Hollywood Backlot: ‘Priest’

Extra Darren Beauchamp stands with a plastic replica pig carcass, as smoke and colored lights give the crowd scene he’s waiting to begin an eerie glow.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Paul Bettany is illuminated by gelled lights.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Extras stand by as final adjustments are made prior to the filming of a crowd scene.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

An extra stares into the lights as he waits for a crowd scene to begin.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Extras during a night shoot on the Warner Bros. backlot.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Director Scott Stewart listens to a description of camera movements.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Paul Bettany watches the rehearsal unfold.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Close-up of Paul Bettany.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Visual effects coordinator Eric Torres moves through a second-unit set with his hands in the air to mimic the movements of an actor who will appear later.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Extras in a smoky night street scene wait for smoke to clear enough to begin.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Silhouetted extras.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Crew members during initial scene setup of “Priest” on the New York set of the Warner Bros. backlot.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Extras on the Warner Bros. backlot.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Paul Bettany during wardrobe adjustment.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Paul Bettany during rehearsal.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Paul Bettany and extras portraying factory workers in the fictional city of City 5 (District 12).  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Final touches are given to Paul Bettany’s costume.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Video assistant operator Michael Herron checks his equipment, with a prop pig in the foreground.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Karl Urban slouches through the main street of the Wasteland town of Jericho, which in reality is the Melody Ranch in Newhall.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Karl Urban, as the character “Black Hat,” stares ominously through a notch in said hat.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Smoke trails from Karl Urban’s mouth.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Karl Urban holds his position as camera focus is adjusted.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Smoke trails from under the brim of Karl Urban’s hat.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Karl Urban is ready for his close-up, and his close-up is ready for him.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Karl Urban walks through the Wasteland town of Jericho.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Stunt coordinator Lance Gilbert models the fine points of a punch to Karl Urban.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

A unit comprised of “B” camera operator Patrick O’Brien, visual effects supervisor Jonathan Rothbart, and “B” camera first assistant Steve Cueva films Karl Urban in extreme close-up.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Karl Urban delivers a kick to a stuntman costumed to serve as a visual reference for later CGI work.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Karl Urban listens to suggestions from director Scott Stewart.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Karl Urban, Paul Bettany and Arnold Chon prepare to begin a rock-climbing stunt scene on a set known as “The Sola Mira Hive” -- a vampire breeding ground and safe haven.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Stunt riggers Brian Simpson (top), Rocky Dickey and Jake Swallow tug on ropes to raise and lower actors safely during a rock-climbing scene.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Visual effects coordinator Eric Torres holds a mannequin as a lighting reference as he walks through the set.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Stunt double Mike Mukatis and Paul Bettany watch fight coordinator Marcus Young rehearse a combat sequence.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Paul Bettany freezes in place while a fight scene is blocked.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Paul Bettany adjusts his cross.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Paul Bettany looks off-camera as a scene is set to begin.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Maggie Q, who plays Priestess, another warrior priest with unworldly fighting skills, adjusts her collar.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Karl Urban and Paul Bettany rehearse a stunt scene while wearing vests that allow stunt wiring to lift them as they climb.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Karl Urban and Paul Bettany rehearse a stunt scene.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Set costumer Patrick Caulfield and key hairstylist Terrie Velasquez-Owen flank a gun-pointing Cam Gigandet.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Director Scott Stewart and Cam Gigandet work out the ideal gun-pointing body language.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Crew members block a scene in the interior of the set known as the Night Train. In the movie, it’s fully enclosed and allows evil vampires to travel through the Wasteland during night or day.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Cam Gigandet, who plays Hicks, the sharpshooting sheriff of a Wasteland town, stands with his weapon ready.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Cam Gigandet and a steadicam are in position for a take.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)