We Need Some Movie News

webhead2006 wrote:I know it was from aicn i got the link to the story from cbm site, so it was quoting them both. But ya from this plot it does sound like it would be a good movie. And fits with alot of stuff we know about in the film via filming photos we have saw. Some things could be different like the general lane stuff could be colonel hardy parts and what not. But if this is true i cant wait for the film.

Underwater Key Grip, Underwater Scenes
Autumn Frost/Man of steel (2011) also filming in BC looks to be going to 1/21/2012

non_amos wrote:Remember, there were water scenes in Singerman too. Unfortunately they were not very memorable. Let's not see Lois have to fish Superman out of the drink, 'K?

Zack Snyder poses in his best Superman shirt ripping open pose to support "No Shave November" event, which raises awareness of men's health issues (eg prostrate cancer as one of them.) LOVE Zack! and LOVE this pose! Awesome job Zack!

thecolorsblend wrote:
Seriously. The only thing about that bit that really stands out is the Marlon Brando voice over.

EDIT- Well wait, now that I think about it, was the Brando overdub in that scene or in a later one? It's been a while since I saw any part of Singerman.

Apologist Puncher wrote:

thecolorsblend wrote:
Seriously. The only thing about that bit that really stands out is the Marlon Brando voice over.

EDIT- Well wait, now that I think about it, was the Brando overdub in that scene or in a later one? It's been a while since I saw any part of Singerman.

It was in that scene. I'm surprised BJ Routh's Singerman didn't just float to the surface though.

Isn't that what shit does?

thecolorsblend wrote:Not really. Most turds sink pretty quickly.

Apologist Puncher wrote:

thecolorsblend wrote:Not really. Most turds sink pretty quickly.

Ah, but this is HollyWeird we are talking about. Shit fails UPWARD there....

Effects Supremo Joe Letteri Says Zack Snyder Is Placing Emphasis On In-Camera Effects In 'Man of Steel'
Features by Todd Gilchrist | December 17, 2011 | 0 Comments Also Busy Updating Technology In Readiness For 'Avatar 2'

There are few people in Hollywood who know more about special effects than Joe Letteri – which is probably why he’s earned five Oscars in the past eight years, and worked in some capacity on almost every major blockbuster released in Hollywood. Predictably, Letteri has a full slate in front of him as well, with two “Hobbit” movies, an “Avatar” sequel, and a potential “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” follow-up forthcoming. But during a recent conversation with the effects guru (in which he also discussed working with Andy Serkis on the first 'Apes'; read that here), Letteri revealed that he’s also working on Zack Snyder’s upcoming Superman film “Man of Steel.” And despite reports that the title character would be brought to life (so to speak) largely via CGI, Letteri told The Playlist that Snyder has been focusing heavily on practical rather than digital effects.

“Zack’s going for pretty much everything in-camera as much as he can,” Letteri said in an interview Monday in New York. “I mean, the reason to think about Superman in CGI, you don’t need him full CGI as a character, because he’s basically a full person. But you just don’t want the flying scenes to look like he’s on a wire. So [the question is] how do you use CG to make that happen, and that’s still kind of being played with right now.”

Several years ago before the release of “The Matrix Reloaded,” the Wachowskis argued that their aerial sequences would show a human character flying in the most accurate way possible – which, at that time, they probably did. (Certainly the absence of wires and rear projection helped their cause.) But with “Man of Steel” no doubt featuring some of its own air time, Letteri suggested that there are still advances left to be made in that particular area. “I think it could still be refined,” Letteri said. “Because there’s always room for interpretation there. The idea of a human flying, because you can’t actually tell how they’re powering themselves, leaves it open to trying different things.”

While Letteri didn’t reveal exactly how they were depicting Superman’s flying sequences, he said that they were primarily focusing on what was in the script and what Snyder wanted rather than referring to the decades upon decades of comic book images they could potentially draw upon as a reference point. “That’s completely story-driven,” he confessed. “That’s going to depend on your shot and your composition, and the performance, and in that case, that’s kind of Zack’s call – what is he looking for there?”

As its (undeservedly) maligned predecessor, Bryan Singer’s “Superman Returns” was dismissed as an emotional reinvention of Superman that was too loyal to the Donner films of the 1980s, and perhaps more importantly, featured too little action except for when the character was lifting enormous pieces of rock. Letteri revealed that although the film will feature more action than its predecessor, Snyder was still focusing on character over pure spectacle. “There is a bit of that to set it up and to kick it off, but actually it feels like it’s more character-driven, yeah.”

