The complete history of Cassandra Faust's
exclusive behind-the-scenes Watchmen set reports.

It's all here in a single 1-page!

 

 

Originally posted - November 28th, 2007

 

Recently Comic Related was introduced to an individual who works in the film industry. This individual, who we shall call Cassandra Faust, has been good enough to share a first hand report direct from the set of the Watchmen film. Ms. Faust has been working as an extra during the filming and offers up a great summary of what she witnessed. We're pleased to share it with you and Ms. Faust has our sincere thanks...

 

WATCHING THE WATCHMEN

by

Cassandra Faust

 

Having the opportunity to work on WATCHMEN was a dream come true for this fan of the graphic novel. I got to the studio a full half hour early, had my name checked off at the gate and I was in. Extras Holding was at the back of the lot and I had to walk past the set to get there. This was an amazing experience. The New York streets were incredible with neon signs lit up over storefronts that looked 100% genuine. Piles of garbage, closed up shops, parked cars, working traffic lights and streetlights, the lot had been paved to look like road, the sidewalks had been built up. Even the lines on the roads were where they should be. This gave me a burning desire to be on that set, walk those streets. I couldn’t wait to get to sign in, get into wardrobe and get to work.

 

When everyone was in their proper wardrobe, the head Wardrobe guy had us line up in groups so he could give us a last minute inspection before we headed to set.

 

I was good to go.

 

But the wait continued.

 

In the meantime, we were told that we were not to go behind the storefronts as there were danger areas with electrical cables and high-pressure steam hoses for the sidewalks grates and sewers on set. Also we were told that no cell phones or video cameras were allowed and that anyone caught on set with either of these items, for whatever reason whether accident of deliberate, would be immediately wrapped and sent home.

 

At last the call came and I was the first one out of the tent. I couldn’t believe I was going to be walking into the world of WATCHMEN! What a thrill.

 

The first thing that caught my eye was the newsstand in front of the Institute For Extraspatial Studies. It looked exactly the way it appeared in the novel. Remembering the drawn streets from the comic, I turned to my left and there, across the street from the newsstand, was the Promethean Cab Company. Down the street from that the red Rumrunner sign glowed. Too cool! I knew that the Gunga Diner should be on my right, but it wasn’t. Peering down the length of the block to the cross street on the left I spotted the diner reproduced precisely as it appeared in the comic. Whether or not this change of locale will be reflected in the film or was merely laid out for ease of filming in and around the diner we’ll have to wait and see. But just seeing these storefronts, as real as any actual buildings though most were just Styrofoam fronts was fantastic. The set designers had done a superlative job on these.

 

We were told that the scenes for today involved the newsstand. The first scene was the newsvendor and the black kid reading the comic, and Walter Kovacs.

 

I headed over to the newsstand and checked it out. There was the box for the black kid to sit on next to a fire hydrant (not the electrical power plug from the novel) next to the dingy green newsstand. Behind the kid was a poster advertising the issue of The Black Freighter he’d be reading. On the newsstand, again, the set designers had done an incredible job. Set in October 1985, I was stunned to see that ALL of the magazines on the stand were from October 1985! These were not mock-ups or dummy covers, but the actual magazines culled from second hand stores in the city. The comics amongst the magazines were also from October 1985. Even the newspapers had that date though they might have been dummy copies. Funny that the DC comics were behind the Marvel ones. There was also a few dummy Newsweeks with Dr. Manhattan shaking hands with Adrian Veidt and a magazine with a close up of “Nixon’s” face. The guy they made up to look like an old Nixon is the spitting image. The vendor had a little TV set and a stool. There were gum and chocolate bars and a mini-fridge with drinks. On the inside wall close to the vendor was a poster advertising a magazine with Dr. Manhattan on the cover.

 

For the record, the newsstand looked just like the one in the novel. Dr. Manhattan looked right. So did Veidt and Nixon. Everything from the novel had been recreated with precise detail.

 

We filmed the scene from various angles, then they went to close ups of the actors and we weren’t needed for that. The newsvendor is a veteran Canadian actor named Joe (didn’t catch his last name) but everyone seemed to know him. Even the extras. The guy playing Kovacs/Rorschach, Jackie Earle Haley is absolutely perfect in the role. He gives the character a twilight zoney physicality. Rorschach moves to his own rhythms, clearly in a world of his own. The grungy, torn, brown suit and uncombed red hair, the crude sign, even his little green half-gloves all make a rather pathetic and tragic character which offsets his ruthless hero persona. Haley gives us a character who is truly lost. Without saying a word. A pitch perfect performance.

 

For the close ups we were sent back to holding to warm up. There one of my fellow extras had a copy of the novel and was trying to find the scene we’d just done. I took the book from him and found the scene. As I was explaining it to him and showing him the panels, it occurred to me just how closely they were sticking to the novel. After all, I could show him precise panels of a scene we had just brought to life! It was also fun to explain the story to the guy, and show him other scenes. He was impressed by the scope of the story and I got him more excited about being in the movie. When we went back to set, I talked with other extras. They knew very little about the story as well and it was cool to fill them in. Suddenly I was a tour guide of the comic, pointing out the actual set pieces and explaining the action that would take place there. They were blown away by the scope of the tale. After all WATCHMEN is the Casablanca and Gone With The Wind of comic movies. This is the BIG ONE. That got them pumped that they were working on the film. This is not a common occurrence on set. Most extras only care about how many hours they’ll work, if there’ll be overtime, free snacks, lunch, and when are we wrapped. This is the extra’s mantra. Most don’t care a whit about what the scene, show or movie is about. So it was refreshing to be able to explain the story to them and have them get excited about each shot.

 

After lunch we filmed a different scene. My action in the scene was to step out of the apartment building, then walk down the street. And, as the scene was a fairly long one, I decided to not just walk up the street but to check out the set. The scene featured Stephen McHattie who is playing the original Nite Owl. McHattie was also the sympathetic senator in 300 and he’s also starred in Beauty And The Beast, Seinfeld, Deep Space Nine and many others. Over the course of several takes, I went into the Gordian Knot Locksmith and the Rumrunner building, and even took a break inside the Promethean Cab Company, which had a small dispatcher radio and an antique black padded bench. I also saw the theater playing The Day The Earth Stood Still. It’ll be fun seeing this stuff on screen, knowing I’ve been inside these places.

 

While this was going on, they were testing Nite Owl’s ship outside the Gunga Diner. I would have thought they’d use CGI for the ship but a full size model hung from a tall crane. The ship was an exact replica of what’s in the comic. They raised and lowered the ship, tilted it as if it were hovering and blew steam out of the bottom of it to portray hovering thrusters.

 

At one point between shots, I spotted bundles of the New Frontiersman and just had to have a look. For the record the cover of the New Frontiersman is an exact replica of the one in the novel that is part of the supplementary pages at the end of one particular issue. The used the same headline about “honor sometimes must go hooded” but the pictures are of the actors in costume. So I got to see how the Comedian will look. He looks exactly as depicted in the comic with his small eye mask, not the full face one. And his picture on the prop newspaper along with Rorschach and Nite Owl is just like the one in the comic. Even the text is the same.

 

Later, we did a scene featuring more of the film’s stars. Again, we were not told who was going to be in the shot, but as soon as I saw what one of the actors was wearing and his glasses… I knew right away I was looking at Nite Owl and knew what the scene was to be. Same with Laurie when she appeared. I thought it was great that the characters would be created on screen so precisely matching how they appeared in the comic that anyone familiar with the source material would immediately recognize them at first sight.

 

In my opinion, Zack Snyder is doing an incredible job with the movie. He is staying as close to the source material as possible. Also he is taking the time to make every shot count. We rehearsed time and again, shot scenes again and again. He is not detail obsessed, but rather detail aware. From watching him work, I got the sense that he is dedicated to bringing this story to life, getting it right, and making a film that will blow people away.

 

March ’09 can't come fast enough for this fan!

 

 

 

Originally posted - January 5th, 2008

 

Back in November, Comic Related was introduced to an individual who works in the film industry. This individual, who called herself Cassandra Faust, was been good enough to share a first hand report direct from the set of the Watchmen film. Ms. Faust has been working as an extra during the filming and offered a great summary of what she witnessed. We're pleased to share her second set report today and Ms. Faust has our sincere, continued thanks...

 

NIGHT WATCHMEN

by

Cassandra Faust

 

Returning to the set of WATCHMEN was a pleasure I thought I’d experienced for the last time. So it was a thrill to take that long walk past that incredible New York set.

