November 28, 2007
Watchmen Filming in New York Vancouver
The DC Comic Watchmen is coming to the big screen, and the NYC sets were recently revealed! They aren't tearing apart town or stopping traffic like Cloverfield or I Am Legend, instead they're filming the alternate universe New York, mostly circa 1985, in Vancouver. Director Zack Snyder said:
After a couple months of shooting at various locations and on stages, last week we finally made the transition to our New York City backlot. Since the New York City that is rendered in the graphic novel is so particular, it was very important to me that our backlot speak the same language, the vernacular of WATCHMEN. In addition, the backlot needs to function as many different parts of the city, countless store fronts, street corners, alleys, etc. So, with that in mind, we set out to build own own custom backlot here in Vancouver, BC. In my opinion, the results speak for themselves.
Some of the things you'll find in alt-NY: 100 unique and custom-designed graphics created for the various storefronts, 5,000 square feet of custom posters, 1,040 feet of 1:1 scale New York streets and a whole lot of creativity. In addition, the street had to work for 1938, 1945, 1953, 1957, 1964, 1974, 1975, 1977, and 1985.
Some problems we noticed: That vintage Chevrolet Malibu was never used as an NYC Taxi, and the fare sticker is also too modern. The traffic signals and walk/don't walk signals are all wrong. And, lastly, there is nothing that even remotely looks like that in the vicinity of the 42 Street-Grand Central subway station. Other bad news: Watchmen doesn't come out til Spring of 2009!
|
Also, I've never seen an undulating curb cut like the one shown in the lower photo - just sayin.
what part of alternative universe don't you understand?
There are curbs like that in Hell's Kitchen. 44th or 45th street between 9th and 10th, although I think that may be the only place I have ever seen them.
P.S. Am i the only one who misses the old walk/don't walk signs?
It looks good, other than those little details they got wrong.
Here is another: there appears to be a Hyundai Pony in this shot it is the sort of purple-red car. The Pony was never sold in the US.
It is supposed to be in an alternate universe, but still.
Nitpick all y'all want but, I'm liking it. I can't wait for this to finally come out. =)
Hrm.
Wow, terrible...does not look like NYC.
New York City-on-film requirement: streets must be wet for heightened dramatic effect.
i wait for the day that new york is dressed up to look like vancouver or toronto or something.
You guys have obviously never read the Watchmen comic! First of all, all the cars by the 1985 of the story are electric. So what brand of car was a taxi or isn't is completely irrelevant. What matters is whether it looks like Watchmen and it very much does.
And furthermore, the average Trekker has no use for a medium-sized belt.
there aren't enough hookers and 25 cent peep shows. hasn't anyone been to 42nd street in the 80's?
The WALK/DONT WALK signs look nothing like anything used in NYC. I found this WALK/DONT WALK sign in Trenton (which is a museum of WALK/DONT WALK signs) which is very close in appearance to the ones once used in NYC. They were a bit fatter than the ones currently used.
Hooded Justice approves
I think it's pretty good, right down to the backwards swastika on the Nixon poster (ah, NYC graffiti).
Very obvious undulating sidewalk curb: 14th Street, right in front of Virgin.
Very obvious undulating sidewalk curb: 14th Street, right in front of Virgin.
I have an old WALK/DONT WALK sign. I was crossing 47th and Bway when a guy was taking them down at around 2 am and just took it from the floor. Man that was dirty. But im glad I have it.
Comicbook Guy posts comments on Gothamist: who knew?
Mostly this is just lame by virtue of being another overcooked comic book movie by Zack "The Hack" Snyder.
Watchmen is by and large a classic piece of graphic novel artistry. But christ on a crutch, enough with the superheroes already - straight or satirical alike. Is it so hard to make movies about real human beings these days, without relegating them to film festivals and one-week-long releases to obscure arthouses?
And that backwards swarstika was put there by Marc Ecko too.
Vancouver's such a beautiful city... why do that to it? Ugh. Also, it's not like it's cheaper to shoot up there anymore, what with our worthless currency, is it?
I like the idea of filming outside of New York to represent New York, then we don't have to deal with all those assholes that make movies on the streets of New York.
What might I ask does the average New Yorker gain by the film crews that decend on a neighborhood and make it unbearable while they go on their merry way? They are pigs and inconsiderate slobs.
I know the city makes SOOOOOOOOOO much money with the permits and licenses from those shoots, but I don't see those dollars going back into the community where most of those films are made, namely the west Village, Soho, or the upper west side. Nope it just goes into a general fund to support god only knows what. Perhaps the employees at the mayor's office for filming in New York.
[7] Wow, terrible...does not look like NYC.
Neither does the comic. It looked like your basic, generic comic book noir big city. I finally read the Watchmen a few years after it was first published. It's badly overrated.
[22] I know the city makes SOOOOOOOOOO much money with the permits and licenses from those shoots, but I don't see those dollars going back into the community where most of those films are made, namely the west Village, Soho, or the upper west side. Nope it just goes into a general fund to support god only knows what. Perhaps the employees at the mayor's office for filming in New York.
You actually don't have any idea what you're talking about. If you did, you'd know that NYC Film Permits are free. The reason they do that is because movies that film in New York hire New York crew, rent from New York equipment houses, and buy their props, expendables, taxi rides, lunches, hotel accomodations, and everything else they need from New York businesses.
"What might I ask does the average New Yorker gain by the film crews that decend on a neighborhood and make it unbearable while they go on their merry way? They are pigs and inconsiderate slobs."
Way to call hard-working blue collar New Yorkers who are trying to do their jobs pigs and slobs. Very classy.
I doubt hollywierd's ability to capture either the DC universe or NYC's flava'. Comics (in the best cases) like NYC are vital and vibrant, movies are neutered and impotent when they try to reach beyond their homogenized Cali world. There are good movies, but they very rarely have big budgets and sound stages meant to be other cities.