Exclusive: Hang Around With Spider-Man in 'The Amazing Spider-Man' Storyboards by Warren Drummond

Usually when you hear a movie is going back for re-shoots, it means it's bad. But, in the case of The Amazing Spider-Man this was obviously an exception. Back in 2011, ComicBookMovie reported that they were filming re-shoots in New York City and some panicked. Since the film is widely regarded as a raging success the re-shoots were a good thing.

Warren Drummond is an excellent artist who also worked on Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes and A Beautiful Mind. He's one of the storyboard artists that worked on The Amazing Spider-Man and shared his experience with me. He also sent me some exclusive storyboards from the film.



How did you get involved in the project?
I originally got a call from the production designer, Michael Riva in early 2010. I was on the movie ABDUCTION and couldn't take the gig. I was heart broken as I am a life long Spider-Man geek. [J. Michael Riva] (production designer) unfortunately recently died weeks ago while on Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained. I never had the chance to work with him on a daily basis. Good man.

Last fall, the production supervisor JoAnn Perritano, whom I had worked with on other films called me in when the movie was about to do additional photography or "reshoots".

This is done when there is new footage that needs to be added do to various reasons. In this case, director Marc Webb wanted to explore some ideas that were not shot initially, like the first time Captain Stacy sees Spider-man.

I was told I'd get about a week's worth of work. I got about five weeks as Marc kept coming up with good ideas and I guess he liked the way I worked. The three storyboard artists who got screen credit did the lion's share of the work, but I did some cool stuff.

Q: I notice there were quite a few close ups and tracking shots. Were these from the director or your own designs?
Marc had a basic camera idea for every scene he had me do. Many of the shots were planned by him, but he let me be creatively free and involved. I was able to contribute, but ultimately, he had the final say on the shots, which worked out fine. Smart filmmaker.

Q: What was it like working on Spider-Man?
A dream come true. I grew up on John Romita Sr's drawing and his son JRjr is a buddy. I keep missing the opportunity to get on these super-hero films. I did to do one reshoot scene for X MEN: FIRST CLASS, but I was in and out. Maybe this will up my "Cape Cred".

See more of Warren Drummond storyboards at WarrenDrummond.com

What do you think of the storyboards?

10 Good Questions With Storyboard Artist Warren Drummond

Jackie Chan (left) and Warren Drummond (right)

Bruce Lee said, "Absorb what is useful, discard what is not. Add what is essentially your own." Warren Drummond is a martial arts expert. He's also a storyboard artist. Put the two together and you get a Kung-Fu concept artist. Drummond has made storyboarding his own.

I first saw his storyboards from Rise of the Planet of the Apes, but he's been working in the industry since 1994 on everything from A Beautiful Mind to X-Men: First Class.

He agreed to an exclusive interview to answer ten important questions. He names his favorite artists, the movie that didn't give him credit and the connection that helped him meet his wife.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Q. When you began your journey as a designer you probably had a few role models, would you name two of your favorite artists?
My favorite artists were my older brother, John Drummond Jr, as well the great John Romita Sr. I saw my brother's work all the time. His work was astounding. Professionals thought he should have gotten into comics, though John preferred fine art. Romita Sr's balance of anatomy and storytelling was only second to John Buscema (a LOT of "John's, eh?). Romita Sr was a better inker than Buscema, who was often inked by others. Buscema though drew the human body better than anyone.

Q. What has been your greatest artistic achievement in your life so far?
(Image: Nash chase - A Beautiful Mind)
Just getting FINALLY  into the movie business almost 20 years ago and STAYING in it. I believe my work on A BEAUTIFUL MIND was a high point as I worked with Ron Howard and the movie won Best Picture. I was on it seven weeks. My friend, storyboard artist (and current 2nd Unit director as well) Brick Mason brought me on to help him. last fall, I got to do over a month on reshoots for THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN. I hope it rocks.

I got to work a week on STAR WARS: ATTACK OF THE CLONES, thanks to being buds with the stunt coordinator, Nick Gillard. I spent a blissful, geek-laden week at Skywalker Ranch.

Q. How has your martial arts training influenced your storyboard designs?
(Image: Martial Arts study - personal)
Martial arts has given me discipline and has kept me in shape to work those long hours. There are many martial artists I admire, Benny Urquidez, Anderson Silva, all of my previous instructors (who are all still in my life), and of course my hero, Bruce Lee.

Lee had an open mind to new things, as well as to keep trying to get better, and I have tried to hold on to that. There were also MANY unheralded black martial artists like Moses Powell, Steve Sanders, Carl Scott, etc whom I am sure I got something from if only through the ethers.

Q. What's it like seeing your storyboards come to life on screen?
On a movie like SHAFT (2000) it was unreal as John Singleton often sticks close to his boards when they are needed. It also does not hurt the ego to see your name in the credits.

It does SUCK, however, when you work hard and they DON'T credit you. Hello, "ANALYZE THIS"!!!!

Q. What was your favorite memory during your time on Rise of the Planet of the Apes?
Working with the director, Rupert Wyatt, a great guy, who's also so smart. I just loved the whole "process".

Q. What is your favorite movie and how many times have you seen it?
JAWS. I can't count how many times I've seen it. Perfect film. SUPERMAN and STAR WARS made me want to get into the business. I STILL have yet to meet Spielberg!!!

ENTER THE DRAGON is in the top ten. Waahhh!!!

Q. What was your most surprising inspiration for a storyboard?
(Image: Fast and the Furious 3: Tokyo Drift)
Music certainly brings out different attributes, but many artists listen to some form of music while working. I listen to John Williams scores, The Beatles, or a Tribe Called Quest (Jamaica Queens in the house!!!).

Q. You said in an interview that your first love is writing. Is there a pet project you have in mind you can talk about?
Nothing I can mention now, but my "coverage" on my current script went quite well. Let's talk in a year.

Q. In your line of work networking is key. What's the most amazing connection that networking has brought you?
Well, I met my wife through director Carl Franklin and his wife, producer Jesse Beaton. Knowing Brick Mason landed me Ron Howard. John Singleton got me work with Denzel Washington when Denzel directed ANTWONE FISHER. Working with on that movie introduced me to the wonderful producer Todd Black. Years later, Todd optioned a script from my wife.

Q. What’s next for you? What other projects can we look forward to seeing?
A just landed a few days helping out on a movie called THE TOMB (2013). I get to finally draw Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone. No, I can't talk about it (LOL), but I really like the script.

See more of Warren Drummond's body of work at WarrenDrummond.com and check out the list of other artists I've interviewed here.

What do you think of the illustrations?

See The Secret Opening of 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes' In Drummond's Exclusive Storyboards

Warren Drummond, provided me some exclusive storyboards from the film Rise of the Planet of the Apes that reveal a very different opening.

One of five storyboard artists on the film Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Drummond very kindly let me share some cool storyboards that show a big change from the script. In the theatrical version of the film "Bright Eyes" the ape refuses to leave her cage and attacks a technician Robert Franklin (Tyler Labine). She freaks out, runs all over the lab and crashes into the boardroom where she is shot dead. It turns out she was protecting her newborn child.

In the storyboards provided by Drummond, it's "Lucky" that's being strapped to a lab table and escaping with "Bright Eyes" help before crashing into the boardroom where he is shot.


Here's Warren's quote:

The LUCKY scene is a bit different I believe, as I drew the Chimp in the cage as NOT being the one who escapes but another on the table. 

Here's a video I made of the storyboards.

See more of Warren Drummond portfolio at WarrenDrummond.com.

What do you think of the storyboards? How do you think the film would have been different with this opening?
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