 

On the way by I noticed that the red Rumrunner sign was lit as usual only on this particular night it was flashing. Slowly. Rhythmically. Every time I’d seen the sign in the past I’d held out hope that I could be there when they needed that sign to be flashing.

 

And I thought to myself…
It’s night…
The Rumrunner sign is flashing…
Hurm…

 

With a sense of mounting excitement, I threw on my costume – not an easy task when your fingers are crossed let me tell you. Could this be the night?

 

Well, I didn’t have to wait long to find out. Once we’d been checked by Wardrobe we got the call to head to set. There we were directed to the tenement façade beside the Rumrunner sign.
This WAS the night!

 

I could describe what was shot this night but to do so would be an injustice. I will say that if you are familiar with the novel, then you have a pretty good idea of what was filmed. As for the scene itself, it’s my opinion that Zack Snyder and crew have put together a magic cinematic moment which moviegoers will not soon forget. We filmed well into the night and through until morning and there were gasps from my fellow extras on every take and we were some distance away from the incredible action. The Rumrunner scene is going to knock your socks off.

 

I’m sure all of you are thinking, what about Rorschach?

 

This was my first time seeing the character in full costume and mask. For the record, he appears precisely as he does in the comic right down to the white scarf and striped pants. His mask is plain white with eyeholes and green reference dots so the undulating black blotches can be inserted via CGI. I’m sure the eyeholes will be removed as well.

 

Now to borrow a line from the main competition of Watchmen’s publisher, “Nuff said.”

 

In between takes, I overheard a couple of my extra comrades discussing a scene that had been shot days before. The brief scene is something alluded to in the novel but never actually shown. This was the first example I’d heard of something being shot for the movie that we do not see in the novel. I was not present for the filming so I have only their word as to what happens.

 

What follows contains mild spoilers. You’ve been warned.

 

Apparently we will see, either in the theatrical release or the DVD, Mothman being hauled away to a mental hospital. The scene is set in the 50s and, from what I gathered, it sounds like a comedic moment. Again, out of consideration to the filmmakers I won’t go into detail, but I thought the scene something readers might find interesting. And it’s reassuring to know that even when the movie steps outside the bounds of the comic page, it’s with the intention of presenting material drawn directly from the novel.

 

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: From what I’ve seen and heard, Zack Snyder and crew are making what is going to be an amazing film, a faithful adaptation and a true cinematic experience.
WATCHMEN is destined to be a classic.

 

You heard it here first.

 

 

Originally posted - February 4th, 2008

 

Back in November of 2007, Comic Related was introduced to an individual who works in the film industry. This individual, who called herself Cassandra Faust, has been good enough to share two first hand reports direct from the set of the Watchmen film. Ms. Faust has been working as an extra during the filming and offered a great summary of what she witnessed. We're pleased to share her third set report today and Ms. Faust has our sincere, continued thanks...

 

MANHATTAN TRANSFER

by

Cassandra Faust

 

Getting a return invitation to work on WATCHMEN just before the holiday break was an early Christmas gift for this extra. And it came with a change of scenery. After working several days on that incredible New York set, I was surprised and curious to learn that this new shoot would be on location.

 

We weren’t told much about what the scene was to be, but for any fan of the novel, a little information goes a long way.

 

Allow me to illustrate:

 

We were told that the scene was to be set in a TV studio and we extras were to be the studio audience.

 

Need I say more? I didn’t think so.

 

So I trundled myself off to the Burnaby campus of BCIT and into costume for my first face-to-face meeting with Dr. Manhattan. Oh, his mug was plastered all over the walls and storefronts of the New York set on posters precisely recreating the cover of Nova Express from the novel – and the magazine itself sat on the newsstand. However this was the first time seeing him in the flesh.

 

So to speak.

 

Also, to be part of so pivotal a scene in the story only added to my anticipation. I can’t say strongly enough how refreshing it was to see the enthusiasm of my fellow extras. Copies of the novel abounded in the holding tent and were well thumbed by those familiar with the story and others who just had to know what all the excitement was about. Groups of extras would return to the tent after being called to set for a quick shot and would rush over to someone with the novel to see what scene they had just done. In fact, one extra was not even an extra. He was a fan who pressured the casting department to let him work on the film, finally agreeing to do it for free just to be part of it. And this guy had to drive 3 hours up from Washington State! Sadly he got into a minor traffic accident on the way back the next morning and missed the second day of shooting. Folks like this only added to the feeling amongst us that we were part of something special, not just your run of the mill movie production and fueled the excitement even more. When the call came to go to set, I was more than ready to answer it.

 

As usual the set designers had done a superlative job of bringing to life what is on the comic page. Long familiar with the novel, I felt as though I was, literally, stepping into it. The rows of seats, the vintage cameras and monitors aimed at the spartan (no pun intended, Mr. Snyder) set with its two chairs in front of a large sign that read: FACE TO FACE WITH DR. MANHATTAN – it was perfect! And when the actors playing the reporters took their places amongst us, they were right in the spots they occupy in the novel. The scene was coming to life almost exactly as it had been drawn.

 

With a couple of tweaks however.

 

The first being that there are three reporters, not two and the questions they ask are different as well though in keeping with the scene. The extra reporter is from the New York Times. The female reporter gets the first question as she does in the novel but she does not ask about Afghanistan. The reporter from the Times is next, then it’s time for you know who.

 

Or course Doug Roth is there, just as he appears in the novel although he is now brunette, not blonde. And as far as his questions go, well, if you’ve read the novel, you already know.

 

Did I mention Ted Koppel?

 

That’s right – Dr. Manhattan is on Koppel’s show. The actor playing Koppel sounds just like the journalist and is wearing enough prosthetics to be the man’s twin. Also, for the record, Manhattan and Koppel have switched seats. Manhattan sits on the audience’s right, Koppel on the left.

 

But what about the good doctor, how did he appear?

 

Good question.

 

The answer: I can’t tell you. Because I don’t know. Well, I do and I don’t…. sheesh! Nothing is ever cut and dried where Dr. Manhattan is concerned.

 

Actor Billy Cruddup was present for the two-day shoot. He was dressed in Manhattan’s impeccable black suit, but he wore a tight-fitting skullcap and what looked like soccer goalie gloves…

 

Now before you WATCHMEN purists cry foul and start boycotting theaters that will be showing the movie, let me explain further. The skullcap and white gloves were dotted with tiny, blue fiber-optic lights. When switched on they cast a warm, rich blue glow. Cruddup’s face, not blue, was dotted with reference points and lines around the mouth so that special effects added to the lights and dots will transform Mr. Cruddup into the good doctor we all know and love. And they’ve included the darker shade of blue scene as well.

 

There, now put down those ‘End Is Nigh’ signs.

 

Cruddup gives a reserved yet captivating performance in the scene. He invests Manhattan with a voice possessed with a Hal 9000 dreaminess as the doctor tries his best to answer the early questions. Also, his physicality is very restrained. He sits in the chair as sedately as a ‘God’ should and yet conveys just the right amount of concern and unease when Roth starts into him.

 

Having now seen Rorschach/Kovacs, Dreiberg and Laurie, the two Bernards, Dr. Malcolm Long, and Hollis Mason in person as well as pictures of the Comedian, Nite Owl (cover of the New Frontiersman) and Dr. Manhattan (Nova Express), I can safely say that this is one fan who is completely satisfied as to the look of these timeless characters. You don’t have to look twice at the actors in full costume and make up to know who they are playing. The filmmakers have the look of these characters down.

 

Readers of the novel know how the scene played out. There is an alteration – more a combining of plot points handled separately in the novel – that I won’t go into out of respect for the filmmakers. I will say that we may NOT get Osterman’s flashback to his watchmaker father as he tells that story to the TV audience. That is just speculation on my part as getting this information twice in the film might be redundant. I hope I’m wrong as it’s a powerful scene in the novel, one that should be shown, not described. I suppose one has to expect a certain amount of compression from comic to screen.

 

It was a lot of fun being in the group pouring out of the stands to press Dr. Manhattan when all hell breaks loose. There were more than 100 of us of varying ages, athletic ability and mobility and yet we surged forward with convincing gusto in every take. We may just be background performers but we sell the chaos at the end of this scene. It’ll look like a mad house on screen, but let me state for the record that no extras were injured during the filming of this scene.

 

It was a great couple of days – like I said, a wonderful Christmas present.

 

And I for one am looking forward to disappearing as Dr. Manhattan whisks us out to the parking lot in postproduction. It’ll be great to be part of the Manhattan transfer.

