Ok, so I understand... we seem to have the SPIDER-MAN set well covered... We've had report after report and pictures and video and all of that... but that's the reason they recruited an audience of comic and film geeks... they knew they would be getting this sort of coverage and welcomed it. And I welcome it because I'm just so delighted that so many fans are getting a chance to a take part in the SPIDER-MAN film... that's wonderful. So once again into the breach we go... 3 reports... enjoy....
Harry,
I figured by the time I checked, someone would have reported on Friday's Spider-Man shoot. Since I haven't seen one yet, I figured I'd drop you a line.
Friday was virtually all 2nd Unit shooting, which meant very few appearances of Tobey and Sam. But it also meant wire-work, explosions, and dropping cameras from cranes.
They split the extras for several scenes being worked on simultaneously. I was in a group working on the street scene where Spidey dodges people and explosions as he runs down the street. The explosions, of course, are from pumpkin bombs which will be added later. No sign of the Goblin Glider or the Goblin today either ˆ just Spidey doing stunts down the road. They had 3 cameras rolling during this action and shot several times. Unfortunately because of the firepots, squibs, and other assorted explosions, only paid extras were on the street during the explosions and I was relegated to the back bleachers.
The bleachers did provide a TERRIFIC view of Spidey, though, as he reached the end of the street, shot his web, and swung off. After they finished getting the shots of the back flips and front flips down the street, they rigged Spidey up with a wire that came out of his left shoulder. That way, when he was using it as a web, his body hung correctly. So he reaches the end of the street, pretends to shoot the web, grabs the wire and off he goes, swinging in one of his cool poses. These stuntmen are so unbelievably trained to look just like Spidey with all his webslinger poses. They are definitely going to make this movie work. (I heard someone saying that they saw one of these stuntmen trying to show Tobey how to get into a Webcrawler position and even though he got the basics right, he just couldn‚t make it perfect ˆ must be why he's only in the suit for 20% of its screen time!)
Meanwhile, in front of the hotel façade, 1st Unit shooting took place. The crowd continued running and screaming when Goblin 1st attacks. Tobey was in his reporter outfit and ˆ this worries me a bit ˆ he runs off toward camera and on Raimi's cue of "Open!" he pulls his shirt back to reveal the Spider-suit. Uhhh, has Raimi seen Superman a few too many times or what? Granted, I couldn't see what the camera saw, but I hope he's not ripping off that great Superman suit-reveal shot.
Most of the day, when not shooting this scene, Tobey, Willem, and Sam (and maybe Kirsten) were off in a house set right behind the building facade. I only saw this while passing to lunch, but saw several Spideys, Willem in the Green Goblin suit w/o the head (I'll reserve judgement until I see how it looks in the film), and LOTS of firemen. Plus a lot of smoke rising from this set. No one seemed to know what scene it was or what really happens except that Spidey and GG fight and there's a big fire.
After lunch, we all got to scurry around like caged rats running back and forth underneath the hotel as they dropped (not quite free fall) a camera from the building rigged on a beam hanging from a crane wire. It slowed and stopped just above the ground. After talking with some crew, I learned that this is a plate shot and basically it‚s when MJ falls (or is thrown by GG ˆ I'm not sure) off the building (and we fall with her) and Spidey swings down and catches her, then lowers her to the ground, and swings back up to fight w/GG. They're going to shoot MJ and Spidey on green screen and add them in later. Very cool shot ˆ they had the camera spinning as it went several times, and other times it looked like it went down all the way as a dutch angle.
We were going to get to witness MJ's stunt double fall by wire just like the camera, but we ran out of daylight. They added a day of shooting on Tuesday (today) to pick this shot up. And my understanding of the last few days, there was going to be MASS DESTRUCTION on the set with about 2000 extras as they basically blow the whole set up. We watched them rigging the arch over the stage with explosives while we waited in between shots. And then they're off to NY to finish the shoot.
Hope this adds to everyone's excitement for the film.
Joe Banks
And here is the excited little fella's report... very excited
Hey there big fella!
Long time surfer, 2nd time replyer.... is that a word?
Anyway, just thought you might be interested in how many cigarettes Mr. Sam Raimi can smoke during just one set up on the Spider-Man set. Interested? Thought so.
Well lemme back track a bit. I live in Hollywood and work part time as a Post Prod. Sup. and a popcorn sweeper at the GC Hollywood Galaxy theater on the ol' boulevard. I was happening by The Chinese Theater one day and a particular guy was yelling that he could get you on the set of the new Spider-Man movie. Curious as all hell, I walked up to him and told him to tell me more. He did, and as he did, my mouth got that white stuff that you get on the corner of your mouth when you're really thirsty (or at the thought of being within mere inches Sam Raimi directing). I said I was interested and he gave me a pass and told me to show up here at 7:15AM the next morning.
I did just that, and they bused us (about 30) over to the outdoor set in a town called Downey (about a half hour drive from Hollywood). We arrived and exited the nasty, yellow school bus (ah... memories!) and were led to the set after emptying our pockets in front of security. This was my first movie set encounter so I don't know what to compare this specific set to, but to a 1st timer it was pretty damn impressive. Actually to be honest it really looked more like a set and less like a replica of Times Square. There were many different sections that were set up.
