Running about the place in the winter time leaves the ears ripping raw for some. And there are others who just don't have that problem at all and ever.



Rather simple and clean, this photo was taken in August 2005 at Martin Place in Sydney during the on location filming of Superman Returns. In the actual film, it appears for a brief second as Kitty Kowalski (Parker Posey) drives a mustang that is careening all out of hell.

Early on for the night, it was placed up on and over a "For Lease" sign for the building. Nobody else took much notice of it, the crowds heading home more concerned with the ever expanding line for the taping off of Martin Place than any thing else. Shortly after taking this photo, it was all cordoned off.

 

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.

 

After the intense wait of over how ever long it took to wipe away the memory of Christopher Reeve, Superman Returns is a pure delight. Brandon Routh slips comfortably and easily into the dual roles of Clark Kent and Superman.

Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane looks hungry and emaciated for the drive that burns inside her journalistic soul. Lex Luthor has never been as maniacal and as near deranged as Kevin Spacey's portrayal yet. Twisted is only a hint of this man's desire to kill Supes.

Sequences involving Superman at the rescue are sublime and fantastic to watch. Movement is so natural and free that it really does look like the guy can fly. Except in certain scenes where the cape billows to an awkward set of mini waves too smooth to blend into the subconscious.

An emotionally well made film, it does focus more on the relationship between Superman and Lois as much as it is between Superman and the earth as its saviour.

 

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.

 

Nothing really interesting for the week's shipment coming in on June 29. There's Ultimate Spider-Man #96 of course. Certainly feeling like it draws on momentum now more than ever. Especially with #100 not that far from hitting shelves.

Also released on Thursday is Superman Returns. No need for splashy promotion, this thing will ride on its own energy. Sells itself really.

 

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.

 

Down in Martin Place, for at least this Saturday, the flag poles all up and down Martin Place look so very tempting once more. Reports will have it that Superman Returns has returned for some location filming. And with the banners flapping in the winds, how can they be wrong?

Need to scale the poles in order to souvenir one of the Metropolis Museum banners? Try it during the day time, when more people are less likely to be that of the Red Sun crew. And bring something like clippers or scissors hardy enough to clip plastic rings off. Don't forget a stick to flick the top part off the holding pole.

What else are you going to do in the city?