy," "The District," "Boston Public," "Mad TV" and "Scrubs."  However, it was his iconic portrayal of Pedro that has made him an international superstar. Pictures of Ramirez as Pedro can be found on T-shirts being worn by people of all ages everywhere around the world. Simply appearing at events on college campuses ensures that thousands of students will converge for a glimpse of their hero.
Moving on from Pedro has been effortless for this gifted young actor. He soon followed "Napoleon Dynamite" by appearing in the HBO film "Walkout," with Edward James, Michael Pena and Alexa Vega. In this gripping drama set in 1968, Ramirez plays Bobby Verdugo, a Chicano student from East LA who struggles for better education in public schools against the backdrop of the Chicano movement.
After completing the sports film "All You Got," with Faizone Love and Ciara Harris, Efren starred in the back-to-back Lionsgate films "Employee Of The Month," with Dane Cook and Jessica Simpson, and "Crank," starring opposite Jason Statham and Amy Smart.
Efren then starred in "Ratko" as a foreign dictator's son who travels to the U.S. to attend college and "American Summer" as a poolboy who turns an empty mansion into a brothel.  He was then seen in the two-person drama "Crossing The Heart," starring opposite Kris Kristofferson. Efren recently completed Neveldine and Taylor's action thriller "Game."
Efren Ramirez currently resides in Los Angeles. When he isn't filming, he spends his time practicing his love of spinning records, appearing as a guest DJ in clubs all across the country. Efren has just written his first book, "Direct Your Own Life."  He is also very involved with several charitable organizations such as UNICEF, The Red Cross, the Make-A-Wish Foundation and AIDS research.

Nurturing an impressive body of work, CLIFTON COLLINS, JR. (El Huron) is one of Hollywood's most versatile talents, and his career continues to evolve with exciting and challenging projects.  "Collins is mesmerizing…" and "Mr. Collins' eloquent performance…" are just a few of the accolades he received for his portrayal of Perry Smith in director Bennett Miller's Academy Award nominated film "Capote."  Clifton also received an Alma Award nomination for Best Actor.
Clifton's passion for the art of acting keeps him drawn to both studio and independent features.  Clifton was recently seen starring in the Lionsgate film "The Perfect Game," which is based on a true story about a barefooted, rag-tag team of boys from poverty-stricken Monterrey, Mexico who defy extraordinary odds to become the first foreign team to win Little League World Series -- doing so in a perfect game, the only one in championship history.  He also starred in "Sunshine Cleaning," with Amy Adams and Emily Blunt which premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival; "Still Waters," with Lake Bell; and the award-winning independent film "Little Chenier."
Clifton recently finished working on the highly-anticipated films "Star Trek" as well as "The Horsemen," with Dennis Quaid, "Brothers," with Jake Gyllenhaal and Natalie Portman, and Mike Judge's new comedy "Extract."
Clifton's other notable film credits include "Traffic," directed by Steven Soderbergh, where Clifton played the unforgettable assassin Frankie Flowers opposite Benecio Del Torro; "Rules of Attraction," directed by Roger Avary for Lionsgate; and "Tigerland," directed by Joel Schumacher. Even at the beginning of his career, Clifton found himself working with some of the town's bright young filmmakers including the Hughes Brothers in "Menace II Society" and "Dead Presidents," John Singleton in "Poetic Justice," Kevin Reynolds in "187" and Antoine Fuqua in "The Replacement Killers."
No stranger to the small screen, Clifton received an Emmy nomination for his role in highly acclaimed miniseries "Thief," in which he starred alongside Andre Braugher.
From an early age, Clifton Collins Jr. was encouraged to pursue his artistic talents by his actor grandfather who allowed Clifton the opportunity to surround himself with the acting community. Born to a Mexican mother and a German father, Collins realized his diverse background coupled with his strong intellect would provide a unique quality rarely seen on screen.
Clifton currently resides in Los Angeles.

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