Cassidy Grom | For NJ.com

By Cassidy Grom | NJ Advance Media

It's 7 a.m. I roll out of bed and don my best Clark Kent outfit. Except mine includes a turtleneck and wool socks. I ditch that metaphor because I'm not heading to Metropolis, and I grab a cup of coffee and off to Newark, er, I mean, Gotham City.

Gotham — the city of the caped crusader. I half-expect, at least hope, to see the Batman (in whichever form as long as it's not the "Batman and Robin" version) swooping out of the sky, and to hear Joker's devious laugh.

Instead, all I saw was another street performer trying to make a living.

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Cassidy Grom | For NJ.com

There are several old-timey cars on Market Street, which seems a bit weird, and some trash and sketchy buildings, which seems about normal.

Apparently, set designers came in earlier this weekend to transform the street into a seedy 1980's Gotham for the new film featuring Batman's nemesis, the Joker. A phone booth? Not sure I've ever seen one of those in real life.

I park a few blocks from where they are filming. As I make my way past the Prudential Center, I start to see it. The dressing room trailers and the boom mics in the air. Extras are standing around, waiting for their cue.

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Cassidy Grom | For NJ.com

Word on the literal street is that Golden Globe Award-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix might be around, but I can't find him anywhere. Some cops are making sure no one can get too close to the set.

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Cassidy Grom | For NJ.com

My search for Phoenix continues; I'm not sure what I would say to him if I actually met him but it would probably be something like, "Hi, uh, I named my dog Joker because he smiles like the Joker."

I realize maybe it is best if I don't run into Phoenix.

Some extras walk by wearing 1980's costumes, but it is unclear if they were the same extras that were locked in a Brooklyn train car last weekend and resorted to peeing on the tracks. Probably better not to ask.

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Cassidy Grom | For NJ.com

I inch a little closer to the set, stowing my long-lens camera, and pull out my iPhone so the cops won't yell at me.

I see people who look important stare at screens that are clearly important. And then, piano music starts up and. . .

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Cassidy Grom | For NJ.com

I see him! The joker's head pops up over a car.

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Cassidy Grom | For NJ.com

He flings his "Everything Must Go!" sign into the air and dances. He looks like an out-of-work clown who once exclusively did kids' parties but can now only land a gig at an outlet furniture store for the last day of its going-out-of-business sale.

Still, it's sunnier recreation of the character (A bit more Jack Nicholson rather than Heath Ledger). I like it.

But, the extras walk by him like he is invisible. I know how you feel, Mr. Joker... I know how you feel.I snap out of my existential moment and focus on the Joker. This is why I'm here.

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Cassidy Grom | For NJ.com

Joker, who may or may not be the REAL Joaquin Phoenix underneath that make-uped face, dances a few more seconds then stops. Moments later, the cars back up to their original spots, the extras turn around and put on the same expressions, and the scene starts all over again.

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Cassidy Grom | For NJ.com

This happens a few more times, and the chilly 40-something-degree air increasingly finds ways into my not-so-super turtleneck sweater and fuzzy socks. I wonder if our pal Joker is cold too.

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Cassidy Grom | For NJ.com

There is no way of knowing. I might be in Gotham, but Joker and I live in two different worlds. I take a final stroll down the old-school street. Gotham is exciting, but next time I see it, I'd rather it be on the big screen.

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Cassidy Grom may be reached at cgrom@njadvancemedia.com Follow her at @cassidygrom. Find NJ.com on Facebook.Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips