On the Set of I Am Legend

Finally the movie is here! The crew at iMAG was on the set as people tried to escape New York. I Am Legend, has become one of the most anticipated movies of 2007. The movie is an American post-apocalyptic science fiction horror film directed by Francis Lawrence that stars none other than Philly’s own Will Smith. Smith plays Robert Neville, possibly Earth's only survivor of a man-made virus. He works to create a cure but is stalked by nocturnal mutant survivors of the plague.

It is the fourth film adaptation of Richard Matheson's 1954 novel I Am Legend; following 1964's The Last Man on Earth, 1971's The Omega Man and 2007 direct-to-video I Am Omega. Warner Bros. Pictures began developing I Am Legend in 1994, and various actors and directors were attached to the project, though it did not enter production due to budgetary concerns. I Am Legend entered production in 2006 in New York City. Filming for I Am Legend was mainly on location in the city including a $5 million scene at the Brooklyn Bridge is the most expensive scene filmed in the city to date. (wikipedia.org)

I Am Legend was released December 14, 2007 in the United States and it brought back fond memories. We first began to film when the many people of NYC were trying to escape the island because of the plague that was vastly spreading. As we reached the Brooklyn Bridge, we had to wait for rescue helicopters that were suppose to help everyone evacuate but to our surprise no one was leaving.

Helicopters and the waterfront piers are blown up in order to keep people back as the risk of infection is too easy to spread and leaving the civilians seemed to be in the best interests to the government.

There were more than 1,000 extras who endured the weather just to be a part of this mass production and interestingly enough, the movie American Gangster, the film featuring Denzel Washington which was released close to the end of the year was being filmed at the same time in Harlem. There were many people who were a part of both movies that week.

We had the opportunity to meet with Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith (who is not featured in the film). Will Smith is a showman and a great lover of his fans and the people that he works with. He performed and joked for more than an hour. His showmanship lifted the moods of the people who had to get ready for more long hours in the very cold weather.

This movie thus far is a must see and the reviews have been nothing but positive from the performance of Will Smith to the overall production of the film. When you go to check it out, let us know if you spotted the iMAG team!!!

What did you think of the movie???

By Aalim Elitou

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.