Eve Of The War
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Jawad From Dreamworksfansite 'wotw' Set Visit
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Author:  eveofthewar [ Thu Mar 03, 2005 12:36 pm ]
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FROM : <a href='http://www.dreamworksfansite.com/waroftheworlds/wotw_setvisit.php' target='_blank'>http://www.dreamworksfansite.com/</a><br /><br />Over to Jawad Mir (Owner & Senior Editor DreamWorks SKG Fansite Network)....<br /><br />On February 24th, close to 7 p.m., I received an email from Amy at Paramount asking if I will be able to visit the set of War of the Worlds. <br /><br />As tired as I was from long day at work, the news did more than just bringing a smile on my face. Right that instant, I logged on expedia.ca to check out the flight times and reservations. I waited impatiently into the night, biting my nails, hardly sleeping and wondering how would it be like to be next to the man that I have looked up to almost half my life. <br /><br />Next morning, I went to work here in Toronto and going straight into a web production meeting which ran for few hours causing me to panic, what if I get a green-light from Paramount, how do I get there so quickly. After few hours, my fear became reality. As I excused myself from the meeting, I discovered that I was good to go for the same day set visit at Universal Lot. But you don't get stuff easy in life do you. After searching for flight times, it turned out my flight got there an hour after the shooting wrapped. Need I even say that I felt rather dampered after that. But kudos goes to Paramount for trying their best to get me in and scheduling me for Monday's shoot. <br /><br />I emailed few friends in L.A., informing them of my arrival on Sunday night. As the plane took off and the seat belt sign went off, I turned on my iPod and listened to assortments of my favorite soundtracks, mostly of Spielberg of course. Not to mention the amazing music featured in War of the Worlds trailer. <br /><br />As the plane descended into L.A., I realized that for the first time in 15 years, I had missed the Oscars. In the sheer excitement of my set visit, I totally forgot about it. My plane landed in L.A. at 9 p.m. PST which unfortunately was the time for Oscars wrapped up. Upon reaching Sheraton Hotel, I watched the recap and found the winners and losers. I was mostly satisfied with the results except Best Director. I was hoping Martin Scorcese would win it. Sorry to go off-track; back to War of the Worlds. <br /><br />Next morning, I went over to Paramount lot, getting the two hour tour of the studio where I saw the remains of Elizabethtown set, many different sound stage plus the set of Entertainment Tonight and the Camera Storage room where they kept the films for processing. As I stood in the Freezing Room listening to the tour guide, my eyes caught the film stocks labeled War of the Worlds in the far corner. It was the most recent footage and it sat less than 5 feet away from me. To know that I stood next to the film that is going to make new box office records and is a Steven Spielberg Film is a feeling that I can't describe. <br /><br />As I waited for the set visit, which was scheduled for later that evening, I got some sneak peak at some great upcoming marketing material. Believe me guys you will love what's in store for you. Paramount is doing an awesome job and will be coming out with some incredible stuff which is out of this world. I also had a pleasure of seeing some new edited footage, which I believe was over 2 minutes in length. It showed clips of video that has been seen before with some voice-over from Tom and Steven, and an ending montage that made you go "uhm, can I see that again" and so I did was just blown away by it. Just to be clear this wasn't the upcoming trailer. <br /><br />Next evening around 5 p.m., we departed to Santa Clarita for on location shoot where Spielberg and the crew were setting up for an intense scene that will be shown in the film. Heading through the mountains, we came to the place Mystic Mesa and upon entrance you can see huge set of lights hitting on a ground which from distant seemed like a stadium. As we drove in, there was a helipad on the left possibly for Spielberg and Cruise once they are wrapped up filming 4 in the morning. <br /><br />There were dozens of trailers, trucks and cranes. As we got out of the car, we approached the extra tent, from where the refugees were walking out and going on location up the hill for the shoot. Before we head on to the shoot, we went into the cosy little kitchen tent, which was ready to feature the live video feed of the filming on LG Flat Monitors. On display were several high resolution blown up never before seen images. One image showed a massive crowd of American Refugees on the street searching for their loved ones with signs and photographs- a very powerful image. Another image showed Cruise holding Fanning in his arms staring at something. I don't think they are looking at any aliens here; my guess is it is a massive crowd approaching them. <br /><br />Yet another two new images showed Cruise character Ray Ferrier, Justin (his son) and Fanning (his daughter) standing in the forest looking at what could be the weed. The last image showed the three again with Cruise covered in dirt and