Below is Part 1 of our week long look at "The Seeker: The Dark is Rising" opening in theaters this Friday.

By Kara Warner

INTRODUCTION

It’s 10 a.m. on a bright, sunny morning in mid-May. A group of jet-lagged journalists, fresh off their first ride through the chaotic, almost anarchic traffic in Bucharest, Romania, are debating the age of our van driver and whether or not he’d pass a U.S. driving test. (Age guesses fall in the 14-24 range, the ability to pass the driver’s test gets a collective, “probably not.”). Eventful van ride survived, we’ve been assembled from across the U.S. and England, respectively, to spend a day on the set of Fox Walden’s upcoming film, “The Seeker: The Dark is Rising,” opening October 5, 2007.

Based on the acclaimed 5-book series of novels by Susan Cooper, “The Seeker: The Dark is Rising” is the first offering from newly formed Fox Walden films, as well as the first film adaptation of Cooper’s work. The production is located about 12 miles northwest of Bucharest at MediaPro Studios in the small town of Bethea. The expansive site includes 15 soundstages, four water tanks, a lake and nearly 125 acres of backlot. The majority of which we were told the cast and crew made full use. It’s obvious the studio has a lot of hope for this first film and (fingers crossed!) its franchise potential. But back to the visit…