 

 

Originally posted - March 3rd, 2008

 

Back in November of 2007, Comic Related was introduced to an individual who works in the film industry. This individual, who called herself Cassandra Faust, has been good enough to share three first hand reports direct from the set of the Watchmen film. Ms. Faust has been working as an extra during the filming and offered a great summary of what she witnessed. We're pleased to share her fourth set report today and Ms. Faust has our sincere, continued thanks...

 

THE END IS NIGH

by

Cassandra Faust

 

With production drawing to a close on WATCHMEN, the end of this intrepid reporter’s career is, to borrow a phrase from Walter Kovacs, nigh. But there is still a little more to pass on to the fans as this three-part report will show.

 

First up are a couple of quick hits. I’ve learned that Dreiberg and Laurie have a reservation at swanky Rafael’s. They will be dining at this ground level eatery while torrential rain thunders down outside -- much to the chagrin of the extras passing by outside the restaurant windows. Also, Dr. Manhattan will be scaring the lunch out of his colleagues as he re-forms in the cafeteria just as he does in the novel. The scientists will duck and cover during the apparition, which was created by having Cruddup in a white body suit dotted with blue neon lights and hanging from wires. All of which to be later replaced with CGI. The same way they handled his TV appearance.

 

And what about Rorschach’s prison time? These sequences were filmed out at the old Riverview hospital back in October. This location has been used countless times for prisons scenes in shows such as X-Files and Supernatural. And I’m pleased to report that the scenes, for the most part, stick close to the source material.

 

We will indeed see Kovacs taunted mercilessly from all sides as he is led to his cell. And his own unique way of handling this abuse with a little hot grease in the cafeteria has also been faithfully reproduced. Nite Owl and Silk Spectre will also make their daring rescue attempt, but it’s here where things get a little different.

 

Zack Snyder has decided to ramp things up a little bit with the rescue. It turns out that Nite Owl and Silk Spectre will have to fight their way through the rioting prisoners in a 300-esque action sequence. As there is only one panel of fighting (if you can call it that) during the rescue in the novel, this marks a major departure from the source material. With the use of cables, harnesses and a little movie magic, Nite Owl will be letting his feet do the talking. Although he does not exhibit any superpowers (that would be too much) he does deliver some quite acrobatic moves and kicks to the rioters who go flying in all directions. Silk Spectre isn’t left out of the action. Using moves more martial arts based and with limited cable work, she holds her own in the fight as they lay waste to the opposition.

 

Some purists may call foul with the adding of this action sequence but this fan isn’t bothered by it. If anything I found the scene in the novel to be somewhat anticlimactic. The lengthy build up to the escape attempt really leads to Nite Owl and Silk Spectre essentially walking into the prison more or less unmolested only to find Kovacs can more than take care of himself. I think a desperate fight to reach their friend who, it turns out, doesn’t need their help, will play great on screen. And if anyone can deliver a fight scene to perfection it’s Zack Snyder.

 

Be sure to check back here next week for Part Two of my final report covering the hotly debated ending of the film.

 

 

Originally posted - March 10th, 2008

 

Back in November of 2007, Comic Related was introduced to an individual who works in the film industry. This individual, who called herself Cassandra Faust, has been good enough to share four first hand reports direct from the set of the Watchmen film. Ms. Faust has been working as an extra during the filming and offered a great summary of what she witnessed. We're pleased to share her fifth set report today and Ms. Faust has our sincere, continued thanks...

 

THE END IS NIGH
Part II

by

Cassandra Faust

 

We’re now less than a year from the film’s release and the countdown to the first trailer is officially underway. It’s going to be a long year boys and girls. But the film should be more than worth the wait. In the meantime, all good things must come to an end and as I file my final reports from the set of WATCHMEN I turn my focus to the much-debated ending of the film.

 

Now I wish I could say that the squid will be rearing its ugly head, but I can’t report what I don’t know. What I do know, because I was there, was that the reaction shots of the two Bernards to “an energy discharge” appearing in the skies over New York City (just as they are realizing they have the same first name) were shot and some of us extras were enlisted to help with the gawking. Of course what we were looking at was a red circle high up on a mammoth green screen as a reference point. People climbing out of their cars, hurried pedestrians stopped dead in their tracks, folks standing in the middle of busy intersections and huge wind machines all give this moment the drama it deserves. Even Dr. Malcolm Long was amongst the gawkers and he joins the Bernards staring up at the sky.

 

Although I did not see this one particular aspect of the scene shot, it was fun to see Zack Snyder, at one point, demonstrating to his crew while they were staging the beginning of the discharge sequence how the two Bernards were to step into the street awestruck and then for the older Bernard to try to protect young Bernard from the blast we all know is coming. As with everything else in the movie, his acting out of the scene matched the novel perfectly.

 

This fan truly hopes the squid will be making an appearance in the film. But if Zack Snyder and company decide to omit the squid in favor of an ending that incorporates everything else from the climax of the novel, then I have faith they can pull it off. From what I saw filmed, they captured most of how the scene originally plays out and, considering Hollywood’s track record for making nonsensical alterations, this would be the best we could hope for should the squid not make the cut. We’ll have to wait and see.

 

Well, friends, the end is truly nigh. Just one more report and you can catch it here next week. Don’t miss it.

 

 

Originally posted - March 17th, 2008

 

Back in November of 2007, Comic Related was introduced to an individual who works in the film industry. This individual, who called herself Cassandra Faust, has been good enough to share five first hand reports direct from the set of the Watchmen film. Ms. Faust has been working as an extra during the filming and offered a great summary of what she witnessed. We're pleased to share her sixth and final set report today and Ms. Faust has our sincere, continued and ongoing thanks...

 

THE END IS NIGH
Part III

by

Cassandra Faust

 

And so it has come to this. All good things come to an end and I hope my last report from the set of WATCHMEN puts a fitting final period on my brief journalistic career.

 

Well, it’s never too early to start talking about the WATCHMEN DVD, right?

 

If you happened to read part two of this series you learned all about what I saw being filmed of the ending. On the day those sequences were filmed, a separate camera crew was on set to film the filming. Whether this was for the DVD or for media coverage somewhere down the line only time will tell.

 

But they did interview someone close to Mr. Snyder and part of the production team. This took place within earshot of us extras and, boy, did I keep my ears open. From the nature of the questions, I guessed he was the right guy to answer them even though he looked about 18 – too young to be so far up the production ladder. Here’s the gist of the interview. He said that they were definitely sticking to the source material and that each successive draft of the script kept returning more and more to the original vision. He was also asked about the level of detail the movie would have, whether or not repeated viewings would always reveal something a viewer missed. He said this was definitely the approach Mr. Snyder was taking: layers of detail. Asked about DVD Easter eggs, he said the DVD would be “loaded with eggs.” He went on to say that they couldn’t do a movie like this without loading the disc.

 

And that’s about all this reporter has to say about what is going to be an incredible film. The big spoilers I’ll keep to myself except to say that fans of the novel and moviegoers are going to be in for a cinematic experience. With my days working on the film behind me, I can now sit back like the legions of fans and wait for a first look at the finished product through trailers and such.

 

I had an incredible amount of fun working on the movie. With our time on the film over and done, it seems a special bond has sprung up amongst us WATCHMEN veterans. As I’ve worked on several other productions since WATCHMEN, I’ve bumped into my fellow “New Yorkers” and there is an instant familiarity. Having endured wind machines, drenching water towers, rain and snow, frigid temperatures, early starts, long nights, cramped and chilly holding tents, twice daily line ups for Costumes and the daily ritual of re-creating that 80s look this “Band of Brothers like” connection (as one alumni put it) has come with the knowledge that we were part of something truly special. And I’ve got a host of memories that will last a lifetime.

 

I would also like to say that I thoroughly enjoyed reporting what I could to a fan base rabid for anything about the film and I am glad and gratified that the reports were well so received. When the first one went up, I had no idea it, or the ones that followed, would spread like wildfire across the net to reach so many people. I hope these reports have eased the minds of fans anxious about the handling of the material. But, more importantly, I hope they got you chomping at the bit in anticipation of seeing the film. This movie is going to rock!

 

I’ll leave you with that thought.

This is me, Cassandra Faust, signing off, over and out.

Look for me on the big screen come March ’09!

 

 

Originally posted - April 14th, 2008

 

Back in November of 2007, Comic Related was introduced to an individual who works in the film industry. This individual, who called herself Cassandra Faust, has been good enough to share three six hand reports direct from the set of the Watchmen film. Ms. Faust worked as an extra during the filming and offered a great summary of what she witnessed. We're pleased to share her unexpected seventh set report today and Ms. Faust has our sincere, continued and ongoing thanks...

