Hollywood Backlot: ‘The Green Hornet’

The Green Hornet’s car, Black Beauty, rests atop a full-scale mock-up of a printing press.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Director Michel Gondry holds up his laptop for Seth Rogen to view in an off-set “video village” area of a Sony soundstage.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Seth Rogen, seen through the damaged safety glass of the Green Hornet’s car.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Jay Chou, who plays Kato, has his mask adjusted.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Jay Chou watches his stunt double, Hiro Koda, grab the leg of stuntman Sam Looc during the blocking of a fight scene.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Fight coordinator Jeff Imada gestures to indicate how high a stuntman, hooked up to a wire rig, should be lifted.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Jay Chou, alongside bullet-riddled Black Beauty.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Director Michel Gondry checks a detail during rehearsal.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Cinematographer John Schwartzman steps carefully past the front of the car.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Seth Rogen on set.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Rogen waits for video playback on the Sony soundstage.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Rogen on set.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Seth Rogen and Jay Chou rehearse a scene.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Seth Rogen.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Rogen and the camera glow in the appropriate shade.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Rogen and Chou, in position for a scene.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Seth Rogen and Jay Chou amid smoke and flames.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Seth Rogen.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

“The Green Hornet” crew members set up a scene.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Chou, between scenes.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Rogen, wearing a particle mask, and Chou work on blocking a scene amid thick smoke.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Seth Rogen.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Director Michel Gondry watches video playback.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Gondry gets physical with the wreckage of the Black Beauty.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Crew members set a camera in place on top of a Black Beauty car.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Michel Gondry checks the camera placement.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Director Michel Gondry, Seth Rogen and script supervisor Anne Rapp.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Rogen and producer Neal Moritz watch video playback of a scene.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Rogen and “The Green Hornet” director Gondry.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Crew members set the mood.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Seth Rogen and a similarly masked stand-in, Christopher Lula, prepare for a scene.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Jay Chou holds up his hand to provide a reference point for the camera.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Rogen takes direction from “Green Hornet” property master Andrew Siegel.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Costumer Deborah Zimmerman, Seth Rogen and property master Andrew Siegel.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Seth Rogen.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Rogen amid the destroyed-office set.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Director Michel Gondry.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

David Harbour, who plays Scanlon, and producer’s assistant Theodore Bressman.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Smoke and flashing lights enhance a scene.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Jay Chou, left, and Michel Gondry.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

“The Green Hornet” director Michel Gondry.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Seth Rogen.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

How the camera sees Jay Chou.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Rogen reaches to adjust his hat.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Playback of a scene spurs laughter from star Rogen.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Rogen stands behind the director’s chair.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Rogen and Chou in action.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Jay Chou.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Chou prepares for a scene.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Special-effects smoke rises in front of Rogen.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Seth Rogen.  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)

Director Michel Gondry watches lighting adjustments being made on the set of “The Green Hornet.”  (David Strick / For the Los Angeles Times)