In terms of “Avatar 2,” meanwhile, Letteri, like most the other actors and filmmakers who will be involved, is just waiting for a script, although he’s making sure that the production’s technical infrastructure is up-to-date for the moment when writer-director James Cameron delivers it. “We’re really just waiting to see what the script is going to be,” Letteri explained. “I mean, because the technology has been evolving since the time we’ve done it, we keep everything we have up to date; we’re updating the characters and keeping things sort of in a state of readiness, because I think one of the things Jim will probably want to do as he’s writing is to start pre-visualizing some of the scenes and start working things out. So we’re making sure that’s all ready to go, but we don’t have an actual start date.”

In recent interviews, Cameron hinted at the possibility of exploring the underwater world of Pandora. With so many other projects in front of him, he said he hasn’t jumped the gun on what locales might be involved, although they did flirt with that possibility during production on the first “Avatar.” “We did a little bit of it in the first film, the bits under the river, but not enough to do what it sounds like he’s describing,” he said. But as with any of the filmmakers he’s worked with, he’s relying on a specific and collaborative relationship with Cameron to guide him, even if he’s seasoned enough to be ready for action, regardless what the filmmaker throws at him.

“We have techniques in place to do that, so we know where we’ll start,” he said. “But we’re waiting to see what specifically he’s asking for before we figure out how deeply we need to get into it.”

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“Zack’s going for pretty much everything in-camera as much as he can,” Letteri said in an interview Monday in New York.

“But you just don’t want the flying scenes to look like he’s on a wire. So [the question is] how do you use CG to make that happen, and that’s still kind of being played with right now.”

As its (undeservedly) maligned predecessor, [Singerman] was dismissed as an emotional reinvention of Superman that was too loyal to the Donner films of the 1980s, and perhaps more importantly, featured too little action except for when the character was lifting enormous pieces of rock.

Letteri revealed that although the film will feature more action than its predecessor,

Snyder was still focusing on character over pure spectacle. “There is a bit of that to set it up and to kick it off, but actually it feels like it’s more character-driven, yeah.”

thecolorsblend wrote:I don't know about the rest of you but this is the first of I've heard of this. Not sure what to think either. They say that audiences respond better to practical effects. And for more down to earth material, I might even believe that. But ultimately we're talking about a dude in a red cape flying faster than sound, listening to interplanetary bugs fart from his living room, etc. There's a limit to how much of that can be done using traditional, practical methods.

I know the Apologists are in love with wire stuff. And that can even be pretty effective at times. But (A) it ain't the end all, be all as a lot of STM effects weren't all they could've been... and would've been better if Donner'd had CGI at his disposal and (B) it's a very limiting method. It might be good for take offs and landings but Singerman proves that this type of effect isn't as impressive as it used to be.

Those things are just the tip of the iceberg. I realize the dude writing this article is likely not a big comic book follower or Superman enthusiast so you can't expect him to understand all the nuances in play when it comes to Singerman. Even so, from the layman's point of view he's coming from, I suppose the above comes off as a fairly scathing (though still somewhat politic) indictment.

Feh, as if THAT is hard to do. Come up with two major setpieces and you've already got Singerman outnumbered.

Reassurance. Not to insult Snyder but his sensibilities tend toward visuals and spectacle. That's one of the main reasons I'm cool with him directing the damned movie in the first place. Singer focused on characters (or tried to anyway) because he knew he didn't have the chops to do any decent adventure sequences. Snyder has a far superior track record where that's concerned. It's one of his strengths.

Overall, I thought it was a largely reassuring article. Thanks for posting, webs.

Apologist Puncher wrote:If you can stomach it,

Apologist Puncher wrote:watch the take-off's in Singerman again. Every single one was a weak "push" into the air. Even Donner back in '78 gave us some bad-ass, FAST takeoff's.

Apologist Puncher wrote:Set-pics alone have got Singerman beat.

While Letteri didn’t reveal exactly how they were depicting Superman’s flying sequences, he said that they were primarily focusing on what was in the script and what Snyder wanted rather than referring to the decades upon decades of comic book images they could potentially draw upon as a reference point. “That’s completely story-driven,” he confessed. “That’s going to depend on your shot and your composition, and the performance, and in that case, that’s kind of Zack’s call – what is he looking for there?”

thecolorsblend wrote:That's a big if there.

No doubt. And to be fair, you don't necessarily have to do a strong, powerful take off every time out. It should somehow be appropriate to the scene. But, as you say, that was Singer's ONLY trick. Those slow, gentle push-offs.

Donner? Occasionally the same thing... but (to illustrate your point) occasionally...



