How long did it take to film "Superman returns"?

Also if you know any other facts on the making of superman, that would be great : )|||not long, someone sneezed on a roll of blank film|||Superman (also known as Superman: The Movie) is a 1978 superhero film based on the DC Comics character of the same name. Richard Donner directed the film, which stars Christopher Reeve as Superman, as well as Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder, Marlon Brando, Glenn Ford, Phyllis Thaxter, Jackie Cooper, Marc McClure, Valerie Perrine and Ned Beatty. The film depicts the origin of Superman, from infancy as Kal-El of Krypton and growing up in Smallville. Disguised as reporter Clark Kent, he adopts a mild mannered attitude in Metropolis and develops a romance with Lois Lane, while battling against the villainous Lex Luthor.





Principal photography began on March 24, 1977 at Pinewood Studios for Krypton scenes, budgeted as the most expensive film ever made at that point. Since Superman was being shot simultaneously with Superman II, filming lasted for 19 months, until October 1978. Filming was originally to last for 7鈥? months, but problems rose during production. John Barry served as production designer, while Stuart Craig and Norman Reynolds worked as art directors. Derek Meddings and Les Bowie were credited as visual effects supervisors. Stuart Freeborn was the make-up artist, while Barry, David Lane, Peter MacDonald and John Glen directed second unit scenes. Vic Armstrong was hired as the stunt coordinator and Reeve's stunt double, his wife Wendy Leech was Margot Kidder's double. Superman was also the final film by cinematographer Geoffrey Unsworth, who died during post-production. The Fortress of Solitude was constructed at Shepperton Studios and the 007 Stage.[20][21] Upon viewing the footage of Krypton, Warner Bros. decided to distribute in not only North America, but also in foreign countries. Due to complications and problems during filming, Warners also supplied $20 million and acquired television rights.[16][20]





New York City doubled for Metropolis, while the New York Daily News served as the location for the Daily Planet. Brooklyn Heights was also used.[22] Filming in New York lasted five weeks, during the time of the New York City blackout of 1977. Production moved to Canada for scenes set in Smallville, with the cemetery scene filmed in the canyon of Beynon, Alberta, the high school football scenes at Barons, Alberta, and the Kent farm constructed at Blackie, Alberta.[23] Brief filming also took place in Gallup, New Mexico, Lake Mead and Grand Central Terminal.[1] Director Richard Donner had tensions with producers Ilya and Alexander Salkind and Pierre Spengler concerning the escalating production budget and the shooting schedule. Creative consultant Tom Mankiewicz reflected, "Donner never got a budget or a schedule. He was constantly told he was way over schedule and budget. At one point he said, 'why don't you just schedule the film for the next two days and I'll be nine months over'."[20] Richard Lester, who worked with the Salkinds on The Three Musketeers and The Four Musketeers, was brought as a producer to mediate the relationship between Donner and the producers.[6] Donner and the Salkinds refused to talk to each other.[20] With his relationship with Spengler, Donner remarked, "At one time if I'd seen him, I would have killed him."[16]





Lester was offered producing credit but refused and went uncredited for his work.[20] Salkind felt that bringing a second director on-set meant there was someone ready in the event Donner couldn't fulfill his directing duties. "Being there all the time meant he [Lester] could take over," Salkind admitted. "[Donner] couldn't make up his mind on stuff."[6] On Lester, Donner reflected, "He had been suing the Salkinds for his money on Three and Four Musketeers, which he had never gotten. He won a lot of his lawsuits, but each time he sued the Salkinds in one country, they'd move to another, from Costa Rica to Panama to Switzerland. When I was hired, Lester told me, 'Don't do it. Don't work for them. I was told not to, but I did it. Now I'm telling you not to, but you'll probably do it and end up telling the next guy.' Lester came in as a 'go-between'. I didn't trust Lester, and I told him. He said, 'Believe me, I'm only doing it because they're paying me the money that they owe me from the lawsuit. I'll never come onto your set unless you ask me; I'll never go to your dailies. If I can help you in any way, call me."[19]





It was decided to stop shooting Superman II and focus on finishing Superman. Donner had already completed 75% of the sequel.[24] The filmmakers took a risk: if Superman was a box office bomb, they would not finish Superman II. The original climax for Superman II had General Zod, Ursa and Non destroying the planet, with Superman time traveling to fix the damage.[4] On the original ending for Superman, Lex Luthor and Otis were put in prison, with the nuclear missile that Superman did not counter against flying in outer space. The missile would strike the Phantom Zone, freeing the three Kryptonian villains. Donner commented, "I decided if Superman i