Editing Back to the Future Part III (section)

==Production==
[[File:DeLoreanBack2FutureIIIMontereyAug2011.JPG|thumb|right|One of the DeLorean vehicles used in the film]]
[[File:Universal Orlando - Universal Studios - Back To The Future Train Back to the Future.jpg|thumb|The Time Train used at the end of the film, currently on display at [[Universal Studios Florida]]]]
The origins of the western theme for ''Back to the Future Part III'' lay in the production of the original film. During filming for the original, director Zemeckis asked Michael J. Fox what time period he would like to see. Fox replied that he wanted to visit the [[American frontier|Old West]] and meet [[cowboy]]s. Zemeckis and writer/producer [[Bob Gale]] were intrigued by the idea, but held it off until ''Part III''.<ref name="dvdint1" /> Rather than use existing sets, the filmmakers built the 1885 Hill Valley from scratch.<ref name="dvdint1" /> The western scenes were filmed on location in [[Oak Park, California]] and [[Monument Valley]].<ref name="DVD(C)">Back to the Future 2002 DVD Feature: Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale Q&A recorded at the [[University of Southern California]]</ref> Some of the location shooting for the 1885 Hill Valley was done in [[Jamestown, California]], and on a purpose-built set at the Red Hills Ranch near [[Sonora, California]].<ref name="DVD(C)" /> Some of the train scenes were filmed at [[Railtown 1897 State Historic Park]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.railtown1897.org/railtown/doc.asp?id=339 |title=Railtown 1897 State Historic Park Film Credits |website=railtown1897.org|access-date=October 4, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203053007/http://www.railtown1897.org/railtown/doc.asp?id=339 |archive-date=December 3, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | last = Jensen | first = Larry | authorlink = | title = Hollywood's Railroads: Sierra Railroad | publisher = Cochetopa Press | series = | volume = Two | edition = | date = 2018 | location = Sequim, Washington | pages = 61–64 | language = | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=c-RNswEACAAJ&q=Hollywood%27s+Railroads | doi = | id = | isbn =978-0-692-06472-6 | mr = | zbl = | jfm = | access-date =May 8, 2022 | archive-date =May 7, 2022 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20220507223541/https://books.google.com/books?id=c-RNswEACAAJ&dq=Hollywood%27s+Railroads&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiKgvSWqYncAhXqhFQKHQdfCaAQ6AEINjAE | url-status =live}}</ref> a [[heritage railroad|heritage line]] in Jamestown.

The shooting of the ''Back to the Future'' sequels, which were shot [[Back to back film production|back-to-back]] throughout 1989, reunited much of the crew of the original.<ref name="dvdint2">{{cite video |people=Bob Gale, Robert Zemeckis |title=''Back to the Future Part III''. Special Features: Making the Trilogy: Chapter Three |medium=DVD |publisher=Universal Studios Home Entertainment |date=2002|display-authors=etal}}</ref> The films were shot over the course of eleven months, save for a three-week hiatus between filming of ''Parts II'' and ''III'', and concluded in January 1990. The most grueling part was editing ''Part II'' while filming ''Part III'', and Zemeckis bore the brunt of the process over a three-week period. While Zemeckis was shooting most of the train sequences in Sonora, Gale was in Los Angeles supervising the final dub of ''Part II''.<ref name="dvdint2" /> Zemeckis would wrap photography and board a private plane to [[Burbank, California|Burbank]], where Gale and engineers would greet him on the dubbing stage with dinner. He would oversee the reels completed that day, and make changes where needed.<ref name="dvdint2" /> Afterwards, he would retire to the [[Sheraton Hotels and Resorts|Sheraton]] Universal Hotel for the night. The following morning, Zemeckis would drive to the [[Burbank Airport]], board a flight back to the set in Northern California, and continue to shoot the film.<ref name="dvdint2" />

Although the schedule for most of the personnel involved was grueling, the actors found the remote location for ''Part III'' relaxing, compared to shooting its predecessor.<ref name="dvdint2" />

The role of Clara Clayton was written with Mary Steenburgen in mind. When she received the script, however, she was reluctant to commit to the film until her children, who had loved [[Back to the Future|the first film]], "hounded" her.<ref name="dvdint2" />

The Hill Valley Festival Dance scene proved to be the most dangerous for Lloyd and Steenburgen; overzealous dancing left Steenburgen with a torn ligament in her foot.<ref name="dvdint1">{{cite video |people=Bob Gale, Robert Zemeckis |title=Back to the Future ''Part III''. Special Features: The Making of ''Back to the Future Part III'' |medium=DVD |publisher=Universal Studios Home Entertainment |date=2002|display-authors=etal}}</ref>

