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.
Page last updated on October 12, 2008