 

STILL WATCHING THE WATCHMEN

by

Cassandra Faust

 

When I signed off in March, fellow WATCHMEN fans, I thought that was truly the end of my brief journalistic career. The production had wrapped, the New York street set stands bare and deserted and the raw film footage had been consigned to the trials and tribulations of postproduction.

 

However, WATCHMEN employed so many local people working in the film industry that one is hard pressed to come across anyone in the business who did not have something to do with the film. In my continuing work as a background performer, I’ve rubbed elbows with numerous people who, like me, had the privilege to work on what has already been dubbed the “Blade Runner of the 21st Century”. And in the weeks since production shut down, I’ve learned a lot about the movie. The details, big and small, kept adding up until I found myself dusting off my keyboard and donning my reporter’s cap to bring you wonderful WATCHMEN fans yet another update. And these nuggets about the film are solid gold.

 

Hang on to your masks!

 

To start off, I’ve learned that the supplemental material at the end of the individual issues of the comic series will be included in the film in the form of newsreel-style reports. Whether these will be part of the opening credits – as has been reported elsewhere – or interspersed throughout the film, we will have to wait and see. Perhaps the Mothman scene I reported on months ago will be part of this footage.

 

The next little tidbit of information I’ve come across concerns the scene with Nixon and Kissinger after Dr. Manhattan has fled Earth and the situation with the Russians is reaching the boiling point. I’m told that the actors, with the aid of make-up and prosthetics, resemble their true-life counterparts to a great degree. The two important figures will indeed get reports on a doomsday scenario and the potential loss of the East Coast of the United States. My source tells me that Nixon, upon hearing this news, will quip: “Let’s see those bastards at Harvard figure a way out of that one.” Also, Kissinger will make reference to the “mad Nixon”. However, my source’s memory is sketchy on this point as the scene was shot months ago and he is unfamiliar with the novel. My source may have been referring to the “mad bomber” reference in this scene from the novel. A new wrinkle appears to be an escalation of the situation and potentially a limited nuclear strike as my source (with faulty memory, remember) made reference to reactions shots that were filmed where the generals react to some horrific cataclysm that has taken place. These shots featured the generals covering their faces and expressing concern for their families. This Nixon/Kissinger information should be filed in the ‘grain of salt’ category as the details may have gotten a bit blurred over time. I’m merely reporting what I was told.

 

Moving on to much more reliable information, we turn our attention to Rorschach. I’ve learned a great deal about him from someone who worked for months on the film and am pleased to pass on what I know since it sticks so closely to the novel that it may put some fans at ease.

 

We will be seeing Kovacs’s tragic childhood faithfully brought to life: His whoring mother, the fight with the bullies (Zack Snyder’s son plays young Kovacs) and his eventual employment in the garment industry where he comes upon his mask just as described in the novel.

 

Rorschach will also be employing his particular interrogation techniques in the bar. Broken fingers anyone?

 

Kovacs’s unforgettable battle of wills with Big Figure has been reproduced in the film. However, Zack Snyder and crew have upped the ante a little. We all know how Kovacs binds Big Figure’s flunky against the cell door, which ultimately gets the man’s throat cut. Well, for the film, Figure’s other murderous henchman cuts the bound man’s arms off with a circular saw in a gruesome scene. For the record though, Kovacs affects his escape in the classic manner depicted in the novel and Big Figure also meets his demise off-camera in the rest room. This is one fan who can’t wait to see Danny Woodburn as Big Figure. Some might remember Woodburn as Kramer’s friend Mickey on Seinfeld, but he is also a great dramatic actor. What a casting coup this will turn out to be.

 

We’ve all seen the alterations made to Adrian Veidt’s appearance and the changes don’t end there. His domed, Antarctic retreat appears in the film but there is no green house and he does not murder his three accomplices. And poor Nite Owl and Rorschach will be walking to the retreat from Owl’s ship. No hover bikes. Nite Owl will have his winter outfit though.
Another alteration is that Dr. Manhattan will crash through the ceiling of Veidt’s retreat, not the wall, but he will be 100 feet tall.

 

Veidt will catch the bullet fired by Laurie but will not break Nite Owl’s nose with a plate and does not pin Rorschach to the table. I’m told that Veidt will fight Rorschach, Nite Owl and Laurie at the same time. Given Mr. Snyder’s genius with staging fight scenes, this should be something extraordinary as we see an outnumbered Veidt wipe the floor with his worthy opponents.

 

For those fans already starting to grind their teeth at these alterations, perhaps you will take comfort in the fact that Rorschach will meet his explosive demise at the hands of Dr. Manhattan – no alterations there.

 

The last nugget of information I have can best be described as the BIG ONE. It concerns the end of the film and the presence of a certain monstrous something many fans are hoping to see. Squid or no squid? That is the question on the minds of WATCHMEN fans.

 

Well, I’ve been given, I’m told, the definitive answer to this question and it comes from a source who worked months on the production, right up until the film wrapped.

 

It’s been revealed to me that the squid is definitely… IN! The hideous brainchild of Adrian Veidt will be unleashed on the city of New York (and yours truly as an extra for the filming of a portion of these scenes) to wreck havoc and destruction.
There you have it. A treasure trove of WATCHMEN gold. That’s all I have to report for now. Under the circumstances, I’d normally be closing up shop yet again, but I’ve learned to never say never with WATCHMEN.

 

So this is your intrepid reporter signing off for now.

 

See you in the funny papers.

 

 

 

Originally posted - May 12th, 2008

 

Back in November of 2007, Comic Related was introduced to an individual who works in the film industry. This individual, who called herself Cassandra Faust, has been good enough to share seven first hand reports direct from the set of the Watchmen film. Ms. Faust worked as an extra during the filming and offered a great summary of what she witnessed. Her latest update is a complete show stopper! Today Ms. Faust returns with a walking tour of the Watchmen World and has our sincere, continued and ongoing thanks...

 

WALKING THE WORLD OF WATCHMEN

by

Cassandra Faust

 

 

Imagine my surprise when I happened by the New York street set of WATCHMEN and found it still standing deserted and brooding in the Pacific rain forest! And imagine my surprise when I discovered that the set was visible to passersby! Luckily I had my trusty digital camera with me and just started snapping away! A shopping mall across the street provided the perfect vantage point and with the help of a whole lot of mega pixels and the life saving zoom function, I was able to photograph most of the set. Well, they say a picture is worth a thousand words so consider this report the WATCHMEN equivalent of War And Peace.

 

As the buildings have had their signs and neon stripped away and stored, I thought I’d provide a map of the street to show fans what’s what. The end result is a kind of virtual walking tour of the incredible set. I’ve divided the photos to cover both sides of the street. We’ll start with the TREASURE ISLAND COMIC SHOP side and work our way up. Then we’ll cross over to the other side of the street, which I’m calling the RUMRUNNER side, and work our way back. So look over the map, then come along and take the tour before the incredible set is gone forever!

 

Here we go!

 

The Map

 

TREASURE ISLAND SIDE

Click on any image for a full size look at the photo.

 

GUNGA DINER

 

Looking more like an abandoned fortress than part of a busy New York street, it’s the building façade that houses the Gunga Diner. The plywood on the right, jutting out from the bushes, is one half of the neon Diner sign.

 

 

Here are some more shots of the first corner of our tour.

 

 

Here’s the top of the Gunga Diner building from a different angle. The plywood running along the bottom
of the photo beneath the windows is the same section of the sign as in the first photo.

 

 

Gradually swinging around the corner, you can see where the rest of the Diner’s neon sign runs when in place.

 

 

Here’s a full shot of that second half of the sign. Beneath the plywood groove, you can see what looks like
black marble and rounded windows. This is the Gunga Diner façade. I’m told that filming inside the Diner
was chilly to say the least as only portable space heaters were used to heat the eatery.

 

 

And a close up.

 

 

Here is the top of the Gunga Diner building.

 

 

More close ups of the Diner top. Note the detailing on the arched windows.

 

 

This series consists of close ups of the detailing to the left of the Diner.

 

 

This is a shot of the building to the right of the Diner.

 

 

Here’s an entrance to the left of the Diner which is obscured by trees.

 

 

Here’s the Diner and accompanying building from a different, closer angle.

 

 

Close up shots of the building. Note the black “marble” on the right. This is the Diner itself.

 

 

TREASURE ISLAND COMIC SHOP

 

Here are some establishing shots of the yellow comic shop with a barely discernable advertisement for the
latest issue of Tale Of The Black Freighter behind the iron security grill.

