Editing Cast Away (section)

== Production ==
=== Development ===
In a 2017 Actor Roundtable with ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'', Tom Hanks stated<ref name=HR>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/actor-roundtable-tom-hanks-james-franco-more-predators-everywhere-secrets-legends-1062062 |title=Actor Roundtable: Tom Hanks, James Franco and More on 'Predators Everywhere' and Secrets of 'Legends' |first=Stephen |last=Galloway |date=November 30, 2017 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=December 8, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004204803/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/actor-roundtable-tom-hanks-james-franco-more-predators-everywhere-secrets-legends-1062062 |archive-date=October 4, 2018}}</ref>
{{blockquote
|quote=I made ''Cast Away'' because I wanted to examine the concept of four years of hopelessness, in which you have none of the requirements for living—food, water, shelter, fire and company. But it took us six years to put together the alliance that would actually examine that. I only had a third of it, and [[William Broyles Jr.|Bill Broyles]] only had a third of it, until [[Robert Zemeckis|Bob Zemeckis]] comes along and provided that other third. I had that original idea. I was reading an article about [[FedEx]], and I realized that [[Boeing 747|747s]] filled with packages fly across the Pacific three times a day. And I just thought, "What happens if that goes down?"
|source=Tom Hanks in 2017<ref name=HR/>}}

=== Filming ===
[[File:Monuriki 06.JPG|thumb|right|The island of Monuriki]]
The film was not shot chronologically. It began on January 18, 1999, before halting two months later. Filming resumed on April 3, 2000, and finished the following month. Hanks gained {{convert|50|lb|kg}} during pre-production, for the purpose of making his transformation more dramatic. After most of the film was shot, production was paused so he could lose the weight and grow his hair and beard to look like he had been living on the island for years. Another four-month production halt preceded the filming of the return scenes. During the year-long hiatus, Zemeckis used the same film crew to make another film, ''[[What Lies Beneath]]''.<ref name="nytimes.com"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/61089-CAST-AWAY|title=Cast Away|publisher=American Film Institute|access-date=March 26, 2021|archive-date=September 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914122359/https://catalog.afi.com/Film/61089-CAST-AWAY|url-status=live}}</ref> While the film was in production, Hanks nearly died when he suffered an infected cut on his leg. He was rushed to a local hospital to undergo surgery and stayed there for three days. Filming of ''Cast Away'' was suspended for three weeks to allow Hanks to recover from the injury.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/tom-hanks-revealed-he-almost-died-while-filming-this-movie-we-had-to-shut-down-for-3-weeks.html/ | title=Hanks 'almost died' filming 'Cast Away' | first=Jack | last=Klompus | work=[[Digital Spy]] | date=May 17, 2009}}</ref> Filming lasted for sixteen months.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=108073&page=1 | title=Tom Hanks Talks 'Cast Away' | website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] }}</ref>

''Cast Away'' was filmed on [[Monuriki]], one of the [[Mamanuca Islands]] in [[Fiji]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Miller|first1=Korina|last2=Jones|first2=Robyn|last3=Pinheiro|first3=Leonardo|title=Fiji|edition=Sixth|format=paperback|date=December 2003|publisher=[[Lonely Planet]]|isbn=1-74059-134-8|page=[https://archive.org/details/fiji00kori_0/page/54 54]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/fiji00kori_0/page/54}}</ref> It is in a subgroup of the Mamanuca [[archipelago]], which is sited off the coast of [[Viti Levu]], Fiji's largest island. The island [[Setjetting|became a tourist attraction]] after the film's release.  After Chuck's return, it is identified by Kelly as being "about {{convert|600|mi|km|disp=sqbr}} south of the [[Cook Islands]]," but there is no land between the southernmost Cook Islands of [[Mangaia]] and [[Antarctica]].

