Editing Top Gun (section)

== Production ==
=== Development ===
The primary inspiration for the film was the article "Top Guns" by Ehud Yonay, from the May 1983 issue of ''[[California (magazine)|California]]'' magazine, which featured aerial photography by then-Lieutenant Commander Charles "Heater" Heatley.<ref name="Top Gun Movie -The 80s Rewind">{{cite web|url=http://www.fast-rewind.com/topgun.htm|title=Top Gun|work=fast-rewind.com|access-date=December 5, 2006|archive-date=April 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190409095049/http://www.fast-rewind.com/topgun.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mensjournal.com/entertainment/top-gun-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-iconic-action-film | title='Top Gun': Behind-the-Scenes Facts About the Making of the Iconic Action Film | date=December 16, 2019}}</ref> The article detailed the life of fighter pilots at [[Marine Corps Air Station Miramar|Naval Air Station Miramar]] in [[San Diego]], self-nicknamed "Fightertown USA".<ref name="Top Guns - California Magazine">{{cite magazine |last=Yonay |first=Ehud |date=May 1983 |title=Top Guns |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_california_1983-05_8_5/page/94/mode/2up |magazine=California Magazine |location=Beverly Hills, CA |publisher=California Magazine, Inc. |page=94 |access-date=2022-06-08}}</ref> Numerous screenwriters allegedly turned down the project.<ref name="Top Gun Movie -The 80s Rewind" /> Bruckheimer and Simpson went on to hire Jim Cash and Jack Epps Jr., to write the first draft. The research methods, by Epps, included attendance at several declassified Top Gun classes at Miramar and gaining experience by being flown in an F-14. The first draft failed to impress Bruckheimer and Simpson, and is considered to be very different from the final product in numerous ways.<ref>Special Edition DVD, Interview with Jack Epps</ref> [[David Cronenberg]] and [[John Carpenter]] were approached to direct the film, but both declined.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Keslassy |first=Elsa |date=2022-05-16 |title=David Cronenberg Breaks Down Cannes Walkouts, His New Film's Sexuality, and Why Netflix Turns Him Down |url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/david-cronenberg-cannes-interview-crimes-of-the-future-walkouts-netflix-1235267464/ |access-date= |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lloyd |first=Brian |date=2016-03-15 |title=In Conversation With... John Carpenter |url=https://entertainment.ie/movies/movie-news/in-conversation-with-john-carpenter-235597/ |access-date= |website=[[Entertainment.ie]] |language=en}}</ref> Tony Scott was hired to direct on the strength of a commercial he had done for Swedish automaker [[Saab Automobile|Saab]] in the early 1980s, where a [[Saab 900]] turbo is shown racing a [[Saab 37 Viggen]] fighter jet.<ref>{{cite news |last=Delaney |first=Sam |date=12 June 2015 |title=Jets, jeans and Hovis |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2007/aug/24/1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226123953/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2007/aug/24/1 |archive-date=December 26, 2019}}</ref>

Actor [[Matthew Modine]] turned down the role of Pete Mitchell because he felt the film's pro-military stance went against his politics and he chose to do ''[[Full Metal Jacket]]'' instead.<ref>Nolasco, Stephanie. [https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/full-metal-jacket-star-matthew-modine-stranger-things "'Full Metal Jacket' star Matthew Modine explains why he turned down 'Top Gun,' 'Back to the Future': The actor has said no plenty of times — with good reason,"] ''Fox News'' (July 7, 2020).</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://nymag.com/news/intelligencer/encounter/57174/|title=154 Minutes With Matthew Modine|date=June 15–22, 2009|last=Murphy|first=Tim|magazine=New York magazine|access-date=February 19, 2020|archive-date=January 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200105233139/http://nymag.com/news/intelligencer/encounter/57174/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.salon.com/2020/08/07/matthew-modine-full-metal-jacket-top-gun-white-privilege/ | title=Matthew Modine on America's love affair with guns & what people get wrong about "Full Metal Jacket" | date=August 7, 2020}}</ref> The producers wanted Tom Cruise for the role after seeing him in ''[[Risky Business]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/top-gun-tom-cruise-anniversary-jerry-bruckheimer-1234973603/ | title='Top Gun' Turns 35: Producer Jerry Bruckheimer on Convincing Tom Cruise to Play Maverick | date=May 16, 2021}}</ref> Cruise was offered the part while he was in [[London]] filming ''[[Legend (1985 film)|Legend]]''; he was reluctant to take the part but Tony's brother [[Ridley Scott]] convinced him to take it.<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://ew.com/article/2016/05/10/top-gun-30th-anniversary-tom-cruise-maverick/ | title=Tom Cruise reflects on landing his 'Top Gun' role as Maverick — exclusive clip | magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] }}</ref> Cruise liked the script and convinced the producers to rewrite it before starring in the film.<ref>https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/tom-cruise-winging-it-2-190433/</ref> For the role of Maverick, before Tom Cruise, [[Emilio Estevez]], [[Patrick Swayze]], [[Sean Penn]], [[Rob Lowe]], [[Charlie Sheen]], [[Michael J. Fox]] and [[Ralph Macchio]] were considered, while [[Brooke Shields]], [[Demi Moore]] and [[Julianne Phillips]] were the possible candidates for Charlie. Phillips had been scheduled to perform a screen test opposite Tom Cruise.

