That's the Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois building. Though bear in mind that the bit where we see Optimus, Hound, and Crosshairs burst through the windows, was shot at the entrance to McCormick Place's Grand Concourse.
Haha nope. Would love to see all the places, especially the pyramids. And to the poster that mentioned thinking that Megatron was huge at the DC monuments, I concur. That Lincoln Memorial is ginormous.
I went to DC in 2011 before the movie was released, if it would have been after, man would I have had a blast. Still did, but you know what I mean. We used to go to Chicago every summer, my brother was able to watch some filming, I was so jealous.
Here is my nephew and I in 2010 at Willis Tower, a week before they started destroying Chicago. They have those cool clear boxes on the west side of the building, all the cool buildings are to the north of Willis Tower. Another cool thing is that I live in New Mexico, and I can see Shiprock from my back yard. That's the place where Lennox, Epps, and crew were walking through the desert on Transformers '07 that was supposed to be Qatar. It was also at the end of The Lone Ranger. It's about a 30-40 minute drive from where I live. Here's the view from my backyard. I've also been to Monument Valley a long time ago, and Hole N"The Rock a few times in Utah on the way to Salt Lake City from New Mex. It's so cool to see all these places in the movies.
Thanks! Yeah it was neat being way up there in Willis Tower, I think it made the "climbing down the anchor" scene even crazier for me in theaters. I hate heights, and the movie captured the feeling perfectly, I was freaking out, even though I was in my seat, I felt like I was gonna fall. Haha! But it's not scary when you're in the building.
Now if only they filmed Transformers in New York City, that would be glorious. That's pretty cool that you're having fun in Chicago.
I just imagine after he did 'Armageddon,' it's been considered that he stay as far away as possible. Then again, there were some small flying shots in ROTF.
If you're still in Chicago, this was a list I was sent a few years ago. Helped identify some of the areas used in Dark of the Moon. I've been fortunate enough to have been to all these areas listed, to have seen some of the DotM filming, to have been in Adrian, MI for the highway chase in AoE and to have been in downtown Detroit for more AoE filming. Plus they let me sit in Sideswipe! 1) The Wrigley Building - the area in front was where the Autobots were held hostage, as well as the Tribune building across the way was where Lennox and his men went into. 2) Upper Wacker Dr between Michigan Ave and Wabash. The area where Optimus swooped down and brought some hurt on the Decepticons. The large space between the Hotel 71 and the bakery on Michigan was where Megatron got his pep-talk from Carly. 3) Parking lot/garage on Wabash, between Randolph and Lake St: the site of Sam's battle with Starscream. 4) 155 N Wacker Dr - this building served as the main shooting model for the glass building. The lobby shot of Shia and Epps heading towards the elevator was shot here. Also, the street outside was where they ran up to, and in a separate clip when Megatron 'drives up,' they shot his driving approach traveling East-to-West outside. 5) McCormick Place Busway- runs along the South Shore line Metra tracks- this is where they shot the first 'approach' footage of Sam and Epps heading towards Chicago. (I don't know if peds can walk down there or not, as I've never done it). 6) Corner of S Indiana Ave and E 23rd St by McCormic Place. I believe this is where the Mexican Stand-off was filmed. 7) The alleyway next to the Dunkin Donuts at 6 North Wabash Avenue- this is where Sam/Carly's Apt's exterior was, and where Sam's parents had their RV parked near (I saw the guy playing Sam's Dad standing around in his PJ's one day).
I did see the first transformers being filmed by my place in San Bernardino, Rialto to be more exact though I didn't know it was Transformers at the time. On the 210 freeway it wasn't quite completed yet. Part of the wet bound side was open but nothing yet on the east bound side. So we would go to Ontario or Rancho Cucamonga on the west bound side and see all these cameras and star trailers (but no cars) and though the freeway looked finished is wasn't or something. We then saw them filming some cars going up and down the freeway. We thought they might be filming another Fast and the Furious movie because we didn't see any signs or anything. It wasn't until I saw the movie and saw the freeway scenes with the bus being split in two and bonecrusher that I realized and saw the exit signs on the freeway that it was indeed what they were filming on the 210 freeway.
That's pretty neat! That's kinda what happened to one of my brother's friends when they filmed by Shiprock here in New Mexico. He saw a bunch of people out there filming by the rock, but we didn't know that it was Transformers until we saw it in theaters.
well.. i was an extra for the "paris" scene where sams parents were abducted which was shot in philly. and i lived in chicago for a bit, but that was before the first movie even came out.