The film begins and ends in the same location, on the Arrington Ranch in the [[Texas Panhandle]] south of the city of [[Canadian, Texas]].<ref name="Cyclone">{{cite news | url=http://swco.ttu.edu/WestTexas/indexes/CycloneAugust%2007.pdf | title=Cast Away and the Texas Panhandle | publisher=West Texas Historical Association | work=The Cyclone | volume=XIV | issue=2 | date=August 2007 | access-date=January 2, 2015 | author=Carlson, Paul | pages=1–2 | archive-date=December 19, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151219023645/http://swco.ttu.edu/WestTexas/indexes/CycloneAugust%2007.pdf | url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Music ===
The film's minimal score was composed and conducted by [[Alan Silvestri]] for which he won a [[Grammy Award]] in 2002. The film's soundtrack is most notable for its lack of score and creature sound effects (such as bird song or insect sounds) while Chuck is on the island, which is intended to reinforce the feeling of isolation.<ref>''Cast Away'' DVD director's commentary</ref> ''Cast Away'' contains no original musical score until Chuck escapes the island. However, there is a Russian choral piece heard near the start of the film that was not composed or even recorded by Silvestri, so it does not appear on the film's soundtrack list. It is a traditional Russian song written by [[Lev Knipper]] called "Oh, My Field" [[Polyushko-polye|("Polyushko, Polye")]] and it is available on various collections of Red Army hymns.

The official soundtrack CD is an [[anthology]] of musical pieces from all the films up to that point that were both directed by Zemeckis and scored by Silvestri. The only track from ''Cast Away'' itself is the theme from the end credits.<ref>{{cite web | title=Cast Away: The Films of Robert Zemeckis and the Music of Alan Silvestri | url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r514838|pure_url=yes}} |website=allmusic |access-date=June 2, 2009}}</ref>

The ''Cast Away'' soundtrack consists of 10 tracks, with performers including [[Elvis Presley]], [[Chuck Berry]], and [[Charles Brown (musician)|Charles Brown]].<ref>{{Citation|title=Cast Away (2000) - IMDb|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0162222/soundtrack|access-date=2021-11-18|archive-date=November 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211125112521/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0162222/soundtrack|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== FedEx ===
FedEx provided access to their facilities (Memphis, Los Angeles, and Moscow) as well as airplanes, trucks, uniforms, and logistical support. A team of FedEx marketers oversaw production through more than two years of filming.<ref>{{cite news |title='Cast Away' Delivers Goods For Fedex |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2001/01/08/cast-away-delivers-goods-for-fedex/ |work=Chicago Tribune |year=2001 |access-date=October 23, 2014 |archive-date=February 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224020752/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2001-01-08/features/0101080173_1_fedex-spokeswoman-product-placement-fedex-corp |url-status=live }}</ref> FedEx CEO [[Frederick W. Smith|Fred Smith]] made an appearance as himself for the scene where Chuck is welcomed back, which was filmed on location at FedEx's home facilities in Memphis, Tennessee. The idea of a story based on a FedEx plane crashing gave the company "a heart attack at first", but the overall story was seen as positive. FedEx, which paid no money for [[product placement]] in the film,<ref>{{cite news|title=Stranded: Behind-the-Scenes of Cast Away, A comprehensive behind-the-scenes look at Cast Away |url=http://stumpedmagazine.com/Articles/stranded.html |work=Stumped Magazine |year=2004 |access-date=December 27, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716160557/http://stumpedmagazine.com/Articles/stranded.html |archive-date=July 16, 2011 }}</ref> saw an increase in [[brand awareness]] in Asia and Europe following the film's release.<ref>{{cite news|title=A look at some of the biggest hits in film and TV product placement|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/film/feature_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000901395 | work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=April 28, 2005|access-date=November 25, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060903172648/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/film/feature_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000901395|archive-date=September 3, 2006 }}</ref>

