Thousands Gather in South Korea to be in Live Action "Where's Waldo?" Film

Recently I sat down with director Nick LaShane on location for his film adaptation  of "Where's Waldo?". 

Look down at that street, how many people are in this film? 

It has to be more than 100,000 people down there. Most of them are extras, but we have some of the best extras in this film. Mike Balucci he's been in every film wedding scene since 1990. We also have Gibbons McQuerie who has been in the background of every one of scorceses' dinner scenes. April Fischel, Ted Kyurio, Mitzio Nagai i could go on. Extra's are very important in a film like this especially since you want the location of the protagonist to remain a secret. So its tough because they all know where he is, right? However, they have to act as if they don't know where he is because the last thing you want is for all of them to be looking at Waldo it would kill the mystery.

Actual still shot from the film. 

This'll be great on Imax.

So this will be a faithful adaptation?

Absolutely, as a director i like to stand back and let the actors do their thing. So not only do i get to stand back, i stand way back. There are no close ups its all landscapes. This set is all about the mystery, when i shout 'action' i am so far away i can't tell where the actors are or if they're even in the scene but it's o.k. because it's not the cameras job to show you where they are, you have to find them. 

Is there some sort of plot? 

Yes, its a story within a puzzle. Is the story also a puzzle? I can't say. But you'll see a carnival filled with people all doing different things; a guy tying balloon animals, a giraffe eating a guys hat, a carousel twirling with children. At the same time you can hear Waldo and the action going on, but, Where is it? Where is the action? You have to find it. You have to find Waldo. 

Is there any way you can tell us, who is playing waldo?

(laughs) No way! But i can tell you a little about Waldo. He's a traveller who has been every where in every time. He loves books. But he also, as you may remember, used a cane. Something made him a cripple and he fights with his inner demons, but he also gets to see the sphinx! So in that respect its a mystery for the audience within an art house film about a four-eyed cripple who wears half his pajamas all the time and its an action movie that will make you cry. 

There's been reports saying that due to the massive production that you have encountered some protesting on set, is that true?

Yes, unfortunately some people don't understand the process of making art. And-like today- we have an entire mile of a major city street blocked off. So of course some of the people of south korea are going to be upset, because they don't understand true art. But in the end it helps me out because all the protesters are just another peice of the film. 

You just shot the scene with them in it?

Yeah, why you think they're in SAG?

Where do you see Waldo Next?

In Carmen San Diego. Oh No, that sounded so dirty! I'm not making a Waldo/San Diego porno. 

I'd pay a lot of money to see that.

I was actually thinking of doing more of a film like "Innerspace" except Waldo would play the Dennis Quaid role. He would shrink down and go inside of Carmen San Diego. It would be called Where in the Carmen San Diego is Waldo? 

Sounds like a long title. Mouthful.

Uh, Wheres Waldo in Carmen Sand Diego?

Still sounds like a porno.

(Laughter) Yuck it does. How gross.

Sometimes I paint my wango like a barber pole and play "Wheres Waldo?" with the ladies. I put it in "uh where's waldo" take it out "oh there he is!" and repeat.

I do something, i dress it up to look like an ostrich and then i bury it's "head" into the metaphorical dirt. 

That is the least romantic thing i've ever heard

Well what about your sick thing?

Mine was funny we had a laugh. I didn't call her tunnel of love a dirt purse. You're an idiot. 

Go Check Out "Where's Waldo?" Summer 2009. 

Where is Waldo? 

HINT: He's the one thats not Asian.