<!-- IRRELEVANT AND NEEDS BETTER SOURCE The character of Chipper Piper was created just for Pasdar as Scott loved his performance.<ref>Rys, Richard. [https://www.phillymag.com/news/2007/06/19/exit-interview-adrian-pasdar/Exit Interview: Adrian Pasdar] Phillymag.com (June 19, 2007).</ref>{{Better source needed}} -->Val Kilmer was reluctant to play Kazansky as he found the script "silly" and disliked warmongering in films, but took the role as he was under contractual obligations with the studio and Scott's enthusiasm on the project.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2021-07-23 |title=What we learned from Val Kilmer's documentary 'Val' |url=https://nypost.com/2021/07/23/what-we-learned-from-val-kilmers-documentary-val/ |access-date=2023-06-13 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>https://ew.com/movies/val-kilmer-tom-cruise-top-gun-maverick/</ref> Kilmer's role however, turned out to be one of his best performances upon release.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://people.com/movies/val-kilmer-wasnt-interested-top-gun-originally/|title=Val Kilmer Reveals He Didn't Want to Be in 'Top Gun' Originally: 'The Story Didn't Interest Me'|first=Eric|last=Todisco|work=[[People (magazine)|People]]|date=April 21, 2020|accessdate=January 3, 2025}}</ref>

The producers wanted the assistance of the U.S. Navy in the production of the film. The Navy was influential in relation to script approval, which resulted in changes being made.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Jr |first=Jacob V. Lamar |date=1986-11-24 |title=The Pentagon Goes Hollywood |language=en-US |magazine=Time |url=https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,962933-1,00.html |access-date=2023-03-18 |issn=0040-781X}}</ref> The opening dogfight was moved to international waters as opposed to [[Cuba]], the language was toned down, and a scene that involved a crash on the deck of an aircraft carrier was also scrapped.<ref>Special Edition DVD, Interview with the producers</ref> Maverick's love interest was also changed from a female enlisted member of the Navy to a civilian contractor with the Navy, due to the U.S. military's prohibition of fraternization between officers and enlisted personnel.<ref name="Top Gun Movie -The 80s Rewind" /> The "Charlie" character also replaced an aerobics instructor from an early draft as a love interest for Maverick after producers were introduced to [[Christine Fox|Christine "Legs" Fox]], a civilian mathematician employed by the [[Center for Naval Analyses]] as a specialist in Maritime Air Superiority (MAS), developing tactics for aircraft carrier defense.<ref name=Richman1985/>

=== Filming ===
[[File:VF-111 TOPGUN MOVIE.jpg|thumb|F-14A Tomcats of Fighter Squadrons [[VF-51]] "Screaming Eagles" and [[VF-111 (1956-95)|VF-111]] "Sundowners", and F-5E/F Tiger IIs of the Navy Fighter Weapons School, 1985]]

