A Quick Peek From the Matrix Set In Sydney

We posted recently about the planned shutdown of part of Sydney for filming of the upcoming Matrix sequel. Now reader zobier points to a followup describing the shooting, and since he was on hand to see it first-hand, writes: "I went along to watch the filming, it was very cool (I love helicopters tho' ;) They didn't block off much city space, maybe (100 - 200m), and the chopper flew down the square (Martin Place) between the buildings about 5 - 10m above our heads. Many onlookers were videoing and photographing the scene. At about 5pm when it got dark the camera flashes started going off, this pissed off the director as it was interfering with his film." GoogolPlexPlex adds a link to coverage in the Sydney Morning Herald.

Comments

New Oracle?

[Shanep]

Anyone heard news that there will be a new actress to play the Oracle?

I was in the National Geographic shop in Darling Harbour Sydney, browsing, when a lady with a Yankee accent came in. The guy behind the desk asked her where she was from, if she was a tourist, etc, etc.

She claimed that she was working on a new movie, the guy behind the counter asked which, she replied The Matrix. The guy and the girl behind the counter were impressed, they asked what she had to do with it and she said she plays the role of the Oracle, since the actress who played the Oracle in the first movie has passed away.

Can anyone confirm that the origial Oracle actress has passed on?

Damn, she was uber cool.

Re:Camera Flash (It sometimes works, here is why)

[Slashamatic]

Actually, switching the flash is often a reasonable strategy when photgraphing something that is well illuminated.

Here is why, most meters will average across the whole frame and the thing you are photographing is usually occupying maybe 10 to 20% of the frame.

Switching flash will normally set a fixed speed on 1/30th sec. This is usually enough for the illuminated bit of the photograph. Forget the flash itself, it is the fixed speed that helps. With negative film there is usually enough lattitude to get something off the negative. This is why flash photos of concerts often work.

If they are filming on to negative film, they will need a fair amount of illumination (even with black helicopters). I wouldn't be suprised if the photographers don't actually get something (although a 30th is a bit slow for action and it is sure to blur).

Re:Complete Article

[Ma$$acre]

I was onsite (on business in the city) and I can assure you that Keanu was not there. All in all it was a pretty boring few hours. I was in the best viewing spot just off the square near Elizabeth street and although the buildings were non-descript, the head security guy nearest me said the Brothers picked the building because it looked dark and sinister. I was further told that the sequence would later be filled in with a fight seen with Neo on a windy and rainy night, although they were filming in the late afternoon before losing light.

Since the chopper came in from a few streets away and flew to the square then then traveled up along the building, my guess is that Neo might be "flying" as he did at the end of Movie 1 and then fighting someone on the externals of the building. All Greenscreen of course.

They are filming 2 more sequences during the next 2 Sundays and the second one will be the largest street closure ever (surpassing Vanilla Sky's empty street scene). I won't be here for the big one where they will close down all of George Street, but I'm hoping to see some of the cast (Trinity anyone?) next Sunday.

Either way, it will be cool having pre-CGI footage of the scene as it will likely be a pivotal sequence.