 

 

A closer view and a better view of the poster.

 

 

Some more close ups.

 

 

Here’s the front of the store from a different angle. The next two shots will show this section of the
store more clearly. You can see the movie theater across the street. WATCHMEN fans know it well.

 

 

Close ups of the comic shop. The pink and white posters are ads for the
Gunga Diner directly across the street. See map.

 

 

Another angle. Note the detailing on the purple building next to the comic shop.
They put a fire escape leading to a roof that doesn’t exist.

 

 

This gray building next to the purple one is where, so I’m told, the Comedian and
Nite Owl have their “American dream” moment while the kids are spray painting the wall.

 

 

HEADING UP THE STREET

 

Rising from the lush rain forest, it’s NEW YORK CITY, circa 1985?

 

 

Here’s the whole TREASURE ISLAND SIDE of the street. Note how realistic the set looks even without signage.

 

 

Looking up the length of the yellow TREASURE ISLAND side of the street. Note the poster in the
window advertising the current issue of the Black Freighter, which Bernard reads.

 

 

Here’s the same shot a little closer so you can see the detail.

 

 

Looking past the comic store you can see some of the other businesses. There is an alley mouth
somewhere along these storefronts into which Dan and Laurie escape down when fleeing some Knot Tops.

 

 

And a close up at the far end. Just past the black covered awning is the Institute for Extraspatial Studies
and the location of the newsstand, which only appears when needed.

 

 

Here are the tops of the buildings. While filming they put lights behind the curtains in these
windows and you have to look twice to be sure that folks aren’t living behind these windows.

 

 

And yet the buildings just stop at the top, revealing some movie magic.

 

 

See how they’ve even given the painted foam the look of peeling brick. Incredible!

 

 

Here is the end of this side of the street. The photo on the left shows us a hollow storefront. Focusing on the

green trim at the bottom of the photo, (middle shot) shows us the striking mural and the image on the right reveals

how detailed the image is. Right down to the marring graffiti. We often walked past this mural on the way to where

they were filming and one couldn’t help but feel that someone was looking out for us.

 

 

Join us tomorrow as we continue

WALKING THE WORLD OF WATCHMEN

(and move to the other side of the street!)

 

 

 

Originally posted - May 13th, 2008

 

Back in November of 2007, Comic Related was introduced to an individual who works in the film industry. This individual, who called herself Cassandra Faust, has been good enough to share seven first hand reports direct from the set of the Watchmen film and the gallery we unveiled yesterday filled with Watchmen set photos. Ms. Faust worked as an extra during the filming and offered a great summary of what she witnessed and continues to contribute outstanding content related to the upcoming film. Today we're pleased to share part two of her show stopping walk through the world of Watchmen! She has our sincere, continued and ongoing thanks.

 

WALKING THE WORLD OF WATCHMEN

Part II: The Other Side of the Street

by

Cassandra Faust

 

 

Recapping yesterday's introduction to Part I of our tour...

 

Imagine my surprise when I happened by the New York street set of WATCHMEN and found it still standing deserted and brooding in the Pacific rain forest! And imagine my surprise when I discovered that the set was visible to passersby! Luckily I had my trusty digital camera with me and just started snapping away! A shopping mall across the street provided the perfect vantage point and with the help of a whole lot of mega pixels and the life saving zoom function, I was able to photograph most of the set. Well, they say a picture is worth a thousand words so consider this report the WATCHMEN equivalent of War And Peace.

 

As the buildings have had their signs and neon stripped away and stored, I thought I’d provide a map of the street to show fans what’s what. The end result is a kind of virtual walking tour of the incredible set. I’ve divided the photos to cover both sides of the street. We’ll start with the TREASURE ISLAND COMIC SHOP side and work our way up. Then we’ll cross over to the other side of the street, which I’m calling the RUMRUNNER side, and work our way back. So look over the map, then come along and take the tour before the incredible set is gone forever!

 

Here we go!

 

The Map

 

RUMRUNNER SIDE

 

Crossing the street from the striking Jesus mural, we’ll head back towards the Gunga Diner, but from the opposite side of the street. Before getting to each individual building, I think some quick looks at the entire street will help to get you oriented.

 

Here are some overviews of the entire street. We’ll be beginning this part of the tour at the yellow store
front the farthest from the camera and heading up the street towards the green security fence.

 

 

Even from here you can see the incredible detail that went into this set. If you were to turn left at the corner of the
yellow building and the column on the corner you’d see the bar where the early official Rorschach night shot was taken.

 

 

Here we turn our attention to the red brick building. There is a business housed here that is very close to
the hearts of WATCHMEN fans. Note the light poles helping to make the street look real.

 

 

This red brick building houses the Edgar & Sons Pawn Shop on the corner. And the arched window is the entrance

to the Criterion Apartments. But between the two is the office of the Promethean Cab Company. Inside the narrow
confines sits an old, wood desk and black dispatcher phone and one ancient bench for sitting. Proceeding from the
red column on the corner, you can make out 2 windows, one larger than the other. The smaller of the two is the

Promethean window. And right next to that, between the smaller window and the gray arch over the entrance to
Criterion, is a thin black strip. This is the doorway into the Cab Company.

 

 

RAFAEL’S

 

Although this building can be seen in other shots, here’s one a little bit closer. The tan building in the center of this
shot houses RAFAEL’S where Dan Dreiberg and Laurie dine early in the novel. For this scene rain towers were used
and the extras on the street walking past the windows were soaked to the skin and chilled to the bone. RAFAEL’S
patrons didn’t fare much better. Although the interior consisted of tables with linen table clothes, candles, silverware
and muted lighting, there was no heat and “diners” at the drafty, fake establishment had to sit at their tables without
coats during the scenes shot that night. Brrrr.

 

 

Here’s another shot of the arched windows of RAFAEL’S

 

A close up of RAFAEL’S windows.

 

 

There are two things to note about this shot. The first is that the arched windows on the tan building from the last
shot are the RAFAEL’S windows, which can be seen a little more clearly. But the other thing to note is the
plywood marquee jutting out in the center of the picture.

 

 

Here it is close up. This marquee belongs to the Hollywood Theater, which is done up as a porno theater during
shooting. As we extras were often asked to huddle up under the marquee to be out of the rain and close to the
space heaters, we had the chance to examine an “interesting” array of reading material on racks in the lobby. Let’s
just say that WATCHMEN will not get a G rating. This marquee also played a key role in Rorschach’s Rumrunner
scene. To capture the famous panel of Rorschach’s leap framed in red with the sign behind him, they placed a
camera on this marquee. As Moloch’s hovel is right next door (see next photo) and the Rumrunner next to that it
was the only spot to capture Rorschach (well, his stunt double) making his famous leap. If you imagine the camera
on the marquee pointing up to the right corner of the photo frame, you’ll see from where Rorschach fell. The next
photo reveals part of Moloch’s hovel, but, alas, the key window is not visible.

 

 

MOLOCH’S HOVEL

 

The tall reddish-brown building behind the trees is Moloch’s hovel.
You can see the Hollywood marquee right next to it.

 

 

Here’s a closer view of the reddish building.

 

 

Here is the back of Moloch’s building. Note the extension built out of one section of the second floor. The front of
the building had a walk up entrance and staircase for Rorschach’s antics before the leap, but that was as far as the
façade had been built up. This rear extension was for Moloch’s room from which Rorschach makes his faithful leap.

 

 

MOVIE THEATER

 

The next stop on our tour is the theater showing The Day The Earth Stood Still in
the novel. Like the Hollywood, the marquee has been removed.

 

 

The top of the theater.

 

 

Continuing around the side of the theater you can see that the building is hollow. Show’s over!

 

 

Here are some shots of the entrance to the theater. On the right you can see the box office. I’ve read that
the production team wanted the set to endure weather for a more natural look and the set got it in spades this
day. Note the rain streaking down.

 

 

MILTON & FRYE

 

Here’s an interesting building across the street from the theater. Looking at the weathering, you’d think the building had been standing in that spot for 50 years or more, yet look to the right and, behold, it’s just a façade.

 

 

Here’s the same building from a better angle.

 

 

Oops! No roof!

 

 

A blurry close up of the store logo.

 

 

Here is Milton & Frye in all its glory.
They are even having a 50% sale. Don’t miss it!

 

 

And now we’re back where we started. As you can see the set looks incredible just as is. Can you imagine how it will look in the film with lights, signs, those immortal characters and a whole lot of movie magic courtesy of Zack Snyder and crew? WATCHMEN and movie fans are going to be in for a real treat come March 2009.

