Ever since April of 2008, the Watchmen film production team has been delivering to fans behind-the-scenes video journals, chronicling the development of Watchmen from page to screen. When necessary, all of the released videos are accompanied by my in depth still frame galleries which point out details or easter eggs you may have missed.
Watchmen director Zack Snyder, along with Malin Akerman and Carla Gugino, talk about the dynamics of the two actresses playing mother and daughter super heroes. Shots include looks inside Sally Jupiter’s retirement home, the Crimebusters meeting with the map burning, the Minutemen and Crimebusters photo sessions, and two World War II Sally Jupiter propaganda posters.
11.6.2008
Watchmen visual effects supervisor John “D.J.” Des Jardin and Manhattan suit technician Chris Gilman give us and inside look at the LED light suit actor Billy Crudup wore to play Dr. Manhattan. Shots include looks at the motion capture system used to help the effects team bring the CGI character to life as well as fully rendered shots of Laurie and Rorschach inside Dr. Manhattan’s lab.
10.6.2008
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This journal focuses on the way Watchmen director Zack Snyder and cinematographer Larry Fong composed most of the shots for the film adaptation. Shots include a close look at Patrick Wilson as Dan Dreiberg inside his brownstone apartment, Billy Crudup standing on the Mars set in his motion capture suit, and Rorschach breaking some guy’s finger inside Happy Harry’s Bar.
9.6.2008
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Watchmen director Zack Snyder and head sculptor Jack Gauvreau give us a look at the star vehicle of the film — Nite Owl’s Owlship “Archimedes.” Shots include the Owlship hovering over the backlot, a mini two-dimensional version of the vehicle used to block some effects shots, and some close ups of the interior of the ship showing the controls inside the cockpit.
8.6.2008
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Watchmen illustrator Dave Gibbons discusses how faithful the film will be to the source material. Visual tidbits include close-ups of the photos and newspaper clippings hanging in Hollis Mason’s apartment, a look at Patrick Wilson and Malin Akerman as Dan and Laurie sitting in the Gunga Diner, and the first glimpse of Rorschach, played by Jackie Earle Haley, in motion.
7.6.2008
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June’s video journal takes you behind the scenes to see the preparation and performance of one of the harrowing stunts performed during the prison riot scene. In the video, Damon Caro (300, Dawn of the Dead), Watchmen’s stunt coordinator, shows us what it takes to set stuntman Douglas Chapman (X-Men: The Last Stand, Fantastic Four) on fire without anyone getting hurt.
6.6.2008
Watchmen Costume Designer Michael Wilkinson discusses all of the extras they had to dress and the various time periods of the twentieth century over which the costumes span. You’ll see Carla Gugino as Silk Spectre I posing for a photograph with some period cops, Danny Woodburn as Big Figure, Matthew Goode as Adrian Veidt in a smashing purple sports jacket, and much more.
5.6.2008
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In the first of twelve monthly video journals, Watchmen Set Designer Alex McDowell gives a visual tour of some of the film’s sets including the famed New York City backlot that was built in Vancouver. The video shows some incredible interior shots of Edward Blake’s, Dr. Manhattan’s and Hollis Mason’s apartments as well as the Rockefeller Military Research Center.
4.6.2008
