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Thursday, May 15, 2008

Diner at the End of the World

By Lee Ross
Mountain View Telegraph
      There is a fake diner on N.M. 41 that will be blown up at the end of the month because of a post-apocalyptic battle to destroy a waitress and the unborn messiah she carries.
       The diner is north of Stanley and it is actually a set for the film “Legion,” a supernatural thriller with a budget of more than $20 million, according to the film's co-producer Steve Beswick.
       Beswick, who said he has been in the film industry for 30 years and has worked on about 120 films, said the diner will probably be blown up at the end of this month, but only after all filming is done.
       “Obviously we want to make sure everything we've filmed to date is all fine,” he said.
       The film is about the end days, when God loses faith in humanity — again — and decides to end things. Paul Bettany, who plays the archangel Michael in the film, winds up in the ill-fated diner and ends up holed up with a bunch of misfits trying to save humanity.
       The movie has some star power — including Dennis Quaid who plays Bob Hanson in the film — to go along with its budget, as well. And a few of the actors have worked in New Mexico before.
       Kevin Durand, who plays Gabriel, was in “Wild Hogs” and “3:10 to Yuma”; and Tyrese Gibson, who plays Kyle Williams, was in “Transformers.”
       Louise Spencer, publicist for the film, also has an extensive history with films in New Mexico, having worked on “Swing Vote,” “No Country for Old Men” and “The Eye,” to name a few.
       Spencer said the “Legion” production has a permit to close the highway for 15 minutes in the daytime and 30 minutes at night to film.
       Those who have driven in the area may have noticed the set, or even been stopped as crews and drivers film one of the movie's driving scenes. And there may be a few more holdups to come.
       “We have a couple more car crashes to film,” Beswick said.
       Filming on May 10 and 11 was of a vehicular assault on the diner from the north one day and the south the next, Beswick said. The shots involved about 30 drivers, including stunt car drivers.
       Shooting began April 14 and will wind up May 30, with locations in Albuquerque and Santa Fe along with the location near Stanley, according to Beswick. They've been filming at the diner off and on since May 1.
       Beswick said the film required the rental of about 50 trucks and 200 cars, and a good deal of money aside from the rentals is being spent locally as a result of the filming, which is done mostly at night, Beswick said.
       “I'd say there is a large economic impact,” he said, adding that includes everything from “3 a.m. trips to Carl's Jr. to my daily lattes.”
       He also said there's a cast of about 40 actors, a crew of 230 and about 500 extras for the movie. About 90 percent of the crew is from Albuquerque or Santa Fe, and many of the extras are also locals, Beswick said.
       It's a bit late to look for a walk-on role now, Beswick said, as casting has already been done.
   

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