James Cameron: You Can Thank George W. Bush for ‘Avatar’
Odd as it sounds, the most successful film of all time—Avatar—was inspired by George W. Bush (at least in part).
So says James Cameron, whose 3D sci-fi epic crossed the $2 billion worldwide mark in late January, besting the previous record holder, his own Titanic, which topped out at $1.8 billion.
Interviewed on Movie Geeks United, the powerhouse director discusses the theme of imperialism in Avatar.
CAPTION: "It's going to carry on I think for some time," James (above) tells us of industrial development destroying world cultures, "at least until we're all one homogenous society wearing blue jeans and eating McDonald's."
"It's going to carry on for some time," James (above) tells us of industrial development destroying world cultures, "at least until we're all one homogenous society wearing blue jeans and eating McDonald's."
“I was writing the film in early ‘05—I had written the treatment way back earlier—and the story didn’t change much from the treatment. But I think some of the influences were the fact that we were at the peak of the fighting in the Iraq War,” he tells hosts Jamey DuVall and Jerry Dennis.
“I was reacting to the fact that I was infuriated by us going into Iraq in the first place. There was plenty of literature and information around that there was no WMD before we went in, and the whole thing was a big pack of lies—which ultimately proved to be true.”
James also discusses how the success of Avatar—which will be re-released on Aug. 27, sporting nine minutes of new footage—has had other big-time directors knocking on his door.
“I’ve done a few tutorials. I’ve done a few phone calls. I’ve run out to the camera shop and talked them through it,” he says.
“The thing I tell any director who wants to get into 3D—just get the camera and just go shoot some stuff for a couple days. Do some tests. Learn about stereo space and what you can do and have fun with it.
“Instead of fearing it and feeling It’s just a limitation, they should start to think, Alright, how can I create my own style in 3D? How can I make this a new set of colors to paint with?
As for his next trick, James says:
“It’s all in flux right now. I have to be very careful on how I pick my battles, and the order in which I fight them. ‘Cause it’s not like I’m 25 years old.
“We’re talking about big projects that take multiple years, and especially if I do two of them back-to-back, I have got to figure out the exact timetable.
“So I haven’t announced anything yet and I don’t expect to for probably six months at a minimum. Everything you’ve heard about is still in play—and even a couple you haven’t heard about.”
Go to http://www.blogtalkradio.com/moviegeeksunited to hear Jame Cameron’s full interview.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Friday, October 2, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
The Michael Jackson Film Career That Almost Was
Michael Jackson Planned to Step into Jimmy Cagney’s Shoes, says ‘Captain EO’ Producer and Longtime Pal Rusty Lemorande
Unlike his idol Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson never established himself as a movie star - namely in a musical remake of the 1938 James Cagney flick Angels with Dirty Faces - and it’s a reget he took to his grave.
That, according to the King of Pop’s Captain EO collaborator, and friend of 25 years, Rusty Lemorande.
CAPTION: "He really wanted a film career," Rusty tells us of Michael (above in 1999).
"He really wanted a film career," Rusty tells us of Michael (above).
In an exclusive interview with BlogTalkRadio, Rusty - who produced and co-wrote the 3-D, Francis Ford Coppola-directed Captain EO as a Disney theme park attraction in 1986 - recounts how Michael came to sign on for Angels and another feature during the early ’90s.
“Michael was pretty pleased with our relationship, and he had just set up his film company at Sony-Columbia. And the problem was, with all the development people, etc. - and it was a pretty thick company with people - he wasn’t committing to anything,” Rusty, whose other production credits include the 1983 Barbra Streisand star vehicle Yentil, tells Movie Geeks United! host Jamey DuVall of the pop star, who died June 25 after suffering cardiac arrest.
“I think people didn’t understand how to relate to him. I used to say to him, ‘You’re a little like Arnold Schwarzenegger. You can’t do any part. The part has to be tailored to you. He became a star because of Terminator.
“Well, Michael said, ‘You come up with some ideas.’ And I came up with two fairly quickly.
CAPTION: Jimmy (right) was among the screen idol Michael hoped to emulate.
