It was obvious the Buick parked underneath a large, dangling hunk of metal on Michigan Avenue wasn’t going to survive filming of “Transformers 3” on Sunday afternoon, but the rest of the scene that was about to unfold wasn’t as predictable.
The one-take sequence kicked off with a booming explosion — the kind you didn’t need to be outside to hear — in front of Pioneer Court, just north of the Chicago River. It was followed immediately by the fall of the object dangling from a crane (maybe a stand-in for a Transformer’s foot?) and the demise of the Buick.
And then came the cool part. Well, the really cool part.
Two vehicles were sent flying north on Michigan in front of the Tribune building (a result of the initial explosion, I’m guessing). They flipped over several times along the way and crashed into each other and a parked taxi as smoke began to fill the air.
The scene lasted less than 10 seconds, but, as is normally the case for this sort of a shot, the set-up occupied a good chunk of the day. Also costing the production time was the rain that hit downtown around 12:30 p.m. Brief but strong showers forced the production crew to cover their cameras with tarps and wait under tents or inside vans in the area.
Even after the rain stopped, the crew waited a while before filming again. Star Shia LaBeouf passed that time listening to music in Pioneer Court (he’s a big head-bobber) and doing a set of push-ups.
Sunday’s filming was the last of a three-day, explosion-heavy shoot that closed down Michigan from Ontario Street to Wacker Drive. The stretch of Magnificent Mile, which spent the weekend covered in wrecked cars and debris, was scheduled to reopen at 5 a.m. on Monday. That’s the same day “Transformers” is expected to cross the river and begin filming on Wacker Drive between Michigan and Wabash Avenue.
In the meantime, the blockbuster sequel’s director, Michael Bay, and stars have been hitting the town. The 45-year-old Bay hung out at Cuvee until around 2:45 a.m. Saturday — and still made it to the set in the morning. He has visited the River North club four times in a span of eight days. Elsewhere, star Josh Duhamel and his famous wife, Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie, had an early dinner at Hub 51 on Tuesday. They dined at Cibo Matto in The Wit hotel on Thursday and headed up to Roof on the 27th floor for drinks afterward.
Rock on: Kid Rock will host an after-party at Crimson Lounge July 30 following his show with Bon Jovi at Soldier Field. Tickets for the party at Crimson Lounge, located in Thompson Hotels’ Sax Chicago, are $50 in advance (email [email protected]) and $75 at the door.
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About this week: The Bears’ Jay Cutler will host a Vegas-themed benefit for his foundation aboard a cruise ship on Lake Michigan Thursday. Visit jaycutlersix.com for ticket information. … Vince Vaughn and Kevin James will co-host the Wild West Comedy Show, featuring sketch comedy and stand-up comics, at the Park West on Friday. The two actors are currently filming the comedy “What You Don’t Know” in Chicago. Vaughn had lunch with friends at SushiSamba Rio on Thursday.
Sightings: Adult film legend Ron Jeremy partied at Enclave on Friday while in town for the Exxxtacy Show 2010 convention in Rosemont. Shwayze and Cisco Adler performed at Enclave that same night. … The Cubs’ Alfonso Soriano and the Blackhawks’ Brian Campbell were spotted separately at Rockit Bar & Grill in River North on Friday. … The Bears’ Matt Forte, the Philadelphia 76ers’ Andre Iguodala and the Cubs’ Tom Gorzelanny had dinner separately at Hub 51 on Friday. … Rapper Rick Ross took part in a meet-and-greet at the PHLI store in Hyde Park on Tuesday. … Actress Jasmine Guy (Whitley Gilbert from “A Different World”) hung out in Market’s beer garden on July 11. “A Walk to Remember” actor Shane West was spotted on Market’s rooftop July 10.
For more Luis, go to chicagotribune.com/aboutlastnight