Hollywood Road

Snowflakes mingled with the biting cold wind fell from the sky like tiny sharp knives against the skin. The film crew's snowmobiles were scattered across the vast snowy plains, each crew member bundled up in thick down jackets designed to withstand the cold. Equipment like lights and cameras had been specially treated for cold resistance by Murphy before their arrival.

Although the current weather was not at its coldest, the crew, coming from the warm climes of Los Angeles, found the sub-zero conditions somewhat challenging.

"Make sure the actors are well-protected against the cold," Murphy instructed an intern assistant, "Each of them should have at least three assistants ready with down jackets and hot coffee. If they catch cold, forget about your bonuses."

The intern nodded vigorously.

While other crew members could wrap themselves in thick down jackets, Chris Evans, dressed as Superman, and Gal Gadot, in her Wonder Woman costume, would soon face the icy wilderness once shooting commenced. Although their characters were superhuman, they were not.

Considering that Gal Gadot would be filming in ancient Greek armor in these conditions, Murphy somewhat regretted not filming these scenes against a green screen in a studio.

But with the crew already on location, changing plans was not an option, lest he and Gal Gadot become Hollywood's biggest laughing stock.

Murphy's thick boots crunched on the pristine snow as he approached the makeshift lift where the camera was being adjusted. Looking up, he asked the director of photography, "Phil, all good?"

"All good!" Phil Rashel gestured an 'OK' with his hands.

Advancements in technology had made filming more convenient. In such harsh environments, traditional film cameras might have struggled significantly, but digital cameras coped easily without the cold affecting image quality.

This wasn't Murphy's first time working in such low temperatures. He had previously led teams to film "Game of Thrones" in the icy plains of Iceland, providing him with valuable experience.

After checking on photography, props, lighting, and sound, Murphy went to see Chris Evans, Megan Fox, and Gal Gadot. They were all mentally prepared for the harsh conditions, especially Gal Gadot, who assured Murphy that the cold was manageable.

As for the seemingly delicate Megan Fox, having been toughened up by the explosive demands of Michael Bay, she was well equipped to handle these conditions.

Stepping out of the makeup trailer, Murphy returned to his director's chair, elevated on a platform, and surveyed the area. Beyond the busy crew, the vast snowy wilderness stretched out, devoid of any other human presence.

The pristine, raw scenery was captivating.

His gaze stretched to the horizon where endless forests dotted with snow-covered mountains blended into the majestic glaciers and winding crystal-clear streams, showcasing the pure beauty of nature's handiwork.

After marveling at Alaska's nearly untouched landscapes, Murphy got back to work. Following over an hour of bustling activity, the crew was ready to begin filming.

Starting with simpler scenes, Murphy first shot a few solo scenes featuring Megan Fox as Lois Lane. Unlike Chris Evans and Gal Gadot, who were preparing for intense physical scenes, her role was primarily to showcase her physique and facial expressions.

The crew had prepared a fitted down jacket for Lois Lane, ensuring even in the icy wilderness, Megan Fox's figure was highlighted.

These shots were straightforward. With her experience in "Transformers," Fox handled them with ease, and Murphy quickly wrapped up this portion of the shoot.

Next, Chris Evans and Gal Gadot took their positions before the camera. With their hair dyed black, the fight choreographer reviewed the action sequences with them before filming commenced.

These action scenes were also broken down into numerous segments. Murphy seldom shot long takes; even the longest action shot lasted only about twenty seconds.

Given the cold, he also had to consider the actors' endurance. After every few takes, he allowed the crew to rest. Gal Gadot and Chris Evans would wrap up in down jackets and warm up with some hot coffee.

This approach slowed down the filming process, but an ill actor would cause even more significant delays, especially considering Gal Gadot was involved.

Fortunately, not all action scenes required their direct involvement. For many parts, Murphy used stunt doubles, requiring only the actors' faces in certain shots.

"Scene fifteen, take twenty-two, action!"