1. A carnival booth type area
2. A concert stage
3. A fancy hotel exterior
4. Various tables with various foods on them
And this was just the section of the set WE were at. Basically it was explained to us that most of what we were seeing filmed is 2nd unit stunt stuff and that Raimi was over at a different part of the set shooting 1st unit. I was bummed but hopeful.
I marveled at the stunt Spider-Man as he executed perfect cartwheels and backflips as things exploded all around him (camera dollys back with him). Dozens of extras ran screaming for their lives as Spidey did what he does best while trying to avoid The Green Goblins' explosive bombs (added later in post of course). This was all going on when I got there.
Later on a few dozen of us were picked to do a supposed riot sequence. I was excited as they led us down to the hotel exterior and the AD arranged us and explained to us what was going on and what needed to be done. Basically the shot goes like this:
Camera dollys back with Peter as he runs amidst the panicked crowd, all the while pulling open his outer garments and revealing the Spidey costume underneath (which looked FUCKING AMAZING upclose!) Anyway, we rehearsed about 10 times with Tobey's stand in (looked 0% like him) then Sam and Tobey arrived. A girl in front of me caled out to Tobey as he walked by. He heard her and stopped and walked back to her and kissed her hand. JUST KIDDING! She asked to shake his hand and Sam said "What about me?"
Tobey shook it and went over to Sam and they proceeded to go over the shot to Sam's liking. Sam smoked cigarette after cigarette (I think 5 total) tweaking the shot til he was satisfied. At one point he thought the camera was a bit too high and said, "we gotta see the Spidey emblem" or something like that, something about "spidey height". He stood Tobey in front of the camera and they tweaked the hieght a bit. All was ready and Sam called action (I about fainted when he said it... what a feeling! No I'm not gay)
I was literally inches from Tobey as he ran past me. I could see the look on his face when he opened his jacket and shirt. He had this gaze in his eyes. A super hero gaze.... you know the one I'm talking about? That weird spaced out gazed, where you know you're not an ordinary man, but someone extraordinary (Chris Reeve had the same look when he removed his shirt in Superman) Tobey IS Peter. Well we did maybe 5 or 6 takes and Sam was happy.
At that point two different groups made a mad dash. The Sam group and the Tobey group. I'm talking about autographs. Something I'll never forget happened then. Before... when we were shooting the scene, a woman gave me a prop flag of the World Peace Fair in the movie.
Afterward I handed it to Mr. Raimi to sign and asked him what happened with Evil Dead 4 (half jokingly). He sort of laughed and said something to the effect of, "I wish I knew". He gave me the flag back, with his name signed on it. I stuffed it in my pocket so they wouldn't take it. I then shook his hand and told him about my aspirations of directing. He smiled and I walked away. I heard him say "hey, what's your name?" I couldn't believe it. Sam Raimi the entity behind Evil Dead 2, Dark man, A Simple Plan wanted to know MY name? I know it sounds very corny, but I felt like more than a fan, I felt like a next door neighbor or something, or one of those guys you meet in line at the movies or at the comic book store. That guy you talked to who liked the same movies you liked, hated the same movies you hated. That one guy who didn't give a shit how uncool you looked and seemed genuinely interested in talking to you. That's how I felt with Sam Raimi.
The coolest fucking director.
The rest of the day was a blur.
And here's what Chewie the Wookie had to say....
Hey Harry,
first time caller here to inform you about the truth regarding the Spiderman set. First of all that last guy must have never been an extra before. He probably expected them to tell him Tobey got hurt and they want him to be the new Spiderman. Let me just say that as an extra never execpt decent meals, clean toliets or friendly perosnnel. It doesn't happen.
The Spiderman set was pretty fun though albeit the heat was almost unbearable. Everything he said was on target. We just ran around all day screaming like chickens with their heads cut off. A huge balloon and the stage its over collapses onto some barricades that go flying. That is about the one shot we did all day. It didn't matter though. I am now a part of the Spiderman movie. I may be a small part, but it is still a great feeling. It's a feeling that other guy is missing out on.
Spiderman and the Green Goblin came out twice. Spiderman's costume was incredible. It was just what I had hoped it would be. I think the Green Goblin costume we have seen so far is only for stunt doubles. I just don't imagine that the Goblin wouldn't be able to move his mouth. In shots featuring Dafoe I bet that he will be wearing makeup etc..
I don't know why he thought we would see Sam Raimi since everyone there was only second unit. The chance of him actually being there would be a million to one. It was funny because they had some trashed police cars by the sidewalk at the beginning of the day and then suddenly two fresh ones were in their place. Some before and after shots I suppose.
They were using a wide angle lens placed on huge tower above the set. At first my friends and I thouht that they were filming without sound, but then we spotted some small booms here and there. All across the stage they had over a hundred 2K lights.
While we were there someone helped clarify why Parker would use organic web shooters that really made sense. He pointed out that Parker is always strapped for cash and never has anything extra lying around. He even works at the Bugle where J. Jonah Jameson hates Spiderman. So how on earth could he afford to make those web shooters if he doesn't have any money? As for no celebrities my friend talked with Kristen Dunst (red hair and all).
By the way they were letting people take those pins for free. No "smuggling" necessary. The cheap pennants they handed us were something we had to give back. They aren't very exciting, but since that was the only thing they had that's all I could take with me.
May that be of use to you. By the way look for a big purple and gold umbrella. I'll be it near when the bombs start flying.
Signed
Chewie the Wookie
