Tony Malgapo, resident – Central Jersey Mustangs and Fords, who was called in at the last minute to redesign some of the mechanic sets in two locations in Bayonne, had the good fortune to be on the set for some of the driving stunts Tom Cruise was involved in.
"When I visited on shoot day at the garage location, Tom was driving a 65-66 Shelby Mustang Fastback, Black with gold stripes," Malgapo said. "The part I will remember the most was actually watch Tom Cruise take a
Shelby Mustang and drive it sideways at the Bayonne location by the bridge."
Although technically, Malgapo’s job was done before the shooting started, he had come back to look over the scene.
"I had only visited there to show a friend the garage set that I dressed, and we found ourselves in the middle of a shoot," he said. "Then Tom came within 3 ft of us to go over stuff with Spielberg. That day we saw Tom, Steven and Dakota all at the same time."
Malgapo said he was very happy with the Bayonne location, partly because he had several friends in the area.
"The bridge location was breathtaking and I could see why Spielberg chose that site," Malgapo said.
Many of the sets in Bayonne were designed by Rick Carter of Paramount Studios, but many of the crafts people, carpenters and others worked hard to take Spielberg’s concepts and mold them into something real.
"In terms of blocking the action and getting the maximum bang for the buck, it turned out very well," said one Paramount official. "Spielberg was so happy with the look that he added days at the time to get additional shots not on the original schedule."
Tom Cruise also complemented the sets to several workers on the scene.
Bayonne and its bridge features prominently in the Superbowl trailer, and features some of the driving Malgapo saw while on the set.
Malgapo, of course, has hopes of his own.
"I am hoping that if anything, people will realize that Mustangs are great cars and a great part of American Heritage," he said. "I am all about promoting our club, which is full of great people with the same interest. I had a club T-shirt and a membership card for Tom Cruise, but was unable to give it to him. I figured it was the least I could do to make him an honorary member, since his character was supposed to be a member of our club. I was told that the Mustang was chosen because it was a working man’s car. Since Cruise’s character was a blue-collar worker (longshoreman), it was a typical car for that type of person to work on and restore. We do have a longshoreman in our Mustang Club, Central Jersey Mustangs and Fords, so this premise was authentic as it can get. I will look for pictures of my car, my car club, my trophies, toolbox, and other little things that will tell my club members that their President dressed the kitchen and garage sets. The fridge has some of my magnets and flyers, and the toolbox has our club decals on it. The windowsill in the kitchen was littered with trophies I had won at car show and racing my own Mustang and I hope to see it all in the movie."
Although Malgapo has a day job, like of the people touched by the Spielberg magic, he would have liked to continue a career in movies.
"The whole experience was surreal, and for a moment, I wanted to quit what I was doing and get into movies," he said. "Then the reality of being married, having 3 kids and bills to pay set in."
Contact Al Sullivan at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com
