Set Visit: Tron: Legacy

I believe the first TRON film was the beginning of my life long love affair with all things geek. I will never forget sitting at a drive in, dressed in feet-y pajamas, watching neon cycles zipping around the screen. So when our very own Mike Sampson asked me if I could find the time to visit the set of the upcoming sequel TRON: LEGACY, I wanted to kiss him. (Don’t tell his wife.) Off I went to Vancouver, squeaking and clapping my hands like an idiot. And what I saw there…well, let’s just say that I’m still doing so.

This is a particularly hard set visit report to write, as I know things about the film that would make people take out a hit on me if I revealed them. I swear to you, I’m not leaking secret plot points, so you may safely read on.

First, we were ushered into the ‘War Room’, which was chock full of concept art. You’ve all seen the light cycle at this point, but at the time, it was totally new. We saw sets, weapons, character models and we each had a View Master with 3D shots from the film at our chairs. (And no, you can’t have it. They took it back, damnit!) I watched the group I was with turn from jaded entertainment reporters into seven-year-olds with a new toy. There were high fives, and whoops and lots of ‘Oh my god, this ROCKS!’ and ‘Wait, dude, come here. You have to see this!’ Then Jeff Bridges himself entered by giving us all a running hand slap. Damn, I love my job.

Later, we got to hang out in a giant neon bar called the “End of Line” club, where we saw an action scene being shot. No idea what was going on, but the place looked so cool I wanted to move in. The bar glowed, the drinks glowed, the extras…well, extras on any film are usually a dour bunch. But these guys got to dress up in odd outfits with hair cuts that would have made “Flock of Seagulls” turn green with envy. Even they were thrilled to be a part of this.

At one point, I got to sit at the bar, where a prop person excitedly told me about how they made the drinks light up. (One of those little press lights on the bottom of the glass and blue and green gel inside.) We even got to play with the weapons. Not saying I was greedy or anything, but I may have been asked more than once to let go of the disk. And my small head is the reason I got to actually wear one of the helmets. I knew something good would come out of that. Almost makes up for the embarrassment of having to wear a pink, child-sized mask last time I went snorkeling.

Disney is being understandably strict about what we can and can’t tell you right now, but I promise to bring you more interviews and impressions the second I’m allowed to tell you about them. In the meantime, check out our interview with Jeff Bridges. Flynn lives, baby!!!