How I Stumbled onto the "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" Movie Set

Moviegoers will flock to see "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" this summer. I'm so there! But unlike most in the audience, I can brag, "I saw 'Fantastic Four' being filmed!"

Business travel led me to Vancouver, British Columbia in October 2006. Being my first visit, I walked the streets like any other tourist, taking in every inch (err, centimeter, since we're talking about Canada). Suddenly, something didn't seem right.

Yellow taxi cabs with New York State plates were parked in front of me. New York City banners lined the street. I'd seen this scene so many times before, but in Manhattan. What were yellow New York taxi cabs and New York banners doing in Vancouver? I was confused.

"What's going on?" I asked a twenty-something onlooker.

"The 'Fantastic Four' sequel is being filmed!" His enthusiasm vibrated through me.

"Oh," I replied nodding and faking a smile. I was clueless. I had given up on superheroes once the "Wonder Woman" television series was canceled and never ventured back into comic books. I had no idea who the "Fantastic Four" were. I'm embarrassed to admit I can't even name a "Fantastic One."

"We need a way to keep the crowd away," I heard a woman's harsh voice shout over a loudspeaker. The "Fantastic Four's" crowd control pushed the onlookers and me to the side, indicating where we needed to stand so we wouldn't get in the shot.

Eventually, "Action!" was called and actors dressed in frumpy, dark business suits walked down the Manhattan-like sidewalks. I stretched my neck to see what was happening and was under-whelmed.

Being a celebrity hound (see how I stalked, uh, "met" President Bush and Rachael Ray), I wanted a closer look of the "Fantastic Four" filming. I made my way to the other end of the street and weaseled my way past the blockade and joined a few other bystanders.

"Are any of the 'Fantastic Four' in this shoot?" I asked.

"No, not today." Still clueless who actually makes up the "Fantastic Four," I was really bummed about not seeing a comic book hero dashing in shiny tights.

Cars and taxi cabs were put in place for the next shot. The "Fantastic Four" film crew scurried around and took their positions.

"Action!"

The set fell quiet, followed by...BOOM!

An explosion ripped through the silence. Metal crunched. One by one, about a dozen cars once neatly lined up, flipped on their sides in a chain reaction. Smoke lingered. In a matter of seconds, "Cut!" was called.

And that was it. The scene for "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" was finished. I didn't get to see a comic book hero in shiny tights, but did get to see something pretty cool. Now eight months later, I'll finally get to see the finished product. Best of all, I have the bragging rights to say, "I saw a comic book come to life...kinda."

Author's note: To learn about the "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer", check out this article by Philip Silva, "A Crash Course on Fantastic Four and Silver Surfer".