Hollywood director and producer Michael Bay’s latest film “Ambulance” is now showing in cinemas nationwide in the Philippines.
“Ambulance” was a product of the pandemic. Bay, whose credits include “Transformers” franchise, “Armageddon,” “Bad Boys,” “Bad Boys II” and “Pearl Harbor,” was looking for a project in the fall of 2020 that would allow his crew to do a tight shoot in Los Angeles during Covid-19 lockdown.
The film stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Abdul Yahya-Mateen II and Eiza Gonzáles. It tells the story of bank robbers Danny (played by Gyllenhaal) and Will (played by Yahya-Mateen), and a paramedic (played by Gonzáles) trying to keep a cop in hostage alive, going from one critical situation to another with interwoven narratives.
In “Ambulance,” LA County paramedic Camille “Cam” Thompson is much better with unconscious patients than she is with any friends who want to have a more personal conversation.
With a brilliant mind for medicine, Cam wanted to be a doctor, but she fell out of medical school due to drug abuse. Now, she finds herself as someone who only feels normal in the midst of a crisis. A quick-thinking problem solver, Cam can keep anybody alive for 20 minutes.
Cam meets brothers Will and Danny when they take on the ambulance she’s riding, desperate to escape when the bank heist is exposed to authorities. Because the siblings are trapped with paramedic Thompson and a critically injured officer for much of the story, they are forced to confront who they are at their best...and their worst.
“Each one of these characters finds themselves in the ambulance with something to learn and something they have struggled with. This journey throughout the day brings all their secrets out,” said Gyllenhaal.
González worked closely with nurse and paramedic consultant Dannie Wurtz to prepare for her role.
“It was so cool to see a woman that has made her way through this wild business and saved so many lives. She has kept that spark going and that love for what she does. That brought a lot to Cam and really helped me to shape her as a character,” said González.
Regarding the filming, González said, “You’re covered in dirt, sweat and blood, and it feels so real. It’s hard to think of acting and lines while your body’s going a thousand miles per hour. It was raining, air was blasting in our faces and we were scared.
“It became difficult to think of intentions for the scene, but that is why this was the best experience for me. I hope that people enjoy it because we have put our heart, blood, sweat and tears into this. Everyone was on their A-game—from our crew and stunt team to the cast. It was a lot of dedication and love,” she added.
“Ambulance” is a Universal Pictures International release.