 

Hope you enjoyed this tour of a less than busy (at the moment) New York street circa 1985. I wouldn’t linger too long though. There’s trouble on the way courtesy of Adrian Veidt and you don’t want to be around when it gets here.

 

 

 

 

Back in November of 2007, Comic Related was introduced to an individual who works in the film industry. This individual, who called herself Cassandra Faust, has been good enough to share an ongoing series of first hand reports direct from the set of the Watchmen film. Ms. Faust worked as an extra during the filming and offered a great summary of what she witnessed. We're pleased to share her latest Watchmen report today and Ms. Faust has our sincere, continued and ongoing thanks...

 

“SOME NICE FLOWERS”

by

Cassandra Faust

 

The more I travel around the sets of film and television productions here in Vancouver, the more I’m reminded of just how many local background performers worked on WATCHMEN. It’s hard to find someone who didn’t get to be a part of what is going to be a true classic.

 

Recently, while on location, I happened to overhear a conversation that may be of interest to WATCHMEN fans. As is the usual practice, a couple of extras paired to work together for the day and meeting for the first time, got to talking about their work histories. And when that happens these days, the talk inevitably turns to WATCHMEN. That’s when my ears open wide.

 

One of the guys, when asked about the film, admitted that he was unfamiliar with the novel but lamented that he’d heard how much fun everyone in the business was having on the movie and that he’d only worked on “one small scene” -- one that he would get screen credit for and was lucky enough to be given a line. His name is Tom Bardach. Asked about the scene, he went on to say that it was nothing. That they’d put him in a 50s look (hair and wardrobe) and that he was on a bed kissing this girl when a kid walks in. And that was it. One little scene that barely took an hour to shoot. To which his working partner asked: “Did this kid have red hair?” The answer to this was a definite “Yes.”
Well, imagine the guy’s surprise when he was informed that the small, nothing scene he was in is actually a crucial scene in the development of a character who is, arguably, the most popular in the novel! Of course we’re talking about young Walter Kovacs walking in on his whoring mother. The background performer was blown away to learn he was an essential part of the character’s back-story and started pumping his companion for information on the novel and the film. He, in turn, was asked for details about the scene.

 

Details I am happy to report here.

 

As he told it, he and the actress playing Kovacs’s mother were jammed onto this tiny, cramped set and he was not told by director Zack Snyder how important the scene was. They were to do “their thing” on the bed, then Snyder’s son, as young Kovacs, walks in. At this intrusion, he says (and this is quoted from his memory which may or may not be accurate after 7-8 months) “You’ve got a fucking kid? I don’t need this. I get enough of this shit at home.” He then proceeds to get dressed, but he doesn’t pay her or leave, rather he steps out of shot. Kovacs’s mother belts the boy for “ruining everything” and then, he was told, the scene fades to black.

 

As you can see, if his memory is reliable, the scene will play out a little differently than in the novel. It will be shortened but, it appears, the message will still come across. Perhaps the scene will be presented in some sort of frenetic back and forth flashback as the film cuts from Kovacs with the psychiatrist to memories of his childhood. That could explain the abrupt ending to the scene. Time will tell. Also of note, I noticed that his build was similar to the adult Kovacs to a certain extent, which may have been a deliberate choice by the director to illustrate Kovacs’s off-kilter mental state. But he resembles the “John” in the novel.

 

I had to laugh when I overheard him say that the actress playing Kovacs’s mother, at one point on the bed, showed him the scene in the novel as there were copies of the novel all over the set, including one on Mr. Snyder’s monitor for easy reference. There’s something kind of Twilight Zoney about Kovacs’s mother showing her “John” the novel while in her cheap flat enacting the scene. Weird.

 

As always, I hope this little tidbit of WATCHMEN news has helped to get everyone psyched for the film. Stay tuned for more. Until then, keep watching the Watchmen.

 

 

 

Back in November of 2007, Comic Related was introduced to an individual who works in the film industry. This individual, who called herself Cassandra Faust, has been good enough to share an ongoing series of first hand reports direct from the set of the Watchmen film then following the close of production. Ms. Faust worked as an extra during the filming and offered a great summary of what she witnessed. We're pleased to share her latest Watchmen report today and Ms. Faust has our sincere, continued and ongoing thanks...

 

Watchmen Watchers

by

Cassandra Faust

 

WOW!

 

For the legions of fans who have seen the first WATCHMEN trailer, that pretty much sums it up. This is one fan who was utterly blown away by what she saw. And I was there for some of the filming! I knew it would look good, but not THAT good!

 

Well, now that we’ve all had a chance to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and get back in the seat the trailer knocked us out of, we can get back to the business of discussing what can now safely be called THE movie event of 2009.

And it’s great to have new voices added to the discussion. For months now, when it comes to WATCHMEN, I’ve been sort of a lone voice crying out in the wilderness. With gag orders and embargoes silencing the plethora of sites fortunate enough to be invited to visit the set finally lifted, and the trailer out for all to see, well, there’s a party going on! Truth to tell, I welcome the company.

 

It’s been not only a lot of fun but also gratifying to see how my past set reports have raced like wild fire across the Internet. The response has been more than I could possibly have imagined when I filed my first back in November. Oh, I knew my fellow WATCHMEN fans were out there, but I was not aware just how important every aspect of the film was. This is probably due to the fact that, having been on set so many times, I knew with absolute certainty that the movie was not only going to be a faithful adaptation but a truly great viewing experience as well.

 

Of course other fans all over the world had no idea and this was my motivation for the series of set reports I’ve filed to date. Just to ease folks’ minds by trying to convey just how close the filmmakers were sticking to the source material.

 

And the response has been phenomenal. I believe I’ve accomplished what I set out to do for many of you. But there were others who thought I was just making some of this stuff up, or that I was a studio plant, or a plain, bald-faced liar grasping at ‘Internet fame.’

 

For this reason, I’m happy to see the other reports starting to roll in to back up some of what I’ve reported in the past. Here’s a thumbnail sketch of what they had to say.

 

The first element of all of these reports, video journals and the trailer concerns the amazing amount of detail and care that has gone into the production. Details drawn directly from the source material. I’ve been reporting this since Day One. The other common thread concerns the filmmakers. Do they ‘get’ what WATCHMEN is all about? Did you see the trailer?

 

Again, universally, the new reports praise the filmmakers for their reverence and respect for the material and how they truly want to bring most of the novel’s elements faithfully to the screen. This has been the theme of ALL of my previous reports. What else? Danny Woodburn? I confirmed this. The saw element added to Rorschach’s escape? Got it. Nite Owl and Silk Spectre duking it out with prisoners on the way to Kovacs’s cell? I broke that as well. There’s even been a description of Rorschach’s mask which matches the one I posted months ago. Even Dr. Manhattan scaring the lunch out of people in the trailer was a scene I mentioned as being in the film. And the biggest consensus of all: every set report I’ve read, and the trailer more than confirms, that WATCHMEN is going to be an incredible film.

 

Now it would be easy for me to just blurt out a big I TOLD YOU SO! But I’m not that kind of girl. As I stated above, I’m happy to see these corroborating reports because I wanted fans to realize that they don’t have to plop down in their theater seat in March with their fingers crossed and chewing nervously on their lower lips, cringing when the opening credits roll. If you had doubts of this kind, I’m sure the trailer went a lot farther than I could ever hope to in allaying your concerns.
And here’s something else to chew on. If so many of the things I reported on have been corroborated by these other sources, then what about the things that haven’t yet? For example, the squid being in. I reported that as well. Now, before you start to hyperventilate, I don’t have any new information on this, but, if everything else I’ve reported about the film is coming true, then…

 

Now that we’ve all seen the trailer, I’ve got more WATCHMEN news to report. Is it reliable? Well, I’ll let my past record speak for itself. Here goes.

Just to wet your appetite, here’s a partial report of Rorschach’s arrest. Out of respect for the filmmakers, I won’t recount how the rest of the scene plays out until I see some evidence of it in a future trailer or photo. I will say that it plays out exactly as it does in the novel… kinda.

 

But here’s how it’s set up.

 

First shot:

 

Tenement building: Rorschach is inside. Building is surrounded by police. There are two detectives facing the building. One has a bullhorn and speaks to Rorschach.

 

Cop One: Rorschach! We know you’re in there! If there’s anyone in there with you, send them out unharmed!” (PAUSE) Let’s make this a clean surrender. (PAUSE) All right. I hope you’re ready, hero!