Filming began in [[Oceanside, California]], on June 26, 1985, with it later moving to Miramar to begin shooting scenes on the aircraft.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ascmag.com/articles/flying-high-with-top-gun|title=Flying High With Top Gun|website=American Cinematographer|date=June 10, 2021|first=Les Paul|last=Robley|accessdate= September 13, 2022}}</ref> The Navy made aircraft and crew from [[Carrier Air Wing Fifteen]] (CVW-15) available for the movie, which then consisted of F-14 squadrons [[VF-51]] "Screaming Eagles" (which Mike "Viper" Metcalf mentions in the scene at his home) and [[VF-111]] "Sundowners" (which was referenced by Marcus "Sundown" Williams' callsign and helmet design).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.anft.net/f-14/f14-squadron-vf051.htm|title=VF-51 Screaming Eagles|publisher=HOME OF M.A.T.S. - the most comprehensive Grumman F-14 Reference Work - by Torsten Anft!|access-date=June 21, 2023}}</ref> Paramount paid as much as US$7,800 per hour (equivalent to ${{inflation|US|7800|1985|end_year=2023|r=-2|fmt=c}} in 2023) for fuel and other operating costs whenever aircraft were flown outside their normal duties. After filming wrapped up, one of the aircraft used (BuNo 160694) was sent to the [[USS Lexington (CV-16)#USS Lexington Museum|USS ''Lexington'' Museum]] in [[Corpus Christi, Texas]], where it resides today.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theaviationgeekclub.com/did-you-know-that-mavericks-top-gun-f-14-tomcat-currently-features-vf-84-jolly-rogers-paint-scheme-and-is-on-display-aboard-uss-lexington/|title=Did You Know that Maverick's Top Gun F-14 Tomcat Currently Features VF-84 Jolly Rogers Paint Scheme And Is On Display Aboard USS Lexington?|author=Dario Leone|publisher=The Aviation Geek Club|date=November 3, 2019|access-date=June 14, 2023}}</ref> Aside from the aircraft of CVW-15, F-14s of other squadrons made background appearances. Aircraft of [[VF-114]] "Aardvarks" and [[VFA-213|VF-213]] "Blacklions" appear in shots of the carrier sequences filmed aboard the ''Enterprise'',<ref>{{Cite book |last=Baranek |first=Dave "Bio" |url=https://archive.org/details/topgundaysdogfig0000bara/ |title=Topgun Days: Dogfighting, Cheating Death, and Hollywood Glory as One of America's Best Fighter Jocks |publisher=Skyhorse Publishing |year=2010 |isbn=9781616080051 |location=New York |language=en |oclc=464579706 |url-access=registration}}</ref> while the fleet of [[Fighter Squadron 1 (United States Navy)|VF-1]] "Wolfpack" is visible in shots taken at Miramar. The majority of the carrier flight deck shots were of normal aircraft operations and the film crew had to take what they could get, save for the occasional flyby which the film crew would request. During filming, director Tony Scott wanted to film aircraft landing and taking off, back-lit by the sun. During one particular filming sequence, the ship's commanding officer changed the ship's course, thus changing the light. When Scott asked if they could continue on their previous course and speed, he was informed by the commander that it cost US$25,000 (equivalent to ${{inflation|US|25000|1985|end_year=2023|r=-3|fmt=c}} in 2023) to turn the ship, and to continue on course. Scott wrote the carrier's captain a check so that the ship could be turned and he could continue shooting for another five minutes.<ref>Special Edition DVD, Interview with Tony Scott and Pete Pettigrew.</ref>

[[File:Filming of Top Gun movie (01) 1985.jpg|thumb|upright=.75|Filming and [[clapperboard]] of ''Top Gun'' on July 5, 1985]]