=== Wilson the volleyball ===
[[File:Wilson The Volleyball.jpg|thumb|right|Wilson the volleyball]]
In the film, Wilson the [[Volleyball (ball)|volleyball]] serves as Chuck Noland's [[personification|personified]] [[imaginary friend|friend]] and only companion during the four years that Noland spends alone on a deserted [[island]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DTNB&s_site=detnews&f_site=detnews&f_sitename=Detroit+News%2C+The+%28MI%29&p_multi=DTNB&p_theme=gannett&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F7502916F603973&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=''Cast Away'' lets Hanks fend for himself|access-date=November 26, 2008|work=[[Detroit News]]|date=December 22, 2000|archive-date=June 8, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608193150/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DTNB&s_site=detnews&f_site=detnews&f_sitename=Detroit+News,+The+(MI)&p_multi=DTNB&p_theme=gannett&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F7502916F603973&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SDGB&p_theme=sdgb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=1110F27098BA70F3&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=''Cast Away'' proves great films still exist|access-date=November 26, 2008|work=[[Daily Gazette]]|date=January 7, 2001|author=Nate Smith|archive-date=June 8, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608193206/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SDGB&p_theme=sdgb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=1110F27098BA70F3&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="BLFJ">{{cite web|url=http://www.brightlightsfilm.com/62/62castaway.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130118143419/http://www.brightlightsfilm.com/62/62castaway.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 18, 2013|title=The Volleyball in the Void|access-date=November 26, 2008|first=Alan|last=Vanneman|work=Bright Lights Film Journal}}</ref> Named after the volleyball's manufacturer, [[Wilson Sporting Goods]], the character was created by screenwriter [[William Broyles Jr.]] While researching for the film, he consulted with professional survival experts, and then chose to deliberately strand himself for one week on an isolated beach in the [[Gulf of California]], to force himself to search for water and food, and obtain his own shelter. During this time, a Wilson-branded soccer ball washed up on shore, providing the inspiration for the film's inanimate companion. When the idea was presented to Tom Hanks, he happily agreed on the volleyball as a memento to his wife, Rita Wilson, knowing he would be away from home for a long period of time for filming.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The True Story of Wilson the Volleyball |url=https://www.wilson.com/en-us/blog/volleyball/behind-scenes/true-story-wilson-volleyball |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230327134438/https://www.wilson.com/en-us/blog/volleyball/behind-scenes/true-story-wilson-volleyball |archive-date=2023-03-27 |access-date=2025-05-02 |website=www.wilson.com |language=en}}</ref> From a screenwriting point of view, Wilson also serves to realistically allow dialogue to take place in a solitary scenario.<ref name="hepola">{{cite web |last=Hepola |first=Sarah |date=December 29, 2000 |url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/screens/2000-12-29/79994/ |title=Lost at Sea and Back Again |work=[[The Austin Chronicle]] |access-date=September 28, 2012 |archive-date=May 3, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503054258/http://www.austinchronicle.com/screens/2000-12-29/79994/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=latimes>{{cite news|last1=Natale|first1=Richard|title=Casting About|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2000/dec/20/entertainment/ca-2136/2|access-date=April 9, 2015|work=Los Angeles Times|date=December 20, 2000|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418162919/http://articles.latimes.com/2000/dec/20/entertainment/ca-2136/2|archive-date=April 18, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

It is rumored, but not confirmed,<ref>{{cite web |last=VanHooker |first=Brian |title=What Would Have Happened to Wilson After |date=April 17, 2020 |url=http://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/what-would-have-happened-to-wilson-after-cast-away |access-date=April 29, 2021 |archive-date=May 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501041133/https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/what-would-have-happened-to-wilson-after-cast-away |url-status=live }}</ref> that one of the original volleyball props was sold at auction for $18,500 to the ex-CEO of [[FedEx Office]], [[Ken May]]. At the time of the film's release, Wilson launched its own joint promotion centered on its products "co-starring" with Tom Hanks. Wilson manufactured a volleyball with a reproduction of the bloodied handprint face on one side. It was sold for a limited time during the film's initial release and continues to be offered on the company's website.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wilson.com/en-us/volleyball/balls/outdoor-volleyball/cast-away-volleyball/|title=Wilson Cast Away Volleyball|access-date=April 27, 2014|publisher=Wilson Sporting Goods|archive-date=April 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140428022633/http://www.wilson.com/en-us/volleyball/balls/outdoor-volleyball/cast-away-volleyball/|url-status=live}}</ref> A screen-matched original Wilson the volleyball prop sold via [[Heritage Auctions]] on December 7, 2024 for $162,500.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://entertainment.ha.com/itm/movie-tv-memorabilia/props/cast-away-dreamworks-2000-tom-hanks-chuck-noland-hero-screen-matched-wilson-prop-character/a/7388-89134.s?ic4=GalleryView-ShortDescription-071515|title=Cast Away (DreamWorks, 2000), Tom Hanks "Chuck Noland" Hero Screen Matched "Wilson" Prop Character|access-date=December 11, 2024|publisher=Heritage Auctions}}</ref>