During the production of the iconic film "Jurassic Park" directed by Steven Spielberg, the film's crew encountered a unique challenge when it came to the animatronic T-Rex used in several key scenes.
In one particular sequence, where the T-Rex was supposed to emerge from a paddock to attack the characters, the animatronic malfunctioned. As Spielberg and the crew were preparing to shoot, all the heavy rain in the scene unexpectedly caused the T-Rex to malfunction.
When the massive animatronic was created, its weight was highly calculated so it would move properly but water from the scene was not factored in so when the giant animatronic became waterlogged it made the T-Rex shake and move in unexpected ways.
One day some of that water poured into the mechanical dinosaur's control room.
As a result, the T-Rex came to life on its own, despite not being programmed for the scene. It began to move, shake, and roar, terrifying the crew members who were caught off guard. The unexpected action of the animatronic gave rise to genuine screams of fear from the cast and crew, including Spielberg himself.
Fortunately, the incident was captured on film, and Spielberg decided to incorporate the spontaneous movement of the malfunctioning T-Rex into the scene. The result was a thrilling and memorable moment that added to the intensity and realism of the film.
The cast was genuinely afraid of the T-Rex already. Stan Winston once said "Those actors were dealing with a life-size T-Rex that could kill them. So, they didn't have to act afraid, they were afraid"
Producer Kathleen Kennedy recalled, "The T. rex went into the heebie-jeebies sometimes. Scared the crap out of us. We'd be, like, eating lunch, and all of a sudden a T-rex would come alive. At first, we didn't know what was happening, and then we realized it was the rain. You'd hear people start screaming." We can only imagine how terrifying that must have been.”
This unplanned event showcases the unpredictability and excitement that can arise during the making of a blockbuster film like "Jurassic Park," where even technical glitches can lead to unexpected cinematic magic.