I snuck onto the movie set today! Full Report

POSTED BY: Khazara
UPDATED: Friday, October 8, 2004 16:52
VIEWED: 15602
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KHAZARA

Thursday, August 26, 2004 9:33 AM

Phew, it's 1:45 a.m. and I just got back home to San Diego after visiting Universal Studios (Hollywood) today. I wanted to share with you, my fellow browncoats out there, my Serenity experiences! Sorry if this post is a little long, but this is first-hand information here about the filming! Spoilers in this post: not really any spoilers in this report, but I do describe another vehicle in the movie.

Okay, I went to Universal today with a friend of mine. When we took the tram tour, it starts by going down this hill that has various movie posters from years gone by. Immediately upon rounding the corner, Stage 12 is on the left, which I knew that was where Serenity has been shooting. The main door to the soundstage was open; as we drove by, I made sure to get a look insite that big door. I saw the front end of a ship -- it was Serenity! Couldn't see much, but I definitely recognized it. Wow! That was really cool.

Then, near the end of the tour, in a parking lot there was a big green screen up against the side of one of the parking garages. There was crew of people around the lot, the main focal point being what appeared to be some sort of jet fighter without wings. From its design, I thought it could be another ship or Serenity herself, but I couldn't tell from the quick glimpse I could get. But I vowed I would learn more!

The day went on with my friend and I doing the theme park thing. It was a really good day for crowds, no more than 10 minute waits on the rides. From the pics posted by the others who had been near stage 12 and got to meet some of the cast, I was able to determine what area of the park had those bushes and bars that were holding the others back. I popped out of the short line-up for Jurassic Park the Ride to head over there, leaving my friend behind. I figured if I did get a glimpse, it would be easier to get around by myself instead of as a pair. It was great that there were no crowds in line for Jurassic Park, I just strolled over past two queuing areas to the aforementioned bars and foliage. I reached the location; and the wide emergency exit doors were wide open, to the street where the tram comes down. So out I went.

I walked across the little street, purposefully like I knew what I was doing there and like I belonged. Up the driveway to Stage 12. Peered in the door; there was Serenity. Not much going on, just 3 guys or so inside. So I stepped into the soundstage. I walked up to the guys and asked if I could take a quick peek. One of them said sure, I could even go inside if I wanted, it was all okay!! So.. umm, yeah you bet I did!

From the outside looking in, I could see the mess hall area, with the ivy painted on the yellow walls. I walked in. My eyes became big and I started to tremble slightly -- I was ON Serenity!! My heart was racing, this was fantastic! It appeared that shooting had wrapped in Stage 12. The set that existed here was the cockpit, small area between the two doors behind the cockpit, a walkway that had the shafts down to the crew's quarters, the mess hall, and a hallway leading to the engine room (and the engine room itself). It was all very small! I can't even believe that the 9 castmembers would fit around a table in the mess hall. But outside the set, all the cables were wrapped up and organized, looked to be ready for packing up. No sign of any other sets at all; if the other sets (ie. cargo bay, Inara's shuttle, crew quarters, med lab) had been in the soundstage, they were not around any longer. (I hope the cast was around on Monday for the recent cake delivery!)

So I walked through the set. It had been stripped of all props and almost everything else. The cockpit had no instruments or buttons left, they had all been removed. But I did mime the flight control just like Wash did. :) I also slid the cockpit door a little, it slides very easily. :) (Hey you like details, right?)

In the hallway leading to the engine room, there were a couple decals on the bulkhead, mostly in Chinese lettering. But underneath in

BROWNCOAT1

Thursday, August 26, 2004 12:01 PM

Thanks for the report Khazara. It is great of you to post this for those of us not fortunate enough to go to the set.

Too bad you did not get to see any of the BDHs, but I think filming is set to wrap today or tomorrow. I do envy you your chance to walk onboard Serenity. It is a shame you did not get any pictures. It would have been shiny to see Kaylee's good girl before we see her in theatres.

The 2 seater ship you saw sounds pretty interesting. I wonder what it is for in the movie. I hope that pic of yours turns out. It will give us something to speculate on for days.

"May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one."

STATIC

Thursday, August 26, 2004 12:09 PM

I love living vicariously through others.

I admit I feel a slight twinge of dissapointment that Universal apparently didn't carry on with Joss' notion of building Serenity in as few pieces as possible, so's the actors could really feel at home. As I recall, the TV show set was actually two big continuous pieces, so when Joss filmed them moving through the ship, they were actually moving through the ship. But I guess that's not as practical on a movie set.

Oh well. It's still gonna be great to see that old bird in the air again.

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"Wash. . .we got some local color happening. A grand entrance would not go amiss."

SNEAKER98

Thursday, August 26, 2004 12:26 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Static:
I love living vicariously through others.

I admit I feel a slight twinge of dissapointment that Universal apparently didn't carry on with Joss' notion of building Serenity in as few pieces as possible, so's the actors could really feel at home. As I recall, the TV show set was actually two big continuous pieces, so when Joss filmed them moving through the ship, they were actually moving through the ship. But I guess that's not as practical on a movie set.

Oh well. It's still gonna be great to see that old bird in the air again.

That's how it was designed originally, no? One set was the first deck (cockpit, messhall, engineroom), and the other set was the second deck (cargo bay, infirmary, passenger quarters). The only thing that sounds like it may be different is the crew quarters underneath the corridor between the cockpit and messhall, which may just have been overlooked.

Sounds to me like Universal did it the same way, judging from the description from our intrepid adventurer.

"I do the job... and then I get paid. Go run your little world."
-Malcolm Reynolds

DUG

Thursday, August 26, 2004 6:49 PM

PLEASE post the pic! PLEASE!!!

My cgi modelling heart is a thumping with the prospect of modelling it......

RHYMEPHILE

Thursday, August 26, 2004 7:08 PM

Wow, you got lucky! I'm thinking the only reason you were allowed to get so close is because shooting is wrapped and all the guys cleaning up didn't care if some strange Browncoat was wandering around the set! And what's funny is the security guard who had no idea he was standing around the set of the soon-to-be-best film of 2005, LOL!

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All of me is beautiful and valuable, even the ugly, stupid, and disgusting parts.

BROWNCOATFAN1

Thursday, August 26, 2004 7:18 PM

way cool. it would be cooler if you saw some of the cast members, but its still cool. wow i wish i could have been there.

POLGARA

Thursday, August 26, 2004 8:09 PM

OMG!! That is so cool!! I cant believe how lucky 'versal browncoats are...I went to Universal Studios 2 times during the summer, and I couldn't even catch a glimpse while riding the tram! I also wasn't allowed to get to the "holy bush" because the staff at Jurassic Park didn't let me through!! (BOTH times) YOU ARE SO LUCKY!! and I am so jealous!! hehe

Keep Flyin'

BLINKSGURL

Thursday, August 26, 2004 10:03 PM

WOW! Great details, I loved your report. I feel like i was there w/ you. Im glad u got 2 see Serenity!!

HANDMAIDENANDE

Thursday, August 26, 2004 10:24 PM

"Holy bush". Hee hee, I like that term. :)

Excellent report Khazara. You must have been in seventh heaven! I hope your picture turned out.

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