I'm not entirely sure how it happened, but I got management at The Columbia Chronicle hooked on the idea for a photo spread of the new Transformers movie being filmed in Chicago. I spent 24 hours over 5 weekends on or near their sets. I struggled to get enough explosion photos for the spread because I was busy with other things, but the last weekend I went to the set, I got my best photos (the main photo and top right photo in the spread).
Mark Wahlberg is the new lead, Kelsey Grammer is the human villain, and there are several new autobots (3 are in the spread if you look closely) and updates to some of the existing ones.
My colleague
Tony Soave joined me one day and managed to get himself on the roof of an apartment complex that was right next to a filming location on Roosevelt Road Bridge (the helicopter pictures in the spread are his).
Christine Fielder, a graphic designer at The Columbia Chronicle was responsible for the layout and graphics.
Below is the spread that ran in the paper and a few of my favorite shots.
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| The spread that ran in the October 7, 2013 issue of The Columbia Chronicle. |
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| Extras flee from flying cars and pyrotechnics while filming a scene set in Hong Kong at the intersection of South Wacker Drive and West Monroe Street in Chicago, Ill., on September 28, 2013. Jon Durr THE CHRONICLE |
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| Mark Wahlberg (right) and Jack Reynor (carrying black bag) run with extras while filming a scene on the Roosevelt Road Bridge in Chicago, Ill., on September 14, 2013. Jon Durr THE CHRONICLE |
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| The abandoned Damen Silos at Damen Avenue and 29th Street are engulfed in flames in Chicago, Ill., on September 21, 2013. Jon Durr THE CHRONICLE |
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| Director Michael Bay (far right) talks with a crew member in-between takes while filming on the center of Roosevelt Road Bridge in Chicago, Ill., on September 14, 2013. Jon Durr THE CHRONICLE |
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| Optimus Prime, a Western Star 4900 Custom semi-truck is parked on South Wells Street in Chicago, Ill., on September 14, 2013. Jon Durr THE CHRONICLE |
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| A car spirals through the air while pyrotechnics are used during a scene set in Hong Kong at the intersection of South Wacker Drive and West Monroe Street in Chicago, Ill., on September 28, 2013. Jon Durr THE CHRONICLE |
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| A car bursts in to flames after it was sent flying in to a fake double-decker bus with a picture of Victoria's Secret model Candice Swanepoel on it during a scene set in Hong Kong at South Wacker Drive and West Monroe Street in Chicago, Ill., on September 28, 2013. Jon Durr THE CHRONICLE |
