Various Bits of Information from the Chicago Dark Knight Shoot
Source: Batman-On-Film
April 16th-22nd, 2007
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The look of The Joker? TDK in Chi-Town
Author: Jett
Monday, April 16, 2007 - 6:42 AM, 1:16 PM, 7:22 PM CENTRAL
This comes from our source "Slappy The White Clown Prince." It comes from him secondhand, so take with a grain of salt. I can't reveal how he acquired this info, but I will say he has provided BOF was solid news in the past. According to him:
* The Joker will have gray skin with scarring.
* The Joker's costume will be raggedy (This may confirm the info BOF got a long while ago saying that his costume will look as if it was something he put together one piece at a time).
* He's going to look damn scary, not clownish.
There is also some scuttlebutt that Warner Bros. will reveal The Joker soon -- like this summer -- to head off any bootleg pictures of Heath Ledger in costume that could pop up online -- which they should do, IMO.
UPDATE: "Slappy" tells BOF that us that the description above of TDK's Joker is not of the final design, but is indicative of where they're heading in regards to the final look...
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A report on the TDK pre-production shoot in Chicago
April 18, 2007
THE CHICAGO SUN-TIMES:
"'The Dark Knight,' the next installment of the Warner Bros. Pictures' Batman franchise, today will kick off six days of pre-production filming in Chicago before shifting to London for the main event. The Chicago schedule includes filming today through Friday and exteriors, including helicopter shots, Saturday through Tuesday.
After wrapping up principal photography in London, Warner Bros. is expected to return to Chicago in June and continue filming here through the summer.
'Their experience here went so well, they have not only returned to film "The Dark Night," but they have also increased the filming schedule," Rich Moskal, director of the Chicago Film Office, said in a press release."
According to several Chicago BOF'ers, director Christopher Nolan is in Chicago for this shoot.
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More From Chicago and on The Joker's Look
Author: Jett
Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 6:00 AM, 7:48 PM, 8:33 PM CENTRAL TIME:
From my man "JK In Chicago":
"My son and I just returned from our second visit to the post office set this week and were fortunate enough to see Chris Nolan and Heath Ledger.
We got there in time for - what appeared to be - a bank robbery scene. There were a few clown-masked goons with pistols and machine guns, some gunfire, and screaming from the bank 'staff' and 'customers.' The next scene was a clown-masked character holding a pistol on a group of people. After the scene - or maybe it's part of it(?) - he takes off his mask and I'm 99% sure it was Ledger and definitely WITHOUT Joker makeup. Nolan was visible through the window sporting a long black coat and appeared to be moving very quickly. Couldn't get off any pics as they had some pretty strong lights pointing in our direction, probably just for that reason.
Production wrapped at around 7:30 CT. That's all for now, I'll continue to keep you posted."
More on The Joker's (possible) look for TDK. A good friend -- who is also one of those "industry insiders" -- told BOF today that the earlier report on The Joker's look sounds "...about right. I know they want to do something different. I've also heard that The Joker from THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS could have a big influence on how he [TDK's Joker] ends up looking."
Could The Joker in TDK be influenced by the DC comic, THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS?
© DC COMICS
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Yet again, more from Chicago
Author: Jett
Thursday, April 19, 2007 - 6:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:16 PM, 9:01 PM CENTRAL TIME:
Yes, I know, OK? There are pics out there of you-know-who on the Chicago set. FYI: posting them violates BOF's hard stance against revealing items what would spoil it for you.
(**Admin Note: Heath Heathens has no such compunctions. The photographs of Mr. Ledger in partial Joker makeup can be seen HERE.)
More information from: "JK In Chicago"
"Ledger's clown mask looked -- at least from a distance -- more like a 'skull' than that of a clown. However, it did seem to have a tiny tuft of hair at the top and the mouth may have been a smile. Regardless, it didn't seem in any way to appear 'cartoony.'
As to his wardrobe, he appeared to be wearing what could be described as a dark workman's jacket and work pants. Nothing at all flashy.
By no means do I have any knowledge of the process of film making, but I just don't understand as to why Nolan would have Ledger do those scenes wearing the clown mask. I would guess that he'd have his stand-in do all that stuff I described earlier and then bring in Ledger for 'The Joker reveal.' But, what the hell do I know? I'm also surprised that Nolan does all the 2nd Unit stuff too."
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You gussed it -- More from Chicago!
Author: Jett
Friday, April 20, 2007 - 8:54 PM CENTRAL TIME:
From the BOF BOARDS via BOF'er "Syren Callista"
"[Just] got back from downtown, was there all afternoon! Things of interest:
* Interior filming done, stuff is being removed from inside.
* Work is continuing on the outside -- aging the facade, completing the fake wall (its’ now painted gold on the underside).
Filming was taking place in a beaten-up looking suburban that was on a bed to be towed while filmed in.
Christopher Nolan was there supervising and looking through the camera. Three of The Joker's goons were inside (hiding their masks beneath their coats so we wouldn't see them). They broke for lunch, and when they returned they got into the car and put the masks on! Exactly as photographed and described, though I didn't notice blue mohawk hair.
AND, perhaps the best news: Heath Ledger was INDEED present in the car (they snuck him in). He had his mask off, and he did not have any face paint on whatsoever. I can't describe his suit, as he was in the car. He put his mask on -- which was very similar to the others -- then took it off again. I am guessing everything they are filming inside the suburban will be with him wearing the mask, so don't despair about the no-makeup.
One of the Joker's Suburbans used on the Chicago set of TDK. Courtesy "Bats9099" from the BOF Message Board.
Christopher Nolan got on the truck towing the suburban and everyone got set up and they began towing it away, turning off Van Buren, being followed by ‘Gotham City taxis’ and other vehicles. They did not return before I left (about 90 minutes later)."
Helicopter filming is taking place Saturday, Monday and Tuesday. Should be a great day!
Man, I can't wait to see this film...
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Suburban, Downtown Chicago and More!
Author: Jett
Saturday, April 21, 2007 - 10:38 AM, 1:39 PM, 7:24 PM CENTRAL TIME:
I told y’all that William Fichtner was in TDK as a “Bank Manager,” right? Well, here’s a bit from his NHL BLOG:
“I just got back from Chicago, because a director friend of mine asked a favor: to shoot the opening scene in his film, last minute. He called Saturday, and I told him, ‘you’re killing me,’ but it’s cool and I love working on cool things.”
(**So the scenes being filmed in Chicago are early scenes. May explain why Heath's Joker isn't wearing very much makeup, yet. -- HH Admin)