A couple of short set reports have been handed in from filming last week on the Spielberg/Cruise sci-fi epic which is currently in production in the US and racing to be ready for the July 4th weekend next year. First up here's 'Zigtronics':
"War of the Worlds is in it's second day of shooting in Athens NY. It snowed there last night but filming proceeded. The set was under lockdown in the tiny village. Local reporters were even kept at bay. The scene to be filmed was with all the extras running down the street escaping the Martians, across a rail crossing to the auto ferry waiting at the end of the dock. The scene, which will have many CGI effects added later, was to include a train on fire on the fake rail crossing that was erected several days ago. It was unclear if Cruise and Spielberg are on site, although a director with a British accent was directing the action. A helipad about five miles west of the set was under police protection. I understand that's how the director and principles are commuting between sets". Meanwhile, 'A.C.' has some more details on the same shoot: "The film was shooting in small town Athens, New York Dec 6-9th. A co-worker's husband played one of many people fleeing from the aliens trying to catch a ferry to escape. According to him-fake cars with no bottoms in them were pushed into the river and he and the crowd were going to covered in mud that would be applied as CGI in post production. Extras made about $80 a night".
Soon after these reports were sent, 'Zigtronics' came back with more: "War of the Worlds wrapped shooting in Athens last Thursday. First night of the shooting was wiped out due to snow fall in Athens. The shoot was originally slated for November. Heaters were brought in from NYC to melt the remaining snow on the subsequent evenings. A second location in the Athens area involving a farm house was to be used but was scrapped in favor of a Virginia location. Crew was housed at the near by Friar Tuck resort in the Catskills. Reports of too many white extras, word was sent out to Asain and African american community groups located in the Albany NY area for a more culturaly diverse group of extras. Not too many press reports because of blackout on press releases. PA's on the set were also very rude to locals."
Finally, some new shots from the set have gone up at Dreamworks Fansite showing some quite clear shots of Tom Cruise, Steven Spielberg and Miranda Otto in action. Just click for more (and more shots are coming there later this week):
Thanks again to 'Zigtronics', 'Jawad' & 'A.C.'
