Hey folks, Harry here... While I've been at SXSW this year, across these great American states in the land of California where up in the sky was Spider-Man doing battle with the Green Goblin fella... Read on....
Harry,
First time writer/long time reader I just spent that last 2 days as a spectator on the spiderman set. Needless to say the production is in good hands. We we're filming some crowd scenes for the big battle between the Green Goblin and the web head. Macy Gray was in attendance on Thursday for her performance. Tobey was the only big name in sight for both days, but only as Peter Parker. A cameo was also filmed on Thursday by none other that Stan "The Man" Lee. On Friday more crowd scenes this time mostly reacting to the Goblin's appearance. We were treated to a peek at Spiderman as worn by one of the stunt guys. The costume is fantastic. Red head/shoulders, hands/forearms, and feet with silvery webs and the rest of it blue with a small spider on the front and a large one on the back. The colors were not as bright as you might think but everything really looks great. Finally for the Fanboys about those organic webshooters. A couple of scenes were filmed with Peter shooting some webs. I think everyone will be presently surprised by the shooters. They were simulated by four black dots.
Two at the palm of his hand and the other two on the back of his fingers when he's doing the classic Spiderman webshooting thing. They are going to be added later by the sfx guys.
That's all for now
call me Circle
And here was our 2nd report from the set....
Hi Harry. Well, I've waited a while to be able to write you with this kind of news but I was an extra on Spiderman for todays shoot, along with a zillion others but I just got back and heres my brief report. We showed up and the set was very relaxed and friendly. Sam the man was very present and very active, even taking the time to coach my friend in our running and scurrying. As we ran he would yell out things that made it hard to act scared at times. I remember mainly, "Run, run like the rats that you are!!!" Seemed like a genuinely nice guy. Anyways, about the shoot:
1) First major scene was set up as follows. We are all standing at the World Unity Festival. An explosion that we havent seen has just come from a hotel rooftop. The crowd is confused and not sure if its part of the act.As we look towards the top of the building, we see a glider approach. The glider appears, and blows up some sort of balloon. As this happens the crowd splits and runs everywhere. The whole shot seemed focused around a child and his reaction, and that of his mother as she is separated and asks for someone to help her. Did this numerous times. Theres more to the angles, but this was the major premise of the shots.
2) After lunch, we shot the scene that I would imagine preceeds the previously described scene. We were all standing watching a concert by (stand ins for) Macy Gray who was on set on thursday. As music plays we were directed to turn around and spot the Green Goblin. We see him fly over us and disappear for a few seconds and then reappear. Some people were clapping to give the illusion of folks thinking it was part of the show. A few seconds later, an explosion rips through the building atop us and we begin to scurry and run once again. Lots of shots of us and our reactions but these shots seemed to focus on Peter Parker arriving in front of the camera, stopping and raising his lens. As the chaos occus, from what I managed to peek at, Peter Shoots his webs and runs away. This was all very difficult to see because by this time, a group of people had crowded around him and made getting near the shot next to impossible. The crew repeatedly called for everyone to step back but not a whole lot of people seemed to listen. Anyways, from what I saw, Peters webs come out and he takes a tug at them. He manages to cut them loose and then raises his finger to his mouth as if to say shhhhh. Then he turns and runs. (I assume to don the costume)
This was the gist of what we shot and Im sure many others will be able to fill you in a lot better but I just thought Id share my experience with ya. (There were quite a few more scenes but they were mainly just background action) Didnt see the green goblin except for a couple of reference points to where he will be added. Didnt see any explosions or fire effects either. Sam did treat us to one of the stuntmen appearing in the costume and I'll be damned if it wasnt about the most awesome thing! He made us sing the old spider man song when he appeared which was good for a laugh.
Darth Jetta
