Hey folks, Harry here... I'd like to take this time to address some of the LEGUMES in talk back that have been griping about the WRESTLING stuff being forced into the SPIDER-MAN story by the headline grabbing corporate nonsense of the WWF. AHEM.... Ok you beginner geek.... As every good Spider-Man fan knows, the first time Spider-Man went out and did anything, it was to try and win $300 dollars against Crusher Hogan. Now this isn't in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1.... It was in AMAZING FANTASY 15, the real first appearance issue of SPIDER-MAN. I understand your simian worries that perhaps WRESTLING is going to be HALF the movie, because you see.... all this that you see being shot... that's like maybe 3 or 4 minutes MAX on screen. So, um yeah... it is going to destroy evvvvverythingggg... SIgh.... Sorry if I sound a little abrupt, but frankly it really ticks me off to see doomsayers with no advance knowledge of the character or the background or the history, griping about a filmmaker that does have the sense of history and has done his homework and is doing it right. Think of this scene as the opening of ROCKY III but way cooler. That's what it sounds like.
Today the buses were on time, so we didn't have to wait outside in the cold weather. One guy on the bus had flown in from Alaska just to be an extra and he said that it was actually warmer at home. We worked on the same scene as before, only this time we did close ups and dialogue. When the crew broke for lunch they kept us a bit to record crowd noise. In addition to cheers and jeers, they had us do some laughs and what should be a very chilling "Kill! Kill! Kill!" chant. The shot that took the most takes ironically enough was a brief close-up of a guard chaining up the cage. For a time I was sitting behind Raimi and was able to view his monitors. Everything looked *excellent*, looking very dark and intimidating. As it happens I ran into the Flying Dutchman in the toilets and asked him how exactly his costume related to the name "The Flying Dutchman." He had absolutely no idea whatsoever. As to those who think that he is "lame," remember that the character is an amateur wrestler who is savagely defeated in less than 15 seconds. Even though I have zero interest in wrestling I thought Randy Savage was a hoot to watch. While waiting around between shots he would often "wrestle" with whoever happened to be nearby by whether it was the ref, Tobey Maguire or a crew member, or in one instance a water bottle that was left in the ring. Savage always lost in these impromptu fights, even against the water bottle. I personally like the wrestling match origin, since it's strikes me as a very good way to explain why Spidey wears a costume. On the sound stage across from us is a new set that is still in the early stages of construction. It looks to be the building facades for several city blocks. It appears to take up the entire sound stage and looks like it will be quite impressive.
"Cybertooth" in the talk-back was utterly correct in his criticism of my own speculation on Raimi having a part. Today the guy who actually pushes Spidey out was *not* Raimi. The error is all mine. Someone else asked if the signs were made by the extras or if they were from the art department. The answer is both. The art department signs were being used to supplement home made ones brought by well-informed extras. As has been requested I have procured a roll of film containing pictures of the sets and part of the wrestling match. Hopefully the cheap disposable will produce recognizable pictures once the film is developed. Some also asked how often Tobey Maguire is actually used in the match. In all of the shots Spiderman has dialogue or is just walking around it is indeed Maguire. He did some of the simpler stunts as well. Complex stunts and shots where Spiderman is out of focus in the background were one of Maguire's doubles.
I think it should be kept in mind that rumours and information from PAs can be entirely wrong. The PA that escorted us to the set claimed that we were actually going to be in a crowd scene in which the Green Goblin was to appear in full costume. The paid extras were mysteriously called off on a few occasions to "shoot" on Stage 6, but it appears that all that was actually on that stage was craft services. The PA therefore seems to have lied through his teeth.
Finally, for those interested here is my guess as to the how the Spiderman fight scene works. I wish to emphasize that since actions were shot out of order and I was not present yesterday my analysis is probably erroneous in parts. Arrant speculation is in [brackets]. The dialogue in quotes is actual dialogue to the best of my recollection.
Announcer: "What's your name kid?"
Spiderman: "The Human Spider."
Announcer: "The Human Spider? Is that the best you can do?" (Walks down ramp)
Announcer: "The winner will be the sinister, the deadly, the Amazing Spiderman!"
Spiderman: (Exasperated) "I'm the Human Spider! He got my name wrong!" (gets shoved down the ramp despite his protests) [this strikes me as continuing a theme of Peter Parker getting no respect].
Spiderman then walks down the ramp and steps into the ring, which then is enclosed in the cage. While Bonesaw prances around the ring Spiderman pleas with the guard not to lock him in since he doesn't have a chance against a bruiser like Bonesaw. Bonesaw then charges Spidey, who jumps out of the way and sticks to the cage bars twenty feet up.
"What are you doing up there!!" (Savage seems to always talk! in! exclamation! points!) "Staying away from you for three minutes. Say, cute outfit. Did your husband buy it for you?" "AAARRRRR!!!" (Bonesaw jumps at Spidey)
Several other lines were used for the taunt, but the "husband" one was easily the best and hopefully will be kept in the film.
Spiderman then does a double flip and lands in a classic webcrawler crouch behind Bonesaw. Bonesaw charges again but Spidey avoids him by shooting his webbing and flipping over Bonesaw. The crowd goes wild and starts chanting "Spiderman." Stunned by the adulation, Spidey doesn't notice that Bonesaw got a chair from one of the Bone-ettes, and gets hit with it over the head. [stuff I didn't see happens, though at one point I believe one of the Bone-ettes hands Bonesaw the crowbar through the cage] Bonesaw then comes at Spidey with a crowbar and tries to hit Spidey, but Spiderman kicks him twice in the chest before the swing can be completed and sends Bonesaw into the bars. This knocks Bonesaw out. The cage is lifted, the ref rushes in and declares Spiderman the winner. Spidey stands with both arms up in triumph as the crowd goes wild chanting "Spiderman!"
George Smiley