Jimmy (right) was the screen idol Michael (left) hoped to emulate in "Angels with Dirty Faces."
“One was to remake an old film called 7 Faces of Dr. Lao, which was a [1964] Tony Randall film that involved a child protagonist, and the other was to remake the film Angels with Dirty Faces, which is a James Cagney film. Michael was a huge James Cagney fan.
“Michael loved both projects. Part of it was the way I explained it to him, talked him through it. We had sketches done and creatures made - you really had to turn it into the toy version.
“On Dr. Lao, we had the set miniatures built of the circus and he committed to both, which was a major event at the time.
“One was set up at Warners. And the other was set up at Turner - who owned the remake rights. And everything was going great. Fantastic!
“And then the first scandal hit.”
CAPTION: The King of Pop with Francis during the production of "Captain EO."
The King of Pop with Francis during the production of "Captain EO."
(In 1993, Michael was accused of child abuse by the father of then 13-year-old Evan Chandler. Though he denied the allegations, the pop idol eventually settled the suit out of court for $22 million.)
“I remember it as vividly as I remember when I heard President Kennedy was shot. I was in my car driving to this studio where we were building these miniatures, where people were going to come and see them. And someone called me and said, ‘Did you see what’s on the news? Michael Jackson’s ranch has been raided,” continues Rusty.
“The truth of the matter is, very simply - and in fairness to Hollywood and the big studios - they have huge investment obligations to their shareholders. So they got very nervous. They didn’t know if the audience would still be there for Michael.
“Suddenly, nobody wanted to touch him… It was quite sad that it never happened, because it was very important for Michael to be in movies.
“He used to talk about Elvis Presley’s career and say, ‘If Elvis hadn’t made all those films, he wouldn’t be as remembered as he was.’”
During the 30-minute interview, Rusty also reveals how he came to earn Michael’s trust while he and The Godfather director were working on Captain EO.
As the title character in "Captain EO."
As the title character in "Captain EO."
“The secret of working with Michael Jackson was to think, how would you, literally, deal with a 10-year-old boy?
“Francis got it. At one point, he was having trouble directing Michael. Michael didn’t seem to respond to the kind of word dialogue that a director largely uses.
“So [Francis] sent out for some masks: happy masks - like clown masks - and scary masks. And when he wanted to elicit an emotion from Michael, he would put on those masks and it would be as if a child were reacting to a mask. And it was effective!
“Michael loved to go toy shopping. But the adult in him wanted to drive his car. And he drove like a maniac. I was always grippin’ my seat.
“He loved masks. He had masks in his glove compartment, which he would put on as he drove. His explanation was, ‘If I don’t put it on, people will see it’s me and they’ll chase me.’
“Then we’d go into a toy store. Then it was funny, because the mask he’d wear into the store would usually be like a woman’s harem mask kind of thing, with a veil across his face.”
To hear Rusty’s full interview, go to:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/moviegeeksunited/2009/06/28/MIKE-MEDAVOY-Michael-Jackson-cinematographer-Daniel-Pearl-1
Unlike his idol Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson never established himself as a movie star - namely in a musical remake of the 1938 James Cagney flick Angels with Dirty Faces - and it’s a reget he took to his grave.
That, according to the King of Pop’s Captain EO collaborator, and friend of 25 years, Rusty Lemorande.
CAPTION: "He really wanted a film career," Rusty tells us of Michael (above in 1999).
"He really wanted a film career," Rusty tells us of Michael (above).
In an exclusive interview with BlogTalkRadio, Rusty - who produced and co-wrote the 3-D, Francis Ford Coppola-directed Captain EO as a Disney theme park attraction in 1986 - recounts how Michael came to sign on for Angels and another feature during the early ’90s.
“Michael was pretty pleased with our relationship, and he had just set up his film company at Sony-Columbia. And the problem was, with all the development people, etc. - and it was a pretty thick company with people - he wasn’t committing to anything,” Rusty, whose other production credits include the 1983 Barbra Streisand star vehicle Yentil, tells Movie Geeks United! host Jamey DuVall of the pop star, who died June 25 after suffering cardiac arrest.
