America's west coast in Iron Man

For many actors, the long production shoots that take them away from their loved ones, is one of the less appealing aspects of being a Hollywood name. Sure, the fat pay cheque and international stardom must sweeten the pill, but it must be nice when a film comes along that doesn’t require you to jet off to Cambodia or New Zealand at the drop of a hat. And apparently, that is exactly one of the reasons why Oscar-winner Gwyneth Paltrow accepted the role of Pepper Potts in summer blockbuster, Iron Man, as it was filmed in California – the studio just 15 minutes drive away from her home.

In the comic books, Tony Stark, the playboy billionaire that assumes the crime-fighting mantle of Iron Man, lives in Manhattan, but director Jon Favreau took the decision to relocate the action from America’s east coast to its west. After the likes of the Spiderman and Fantastic Four films had so prominently flashed their New York credentials, he considered it was time for a California-set superhero flick, helping Iron Man stand out from the crowd.

This means that the home, work place and night spots of Tony Stark are to be found in the land of the Governator – though not all of them actually exist. Of genuine locations, Stark Industries is located at Discovery Drive in Irvine, while the Aviation Division (the haunt of chum, Colonel James ‘Rhodey’ Rhodes) is in actuality, Edwards Air Force Base at Antelope Valley. Enjoying his wealth, Tony Stark attends a glamorous event at the Walt Disney Concert Hall at 111S. Grand Avenue, downtown Los Angeles, but heads out of the state to indulge some gambling in Las Vegas, namely Caesar’s Palace on 3570 Las Vegas Boulevard South.

Sadly, the fictional site is Stark’s gloriously high-tech cliff-top pad. Questioned on the authenticity of the house, Favreau admits: “No, that’s a bluff called Point Dume in Malibu. That is a National Park, so people in Los Angeles will recognise it. It’s sort of like the best spot, and nobody is allowed to build there, but we put a digital house there.” It certainly is “the best spot,” as with its panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean it would boost a price tag that only the likes of Tony Stark could afford.

Stepping away from the safety of his digitally created home, Stark travels to Afghanistan to flog his new Jericho cluster weapon. Here he is captured by local terrorists who hole him up in an underground cave and demand that he build weapons on their behalf. Naturally, filming in Afghanistan wasn’t an option considered by the film’s producers and so all scenes in this dingy Middle Eastern prison are the Howard Hughes sound stages at Playa Vista, LA. This studio set provided a wealth of interiors, including Stark’s home, and the captivity scenes were the first to be filmed when shooting began in March 2007. The designed cave was suitably small (150 – 200 yards), and featured movable forks to allow the crew space to easily move about in.

It was back into the Californian fresh air for the Afghanistan exteriors, with Stark’s capture by the rebel militants shot at Lone Pine. This frequent cinematic spot, dubbed ‘Movie Road’ (it has starred in films ranging from High Sierra to Gladiator) is located in Inyo County, at the base of the High Sierras, and was certainly more accommodating for the crew than the other Afghanistan exterior at Olancha Sand Dunes. Here, near Death Valley, they endured 40 to 60 mph winds for two days as Stark escapes in the Mark 1 suit.

Tough going – even for a superhero.