 

Cop Two makes a dramatic, sweeping gesture towards the S.W.A.T van and the doors of the van bang open. A group of S.W.A.T cops burst out of it and run into the building while some regular N.Y.P.D bluesuits come around the front of the van and take up positions behind the skewed squad cars.

 

The actor playing the cop with the bullhorn manages to make ‘hero’ drip with sarcasm and fans of the novel will recognize, I’m sure, the truncated though accurate dialogue. This was common in all of the scenes I was either part of or saw filmed. Even the placement of the squad cars and S.W.A.T van mirrored the arrangement in the comic. For so small a scene, it was great to see they took the time to do it right.

 

And that’s all you’re getting for now. I will add that three versions of the unmasking were filmed. Or, rather, 3 version of Kovacs’s line were. All sent chills up and down everyone’s spines when Jackie Earle Haley screamed them out in that Rorschach voice we’re all now familiar with. Wait until you see how he moves as the character!

 

He says:

“GIVE ME BACK MY MASK!”

“MY FACE, GIVE IT BACK!”

“GIVE ME BACK MY FACE!”

And, after each take, spontaneous applause erupted from the extras and crew even though we were about 100 feet away and policemen surrounded him.

 

I don’t have a clue which one they’ll use, but they were all powerful. My money’s on the word for word line from the novel.

 

Up next is something a little more detailed. As the trailer was very Manhattan-centric, I think it’s time to shed some light on his interview scene with Ted Koppel.

 

It runs something like this:

KOPPELl: His name is John Osterman. You know him as Dr. Manhattan – a renowned physicist. Who after a terrible accident was gifted with extraordinary powers. The ability to bend matter to his will. Ladies and gentlemen… Dr. Manhattan!

 

MANHATTAN enters from stage left and stares in curious surprise at the audience who is giving him a rousing ovation. He shakes hands with Koppel, then, still confused, slowly takes his seat.

 

KOPPEL: With us tonight are three noted journalists… introduces woman, introduces New York Times guy, introduces Nova Express Reporter. Motions to woman with first question.

 

NEWS WOMAN: With the symbolic doomsday clock set to four minutes to midnight, do you think we’re in danger of nuclear war? (this is not word for word).

 

MANHATTAN: My father was a watchmaker, but he abandoned it when Einstein proved that time is relative. A symbolic clock is as emotionally reassuring as a picture of oxygen to a drowning man.

 

NEWS WOMAN: So you’re saying that there is no danger?

 

MANHATTAN: Even in a world without nuclear weapons, there would still be danger.

 

NEW YORK TIMES REPORTER: It’s being said that there are three people capable of destroying the world: The Premier of Russia, President Nixon and… You.

 

MANHATTAN (softly): We are also three people who can keep it from being destroyed.

 

NEW YORK TIMES REPORTER: Some say that you have the power of a God because you can see the past and future simultaneously. How do you respond to that?

 

MANHATTAN: I see only my own past, my own future. I am not omniscient.

 

KOPPEL gestures to DOUG ROTH.

 

ROTH: Doug Roth, Nova Express. Dr. Osterman, do you remember Wally Weaver?

 

MANHATTAN: We were physicists together at the White Sands (Plains? Not sure) Research Facility.

 

ROTH: He died of cancer.

 

MANHATTAN: I… didn’t know. He was a good man.

 

ROTH: How about Edward Jacobi, also known as Moloch? You encountered him many times in the past. In battles, skirmishes.

 

KOPPEL: Please, Doug, one question at a time.

 

MANHATTAN (confused as to where this is going): I…

 

ROTH: He also has cancer.

 

MANHATTAN is clearly uncomfortable.

 

ROTH: What about General… (didn’t catch the name)…. Also dead. Cancer.

 

MANHATTAN: Are you suggesting that I am somehow the cause?

 

ROTH: From where I’m standing the evidence looks pretty conclusive. What about Janey Slater?

 

MANHATTAN: J-Janey…

 

ROTH: She also has cancer and has only 6 months to live. (PAUSE) Isn’t that right… Ms. Slater!
All heads turn stage left. JANEY SLATER walks up the corridor to stand next to the audience. She is neatly dressed, but appears pale. MANHATTAN stands up when he sees her.

 

SLATER: John, you were everything to me. Everything. I would have done anything for you. You bastard! Is this how you repay me? Goddamn you!

 

She yanks off her wig to reveal she has lost most of her hair to chemotherapy. The audience gasps and moves around in their seats. MANHATTAN takes a step towards SLATER who turns and runs up the corridor and the audience members closest to her crane their necks. Some of them get out of their seats and look down the corridor after her.

 

A secret service agent runs onstage waving his arms.

 

AGENT: That’s it! This interview is over!

 

Pandemonium! The audience rushes the stage. MANHATTAN is surrounded, the secret service try to keep the crowd back. The woman reporter and the New York Times reporter rush to the edge of the stage firing questions. DOUG ROTH has come up on stage next to MANHATTAN and is also peppering him with questions.

 

MANHATTAN is growing more and more angry. Finally he roars.

 

MANHATTAN: Leave me alone!

 

Audience, reporters, camera people freeze

I think you fans out there can take it from here. A lot of fans, I’m sure, might take offense at this “Springer Moment” but, for me, given that the scene plays out in the spirit of the novel whenever it is not word for word, I had no problem with it. Zack Snyder has said that WATCHMEN needs to address popular culture. I think this scene does that by holding up a mirror to the staged chaos millions tune into on some of the current daytime talk shows. From where I was sitting, it satisfied this fan.

 

I’m sure many of you might wonder how I could possibly remember all of this dialogue. Well, the answer is simple, the filmmakers filmed all of this over two days and from so many angles. If you count the rehearsals and takes this scene played out about fifty times before Mr. Snyder yelled out the final CUT! And when you’ve got an ear for dialogue and a journal at home, it’s not that difficult to get everything down. And I will state for the record that this is not a word for word transcription. That being said, I would say it’s about 90% accurate.

 

Okay, I think that’s enough for now. I’ve still got a few nuggets left in my WATCHMEN treasure chest. Stayed tuned for more.

 

 

 

Back in November of 2007, Comic Related was introduced to an individual who works in the film industry. This individual, who called herself Cassandra Faust, has been good enough to share an ongoing series of first hand reports direct from the set of the Watchmen film. She's continued sharing additional information even after the close of production. Ms. Faust worked as an extra during the filming and offers a great summary of what she witnessed. We're pleased to share her latest Watchmen report today and Ms. Faust has our sincere, continued and ongoing thanks...

 

Filthy Little Animal!

by

Cassandra Faust

 

 

If you’re like me, there’ve been times when you’ve been re-reading WATCHMEN or just mulling over the classic tale, when you’ve thought about how a diminutive character like Rorschach was able to instill such fear into the hearts and minds of the underworld. Sure he can handle an ill Moloch, break a few dirty fingers and charbroil some S.W.A.T guys but he gets his head handed to him by the cops after his Rumrunner leap and craftily breaks out of prison without breaking a sweat. And one-on-one against Veidt… Ugh!

 

This reader has always wondered what it would be like to see Rorschach in all-out action. Well, it appears Zack Snyder had the same desire. And he did something about it when Rorschach leaps through the window prior to his arrest!

 

Before I get to that, however, I’d like to tell you folks how the WATCHMEN crew recreated the famous Rumrunner Leap.

 

While they were setting up that chilly night back in November, I was fortunate to be on set and snuck in closer to see how they were setting up the stunt. I spied a thin cable coming from the window (which appeared to be a single sheet of glass, but was really twin sheets with a thin gap in the middle through which the cable ran) and leading up to a crane behind the building façade. The cable was to be attached to Rorschach and guide him (or his stuntman rather) down safely to the ground.

 

Easy.

 

But Mr. Snyder had a trick up his sleeve.

 

We got into position and it was time to shoot. The stuntman trotted into the building and up the stairs to stand in the window while the cable was attached to the harness under Rorschach’s signature brown leather coat.

 

ACTION!

 

The breakaway glass exploded outwards! Rorschach leapt from the second story window! And proceeded to fall crashing to the ground! Gasps could be heard from us gawkers. The stunt guy hit the pavement like a ton of bricks! My first thought was that the cable hadn’t worked. The guy didn’t get up right away, which only confirmed my suspicion.

CUT!

We all rushed forward, but were stopped in our tracks as the stunt guy hopped up none the worse for wear.

