Watchmen

Back in November of 2007, Comic Related was introduced to an individual who works in the film industry. This individual, who called herself Cassandra Faust, has been good enough to share seven first hand reports direct from the set of the Watchmen film. Ms. Faust worked as an extra during the filming and offered a great summary of what she witnessed. Her latest update is a complete show stopper! Today Ms. Faust returns with a walking tour of the Watchmen World and has our sincere, continued and ongoing thanks...

WALKING THE WORLD OF WATCHMEN

Cassandra Faust

Imagine my surprise when I happened by the New York street set of WATCHMEN and found it still standing deserted and brooding in the Pacific rain forest! And imagine my surprise when I discovered that the set was visible to passersby! Luckily I had my trusty digital camera with me and just started snapping away! A shopping mall across the street provided the perfect vantage point and with the help of a whole lot of mega pixels and the life saving zoom function, I was able to photograph most of the set. Well, they say a picture is worth a thousand words so consider this report the WATCHMEN equivalent of War And Peace.

As the buildings have had their signs and neon stripped away and stored, I thought I’d provide a map of the street to show fans what’s what. The end result is a kind of virtual walking tour of the incredible set. I’ve divided the photos to cover both sides of the street. We’ll start with the TREASURE ISLAND COMIC SHOP side and work our way up. Then we’ll cross over to the other side of the street, which I’m calling the RUMRUNNER side, and work our way back. So look over the map, then come along and take the tour before the incredible set is gone forever!

Here we go!

The Map

TREASURE ISLAND SIDE

Click on any image for a full size look at the photo.

GUNGA DINER

Looking more like an abandoned fortress than part of a busy New York street, it’s the building façade that houses the Gunga Diner. The plywood on the right, jutting out from the bushes, is one half of the neon Diner sign.

Here are some more shots of the first corner of our tour.

Here’s the top of the Gunga Diner building from a different angle. The plywood running along the bottom
of the photo beneath the windows is the same section of the sign as in the first photo.

Gradually swinging around the corner, you can see where the rest of the Diner’s neon sign runs when in place.

Here’s a full shot of that second half of the sign. Beneath the plywood groove, you can see what looks like
black marble and rounded windows. This is the Gunga Diner façade. I’m told that filming inside the Diner
was chilly to say the least as only portable space heaters were used to heat the eatery.

And a close up.

Here is the top of the Gunga Diner building.

More close ups of the Diner top. Note the detailing on the arched windows.

This series consists of close ups of the detailing to the left of the Diner.

This is a shot of the building to the right of the Diner.

Here’s an entrance to the left of the Diner which is obscured by trees.

Here’s the Diner and accompanying building from a different, closer angle.

Close up shots of the building. Note the black “marble” on the right. This is the Diner itself.

TREASURE ISLAND COMIC SHOP

Here are some establishing shots of the yellow comic shop with a barely discernable advertisement for the
latest issue of Tale Of The Black Freighter behind the iron security grill.

A closer view and a better view of the poster.

Some more close ups.

Here’s the front of the store from a different angle. The next two shots will show this section of the
store more clearly. You can see the movie theater across the street. WATCHMEN fans know it well.

Close ups of the comic shop. The pink and white posters are ads for the
Gunga Diner directly across the street. See map.

Another angle. Note the detailing on the purple building next to the comic shop.
They put a fire escape leading to a roof that doesn’t exist.

This gray building next to the purple one is where, so I’m told, the Comedian and
Nite Owl have their “American dream” moment while the kids are spray painting the wall.

HEADING UP THE STREET

Rising from the lush rain forest, it’s NEW YORK CITY, circa 1985?

Here’s the whole TREASURE ISLAND SIDE of the street. Note how realistic the set looks even without signage.

Looking up the length of the yellow TREASURE ISLAND side of the street. Note the poster in the
window advertising the current issue of the Black Freighter, which Bernard reads.

Here’s the same shot a little closer so you can see the detail.

Looking past the comic store you can see some of the other businesses. There is an alley mouth
somewhere along these storefronts into which Dan and Laurie escape down when fleeing some Knot Tops.

And a close up at the far end. Just past the black covered awning is the Institute for Extraspatial Studies
and the location of the newsstand, which only appears when needed.

Here are the tops of the buildings. While filming they put lights behind the curtains in these
windows and you have to look twice to be sure that folks aren’t living behind these windows.

And yet the buildings just stop at the top, revealing some movie magic.

See how they’ve even given the painted foam the look of peeling brick. Incredible!

Here is the end of this side of the street. The photo on the left shows us a hollow storefront. Focusing on the

green trim at the bottom of the photo, (middle shot) shows us the striking mural and the image on the right reveals

how detailed the image is. Right down to the marring graffiti. We often walked past this mural on the way to where

they were filming and one couldn’t help but feel that someone was looking out for us.

Join us tomorrow as we continue

WALKING THE WORLD OF WATCHMEN

(and move to the other side of the street!)