“I think people didn’t understand how to relate to him. I used to say to him, ‘You’re a little like Arnold Schwarzenegger. You can’t do any part. The part has to be tailored to you. He became a star because of Terminator.
“Well, Michael said, ‘You come up with some ideas.’ And I came up with two fairly quickly.
CAPTION: Jimmy (right) was among the screen idol Michael hoped to emulate.
Jimmy (right) was the screen idol Michael (left) hoped to emulate in "Angels with Dirty Faces."
“One was to remake an old film called 7 Faces of Dr. Lao, which was a [1964] Tony Randall film that involved a child protagonist, and the other was to remake the film Angels with Dirty Faces, which is a James Cagney film. Michael was a huge James Cagney fan.
“Michael loved both projects. Part of it was the way I explained it to him, talked him through it. We had sketches done and creatures made - you really had to turn it into the toy version.
“On Dr. Lao, we had the set miniatures built of the circus and he committed to both, which was a major event at the time.
“One was set up at Warners. And the other was set up at Turner - who owned the remake rights. And everything was going great. Fantastic!
“And then the first scandal hit.”
CAPTION: The King of Pop with Francis during the production of "Captain EO."
The King of Pop with Francis during the production of "Captain EO."
(In 1993, Michael was accused of child abuse by the father of then 13-year-old Evan Chandler. Though he denied the allegations, the pop idol eventually settled the suit out of court for $22 million.)
“I remember it as vividly as I remember when I heard President Kennedy was shot. I was in my car driving to this studio where we were building these miniatures, where people were going to come and see them. And someone called me and said, ‘Did you see what’s on the news? Michael Jackson’s ranch has been raided,” continues Rusty.
“The truth of the matter is, very simply - and in fairness to Hollywood and the big studios - they have huge investment obligations to their shareholders. So they got very nervous. They didn’t know if the audience would still be there for Michael.
“Suddenly, nobody wanted to touch him… It was quite sad that it never happened, because it was very important for Michael to be in movies.
“He used to talk about Elvis Presley’s career and say, ‘If Elvis hadn’t made all those films, he wouldn’t be as remembered as he was.’”
During the 30-minute interview, Rusty also reveals how he came to earn Michael’s trust while he and The Godfather director were working on Captain EO.
As the title character in "Captain EO."
As the title character in "Captain EO."
“The secret of working with Michael Jackson was to think, how would you, literally, deal with a 10-year-old boy?
“Francis got it. At one point, he was having trouble directing Michael. Michael didn’t seem to respond to the kind of word dialogue that a director largely uses.
“So [Francis] sent out for some masks: happy masks - like clown masks - and scary masks. And when he wanted to elicit an emotion from Michael, he would put on those masks and it would be as if a child were reacting to a mask. And it was effective!
“Michael loved to go toy shopping. But the adult in him wanted to drive his car. And he drove like a maniac. I was always grippin’ my seat.
“He loved masks. He had masks in his glove compartment, which he would put on as he drove. His explanation was, ‘If I don’t put it on, people will see it’s me and they’ll chase me.’
“Then we’d go into a toy store. Then it was funny, because the mask he’d wear into the store would usually be like a woman’s harem mask kind of thing, with a veil across his face.”
To hear Rusty’s full interview, go to:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/moviegeeksunited/2009/06/28/MIKE-MEDAVOY-Michael-Jackson-cinematographer-Daniel-Pearl-1
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Michael Jackson 'Billie Jean' cinematographer Sunday nigtht on MGU!
Chairman and co-founder of Phoenix Pictures, and involved in some of the great films of the past four decades, including "Rocky", "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and "Annie Hall", MIKE MEDAVOY joins the Movie Geeks to discuss his new book 'American Idol After Iraq' with co-author Nathan Gardels...PLUS...Daniel Pearl, cinematographer of MICHAEL JACKSON's classic videos 'Billie Jean', ' 'You Are Not Alone', and 'Give In to Me', reflects on this remarkable talent.
