For all the great iconic shots of Superman, none can really beat the scene seen on Action Comics #1.



An August night has the ears solid chips while eyeballing the on location filming for Superman Returns.

Before rushing off to watch Onna No Honour, the mustang dangles above the area in front of the Martin Place fountain. Rising up, lowering down, the car gets something of a vertical trip to work out its bearings.

Along the Commonwealth Bank building to the left and off panel, a cherry picker takes to unfurling the various country flags tangling themselves around the flagpoles. At least twice, who knows how many more times before the dying of the winds.

Watching the actual scene in the movie, it's clear that director Bryan Singer (actually underneath the car in shot) is showing the crew and cast just how Brandon Routh will handle and lower the car as Superman.

Parker Posey is the driver in the mustang, but it could very well have been a stunt driver in this shot.

For those lucky extras that night, a glimpse of the suit live and in all its glory.

 

There's newspapers all about the place and it all pretty much says the same thing. News is news is news not old unless you read the paper from yesterday. It's a cycle of repetitions that you need to remind yourself of. Who else is going to?



People are rushing home for it's a cold August night in 2005 for the on location filming of Superman Returns. Martin Place is transformed into a Metropolis street.

Along one edge are newspaper vending machines. Certainly not the usual contraption seen on a Sydney street for any current day. The tape cordoning off the area starts off with passersby being rather close to the props.

As night draws on and freezes the air, the tape gradually moves outward. It keeps moving until the entire block between Pitt and Castlereagh Streets is filled only with the extras and crew.

 

With a lot of people walking up and down the street, there isn't much focus on the sidelines. Not when the main action is that of a dangling mustang in the middle of the city.



Captured early in the evening of an August night in 2005, the scene features a green blue, or some sort of turquoise, mustang above the fountain of Martin Place in the city. In the foreground of this photo, a member of the crew finds himself with the attention of a brunette.

One of the questions she asks is what the "Red Sun" production signs were. The bloke responds that they're a cover of sorts for Superman Returns filming right before the city's eyes.

Chitter chatter a little later and the man finds her phone number in with the rest of his gear. Eavesdropping on parts, it was on the hit of her trying to find some work in production or make-up that prompts the exchange.

 

Bright city lights for the night time shooting of Superman Returns last year sees a mustang dangling in the air for quite a while.



A sea green coloured mustang hangs from cables above the fountain at Martin Place. Taken on a cold, and getting colder, night in August, the lights were bright and the crowds thick. Along with Martin Place, Pitt Street itself on the cross section is for the most part taken over by the crew.

The man at the bottom of the frame is taking a photo of a man behind a camera. Three levels of something right there. Not really the recursive example of the Droste effect. More likely closer to Las Meninas (Maids of Honor) by Diego Vel?zquez. Royals of a different kind though.

Seconds just after taking this shot, a burly bloke comes quick to kibosh any further snapping of the scene. Even with the flash turned off.

 

Winter is really hitting its stride right about now. So cold that you can spot the air as you breathe out into the night. Or the early morning. Whatever suits the crazy half naked run around the block.

The above photo comes from the middle of August 2005 as the suits make their way home from work.

Martin Place in the city. On location for filming of a runaway car scene for Superman Returns. Extras in the shot are shaking and shivering just chilling out with the evening session. Over on the far side, there's a truck running down with people jumping out of its way.

Damn, it's beyond cold. Imagine standing around trying to make it look like it isn't putting icicles in our veins.

 

It's the aftermath of the Australian National Yo-Yo Championships in Newtown. Things are looking well spun for the yo-yo tricksters. Tom and customer Jason were interviewed by a documentary crew from the Sydney Film School. Watch out for the release of it somewhere on some form of channel in some point in time.

Next Nationals are on for Invasion/Australia Day weekend of 2007. Rev up your axles folks, it's a cracker to watch. Better still if you're brave enough to hit the stage.

Watch this space; it's like staring at a wall that makes you cry faster than the growing of grass!

 

Clearing out to closing time at the store, the section just outside the court house, library and power juice stores was blocked off. For what, who knows. A band of yoyos were spinning their tricks and missing opportunities in telling passers-by all sorts of tales and stories.

Clocking off for the day under the mask (dripping a little as it were), the temptation to run over and ask the police cops what the deal was soon snapped back into sense. Running toward the police in this mask?

V For Vendetta looks to be drawing its season at the box office to a close. Looking over the session times at the cinema down in Westfields, there are none. George Street, however, are up with the goods and still showing a few more days at least. Probably enough for a week.

When V's gone, a good chance that working behind the counter will be without a mask. In time then for the next big comic book movies, X-Men 3: The Last Stand and Superman Returns.

 

Pages from the backs of magazines. Back issue comics found for less than a dollar or even as cheap as fifty cents. Slithers from other collages in publications. Leave it up with some blank space on the walls and the result varies...

There are at least sixty-six different clippings to spot in the photo alone. All this on the chance of capturing a dusty old cobweb linking from one corner of of the ceiling to another.

 

Beware citizens! This worker will be instore for an entire shift on Saturday, April 15 wearing this mask. Bids now open on when he sweats through the eye slots.