Justin kneeling across him on the kitchen floor. Meanwhile Fanning looks at Cruise over a stool. While in the tent, I was able to see some of footage from previous shoots of the three of them on the kitchen table talking. Now I think that scene was an interior shoot done at Newark is just before the exterior shots which I was going to see. <br /><br />We spent a good ten to fifteen minutes in there and then headed up the hill in a van. On the way, I saw men in uniforms walking up the hill along with military humvees. That's where we learned some new things about the story of Ray (Cruise) who works on a dock and his ex-wife Miranda Otto (Mary Ann) goes off for the weekend with her husband and leaves the kids (Rachel & Son) to Cruise when bad things start to happen. He feels that he is not a good father. The shoot we got to see is going to be featured in the second half of the film. And before I forget I was also told that they weren't Martians but aliens and there won't be any spaceships. It makes you wonder what they are looking at in awe and sense of wonder during the beginning. They can't be mesmerized by tripods? <br /><br />As I got there, all I saw was men in uniform (198 marines), military humvees, extras (70 survivors) on a lower ground with a house in the far corner. Now this house was a mock up and only created for exterior shoot. The house also had mini farm barn beside it with leafless trees, surrounded by wooden fences. A very suburban type house where Cruise's character lives. Towards me and away from the house were refugees, military men, tanks and other vehicle scattered around. <br /><br />The military men faced towards us aiming at the soon to be added aliens which happened to be us during the shoot until they asked us to walk away. There was a lot of smoke created on the set through sheets of cylinders stretching from one end to the other. <br /><br />On the scene were real marine officers and Major Todd Brecssealli who in charge of military operations and authenticity during the shoot. The A.D. yelled action and one of the soldiers yelled "Engage dispatch" as they preparted to attack the aliens. <br /><br />After that there was a quick break and we stood right next to the food area where stood before my eyes none other than Spielberg. He stood less than 10 feet away from me talking to a man in a green jacket, which read "Fugitives". Not sure if that had anything to do with the film. I just couldn't believe that I was there, just close to him. As a fan, I wanted to jump over to him and say "hello" while my professional side kept me on the ground. <br /><br />Minutes after he walked right by me and got into a van where I am guessing he made some phone calls or rested himself. But that didn't last long. He was out within five minutes and returned to the shoot. This particular shot composed of American Refugees, which included Tom and Justin running up the hill closer towards the aliens. Justin is covered by Tom as they both fall down right next to a soldier. The three of them communicate to each other as the action continues and American Refugees are all over the field. <br /><br />Many thanks goes to Paramount for making this happen and bringing me over to the set within feets of the master filmmaker at work. Paramount made me feel at home and anytime I was at the lot, they gave me lot of respect and treated me as one of theirs. And believe me they are working day and night on this film so that you can experience the phenomenon as we countdown months to the release date. So if any one out there is going to spoil this movie in terms of plot or scenes that shouldn't be exposed, think of the hard working marketing team at Paramount. Your one move will ruin their months of efforts. <br /><br />Mark my words fans. The scope and marketing promotion of this film will not only make this film the biggest of 2005 but definitively surpassing $300 million without a problem and with glowing reviews. If I am proven wrong, I will stop watching films.<br /><br />The filming wraps on Friday March 4th.<br /><br />

Author:  gypsywlf [ Thu Mar 03, 2005 5:28 pm ]
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eveofthewar wrote:
FROM : http://www.dreamworksfansite.com/waroft ... tvisit.php ...hardly sleeping and wondering how would it be like to be next to the man that I have looked up to almost half my life.

....where stood before my eyes none other than Spielberg. He stood less than 10 feet away from me... I just couldn't believe that I was there, just close to him. As a fan, I wanted to jump over to him and say "hello" while my professional side kept me on the ground.


Hmmm. One wonders if hero-worship might, just a wee bit, taint Amy's objective sense of movie quality.

Author:  Thunder Child [ Thu Mar 03, 2005 7:36 pm ]
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Well, it is for something called "Dreamworks Fansite". Can't get a more sympathetic audience than that.

Author:  Loz [ Thu Mar 03, 2005 7:41 pm ]
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Barf!!!!!!!!!!!

Author:  curious [ Fri Mar 04, 2005 4:21 pm ]
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Thanks for posting.<br /><br />Sounds like an all out great movie. I just hope I won't have to stand in line too long when i go see it B)

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