>>> THE 2013 BOMBING OF THE BOSTON MARATHON HAS BEEN THE
SUBJECT OF SEVERAL MOVIES. "STRONGER" IS THE IMPACT THE
BOMBS HAD WITH ONE PERSON. >> JEFF BAUMAN LOST HIS LEGS.
>> JAKE GYLLENHAAL PLAYS BAUMAN. >> I'M GOING TO MAKE A BIG SIGN
FOR YOU. >> DOESN'T SHOW UP FOR ANYTHING.
AND THEN, HE SHOWS UP. >> Reporter: "STRONGER" IS THE
STORY OF JEFF BAUMAN, WHO LOST BOTH HIS LEGS IN THE BOSTON
MARATHON BOMBING. >> THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION.
>> Reporter: IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS FOLLOWING THE ATTACK, JEFF
BEGAN TO HEAL, AS HE WAS HAILED A HERO BY THE CITY OF BOSTON.
>> Reporter: IT'S NOT SO MUCH ABOUT THE BOMBING, IT IS ABOUT
HOW YOU PICK UP THE PIECE ES AND HOW YOU CARRY ON.
>> YES. NOT TO SAY I'M NOT INTERESTED IN
THE BOMBING. BUT I'M NOT INTERESTED IN WHAT
THAT IS. THE EFFECTS OF IT AND HOW IT
BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER THROUGH TARAJI, I KNOW THAT'S WHAT JEFF
WANTS. >> Reporter: WHAT'S AMAZING TO
HEAR IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE BOMBING, THE AMOUNT OF PAIN HE
MUST HAVE BEEN IN. AT THE SAME TIME, NEVER REALLY
PHYSICALLY SHOWING THAT OR SAYING SO MUCH TO HIS FAMILY
EVEN. >> I FEEL LIKE THAT'S VERY
BOSTONIAN. HE'S VERY THANKFUL AND
APPRECIATIVE, BUT NOT AS INTERESTED AS PEOPLE WOULD BE.
HE REALLY IS. HE'S A SIMPLE GUY IN A LOT OF
WAYS AND WANTS TO BE AROUND HIS FAMILIAR.
>> Reporter: TO PREPARE FOR THE ROLE, JAKE SPENT A LOT OF TIME
WITH JEFF AND HIS FAMILY. >> IT'S A WEIRD THING WHEN
YOU'RE MAKING A MOVIE ABOUT SOMEBODY.
WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF IT. WE'RE NOT FAR FROM THE TIME
HAVING HAPPENED. DID HE WEAR A HAT, TOO?
>> Reporter: YOU'RE THAT CONNECTED ALREADY.
TELL ME ABOUT THE BAND THAT YOU AND JEFF HAVE.
>> IT'S A COMPLICATED ONE. I FEEL ODD DOING THIS INTERVIEW
AND PLAYING HIM AND THEN HE'S LIKE, WHERE ARE YOU?
AND I'M TRYING NOT TO LOOK LIKE YOU FOR AN INTERVIEW.
>> HELPING YOU MADE ME FEEL LIKE I CAN HELP MY SON.
AND FOR THAT, I AM GRATEFUL. >> Reporter: DID YOU THINK THERE
WOULD BE A DAY IN YOUR LIFE THAT JAKE GYLLENHAAL WOULD BE PLAYING
YOU? >> NO.
I'M A HUGE FAN OF HIS. I LIKE MOST OF HIS MOVIES,
BESIDES "BUBBLE BOY." I JOKE AROUND WITH HIM ABOUT
THAT. HE'S A COOL DUDE.
A HUGE STAR. A VERY GENUINE, NICE PERSON.
>> Reporter: DID YOU GIVE HIM ANY SORT OF INSTRUCTION ON HOW
TO BE YOU? >> ABSOLUTELY.
I GIVE HIM POINTERS ON MY HAIR ALL THE TIME.
JUST FUNNY STUFF. >> MESS IT UP MORE.
>> Reporter: DURING MY SET VISIT, JAKE WAS PREPARING TO DO
A SCENE WHERE JEFF THROWS OUT A PITCH AT THE RED SOX GAME, JUST
ONE MONTH AFTER THE ATTACK. WHO PITCHED BETTER?
YOU PITCHED BETTER? >> WITHOUT A DOUBT.
WITHOUT A DOUBT. HE ALSO HAS EXPERIENCE.
YOU HAVE MORE EXPERIENCE. >> THAT WAS HIS FIRST PITCH.
>> MORE EXPERIENCE. >> Reporter: HAVE YOU BEEN OVER
TO DINNER AND EVERYTHING FOR THE FAMILY?
>> HE'S BEEN TO MY HOUSE. HE BOUGHT ME -- I JUST DID A
RENOVATION. HE BOUGHT ME A HOUSE WARMING
GIFT. >> WHAT WAS IT?
>> IT WAS A TOILET. >> YEAH.
THE BEST ONE I SAW. A FRIEND OF MINE HAD THIS CRAZY
TOILET. >> IT'S THE BEST TOILET IN THE
WORLD. >> Reporter: AS THE GUYS JOKED
AROUND, IT'S CLEAR THE HIGH LEVEL OF RESPECT JAKE HAS FOR
JEFF. DO YOU THINK OF HIM AS A HERO?
>> I WOULD SAY, YEAH. IF YOU'RE GOING TO PUT ONE WORD
ALONGSIDE HIM, ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS, HERO WOULD BE ONE OF
THEM. >> THAT'S A FUN INTERVIEW.