(I must preface this blog by stating for the record that I cannot reveal any aspect of the storyline for the upcoming blockbuster, other than what is relevant to that day's filming. Even though the cast, screenwriter, producers and crew were forthcoming to me about the story they've created, I promised that I would reveal nothing that would be considered a spoiler for what's coming up in the film. Needless to say, it is my opinion, after spending the day with cast and crew, that they're going to top the first movie in scope and characterization.)
Last month, I was contacted via e-mail by Iron Man 2's co-producer, Jeremy Latcham and invited to be his guest on the set of Iron Man 2.
We set the date for Tuesday June 16th.
I arrived, with my friend and former assistant, Sorah Suhng, on the Downey Studios lot (No...it's not named after the actor who plays Tony!) around 9 am and was immediately greeted by Barry Curtis, the head of security for the production.
The gracious Mr. Curtis escorted us to a location where they were in the process of shooting an outdoor scene that takes place on the race track in Monte Carlo. Bleachers had been erected and crowds of extras were milling about on them. The track itself was strewn with the smoldering debris of several Formula 1 race cars.
http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2009-06-09-ironman2-rourke_N.htm
It was there that we met Jeremy face-to-face and he quickly shuffled us off to the operations tent where the director, producers and actors observe the filming process.
Jeremy walked me straight up to Robert Downey Jr. and director Jon Favreau, who were seated behind the camera monitors and engaged in a lively discussion concerning one of the characters that I co-created with David Michelinie-Jim Rhodes.
After a warm introduction, both Downey and Favreau engaged me in their discussion concerning aspects of Rhodey's personality and how it related to his relationship to Tony Stark. I was extremely honored that both men were genuinely interested in my opinion on the subject. So, I proceeded to tell them about the origins of the character and my views on his relationship to Stark.
After a quick photo op with the director and star, (and the gift of a special commemorative coin that Favreau gave me) I was introduced to the special effects and stunt teams, who proceeded to show me the equipment and stunts which would be involved in that day's shoot.
In the scenes that were to be shot that Tuesday, the malevolent Whiplash, (played by Mickey Rourke) has stepped onto the track at Monte Carlo and is proceeding to destroy everything in sight. The effects team showed me the harness that Rourke would wear and how it functioned. After that Tony, the stunt team coordinator, gave me a tour of the outdoor set and explained how his team would accomplish the destruction that was about to ensue.
Tony was also nice enough to give me an Iron Man 2 Stunt Team Tee-shirt!
Going back to the tent, I met Kevin Feige, Executive Producer and one of the driving forces behind Marvel's movie empire. Kevin was very gracious and eager to hear my opinions of the first IM film.
Then, Mickey Rourke came onto the set (in full Whiplash regalia) and Jon Favreau was nice enough to take time out from setting up the shoot to introduce me to the Academy Award nominee.
At the tent I settled in to watch Mickey do his thing.
With the action underway, the crowd in the bleachers panics as Whiplash strides onto the track and begins to create havoc.
Wielding twin bullwhips, Rourke was impressive as this updated version of the classic Iron Man nemesis-swinging the dual whips like he had been doing it his entire life.
At one point during the morning, Robert Downey was sitting off to the side of the tent, having minor cuts and bruises applied to his face by veteran make-up artist John Blake. Robert hand-signals for me to come sit in the chair next to him. I plop down and proceed to have an engaging conversation that lasted about 30 minutes. We talked about a variety of topics including my history with the Iron Man character, his performance in the first film, to Don Cheadle replacing Terrance Howard, to the plot of the current movie, where they plan to go with the next one, and our own personal tribulations. Robert and I have sobriety in common, so there was a lot of talk about the crazy days we both spent in NYC when we were younger.
Needless to say that Robert Downey and I really hit it off and ended our conversation by promising to keep in touch with each other. He is one of the nicest individuals I've met since relocating to Hollywood and I only hope that, somewhere down the road, we get to work together on one of my own film projects.
Shooting resumes and Downey enters the scene as Tony Stark.
At one point, during the shoot, Jon Favreau stops, walks away from the tent and onto the track. I had no idea what he was up to. He returns in about a minute with two pieces of twisted Formula 1 race car in his hands and gives them to me.
He says to me with a smile, "You created Roxxon, right?" I respond in the affirmative and look down to see that both pieces of wreckage had the Roxxon logo on it. He tells me to give one to Michelinie, since he couldn't join us on location.
Needless to say, I was in awe of how considerate Jon was, as a director, actor and human being. That's rare in Hollywood. Throughout the shoot that day, Jon and I had interesting conversations about Iron Man and his interpretation of the legend to film-including the film's storyline and his re-imagining of the Whiplash character. He's definitely a class act and a man who has a vision for the Iron Man franchise.
During one of the lulls in the shooting, Jeremy escorted us to the Special Effects trailer where I got to see one of the new prototype armors that will appear in the film!
I can't tell you much about it other than it's much more streamlined from the armor in the first film. You'll have to take my word for it that it'll knock your socks off!!!
I also got to see the masks of the lead actors' faces that the SFX crew created. It's a bit unnerving to see Robert Downey's life-like disembodied face lying on a counter top!
After that, the cast and crew broke for lunch and we proceed to one of the indoor sound stages where Guest Services had set up their commissary. The food was incredible and I got the opportunity to sit and chat with Mickey Rourke's stunt double and make-up artist John Blake.
An hour later, we were all back on the set for the big pyrotechnics gag, where one of the Formula 1 cars will go up in a scorching fireball after Whiplash's vicious assault.
I was impressed with the amount of precautions that the SFX and stunt crews took to ensure that the gag would go off without a hitch.
In a humorous side note, as the SFX crew and Favreau were counting down to the big explosion, I realized that I needed to visit one of the Port-A-Johns! Sitting in the director's chair behind Favreau, I leaned forward and asked Jon if I had time to run to the head before he set off the explosives. He looks around and then says . "Go ahead! I'll hold off blowing the thing up until you get back!"
After blowing up the car, (which was spectacular, by the way!) I was introduced to Executive Producer Louis D'Esposito and Iron Man 2 screenwriter Justin Theroux. Justin and I had a great conversation about the classic Iron Man villain, and main nemesis in Iron Man 2-Justin Hammer. Justin was incredibly well-read when it came to the Iron Man comics and was familiar with almost everything that Michelinie and I had done with the character over the years. Justin was a fascinating fellow and I was doubly impressed when I discovered that he wrote Tropic Thunder-one of my favorite movies of last year.
By now, it was sometime after 4 pm and time to leave. But before I departed, I wound-up signing copies of "Iron Man: The End" for Jon, Robert and the rest of the production crew. (Never thought that I would be the one signing autographs that day!)
But, it's an honest assessment to say that the cast and crew are all fans of Iron Man and very respectful of the contributions that David Michelinie and I have made to the legacy of that character.
All in all, it was one of my best days ever since I moved to LA.
Before I finish, I'd like to thank Jeremy, Barry, Jon, Robert, Kevin and everyone who took time out from their incredibly busy schedule to extend their hospitality to me.
And a special thanks to my agent at WME, Eric Reid, whose diligent efforts made all of this a reality.
Bob