Sunday at 6pm EST/ 3pm PST at
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/moviegeeksunited
Sunday at 6pm EST/ 3pm PST at
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/moviegeeksunited
Studio mogul MIKE MEDAVOY SUnday night on MGU!
Chairman and co-founder of Phoenix Pictures, and involved in some of the great films of the past four decades, including "Rocky", "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and "Annie Hall", MIKE MEDAVOY joins the Movie Geeks to discuss his new book 'American Idol After Iraq' with co-author Nathan Gardels...PLUS...Daniel Pearl, cinematographer of MICHAEL JACKSON's classic videos 'Billie Jean', ' 'You Are Not Alone', and 'Give In to Me', reflects on this remarkable talent.
Sunday at 6pm EST/ 3pm PST at
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/moviegeeksunited
Sunday at 6pm EST/ 3pm PST at
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/moviegeeksunited
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Our most impressive filmmaker line-up yet!
Find these podcasts live or anytime on replay only at www.blogtalkradio.com/moviegeeksunited
Wednesday, March 27 at 10pm EST/ 7pm PST:
Director Brad Silberling (City of Angels) chats about his new film 'Land of the Lost'...PLUS...Paul J. Salamoff, author of 'On the Set'....IndieWire critic Eric Kohn discusses his take on the films at this year's Cannes Film Festival.
Sunday, May 31 at 6pm EST/ 3pm PST:
Director Todd Phillips (Road Trip, Old School) chats about his new film 'The Hangover' (opening June 5th in theatres nationwide)...PLUS... filmmaker Robert Saitzyk discusses his new film 'Godspeed', which premieres June 14th at the Cinevegas Film Festival.
Wednesday, June 3 at 10pm EST/ 7pm PST:
The Movie Geeks examine the classic film GONE WITH THE WIND with special guests. The first part of a new series.
Sunday, June 7 at 6pm EST/ 3pm PST:
Legendary director Francis Ford Coppola joins the Movie Geeks to discuss his new film 'Tetro'...PLUS... actress Tanna Frederick (Irene in Time) and director Jennifer Lynch (Surveillence).
Wednesday, June 10 at 10pm EST/ 7pm PST:
The Movie Geeks celebrate Michael Mann's epic crime film 'HEAT' with special guests. The first part of a series.
Wednesday, June 17 at 10pm EST/ 7pm PST:
A celebration of the cinematic releases during the latter half of the Summer of 1984, featuring examinations of 'Purple Rain', 'The Last Starfighter', 'The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai' and more with special guests. Hear the first part of the series at www.blogtalkradio.com/back-by-midnight.
Wednesday, March 27 at 10pm EST/ 7pm PST:
Director Brad Silberling (City of Angels) chats about his new film 'Land of the Lost'...PLUS...Paul J. Salamoff, author of 'On the Set'....IndieWire critic Eric Kohn discusses his take on the films at this year's Cannes Film Festival.
Sunday, May 31 at 6pm EST/ 3pm PST:
Director Todd Phillips (Road Trip, Old School) chats about his new film 'The Hangover' (opening June 5th in theatres nationwide)...PLUS... filmmaker Robert Saitzyk discusses his new film 'Godspeed', which premieres June 14th at the Cinevegas Film Festival.
Wednesday, June 3 at 10pm EST/ 7pm PST:
The Movie Geeks examine the classic film GONE WITH THE WIND with special guests. The first part of a new series.
Sunday, June 7 at 6pm EST/ 3pm PST:
Legendary director Francis Ford Coppola joins the Movie Geeks to discuss his new film 'Tetro'...PLUS... actress Tanna Frederick (Irene in Time) and director Jennifer Lynch (Surveillence).
Wednesday, June 10 at 10pm EST/ 7pm PST:
The Movie Geeks celebrate Michael Mann's epic crime film 'HEAT' with special guests. The first part of a series.
Wednesday, June 17 at 10pm EST/ 7pm PST:
A celebration of the cinematic releases during the latter half of the Summer of 1984, featuring examinations of 'Purple Rain', 'The Last Starfighter', 'The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai' and more with special guests. Hear the first part of the series at www.blogtalkradio.com/back-by-midnight.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