Future [[NASA]] [[astronaut]] [[Scott Altman]] was among the pilots of VF-51<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/this-original-top-gun-stunt-pilot-became-an-astronaut/|title=This original Top Gun stunt pilot became an astronaut|author=Ortiz, M.|publisher=We Are The Mighty|date=5 July 2022}}</ref> who flew F-14 aircraft for many of the film's stunt sequences, having been recently stationed at [[Marine Corps Air Station Miramar|NAS Miramar]] at time of filming. Altman was the pilot seen "[[The finger|flipping the bird]]" in the film's well-known opening sequence, as well as piloting the aircraft shown "buzzing the tower" throughout the film.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2009/TECH/space/05/11/space.shuttle.altman/index.html?iref=mpstoryview |title=Former 'Top Gun' leads Hubble repair mission |author=John Zarrella |work=CNN |date=January 17, 2020 |access-date=January 17, 2021 |archive-date=September 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927045037/http://edition.cnn.com/2009/TECH/space/05/11/space.shuttle.altman/index.html?iref=mpstoryview |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tcghs.org/photo1200.htm|title=Tazewell County Photo of the Month - December 2000|website=www.tcghs.org|access-date=January 17, 2021|archive-date=July 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723004012/https://www.tcghs.org/photo1200.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The infamous "buzzing the tower" sequence raised concern among residents who called the base and local news media to report a "berserk pilot".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theaviationgeekclub.com/its-time-to-buzz-the-tower-former-f-14-rio-explains-how-the-legendary-top-gun-tower-fly-by-scene-was-filmed/|title="It's time to buzz the tower:" Former F-14 RIO explains how the legendary Top Gun tower fly-by scene was filmed|author=Dario Leone|publisher=The Aviation Geek Club|date=September 16, 2018|access-date=September 18, 2023}}</ref>

Most of the sequences of the aircraft maneuvering over land were shot at [[Naval Air Station Fallon]], in [[Nevada]], using ground-mounted cameras.<ref name="ASC">{{cite web |last=Robley |first=Les Paul |date=May 1986 |title=Flying High With Top Gun |url=https://theasc.com/articles/flying-high-with-top-gun |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219214326/https://theasc.com/articles/flying-high-with-top-gun |archive-date=19 December 2022 |publisher=[[American Society of Cinematographers]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Rogers |first=Pauline |date=1998 |title=Contemporary Cinematographers on Their Art |url=https://archive.org/details/contemporarycine00roge |url-access=registration |publisher=CRC Press |pages=[https://archive.org/details/contemporarycine00roge/page/201 201-202] |isbn=9781136045776}}</ref> The majority of air-to-air filming was done using a [[Learjet]].<ref name="ASC"/> The F-14s also had cameras mounted both inside the cockpit and on six external camera mounts, which were built by [[Grumman]] for filming ''[[The Final Countdown (film)|The Final Countdown]]'' and modified for use on ''Top Gun''.<ref name="ASC" />

The fictitious MIG-28 enemy aircraft was depicted by the [[Northrop F-5]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pacificaviationmuseum.org/pearl-harbor-blog/northrop-f-5a-freedom-fighter-and-t-38-talon|title=Northrop F-5|publisher=pacificaviationmuseum.org|date=2012-10-11|access-date=29 September 2014|archive-date=August 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828085622/https://www.pacificaviationmuseum.org/pearl-harbor-blog/northrop-f-5a-freedom-fighter-and-t-38-talon/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The film was shot in the [[Super 35]] format, as anamorphic lenses were too large to fit inside the cockpits of the fighter jets.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/americancinemato0000unse_p1a9/page/38 |title=American Cinematographer Manual |publisher=ASC Press |year=2001 |isbn=9780935578157 |editor1-last=Hummel |editor1-first=Rob |edition=8th |page=38 |access-date=May 4, 2021 |url-access=registration |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504043722/https://books.google.com/books?id=1cYYAQAAIAAJ&q=%22optics+allow+this+is+one+of+the+reasons%22 |archive-date=May 4, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Reshoots after ''Top Gun''{{'}}s filming wrapped conflicted with ''[[Made in Heaven (1987 film)|Made in Heaven]]'', in which McGillis starred with brown hair. ''Top Gun''{{'s}} filmmakers were forced to hide her hair color, which for example resulted in the scene shot in an elevator featured McGillis in a baseball cap.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-05-14 |title=Top Gun and the End of the Homoerotic Action Movie |url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2016/05/top-gun-and-the-end-of-the-homoerotic-action-movie/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120055352/https://consequenceofsound.net/2016/05/top-gun-and-the-end-of-the-homoerotic-action-movie/ |archive-date=November 20, 2020 |access-date=2020-12-02 |website=[[Consequence of Sound]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kelly McGillis recalls 'Top Gun' love scene and 'a lot of partying' while filming |url=http://yahoo.com/entertainment/blogs/movie-talk/kelly-mcgillis-recalls-top-gun-love-scene-lot-215315250.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111201547/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/blogs/movie-talk/kelly-mcgillis-recalls-top-gun-love-scene-lot-215315250.html |archive-date=November 11, 2020 |access-date=2020-12-02 |website=yahoo.com |date=February 8, 2013 |language=en-US}}</ref> While filming her scenes, McGillis had to be shoeless to match Cruise's height.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/entertainment/2013/02/08/kelly-mcgillis-stood-tall-in-top-gun/61007864007/|title=Kelly McGillis stood tall in 'Top Gun'|first=Gene|last=Triplett|website=The Oklahoman}}</ref>