The film also featured cameos from veteran [[Western (genre)|Western]] film actors [[Pat Buttram]], [[Harry Carey Jr.]] and [[Dub Taylor]] as three "saloon old timers".<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H7PLgyEBL3UC&q=Pat+Buttram,+Harry+Carey,+Jr.+Dub+Taylor+Back+to+the+Future&pg=PA99 |title=The Worlds of Back to the Future: Critical Essays on the Films |date=May 12, 2010 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-0-7864-5765-6 |editor=Fhlainn |editor-first=Sorcha Ní |editor-link=Sorcha Ní Fhlainn |access-date=November 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508021626/https://books.google.com/books?id=H7PLgyEBL3UC&q=Pat+Buttram%2C+Harry+Carey%2C+Jr.+Dub+Taylor+Back+to+the+Future&pg=PA99 |archive-date=May 8, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> The inclusion of these noticeable Western actors was promoted in several documentaries about the film, as well as the behind-the-scenes documentary of the DVD and in the obituary of one of the actors.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://soentertain.me/2012/12/western-character-actor-harry-carey-jr-passes-away/|title=soentertain.me|website=soentertain.me|access-date=November 14, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140222150745/http://soentertain.me/2012/12/western-character-actor-harry-carey-jr-passes-away/|archive-date=February 22, 2014}}</ref> Zemeckis considered having [[Ronald Reagan]] play the part of the Mayor of Hill Valley in 1885. Reagan, who in 1989 had just recently finished his second term as president, had appeared in several Westerns during his earlier career as an actor. Zemeckis contacted Reagan's agent, [[Lew Wasserman]], to gauge the ex-president's interest in the role, to which Reagan declined.<ref>{{cite book|last=Weinberg|first=Mark|date=2018|title=Movie Nights with the Reagans|publisher=Simon & Schuster|isbn=978-1-5011-3399-2|page=151}}</ref>

Shooting a film set in the Old West was appealing to the [[Stunt performer|stuntmen]], who were all experienced horse riders. Gale recalled in 2002 that many stuntmen in Hollywood wanted to work on ''Part III''.<ref name="dvdint2" /> Thomas F. Wilson, who played Buford Tannen, chose to perform his own stunts and spent a great deal of time learning to ride a horse and throw his [[Lasso|lariat]]. Filming was paused when Fox's father died, and when his son was born.<ref name="dvdint1" />

[[Alan Silvestri]] returned to compose the [[Film score|score]] for ''Back to the Future Part III'', continuing his longtime collaboration with Zemeckis. Rather than dictate how the music should sound, Zemeckis directed Silvestri as he would an actor, seeking to evoke emotion and treating every piece of music like a character.<ref name="dvdint2" /> The musicians of the Old West-style band in the film were played by American rock band [[ZZ Top]].

The photography in ''Part III'' was a "dream" for cinematographer [[Dean Cundey]], who shared with much of the crew his excitement to shoot a Western. Zemeckis wished to create a spectacular climax to the film. He coordinated the actors, a live 4-6-0 ten wheeler [[steam locomotive]] (the [[Sierra Railway 3]]<ref name="The Providence Journal 2012">{{cite web |author=The Providence Journal |title=Train needs makeover before next Hollywood close-up - ScrippsNews |website=scrippsnews.com |date=March 10, 2012 |url=https://www.scrippsnews.com/node/18914 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310202749/http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/18914 |archive-date=March 10, 2012 |url-status=dead |access-date=November 16, 2022}}</ref><ref name="Sierra DinnerTrain 2014">{{cite web |title=Movies |website=Sierra DinnerTrain |date=November 8, 2014 |url=https://sierradinnertrain.com/movies/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108071332/https://sierradinnertrain.com/movies/ |archive-date=November 8, 2014 |url-status=dead |access-date=November 16, 2022}}</ref>), [[pyrotechnics]], and special effects, and countless technicians all at once.<ref name="dvdint2" /> As they had done with the previous two films in the trilogy, the visual effects for ''Part III'' were managed by effects company [[Industrial Light & Magic]]; the head of its animation department, [[Wes Takahashi]], returned to once again animate the DeLorean's time travel sequences.<ref>{{cite web|last=Failes|first=Ian|date=October 21, 2015|title=The future is today: how ILM made time travel possible|url=https://www.fxguide.com/featured/the-future-is-today-how-ilm-made-time-travel-possible-frame-by-frame/|website=FXGuide|access-date=June 17, 2016|archive-date=July 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701211801/https://www.fxguide.com/featured/the-future-is-today-how-ilm-made-time-travel-possible-frame-by-frame/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://itu.edu/digital-arts/faculty/|title=Digital Arts Faculty|publisher=International Technological University|access-date=June 17, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812215132/http://itu.edu/digital-arts/faculty/|archive-date=August 12, 2016}}</ref>