August 5, 2010 – Mark Pelczarski shot the original video from his west tower condo at Marina City. He captured explosions, fireballs, rooftop scenes, scenes of people fleeing to a bus and, sadly, the bus exploding. Not to mention an eerie smoke that blanketed the riverfront. If you did not know it was for a movie, you might not have left home without full body armor. (Click on image at left to view larger version.) Play Windows Media Video Flash Video

We lingered at the video of the exploding bus. They say that in Los Angeles, people are accustomed to filming of scenes like this and do not linger at video of buses exploding. But in Chicago, this only happens every few years, and so we gawk. We stand for an hour in eager anticipation. We notice the choreography of carefully planned mayhem. Police boats move into position. Bridges are cleared of pedestrians. Crewmembers bark orders into their radios. A countdown, a series of huge explosions, and it is such a spectacle that you cannot resist applauding.

Video by Mark Pelczarski. Edited by Steven Dahlman.

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