Wearing a standard white T-shirt, Matthew stepped onto the soft sands of Santa Monica Beach, heading to the set where they would be filming some Navy SEAL training scenes. These sequences were designed based on accounts from Chris Kyle and other retired SEALs, closely mimicking real SEAL training.
The set included over twenty actors, with a few Black actors cast as drill instructors. Soon, they would begin rigorous military drills under the instructors' harsh supervision.
Clint Eastwood approached Matthew and asked, "It's a bit chilly. Want a body double for the water scenes?"
They were about to shoot a scene where Matthew would be sprayed with high-pressure water. Although the crew would use warm water, the high-pressure spray wasn't pleasant, especially in December, even in relatively mild Los Angeles.
Matthew shook his head. "No need. I'll manage."
Clint nodded and got the crew ready. Soon, filming was set to begin.
Matthew found his spot among the other "recruits."
With Clint's signal, the day's shooting officially started.
Aside from the drill instructors, all the actors, including Matthew, got down on the sand and began doing push-ups as the drill sergeants shouted around them.
One of the Black actors playing a drill instructor stomped past Matthew, yelling, "Enough joking around! Time to get serious!"
His booming voice echoed across the beach.
Another instructor roared, "Push harder! Faster! Don't act like a bunch of girls!"
Matthew kept his hands steady, pushing through the reps. While this pace wasn't difficult for him, he maintained an expression of pain, as if he might collapse any moment.
A drill instructor with a high-pressure hose appeared and shouted, "That's right! Hang on, girls! The first time hurts, but after that, you'll enjoy it!"
As the lead, Matthew was bound to get some "special" attention.
So when the instructor with the hose reached him, he stopped and aimed the water directly at Matthew's back.
"What's this? Are you worthless?" the instructor yelled. "Answer me!"
Under the force of the water, Matthew continued to do push-ups and shouted back, "No, Sir!"
The instructor barked, "Good! Now pick up the pace!" He aimed the hose at the back of Matthew's head. "If I see you slowing down again, I'll make sure you feel it!"
As part of the scene, Matthew instinctively tried to dodge the spray, but the instructor bellowed, "Don't dodge! Keep going! Let me give you a proper shower so you'll wake up!"
"Yes, Sir!"
Matthew kept doing push-ups, shouting his response.
The instructor didn't relent. "Look at this old guy!" he sneered. "Did you just join the Navy to get out of your cushy life on Noah's Ark?"
Then, he demanded, "Old man, how old are you?"
Matthew shouted back, "Thirty, Sir!"
The instructor laughed. "Thirty? The gas you pass probably outlasts these rookies!"
Matthew stayed silent, pushing through the push-ups.
The instructor added, "We're here to weed out the weak! Every single one of them!"
"Cut!" Clint Eastwood's voice boomed. "That's a wrap for this take!"
With the call to stop, the actor playing the instructor shut off the hose, and Matthew jumped up, wiping water and sand from his face as an assistant wrapped him in a blanket to keep him from catching a chill.
They had more scenes like this to shoot, so Matthew didn't change out of his wet clothes. After a brief wait while the crew reset, the next shot began.
The actors spent nearly the entire day being sprayed with high-pressure water. Matthew wasn't spared from the treatment, going through each scene just as it was scripted.
Clint Eastwood was pleased with the cast's performance, especially with Matthew, whom he even complimented as having a "soldier's spirit."
Of course, embodying a soldier on-screen was enough for Matthew. The real battlefield could stay far away; America had no shortage of men ready for that.
The first day's shooting was manageable, but the second day was far tougher. They moved to a nearby location, where Matthew and the other actors had to sit shivering in dark, muddy water. While the mud was carefully prepared, it still felt unpleasant on their skin.
The chilly December ocean breeze only made it worse.
Thankfully, the shooting didn't take long. After each take, Matthew would wrap up in a thick blanket, then finish with a hot shower and a cup of tea to ward off any chance of catching cold.
The scenes depicting boot camp training continued until Christmas. After the holiday, the crew moved to a sniper training range in southern Los Angeles, where they shot scenes of shooting drills with Chris Kyle's guidance.
Matthew had prepared extensively for these scenes, so they weren't difficult to film. His marksmanship, while far from professional, was impressive enough to look convincing.
During breaks, he practiced hitting a human-shaped target's torso at a distance of 300 meters using one of Chris Kyle's sniper rifles.
Moving targets, though, were a different story—luck was needed there.
Thinking back, if he hadn't joined Hollywood, maybe he could've made a career in professional sports.
Outside of filming, he occasionally met up with Jennifer Lawrence and Amber Heard, who seemed quite interested in these "special games." Once, Jennifer even suggested switching roles with Amber, curious to try something different.
Matthew wasn't exactly a gentleman. Since both women were on board, he enjoyed himself.
But beyond these two, no other people joined in. Hollywood might be open-minded, but one-on-one was still more acceptable than group games.
Such uninhibited pastimes weren't everyone's cup of tea.
To date, only a handful of actresses he'd "befriended" were open to it.
Perhaps some of those Victoria's Secret Angels would be more receptive? Models tended to be bolder and more open-minded.
Finding an opportunity like Rio de Janeiro, however, was rare. Gathering that many Angels, and with everyone in high spirits from drinks, was no easy task.
Thinking back, Matthew realized he might have been the one "collected" by those Angels.
It was unlikely those Victoria's Secret supermodels hadn't planned something in advance, right?
It was hard being handsome, wealthy, and successful.
He suspected he was on more than a few "collections" lists.
Just think of how many women had dreamed of being with DiCaprio. Even though a couple of his exes had said he was like a "hundred-meter sprinter," it didn't stop women from lining up.
For every woman drawn to DiCaprio, double that number would want to be with Matthew.
The world was filled with love, though in the entertainment industry, love was often practical—like Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas.
A rich, famous, good-looking man was what most women dreamed of.
In a world where looks, money, and skill mattered, Matthew wasn't being overly confident—he just knew he had a lot to offer in these areas.
Amber once tried to introduce another woman to him, but he declined. She simply wasn't attractive enough.
There was also another, more important reason: discretion.
Another interesting encounter was with Margot Robbie.
The Australian actress who had once approached him for a fair audition opportunity seemed genuinely focused on her career. Despite her warm and spirited demeanor, during their conversations on set, she never once hinted at any romantic interest.
And this was a woman who, in a certain sense, had once saved him from a dangerous situation. Matthew respected that, keeping things strictly friendly.
In any case, Margot Robbie was unlike the others. She hadn't panicked or run when danger struck; instead, she'd stepped in to help him, an unusual trait.
If their roles had been reversed and Margot was the one facing danger, Matthew admitted he'd probably prioritize his own safety first.
From that perspective, he recognized he was a self-centered person.
Margot had a selflessness that shone in a way he lacked.
Maybe that was the difference between a "cowgirl" and an "average guy."
Time marched into 2012, the supposed year of the apocalypse. But Hollywood cared little about end-of-the-world prophecies; it kept shooting movies and making money.
Matthew was no exception.
American Sniper returned to Los Angeles to film the remaining scenes, mostly focusing on the relationship between his and Margot Robbie's characters.
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