It's perhaps the most surreal experience of my life. There they are, in a shadowy clubhouse, standing around a map of the USA, just as we'd imagined them. The smoke of the Comedian's cigar hangs in the air as I drink in the details of the scene. Framed old copies of The New York Gazette tell stories of past exploits; trophies glint in glass-fronted display cases; Moloch's solar weapon shines in a dusty corner and over there, on its mannequin stand, the faded costume of the original Nite Owl keeps silent vigil. Then, a sudden flash of unearthly blue light announces the arrival of Dr. Manhattan and the tableau comes to life. The voices of quarreling heroes rise and fall, a Zippo flares and the map catches fire. Somewhere, someone shouts "Cut!" And I'm standing amongst them. Nite Owl shakes my hand. The Comedian slaps me on the back. Silk Spectre smiles a dazzling greeting. I'm overwhelmed by the depth and detail of what I'm seeing. But more than that. I'm overwhelmed by the commitment, the passion, the palpable desire to do this right. I'm starting to feel a glow that eclipses even Dr. Manhattan's... -Dave Gibbons December 2007

After a couple months of shooting at various locations and on stages, last week we finally made the transition to our New York City backlot. Since the New York City that is rendered in the graphic novel is so particular, it was very important to me that our backlot speak the same language, the vernacular of WATCHMEN. In addition, the backlot needs to function as many different parts of the city, countless store fronts, street corners, alleys, etc. So, with that in mind, we set out to build own own custom backlot here in Vancouver, BC. In my opinion, the results speak for themselves. Thanks to all of the many talented people who contributed to making this backlot a reality! Here are a few interesting facts about the backlot: • 5,800 feet of neon requiring 24,000 watts of power • 100 unique and custom-designed graphics created for the various storefronts • 5,000 square feet of custom posters • Street had to work for 1938, 1945, 1953, 1957, 1964, 1974, 1975, 1977, and 1985 • 1,040 feet of 1:1 scale New York streets • 98,400 square feet of exterior scenery • 12,500 square feet of interior scenery • Building heights range from 23'9" to 42'6" • 10,325 16-foot 2x4s • 3,600 sheets of OSB (plywood-like construction material) • 384,000 square feet of foam brick • 200,000 nails • 3,500 tubes of construction adhesive • 160,000 lbs. of steel I-beams support the facades • 300 cubic meters of concrete • 6,000 square feet of glass • 4,800 square feet of plexiglass • 20,000 donuts were consumed by the construction crew • 20,000 gallons of water and 3,000 gallons of Gatorade was drunk by the crew -Zack

Here’s a quick peek of the "War Room" at the production office. It’s a huge space. We used this room frequently for meetings during pre-production. Surrounding the many seats and long tables in the middle of the room, all the walls are covered and sectioned off into individual scenes – all the concept art, visual reference and any other related materials are grouped together for display. One of the things I love about the graphic novel is the incredible attention to detail. Here in the war room, we have created a place where all the departments can combine and display applicable reference, rendering a similar level of detail. From set concepts, to location photos, concepts for props, costumes, vehicles and even product logos, the surrounding walls incorporate it all. These walls are very useful in helping us keep track of so many different elements. Walking through this room gives one a real sense of each set or location – outlining the overall vibe of what we’re trying to create. I feel like this room captures the essence of having a clear blueprint for everyone to ensure that everyone is working toward the same vision. If you happen to be checking these pictures out wishing you could see more of the art, I assure you that sometime in November I will post a series of first look photos to show you in more detail what we’ve been up to. Please stay tuned. -Zack

Okay, so I'm back up in Vancouver prepping like crazy. Although things are incredibly busy, everything is really coming together. But, more on that in a future blog... I just wanted to take a minute to say "Thanks" to everyone who attended the various Watchmen and 300 events at Comic-Con. It was great having a chance to sit on the panel and talk a little bit about the film and introduce you to a couple of our cast members. I also had a great time meeting some of you on the convention floor. Thanks for the continued support for 300. To come back to the same room where we first showed the trailer and a year later to have another packed room still wanting to talk about the film was great. I've included a few photos from this years Comic-Con events. For more on the day's events, check out the day as seen through the eyes of MTV. That's it for now. I'll check back in soon with an update. Thanks, Zack