The Dark Knight Exclusive TDK Set Report #3 8/13

[sasquatchs]

To Dr. Watson:

The bank scenes are tricky. But you have to take the information and combine it: many have said that Joker is Joker from the beginning, at least in terms of looks (Jett, Miranda, and I believe Anjow have all confirmed this.) Then you get rumors that Joker is trying to "hide" himself from his thugs; that they don't know whether he's dead or alive; and then couple that with the bank robbery sides, where the bank manager is horrified when Joker takes his mask off. Even one of the official pics released, the one with Nolan directing and Joker behind that misty glass, has Joker in his "bank scene" outfit - the work jacket/suit with the bluish shirt, in what looks like his big reveal, yet his face is white and he has green hair.

All of this together suggests that Joker is concealing his identity at the bank robbery scene somehow. The most common explanation (and perhaps the most logical one) is that Joker has covered himself in "regular" makeup, at least on his exposed skin, and dyed his hair brown (rather poorly, I might add, or at least it's starting to fade.) This was done in Burton's version by Jack, but it has its roots in the comics - even in his first appearance, Joker donned "regular" makeup to pose as a police chief, which included dying his hair. Considering his debut in Batman #1 has been so influential to Nolan (purportedly), then it's not a stretch to think he'd use this tactic in the film.

Yup, with/without makeup were also filmed on the same set

 

[Watson]

Hmmm that's interesting, and would be quite a big twist right at the beginning. However I'm guessing all of this is still unconfirmed somewhat.

Weren't there some rumors to that his injury to the face occurs at the bank scene? Or were these discredited? Because if that were the case I could see that being why the bank manager is horrified of the Jokers face...freshly slit cheeks wouldn't be too pleasant for anyone.

But both sound cool to me. I'm in the (minority) opinion that seeing at least some of the Joker's origins in this film would be cool. Or at the very least, some sort of explanation or motivation for his deep hatred of bats would be good.

 

[sglass03]

I guess the real mystery is, how does Joker go from disguise makeup/brownish hair to regular Joker so quickly? If he's Joker when the mask comes off in front of the bank manager (as we can see in one of the IMAX photos), how does it come off that fast? Even if he wipes it away, that doesn't explain why his hair is brown in some of the spy pics at the bank robbery, yet green in the IMAX photo at that same robbery.

SOMETHING happens inside that bank - perhaps the sprinklers go off? t:

 

[sglass03]

Actually, it is a pretty big twist, if that's the beginning - there's no hint he's the Joker (at least to the casual audience) until the mask comes off. We only know because we've seen the spy pics.

 

[Maggotx9]

Gimme a break, so now it´s The Crow or is it Jigsaw? If we had Internet back in 1940, The Joker would have been called a rip-off of The Man Who Laughs...

actually he is..

 

[Keyser Sushi]

Hmmm that's interesting, and would be quite a big twist right at the beginning. However I'm guessing all of this is still unconfirmed somewhat.

Weren't there some rumors to that his injury to the face occurs at the bank scene? Or were these discredited? Because if that were the case I could see that being why the bank manager is horrified of the Jokers face...freshly slit cheeks wouldn't be too pleasant for anyone.

But both sound cool to me. I'm in the (minority) opinion that seeing at least some of the Joker's origins in this film would be cool. Or at the very least, some sort of explanation or motivation for his deep hatred of bats would be good.

The problem with this is that the Bank Manager's dialogue when Joker reveals himself is pretty telling. The first words out of his mouth are, "what are you?"

That's not something you say to a guy with a gash in his face. You might say, "UGH!" You might, say, "Dude, what happened?" and you might even say, "Jesus Christ!" But you wouldn't say, "What are you?"

If, however, the face under the mask was bleached and disfigured (and not makeup, either, I mean REALLY bleached and disfigured - this looks different) you might, indeed, say "What are you?"

"What are you? You freak. Criminals in this town used to believe in things. Honor. Respect. What do you believe, huh? What do you bel-"

BANG... the JOKER puts a bullet into the Manager's head.

