Inception's Fake Working Title is Oliver's Arrow

Posted by George on Wednesday, June 10, 2009

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The Dark Knight was under the fake working title Rory's First Kiss during production in Chicago, and now it appears Inception is under the fake working title Oliver's Arrow. Inception, the upcoming film from director Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight, Memento, The Prestige) has been under a veil of secrecy since its announcement.  The only clue to its plot was a vague description of "a contemporary sci-fi actioner set within the architecture of the mind."  But with this new working title discovery, a few fresh details have emerged about the project.

So what proof is there that Oliver's Arrow is Inception?  They key is to look at casting sites. ProductionWeekly.com gave a big hint by listing Inception as: "Inception" (aka "Oliver's Arrow") in one of their issues.  SidesExpress.com, which lists available sides (small portions of the script featuring a character for actors to use in the audition process), shows a project titled Oliver's Arrow with the casting director John Papsidera, but does not have a project titled Inception.  Papsidera is the casting director for two films that are currently in pre-production, Inception and The Details, but not for a film called Oliver's ArrowThe Details, a black comedy, would have no reason to use a fake title, thus leaving Inception, which has maintained secrecy since its announcement.  Finally, The Dark Knight's working title used one of Nolan's children, Rory, in the title.  It is logical for Oliver's Arrow to be Inception's working title since Nolan also has a son named Oliver.

SidesExpress.com lists the following film roles for Inception (as Oliver's Arrow) on their site: Philippa, James, Security Guard, Attendant, Cab Driver, and Thin Man. What casting information has also revealed is that the film will be shooting all around the world, including in Los Angeles, CA, in London, England, in Tokyo, Japan, in Paris, France, in Tangiers, Morocco, and in Calgary, Canada.

Inception stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Marion Cotillard, Michael Caine, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, and Ken Watanabe.  Cinematography will be done by Wally Pfister, who has worked with Nolan on virtually every film and has received Academy Award nominations for his work on Batman Begins, The Prestige, and The Dark Knight. Inception begins filming July, 2009 and will release July 16th, 2010 under Warner Bros. Pictures.

42 comments:

Comment by George on June 11, 2009 5:00 PM

I really can't wait for shooting to begin in July.
TDK was one thing, but something completely original from Christopher Nolan is extremely exciting.

Hopefully there will be some sort of teaser trailer by the end of the year.

 
Comment by Brandon on June 20, 2009 12:55 AM

The sides you mention all contain a character named "Rogers" who is referred to as Steve by the mentioned "Thin Man" character. Steve Rogers, of course, being the name of Captain America.
Oliver Queen; Green Arrow. Steve Rogers; Captain America. It looks like Nolan is having a little fun with the superheroes.
Ha!

 
Comment by George on June 20, 2009 12:44 PM

Wow, I didn't even make the Captain America connection!
for anyone that doesn't have the sides:

ROGERS
This is bullshit. I'm innocent

THIN MAN
You think that matters? Wake up
Steve.


I knew he would do something with the names. In one of The Dark Knight sides, for instance, Batman was referred to as "The Avenger" rather than Batman.

 
Comment by Anonymous on July 15, 2009 6:36 AM

Shooting "Oliver's Arrow" today at University College London. Crew confirmed that Christopher Nolan was directing.

 
Comment by George on July 15, 2009 3:42 PM

Thanks for the heads up! I expected the London would only be for sound stages. Glad to hear that they are filming on-location, which means that the film might (at some point) be set in London.

 
Comment by George on July 15, 2009 4:22 PM

Looks like I was incorrect. They are filming in the UCL library, but it the film this sequence is meant to take place in Paris:

"The film crew for "Oliver's Arrow" today invaded UCL's Wilkins building to film some scenes in various locations within the Main Library. Michael Caine, Leonardo DiCaprio and Ellen Page were on location filming scenes in what had been dressed up (with fake signage) to be the "Bibliotheque" of the "Ecole de Architecture" in France."

 
Comment by Anonymous on July 17, 2009 4:44 AM

I know they where filming in Chertsey on Wednesday.

 
Comment by Anonymous on July 17, 2009 5:04 AM

Just found out from my source they are filming at Farnborough airport today.

 
Comment by George on July 18, 2009 11:51 PM

Thanks for all the shooting updates! :)
Farnborough airport is visually very cool:

http://www.e-architect.co.uk/london/jpgs/farnborough_airport_reid_sep06_s1.jpg

http://www.fenestration-news.com/Images/CoLogo/CR/News/Com_002.jpg

Happy to hear that they are filming there.

 
Comment by Sophie on July 22, 2009 8:30 AM

They are currently filming in Victoria House, Holborn. We work here and have seen the crew, set and various members of the cast filimg in a conference room and the ground floor hallway.

 
Comment by George on July 23, 2009 6:32 PM

Very cool.
If it was shot only indoors I bet that the scene will take place in one of the other locations. Especially considering the UCL library shoot in England was meant to look like a library in Paris.

 
Comment by Anonymous on July 28, 2009 2:31 PM

An OA truck's appeared at Cardington Hangars and there's some filming happening.

 
Comment by George on July 28, 2009 3:20 PM

I think they're building sets there. They also used an airship hanger in Bedfordshire a few weeks ago.

Thanks for the updates. Really appreciate them :)

 
Comment by Adam on July 28, 2009 3:29 PM

The airship hanger in Bedfordshire is Cardington Hangers.