As you say, there's power and general badassitude as well as Donner could pull it off back in his day. No complaints.

There's also a really well-timed launch in Superman III. At the chemical plant during the fire, the firefighters realize people are stranded on the roof. They realize a ladder can't reach and then it cuts to a wide shot where we see SUPERMAN perform a pretty much perfect launch. Somewhat slow, to be sure, but Reeve's acting combined with the coordination of the wire team resulted in Superman taking off with PURPOSE. BJ just bounced around on wires. As you say, that just ain't the same thing.

For these reasons, among others, people can talk whatever shit they want about Superman III but it's a better Superman film in every possible way, as far as I'm concerned.

Set pics, original ideas, casting, choice of filmmaker, screenwriter (indisposed as I usually am to Goyer, he's better than Singer's Boywriters any day of the week and twice on Sunday), costume design (trunks or no trunks, the MOS outfit is just BETTER, if for no other reason than the reds are ACTUALLY FUCKING RED) and pretty much everything else I can think of. MOS looks to me like it's already a better film than Singerman could've ever hoped to have been.

The one area Singerman might have MOS beaten is the budget. I wouldn't be surprised if WB refuses to fire off another $200 mill budget considering how badly Singerman tanked it. But (A) I understand if that's the case and (B) Snyder's shown his ability to get the most from your smaller budgets (300, Watchmen and Sucker Punch for example) so this entire line may be moot any way you care to look at it. Time will tell on this one... and I think it'll favor Snyder when all the beans are counted.

Once again... Bryan Singer, take note.

non_amos wrote:And don't forget the abomination that Singer is planning on making of his TV remake of THE MUNSTERS which we talked about in another thread.

As for the Superman 3 scenes, to this day I love the 'Clark Kent vs. Superman' sequence! There have been times that I've even watched that sequence & didn't even watch the rest of the film, even on VHS tape. Just think what that sequence could've been like with today's technology! And even though I regretted Superman 3 being changed from the original idea I read about back then, plus the comedic casting of Richard Pryor, nevertheless I still enjoyed the movie, even at the theater! I think you could classify this film as a 'guilty pleasure' so to speak. On one hand you know it's by far not the best Superman film but OTOH you still find yourself watching it anyway. And enjoying it! Go figure.

non_amos wrote:And don't forget the abomination that Singer is planning on making of his TV remake of THE MUNSTERS which we talked about in another thread.

As for the Superman 3 scenes, to this day I love the 'Clark Kent vs. Superman' sequence! There have been times that I've even watched that sequence & didn't even watch the rest of the film, even on VHS tape. Just think what that sequence could've been like with today's technology! And even though I regretted Superman 3 being changed from the original idea I read about back then, plus the comedic casting of Richard Pryor, nevertheless I still enjoyed the movie, even at the theater! I think you could classify this film as a 'guilty pleasure' so to speak. On one hand you know it's by far not the best Superman film but OTOH you still find yourself watching it anyway. And enjoying it! Go figure.

Da Man Of Steel (SPOILER, Maybe, Sorta. Avert Your Eyes)
by Perry Michael Simon on September 14, 2011

So I go halfway across the country to Chicago for a work assignment and the first thing I run into is a film crew, and smoke from distant brush fires creating a haze over the city. Just like home! It turns out that they’re shooting some of the Zack Snyder-directed, Henry Cavill-starring Superman reboot, Man of Steel, in Chicago, and I happened to walk up Wacker Drive while the crew was there. Actually, other than one sequence just rolling around the corner at Michigan Avenue, I didn’t see any action at all, but I did see craft services, and I was tempted to grab some food, because, hey, I’m at the outer fringes of show business — we’re all family, right? Er, no.

WARNING: The following might, construed a certain way, be a spoiler. Or not. But the movie won’t come out until 2013, so you’ll probably forget by then.

But there’s some construction going on at a building on that block, and the above poster is on a wall facing where the movie was shooting. The logo of the actual construction company is on there, but I don’t know if the construction company or the production company is responsible for it. Either way, I love it, because it took someone’s attention for detail to create it. If you look closely at the bottom, the logos are for the “Daily Planet Reconstruction Fund,” a couple of City of Metropolis agencies, the United Constructionists union, the “Metropolis Green Building Initiative,” and the “Metropolis Transit Authority.” The title on the poster and the Daily Planet thing might provide hints to what happens in the movie, but you can always assume something like that will happen in a Superman movie, right? Sure. Let’s call it a possible spoiler until the eventual trailers show what we can assume they’ll show, meaning things being attacked and blowing up. Or did you expect Zack Snyder to make a tender, romantic, low-key indie out of this?