RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN.pdf - CIA - Thecia

PRODUCTION COMMENCESOnce the cast was in place, production was ready to commence on “Race to WitchMountain.” The filmmakers determined that, for logistical reasons, most of the film would beshot in California, with two weeks planned for Las Vegas, Nevada.Fickman and production designer David J. Bomba (who had collaborated on the films“She’s the Man” and “The Game Plan”) planned massive sets that would be constructed atDisney Studios as well as on location. Genevieve Tyrrell, who had worked with both men on“The Game Plan,” created the costumes while veteran stunt coordinator Scott Rogers(“Spider-Man 3”) collaborated on the cutting-edge physical stunts.A new menace was created for “Race to Witch Mountain”: the Siphon, a humanoid bred onSeth and Sara’s planet as a ruthless hunter whose assignment is to stop the teenagers at anycost. For the creation of a new alien villain that would be as original as it would be sinister,the production turned to famed monster makers Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff, Jr., partners inthe special effects firm Amalgamated Dynamics Incorporated (ADI).ADI had created and operated many memorable screen creatures, from the jungle beasts of“Jumanji” to the otherworldly beingsin “Alien vs. Predator.” For theSiphon, filmmakers wanted a toughand versatile adversary to go upagainst the physicality of DwayneJohnson, known for his expert stuntwork in such films as “The ScorpionKing” and “The Rundown,” amongothers.“We all agreed that the Siphon hadto be a real monster, not just acomputer-generated effect,” Johnsonsays. “So we went to ADI, which had the best track record for creating out-of-this-worldphysical beings. They really did a great job in creating this very real, six-foot-six huntingmachine. As an actor it is so important to be able to see what you are fighting, not just to reactto points on a green screen. I love the fact the Siphon has so many weapons at his disposal,making him a very worthy opponent for Jack Bruno.”Stunt coordinator (and 2nd unit director) Scott Rogers needed a versatile suit for the Siphonso the stunt performer inside could move easily and be as comfortable as possible over thelong days of shooting. Stunt man Paul Darnell portrayed the Siphon in all stunt scenes, whileWoodruff played it in other sequences.“Having done stunts in similar suits, I knew what to expect,” Rogers says. “You need aspecial skill set and personality to deal with the claustrophobia and the heat. On top of that,you need the performance. Luckily we found stunt man Paul Darnell, who has a fluid, catlikeability to move and jump while also being strong enough to perform the tougher stunts.”The Siphon was created with lightweight material such as sponge rubber and nylonspandex, allowing maximum movement for the actor inside while housing an impressive arrayof weapons on its arms. The versatility of the suit came in handy when shooting stunts thatliterally blew the stunt man off his feet.PRODUCTION COMMENCES17