Renowned aerobatic pilot [[Art Scholl]] was hired to do in-flight camera work for the film. The original script called for a [[Spin (flight)|flat spin]], which Scholl was to perform and capture on a camera on the aircraft. The aircraft was observed to spin through its recovery altitude, at which time Scholl radioed "I have a problem... I have a real problem". He was unable to recover from the spin and crashed his [[Pitts Special]] biplane into the [[Pacific Ocean]] off the Southern California coast near [[Carlsbad, California|Carlsbad]] on September 16, 1985. Neither Scholl's body nor his aircraft were recovered, leaving the official cause of the accident unknown.<ref>Ashurst, Sam (November 4, 2008). [http://www.totalfilm.com/features/hollywood-s-deadliest-stunts Hollywood's deadliest stunts] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091013105455/http://www.totalfilm.com/features/hollywood-s-deadliest-stunts |date=October 13, 2009}}. ''[[Total Film]]''.</ref> ''Top Gun'' was dedicated to Scholl's memory.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/mw95w0WFqA0 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20140708064213/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mw95w0WFqA0&t=6m12s Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mw95w0WFqA0&t=6m12s|title=Top Gun – Abspann (Sat 1, 1989)|date=April 23, 2008|work=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==== Locations ====
The San Diego restaurant and bar [[Kansas City Barbeque]] served as a filming location for two scenes shot in July 1985. The first scene features Goose and Maverick singing "[[Great Balls of Fire]]" while seated at the piano. The final scene, where "[[You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin']]{{-"}} can be heard on the restaurant's [[Wurlitzer]] jukebox, was also filmed at the restaurant. Both scenes were filmed consecutively. After the release of the movie, the restaurant went on to collect a significant amount of memorabilia from the motion picture until a kitchen fire on June 26, 2008, destroyed much of the restaurant. Some memorabilia and props, including the original piano used in the film, survived the fire, and the restaurant re-opened in November 2008.<ref name="KFMBTV">{{cite web |title=Kansas City BBQ Reopens for First Time Since Fire |url=http://www.sandiego.com/option,com_sdca/task,ln/target,story-147588-html/ |accessdate=2009-02-11 |publisher=KFMBTV}}</ref>

In 1985, Paramount Pictures rented the Graves House, now commonly called the [[Top Gun House|''Top Gun'' House]], a historic San Diego [[Folk Victorian]]/[[Queen Anne style architecture in the United States|Queen Anne]] cottage located at 102 North Pacific Street, and used it as the home for Charlotte 'Charlie' Blackwood.<ref>{{Cite web |title="Top Gun" House |url=https://oceansidehistoricalsociety.org/history-of-oceanside/top-gun-house/ |access-date=2022-06-12 |website=Oceanside Historical Society |language=en-US}}</ref> Charlie's backyard scenes were filmed at another house located at 112 First Street (Seagaze Drive) that was behind The Graves House.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hawthorne |first=K. |date=2022-06-13 |title=History of the "Top Gun" House |url=https://historiesandmysteries.blog/2022/06/13/history-of-the-top-gun-house/ |access-date=2022-06-25 |website=Histories and Mysteries |language=en}}</ref> In May 2020, The Graves House was relocated and later renovated into a pie shop called High Pie located at 250 North Pacific Street.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-19 |title=The 'Top Gun' House Is Now a Stylish Restaurant—See Inside |url=https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/the-top-gun-house-is-now-a-stylish-restaurant-see-inside |access-date=2022-06-12 |website=Architectural Digest |language=en-US}}</ref>