The clapperboard sounded, and another scene began. Camera one hung from a slowly lowering crane, capturing a close-up of Gal Gadot in her ancient Greek armor lying in the snow. The camera first captured her shield and the Sword of Hephaestus lying nearby before focusing on Gal Gadot's face.

In the recent take, Gal Gadot's stunt double had been knocked down by Superman. Next, the warrior goddess would rise to retaliate.

In the snowy landscape, Gal Gadot wiped her mouth and, perhaps inspired, suddenly smiled.

Through the monitor, Murphy saw her smile—a smile of triumph.

"Cut!" Murphy immediately called a halt, loudly announcing, "Everyone

 back to first positions, we shoot again in ten minutes!"

Immediately, an assistant draped a down jacket over Gal Gadot, while another handed her hot coffee.

Gal Gadot tightened her coat and took a sip of coffee, then turned to Murphy, her earlier smile not part of the script.

Murphy approached her and asked directly, "Why the smile?"

"Just improvising..." This was, after all, Gal Gadot's first major role, and she seemed to struggle for the right words.

"Improvisation?" Murphy suggested.

Gadot nodded slightly, "I just felt like, in that moment, Wonder Woman might actually smile."

Just as directors might be struck by sudden inspiration during shooting, actors' improvisations were a common occurrence on set.

"Why would she smile, though?" Murphy liked the effect but was more interested in Gadot's reasoning, which often distinguished great actors from the average.

Gadot pointed towards Chris Evans, who was discussing the next moves with the fight choreographer, "Because that muscle man, he's ignited Diana's fire. She wouldn't just give up on this fight, especially since she knows she's going to win."

She looked at Murphy, seeing encouragement in his eyes, and continued, "Although Wonder Woman is a peacekeeper, she's also a warrior goddess, ready to fight to the end when necessary. She's a warrior who thrives on the thrill of adrenaline."

Murphy nodded in agreement, accepting her interpretation, "Let's do it again."

He added, "For the upcoming climactic battle scenes, let's keep this approach."

Work continued, and Murphy didn't linger, returning to his directorial duties as filming resumed promptly.

Like Superman, the cinematic portrayal of Wonder Woman in "Man of Steel" differed significantly from previous comic renditions. DC Comics' upcoming "New 52" universe would adopt many of Murphy's film adaptations.

In the film, Diana Prince's cover is that of a successful antiques dealer, worldly and knowledgeable about men. The standalone "Wonder Woman" film planned by DC would explore Diana's origin story, depicting her transformation into Wonder Woman. Here, she is naive and idealistic about the world and men, unaware of their complexities.

Moreover, Diana Prince's backstory was also adjusted.

Murphy's version discarded the traditional "made from clay and given life by the gods" narrative. Instead, Diana was born to Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons, and Zeus, making her a demigod.

The comic's Wonder Woman possesses strength comparable to Superman, described as having the beauty of Venus, the wisdom of Athena, the agility of Mercury, and stronger than Hercules. She is always equipped with her bracelets of submission, which deflect bullets, the Lasso of Truth, a tiara, and an Amazonian sword.

Diana's backstory varied across comic versions, with some depicting the Amazons as ageless. Murphy's new take did not grant them immortality; instead, Wonder Woman's longevity stemmed from her demigod heritage.

In "Man of Steel," Wonder Woman had no romantic plotlines. Murphy introduced her not to provide a love interest for the male lead but to portray her independence. As Gadot mentioned in interviews, the film emphasized Wonder Woman's autonomy; she does not rely on a man, yet remains compassionate and caring.

Murphy planned to highlight the feminist symbolism and the robust, independent stance of Wonder Woman. Compared to previous comic versions, this film's Wonder Woman would be tougher, a characteristic Murphy knew would be controversial but also garner greater recognition and an indispensable status.

In a sense, a tough Wonder Woman, alongside a peace-loving Superman and a cynical Batman, would form a complementary trinity within the Justice League.

After wrapping up the scenes in the snowy plains, Murphy led the crew back to Los Angeles to commence shooting against green screens, relying more on special effects for the studio scenes compared to the location shoots.

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