Visible crew/equipment: When Number 5 plays with the light switches on the way to the disarming section, a coffee serving robot comes through the corridor, and the reflection of the camera is visible in the coffee pot. (00:12:15)
Visible crew/equipment: When we see a wide shot of Stephanie's truck driving through the town, look closely to the left of Johnny when we see the truck start to go up the hill. You can see one of the puppeteers hiding beside the robot. (00:21:35)
Visible crew/equipment: Look REALLY closely at the mirror in the background when Stephanie is trying to control Number 5 from destroying her house. You can see a man leaning over in its reflection. Possibly the director or other crew member. (00:32:15)
Visible crew/equipment: You can see a wire attached to the back of Stephanie's truck in this scene, which obviously stops it from really falling over the edge of the cliff. (00:43:20)
Visible crew/equipment: When Johnny is blocking Frank's gunshots with pieces of Frank's car, you can see the wires attached to Johnny's arms for the puppeteers to control him. In the last one, you can even see one of the puppeteers' hands. (01:06:25 - 01:12:21)
Visible crew/equipment: When Newton is playing with the robot arm and the piano you can clearly see wires attached to the top of it controlled by the puppeteers.
Visible crew/equipment: When number 5 falls off the bridge you can see a thin rope attached to him, either used to activate the parachute, or used as a guide wire to keep the robot stable while falling.
Answer: Astoria, Oregon is just across from Washington state on the Columbia River. The Highway 101 bridge connects Washington to Astoria, and it takes mere minutes to cross. Unlike Washington, Oregon has no state sales tax, so many Washingtonians who live near the border shop there, and their cars would be seen. Also, there are several vintage paddlewheel river boats belonging to a river cruise company based in Astoria. From a distance, they are a similar size, shape, and white color as a Puget Sound ferry. That is probably what you saw cruising on the Columbia River.
raywest ★