 

[Baba Ghanoush]

I guess the real mystery is, how does Joker go from disguise makeup/brownish hair to regular Joker so quickly? If he's Joker when the mask comes off in front of the bank manager (as we can see in one of the IMAX photos), how does it come off that fast? Even if he wipes it away, that doesn't explain why his hair is brown in some of the spy pics at the bank robbery, yet green in the IMAX photo at that same robbery.

SOMETHING happens inside that bank - perhaps the sprinklers go off? t:

They douse a jar of water in his face at which point Joker says "Argh! I'm melting, I'm melting....." then the white face appears and he says "boo!"

 

[Agentsands77]

Jett's now claiming that the make-up doesn't cover the neck (which to my eyes, it does), and that the look goes entirely unexplained. He's flip-flopped on this issue so much that I don't know whether to believe him or not.

 

[turtlefocker]

"What are you? You freak. Criminals in this town used to believe in things. Honor. Respect. What do you believe, huh? What do you bel-"

BANG... the JOKER puts a bullet into the Manager's head.

Thats gonna be a really kick-ass moment. I hope it plays out the way I see it in my head.

 

[FCEEVIPER]

Jett's now claiming that the make-up doesn't cover the neck (which to my eyes, it does), and that the look goes entirely unexplained. He's flip-flopped on this issue so much that I don't know whether to believe him or not.

Just like the rumors he reports on his site, I take what he states also with a grain of salt.

 

[Watson]

The problem with this is that the Bank Manager's dialogue when Joker reveals himself is pretty telling. The first words out of his mouth are, "what are you?"

That's not something you say to a guy with a gash in his face. You might say, "UGH!" You might, say, "Dude, what happened?" and you might even say, "Jesus Christ!" But you wouldn't say, "What are you?"

If, however, the face under the mask was bleached and disfigured (and not makeup, either, I mean REALLY bleached and disfigured - this looks different) you might, indeed, say "What are you?"

"What are you? You freak. Criminals in this town used to believe in things. Honor. Respect. What do you believe, huh? What do you bel-"

BANG... the JOKER puts a bullet into the Manager's head.

I definitely did not see this side. It does make more sense in that context. But I don't think that it rules out that he does get some of his disfigurement in this particular scene.

LOL this is so frustrating debating this in some ways because I just want to know what happens! Hopefully we gets lots more info come Wizard World.

 

[Keyser Sushi]

Thats gonna be a really kick-ass moment. I hope it plays out the way I see it in my head.

I would not be surprised if the Manager's dialogue is altered some, as it is a touch clunky going from "What are you?" to accusing him of being a nihilistic upstart (which of course he is, lol).

My suspicion is that, at the very least, it'll be separated by a beat, by a change in camera angle - from a POV on the Joker to a wider shot of both of them facing off, something, ANYthing... because that transition otherwise *is* rather abrupt.

But I do love the scene.

 

[sglass03]

With screenplays, there's really not a lot of drama. That one line of dialogue can be turned into a really great scene. I always think of scripts as a blueprint - if you shot them exactly as is, they would be very boring and drab.

 

[Crook]

Jett's now claiming that the make-up doesn't cover the neck (which to my eyes, it does), and that the look goes entirely unexplained. He's flip-flopped on this issue so much that I don't know whether to believe him or not.

Regardless....that better be DEAD wrong.

 

[Agentsands77]

With screenplays, there's really not a lot of drama. That one line of dialogue can be turned into a really great scene. I always think of scripts as a blueprint - if you shot them exactly as is, they would be very boring and drab.

That really varies from screenwriter to screenwriter. Some screenwriters are very capable of imbuing their script with lots of drama and power.

Regardless....that better be DEAD wrong.

Well, prepare yourself for the fact that it could be right.

 

[Crook]

Well, prepare yourself for the fact that it could be right.

Most rumors suggest that the look isn't even explained, yes? If so, there's NO f'n POINT of making his neck flesh-toned. Minds as well just leave everything as is, if the change isn't even backed up by anything on-screen.

Ugh.