 

I thought: Man, that looked like a real fall. How the heck did they do that? I knew the cable would take most of his weight and counter the effects of gravity, but how could he hit the pavement so hard and not be hurt in the least? Well, I concluded, Zack Snyder did 300 and I don’t need to tell you how dynamic the action sequences were in that film!

 

They filmed the leap a couple more times and each take was amazing to watch as the stuntman plummeted to the cold concrete in dramatic fashion. I’m guessing will see some of Mr. Snyder’s patented slow motion effect on this leap bathed red in the glow of the Rumrunner sign. It’s going to be spectacular.
While all this was going on, I was eaten up by curiosity as to how the crew would capture Rorschach’s, well, capture.

 

In the next shot, I got my answer. It was one for the books!

 

And not in the book. The WATCHMEN book, that is.

 

For the first time I was going to see Zack Snyder film something NOT in the graphic novel. And I’m pleased to report it here.

 

Rorschach leaps out of the window but does NOT stumble on a garbage can and get beat on.

 

Instead he hits and rolls and is ready to fight when no fewer than 8 cops come at him at the same time in an all-out 300-style action sequence. Here’s how it plays out:

 

The cop on RORSCHACH’S right swings with a nightstick. RORSCHACH traps the guy’s arm between his left arm and side, punches the cop with his right hand, yanks the nightstick out, jabs the cop coming up on behind him on his left, swings it at the cop in front of him. A fourth cop rushes up on RORSCHACH’S left and gets him behind the knees with his nightstick. RORSCHACH crumples, but turns his fall into a sweeping judo-like kick that takes that cop out at the ankles. From the ground he smacks a fifth cop in front of him, and takes down a sixth behind him. This guy RORSCHACH straddles to finish off and the rest of the cops swarm over him, cursing and punching him. One says “Son of a bitch” and punches RORSCHACH in the face, the others fight to hold him as he thrashes like a wild animal. Another says: “He stinks”. The cop with the bullhorn from the scene prior rushes forward saying, “Get that mask off him!” One cop says “I got it” and they yank it off.

RORSCHACH roars and struggles: “NO! NO! GIVE ME BACK MY MASK!”      
           
Wow! There were gasps and yells from us extras during the fight. It looked completely real. Cops were flying around and hitting the cold, hard pavement like sacks of cement. Blows were being delivered, clubs were being swung at blinding speed. Holy cow! It was clear the scene had been so carefully choreographed that it looked real. The scene is going to blow people away when they see it on screen. Rorschach’s harsh, pleading command, as I’ve reported previously, was filmed with 3 versions of the line and delivered in a voice that will send chills up and down your spine in the theater.

 

Now I know the above might offend some WATCHMEN purists since one of Rorschach’s strengths as a character stems from his presence and the fear his reputation carries. But, for me, I applaud this addition to the scene. I joined my fellow extras in applauding after each take, and continue to commend Zack Snyder and crew for adding something that, I felt, was lacking from the novel.

 

Rorschach, as the scourge of the underworld, has to be a highly trained, fit vigilante or he wouldn’t have lasted as long as he did. Seeing him outnumbered in a knockdown, no-holds-barred fight allows the viewer to see just what he’s capable of. The scene looked breathtaking from one hundred feet away. With Mr. Snyder’s gritty realism, this will be one of the most, if not the most, talked about scene in the movie. I can’t wait to see it on screen.

 

For the record, I’d like folks to know that this is not a superhero fight. Rorschach is not displaying any powers here. His style is a mixture of speed and ruthlessness, his actions those of a trained athlete with bulldog determination -- all very in character.

 

We did not see them shoot the cops dragging Rorschach away or close-ups of his shoeless foot in the puddle reflecting the Rumrunner sign. As no extras would be needed for these shots, we can only guess from the level of detail we’ve seen in the various scenes, photos and descriptions that this temporary sad ending to Rorschach’s crime-fighting career will cap this incredible sequence.

 

That’s it for now. Until next time, keep watching the WATCHMEN. 

 

 

 

Back in November of 2007, Comic Related was introduced to an individual who works in the film industry. This individual, who called herself Cassandra Faust, has been good enough to share an ongoing series of first hand reports direct from the set of the Watchmen film then following the close of production. Ms. Faust worked as an extra during the filming and offered a great summary of what she witnessed. Check out all ouf her past updates here.

 

Sign the Petition!

A Cassandra Faust Pointer

 

Chuck Moore Writing In Conjunction With Cassandra Faust

 

This isn't so much a Cassandra Faust update as it is a Cassandra Faust request. At the start of the weekend I received an e-mail from our favoriate behind-the-scenes Watchmen reporter who writes... "I came across a petition started in an attempt to insure that WATCHMEN stays with a 3-hour running length."

 

Here's what the internet campaign proposes...

JOIN THE MINUTEMEN

We, the ‘Minutemen’ below, respectfully demand a 3 hour running time for the forthcoming movie ‘Watchmen’ from Warner Bros. Directed by Zack Snyder (300, Dawn of the Dead), Watchmen is a film adaptation of what is widely regarded by comic fans as the greatest superhero story ever.

Written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons, Watchmen was originally published in 1986-87 by DC, has been lauded as the ‘Citizen Kane of comic books’, ‘a timeless classic’ and is the only graphic novel to make Time Magazine's list of the best novels from 1923 to the present.

Why? Because Watchmen is no ordinary superhero story – it is a dense, multi-layered and epic meditation on power, morality and the human condition. Its complex structure and symbolism make it arguably the most intricate, thought-provoking story ever presented in graphic form.

Over the past year, Zack Snyder and his production crew have been working tirelessly to bring to life the essence of Watchmen, fully aware that ‘the devil is in the detail’. A brief look at the production diaries at watchmenmovie.warnerbros.com. and the trailer for the movie, which is generating frenzied interest from comic and film fans over the internet, reveals the extent of Snyder’s dedication to faithfully make ‘Watchmen’ the ultimate superhero movie experience when it is released in March 2009, just as it was for comic fans in 1986.

As with any movie Warner Bros have a responsibility to make ‘Watchmen’ a commercial success and to appeal to a broad audience, many of whom will not be familiar with the story – and therein lies the issue. While discussions with WB studio executives are ongoing about the running time of the movie, there is pressure to ensure that it comes in at below 2hrs and 50 minutes.

We, the ‘Minutemen’ below, submit that Watchmen must be a 3 hour movie and ask WB to respect and extend the courtesy of this longer running time to the giant of all superhero stories. The reasons are as follows:

1. The Watchmen experience isn’t just about big events and characters in the story, it’s also about small things, the ‘minutiae’. Minor characters and their dramas are part of the meticulously constructed whole - removing any one piece of Watchmen means losing part of its essence

2. Some tough choices have already been made and elements of the story have had to be left out. Previous draft screenplays from David Hayter and Alex Tse have shown the difficulties in making such decisions. Cutting down the movie further will only dilute Watchmen and its potential value as a unique experience for cinema audiences in 2009

3. Watchmen is a landmark work in the graphic medium which is venerated by comic fans and respected by the literary establishment. No other comic book series has ever been accorded such status, for this reason it should be treated with the level of respect any great epic literary work is afforded, not like the average superhero movie. A longer running time of 3 hours, which allows the story to breathe, will tease out what makes Watchmen truly great and different to any other superhero movie released so far.

4. There is only one opportunity for Warner Bros and Zack to get this right. There will be no sequel to Watchmen - it is a stand alone work. Cutting down the running time because of conventional views about audiences having short attention spans could be disastrous. No one wants a Watchmen movie that is rushed, incoherent and ultimately forgettable. Recent years have shown there is great appetite among the cinema-going public for dark, epic heroic stories which are LONG (Lord of the Rings, the Dark Knight, King Kong, etc.) and of great quality.

5. Zack Snyder and WB are waiting to hear how much we want a 3 hour movie. In an interview with MTV on 12 August 2008 Snyder stated that he is interested to see how much online support there is for a 3 hour running time (source: http://www.mtv.com/movies/news... “Right now it runs at around two hours and 50 minutes”, He stated, ”I just don't want to lose any story line, because you know eventually that's what happens. You start to have to cut characters out, and I just don't want to do that”.

To this end we submit that every minute of Watchmen the movie is critical, and that a 3 hour running time will give the (deserved) respect it needs. Each signature below indicates how precious we feel each minute towards that 3 hours is to us and the story itself.

- The Minutemen

She and I discussed the petition campaign and she wanted me invite you to sign!

 

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Watchmen3hrMoviePetition/

 

 

Was this the last report of Cassandra Faust?

Four simple words... Stayed tuned to see!

Page last updated on August 17, 2008

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