 
Comment by George on July 28, 2009 3:51 PM

Oh ok. I guess Nolan likes using that airship hanger. Sets for Batman Begins and The Dark Knight were made there too.

 
Comment by George on July 29, 2009 2:30 PM

I'm assuming these big sets are going to be for the segments when characters enter the minds of others. Because it looks like outdoor shoots are being done on-location (Calgary, Paris, Tokyo, etc.) and they're using existing buildings for interior scenes.

 
Comment by Anonymous on August 13, 2009 3:28 PM

They're filming in Paris at Pont Bir Hakim on 17 August. Right next to Passy metro.

 
Comment by George on August 14, 2009 6:06 PM

Thanks for the update!!
I'm very happy that we get to see some exterior shots of Paris in this :)

 
Comment by Andrew Cameron on August 17, 2009 10:34 AM

They are filming in our neighbourhood here in Paris now at rue Bouchut. Interesting to see the set up and the way they create fake restaurants and shops.

 
Comment by George on August 17, 2009 12:35 PM

Inception set photos from Paris!

http://www.nolanfans.com/2009/08/17/images-from-inception-filming-in-paris/

 
Comment by Anonymous on August 18, 2009 6:48 AM

Yes

They were filming opposite us in St John Street EC1.

The Production Company are called "Oliver's Arrow" and certain stars were seen- which makes us confident that Inception was what they were filming.

They are filming again today with Jude Law - don't know what that is though.

 
Comment by adam on August 18, 2009 10:40 AM

Sherlock Holmes are doing some shooting in London for the next 10 days.

I know RDJ is in London for that.

I'm guessing Jude Law is shooting that.

 
Comment by George on August 18, 2009 1:11 PM

Anyone know of other spots in Paris they will be filming? I heard that they'll be there until Thursday.

 
Comment by George on August 18, 2009 11:54 PM

Teaser description:

It starts with the Warner Bros Logo in grey

Then you see Chris Nolan's name

This dradle like thing is spinning around.

then Director of The Dark Knight

You see Leo's face

over shot of a city, shaking camera shot.

Words come on screen YOUR MIND

Shot of Leo

More words IS THE SCENE OF THE CRIME

Then you see a glass of water, with the water in the glass starts to tilt

people fighting in hallway

The word INCEPTION comes up

then SUMMER 2010

 
Comment by Anonymous on August 19, 2009 4:07 PM

they have finished shooting at bedford

 
Comment by Anonymous on August 22, 2009 9:51 AM

The city in Morocco used as a location is Tangier, not "Tangiers".

 
Comment by George on August 22, 2009 7:00 PM

It has two spellings, Tangier or Tangiers.
Or at least so says Wikipedia.

 
Comment by Anonymous on August 24, 2009 1:38 PM

It is refered to as Tangiers because theres anthor Tangier, Tangier Island thats why.
DFoes anybody know how to get involved in the movie? as part of the crew or something? In tangiers i mean

 
Comment by Marc Johnathan on August 25, 2009 7:42 PM

I was in Tangier today and saw them shooting this film. Leo himself made an appearance in the local bazaar to shop with his mom between takes.

 
Comment by Marc Johnathan on August 25, 2009 7:43 PM

Talk to the local people to see where the shooting locations are, they will know.

 
Comment by Anonymous on August 26, 2009 5:19 PM

they were filming in paris on 14th August at 8 secret locations before moving on to Morocco for 3 weeks thay had previously been in LA. The film crew were staying in Pullman Tour Eiffel hotel

 
Comment by anas tanjawi on August 27, 2009 8:08 AM

tanger c'est une ville au nord du maroc la ou le tournage de ce film et je suis un tangeroie et parmi les genes qui participent au touranage (fegurent) si vous vouler quelque information contacter moi sur msn ( neo-anas@hotmail.com )

 
Comment by George on September 2, 2009 3:58 PM

So they are in going to be filming in Los Angeles soon. Reports indicated early September. And then Calgary will come next in November.

 
Comment by Dan on September 2, 2009 8:41 PM

Never really cared for scene scouting for a movie but for this one, i just keep checking for updates.

 
Comment by George on September 4, 2009 12:03 PM

Photos from the LA shoot:

http://www.nolanfans.com/2009/09/03/production-update-3-coming-to-america/

 
Comment by Anonymous on September 16, 2009 4:51 PM

Filming began today in Downtown Los Angeles. Filming will continue thru Sunday.

 
Comment by Anonymous on September 16, 2009 6:51 PM

Stage being built in Universal Studios Lot for Oliver's Arrow and they are set to shoot in Oct/Nov.

 
Comment by Anonymous on October 25, 2009 6:17 AM

The production is actually based at the Los Angeles Center Studios. How do I know? I work there and I talk to their folks all the time. Nice bunch of guys.

 
Comment by George on October 27, 2009 11:35 AM

Thanks for the updates! :)

 
Comment by Anonymous on November 2, 2009 9:28 AM

Does anyone know until what date they're going to be at the Los Angeles Center Studios?

 
Comment by George on November 10, 2009 5:27 PM

Calgary filming is set to begin soon :)

 
Comment by Margaret on July 23, 2010 10:08 PM

It is called both Tangier and Tangiers when you're in Morocco. Also pronounced "Ton-jay" depending on if you're speaking in french, or "Tonga" if you're speaking with village folk in Dirija.

 

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