 

[stonecold]

nivek..u r jumping to very wrong conclusions : 'sloppy,rushed, and amateurish'..wtf? u r going to look stupid when u see him onscreen, and u havent seen him, as if that would ever happen on a film like this. and that 1st shot is a make up test as well. and also - he applies some ROUGH makeup HIMSELF. it looks amazing to me and people who have seen him in the flesh. imagine it onscreen! And DarkKnight joker is all white, with blotches..and he uses make up on his eyes and mouth.. dont worry he will be the most joker-like Joker ever portrayed on screen im 100% sure of it.

 

[Keyser Sushi]

I definitely did not see this side. It does make more sense in that context. But I don't think that it rules out that he does get some of his disfigurement in this particular scene.

I've got all the sides if you want them.

At any rate, I'd agree with you if it wasn't for the IMAX photo. The IMAX photo shows what seems to be that exact scene - but the Joker has his full, extra-wide smile. And the zip-line incident, if it were to occur, would likely not be until after this scene. So we're left with an image of the Joker, in full Joker-mode, revealing himself to the Bank Manager in this scene. Confusing, isn't it? I find the zip-line thing to be less and less likely - especially since, IIRC, when Mir and Jow reported it they had both been told that it was not a sure thing. I'm getting a strong feeling that it's a jettisoned idea.

LOL this is so frustrating debating this in some ways because I just want to know what happens! Hopefully we gets lots more info come Wizard World.

I'm with you, lady!

 

[Agentsands77]

Most rumors suggest that the look isn't even explained, yes?

Yes. Including Jett's statements.

If so, there's NO f'n POINT of making his neck flesh-toned.

Agreed. But I look at these pictures and the neck certainly isn't flesh-toned. His hands are, but his neck? Nah.

 

[Schlosser85]

Jett's now claiming that the make-up doesn't cover the neck (which to my eyes, it does), and that the look goes entirely unexplained. He's flip-flopped on this issue so much that I don't know whether to believe him or not.

Considering that Jett says one thing and then another a day later depending on which way the wind blows, I'm starting to seriously doubt whether he actually knows anything.

 

[donk70]

I've got all the sides if you want them.

At any rate, I'd agree with you if it wasn't for the IMAX photo. The IMAX photo shows what seems to be that exact scene - but the Joker has his full, extra-wide smile. And the zip-line incident, if it were to occur, would likely not be until after this scene. So we're left with an image of the Joker, in full Joker-mode, revealing himself to the Bank Manager in this scene. Confusing, isn't it? I find the zip-line thing to be less and less likely - especially since, IIRC, when Mir and Jow reported it they had both been told that it was not a sure thing. I'm getting a strong feeling that it's a jettisoned idea.



I'm with you, lady!

Which would explain the eye witness reports saying that the smile isn't as grusome as the IBIHD pic.

Bravo

 

[Agentsands77]

Which would explain the eye witness reports saying that the smile isn't as grusome as the IBIHD pic.

No it wouldn't. They didn't change the concept after doing the IBIHD pic.

The only reason the smile doesn't seem as gruesome is that it's being viewed from a distance. The IBIHDT pic is zoomed in on the scarring, and has Ledger's face at an angle so that the scarring seems even bigger than it is.

 

[Agentsands77]

Considering that Jett says one thing and then another a day later depending on which way the wind blows, I'm starting to seriously doubt whether he actually knows anything.

You and me both. Originally it was AMH isn't Nigma! Now it's AMH is Nigma!

 

[Crook]

Agreed. But I look at these pictures and the neck certainly isn't flesh-toned. His hands are, but his neck? Nah.

The people that were there say otherwise however.

 

[Keyser Sushi]

Agreed. But I look at these pictures and the neck certainly isn't flesh-toned. His hands are, but his neck? Nah.

I'm about 90% certain at this point that what people are seeing is the "blotchy" aspect of his skin; i.e. it's not entirely white, there is pigment left in places, which would be designed to make him look less like a guy in white face paint (Cesar, n'est pas?) and more like a dude who has been seriously disfigured by some nasty chemical or other.

But I've been wrong before...